MiniPiano

Music composition nowadays doesn’t depend entirely on real instruments. Different processors and editors are packed with enough effects to emulate the instruments you need, but also help learn to play actual instruments. Dedicated to the piano, MiniPiano is a MIDI keyboard you can use with your default input device, and nothing else connected.

One major advantage is the application skips you the effort of going through a setup process, and can be launched from the moment download is done. This enables you to carry it around on a thumb drive to use on other computers as well, without any worries that the health status gets affected, because registry entries remain intact.

All the application has to offer is found in a compact window, but pretty intuitive by default. One section represents the general set of configurations, while another section is a representation of an actual keyboard, with buttons you need to press shown on the actual keys.

You’re free to interact with the application either using the mouse, or the assigned hotkeys which are shown on keys. There’s no delay, and sound comes out clean, without interruption when pressing multiple keys at once. The only thing missing here is the possibility to record anything you play, so you need to rely on extra tools for this operation.

Moreover, the application relies on the Windows MIDI library, which includes quite an abundance of different instruments. These are selected from a drop-down menu and applied in real time. Apart from instruments, you can also adjust the octave level to increase, or decrease overall pitch.

In conclusion, MiniPiano is a lightweight, fun application you can use to train your musical ear, and also study notes. An abundance of instruments are at your disposal, and even though there’s no built-in recorder, you’re sure to learn a thing or two and also have a good time.