Computer keyboard - some notes don't play?

compaqdrew · Post by **compaqdrew** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:33 pm

I've noticed something odd when trying to use the computer keyboard as my MIDI input.

Notes that are close together cannot be played at the same time for some (unknown) reason. I've tried this on two different machines (Live 6.0.1 Windows).

Keystrokes:
F, G, and H cannot be played simultaneously
G, H, and J cannot be played simultaneously
A, W, and S cannot be played simultaneously
There are several more. But this obviously isn't some type of "three voice" limit--ADGHKL works just great.

Can anyone think of an explanation for this? I would really like to use my computer keyboard to play more often, but this mysterious voicing thing is really getting in the way.

Drew

Herne · Post by **Herne** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:33 pm

Cheap keyboards are manufactured in such a way as to not recognise three or more simulataneous keypresses on certain combinations. It's all to do with the way the keyboard is mapped, and is an electronic limitation, there's no real way round it.

I have a cheap BTC9000 keyboard that will only take two keys at once, and a nice MS Digital Media Pro that tops out at six.

If you hace a PS2-USB converter try that, as the HID driver map is different to the PS2 one, and may [but probably not] make a difference.