Piano Discovery System - software or MIDI technical info please?

Factual Questions
1

I didn’t really know where to post this, and felt a bit guilty posting here, but I didn’t know where else to turn, and I’m sure someone here will be able to help. Plus, it does have a factual answer :wink:

A few years back I bought the Piano Discovery System (consists of a somewhat cheapo MIDI keyboard and CBT piano software, complete with smiling Herbie Hancock on the box)

I got through quite a few of the lessons, but in the process of moving house, I managed to lose the CD! (I swear this is not a pirated copy - in any case, how would I get a pirated copy of the keyboard itself?!)

The software was very old (designed for Win 3.1, 16 bit) but sort of ran OK on Windows 2000 (which I’m using now).

My question is twofold:

  1. Does anyone know where I can get another CD of the Piano Discovery software? The company that produced it, Jump! Music, is out of business. EBay doesn’t show any.

  2. If not, could I use standard MIDI software with this keyboard?

I’ve tried downloading freeware MIDI sequencing programs but they don’t seem to recognize they keyboard.

The keyboard plugs into the gameport on my soundcard. It has a simple cable with a D connector at each end; all the stuff I read on the web suggests that standard MIDI calls for a “Y” shaped cable - D connector to plug into the game port, which branches into two MIDI plugs - one for MIDI in, the other for MIDI out. I couldn’t find any information about this particular configuration. I’m suspecting it’s not standard MIDI (even though the keyboard is supposed to be a MIDI keyboard), that they have somehow fudged it so you only need a single D connector on the keyboard side instead of two MIDI connectors. I know the plumbing is all in order because when I plug a joystick into the keyboard’s expansion port, Win 2000 sees it just fine.

A friend suggested I simply try to pick up a used Korg or Yamaha that might be more standard MIDI, but I hate to just abandon this keyboard which I know works fine. At least, it works fine from the hardware point of view - I used to use it under Win 98 with the CD until I lost it :frowning:

Thanks for any help.

2

Well… I found the Piano Discovery Software on amazon.co.uk but unfortunately they don’t ship to the U.S.

I actually have the Miracle System which is the precursor to yours. It’s pretty good I think but I have to keep fiddling with the program to get it to run under Windows.

Guess I haven’t been too much help. :slight_smile:

3

>> could I use standard MIDI software with this keyboard?

I can’t see why not. MIDI is a standard for sending commands. Any program should recognise them.

4

I think the problem here might be that windows itself may not recognise the gameport as a midi device. This is what will determine whether other 3rd party software can open and talk to a midi port.

I don’t run win2000, but on the assumption it’s similar to win98, go to control panel. Is there a multimedia option there? If so, open it. Are there any midi ports defined under the midi tab? If not, I’m afraid you might be stuck.

5

Thanks for the responses.

There are MIDI items under the multimedia tab - can’t remember what they are since I’m not at home at the moment.

I tried downloading various freeware MIDI tools last night and a couple of them recognized the keyboard and allowed me to play notes on it, which were echoed through the PC speakers. Not sure why some do and some don’t, though. Could just be something I’m not getting in this sequencer programs, they tend to have a pretty complicated UI.