Read Me

usbpiano.c
by Lewis Jackson <lewis@boxen.co.uk>


A program to provide an ALSA MIDI interface for the Dream Link/Dream Cheeky USB
Piano, for Linux.


Description:
  I wrote this program after getting the "Dream Cheeky USB Roll-up Piano" as a
  present.  It seemed like a neat little toy, but there wasn't any sort of
  Linux support, and even the bundled windows software didn't provide any sort
  of MIDI interface.

  It provides a standard ALSA MIDI port, that outputs note on and note off
  events on channel 0. The key of the notes and velocity is configurable from
  the command line.

Requires:
  libusb     - http://libusb.sourceforge.net
  libasound2 - http://www.alsa-project.org

Compiling:
  gcc --std=c99 usbpiano.c -o usbpiano -lusb -lasound


Command line Usage:
  usbpiano [OPTIONS]

  -k <key>, --key=<key>
    Lowest note playable, in midi note numbers. Default is 48 (small C)

  -v <velocity>, --velocity=<velocity>
    Velocity (volume) of notes played, 0-127. Default is 127


Example:
  Here's a quick example for someone with no experience using MIDI on Linux,
  (as I hadn't before getting this keyboard), to at least get some sound out of
  the thing.

  The example uses the fluidsynth synthesiser to actually output sound, and
  demonstrates using aconnect to connect MIDI devices together. I also use
  vkeybd to change the instruments.

  Change the MIDI port numbers to match what they are in the aconnect output.

  It requires the following software:
  alsa-utils: http://www.alsa-project.org
  fluidsynth: http://fluidsynth.resonance.org
  keybd: http://www.alsa-project.org/~tiwai/alsa.html#vkeybd

  On debian, you need these packages (probably the same on ubuntu):

  alsa-utils
  fluidsynth
  fluid-soundfont-gm
  vkeybd


  ---

  sudo ./usbpiano

  ---

  lewis@calavera:~$ fluidsynth -m alsa_seq -a alsa
  > load /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2

  ---

  lewis@calavera:~$ vkeyb --device alsa

  ---

  lewis@calavera:~$ aconnect -i
  client 0: 'System' [type=kernel]
      0 'Timer           '
      1 'Announce        '
  client 14: 'Midi Through' [type=kernel]
      0 'Midi Through Port-0'
  client 128: 'Virtual Keyboard' [type=user]
      0 'Virtual Keyboard'
  client 130: 'USB Piano' [type=user]
      0 'USB Piano Output Port'

  lewis@calavera:~$ aconnect -o
  client 14: 'Midi Through' [type=kernel]
      0 'Midi Through Port-0'
  client 129: 'FLUID Synth (4147)' [type=user]
      0 'Synth input port (4147:0)'

  lewis@calavera:~$ aconnect 130:0 129:0
  lewis@calavera:~$ aconnect 128:0 129:0

  ---
  It should be working now!
  You may have to choose an instrument with vkeyb (Enable "program list" in
  the View menu).