Virtual MIDI Keyboard Setup and Mixcraft 4 in Windows Vista

Introduction

One of the neatest programs for creating music and podcasts is Mixcraft 4. This program is a complete recording studio that you can run on your computer. It works with Windows XP and Vista. If you want to use Virtual Instruments and do not have a MIDI keyboard or are waiting on a USB to MIDI cable for your MIDI keyboard, then you will need a virtual keyboard and a driver so that you can play the notes on your computer keyboard or with a mouse. This tutorial will give you information on where to obtain the correct software (all are freeware) and how to set things up.

Downloading the Software

You will need to download and install the following:

1. Virtual MIDI Keyboard
2. Maple Virtual Midi Cable - Vista Driver OR LoopBe1 - Windows 2000/XP/Vista

Note that the MIDI Driver is not a physical cable. It is a virtual cable meaning just a piece of software that makes your program think you have a MIDI cable connected. You do not need a physical MIDI cable in order to make this work.

Virtual Keyboard Setup

Start up the Virtual Keyboard program. Now this is a bit different because it is not a window, but just a virtual keyboard on the screen as shown below:

Notice on the left under the title is a group of buttons. Click on Settings. In the MIDI Port drop down box, select Maple Midi Out: Port 1 as shown below. Also be sure that Always On Top is checked. This will come in useful when using the keyboard for Mixcraft. You can leave the other settings at default for now.

When you're done using the virtual keyboard, you exit it by clicking the Power button in the upper left of the keyboard (the one with the red dot on it).

Setting up Mixcraft 4 to use a Virtual Keyboard

Start up Mixcraft 4. From the File menu, choose Preferences. In the left pane be sure MIDI is selected. In the right pane, find the MIDI Input (Recording) Device. In that drop down box, find Maple MIDI In: Port 1. Note that this is the port that the virtual keyboard is sending the notes from. Click OK when done.

Now you are ready to play notes using the virtual keyboard.

NOTE:

If you do not get any sound out of Mixcraft, be sure to click on the virtual keyboard with your mouse so that you have it in focus. Otherwise it will not be active and won't send notes.

Summary

This may be the easiest way to get started with MIDI if you don't have a MIDI keyboard or a MIDI cable for an existing MIDI keyboard. I have found that it is also a little bit more difficult to play along with a song on a computer keyboard or with a mouse. This should probably be used as a temporary measure until you can get a physical MIDI keyboard setup, or if you are on the road and haven't got access to one.