Playing Notes with the Computer Keyboard

Playing/Recording Notes With the Computer Keyboard

Related topics

MIDI configurations for using a MIDI or Master keyboard

You can use your keyboard to record (polyphonic) notes into your tracks.

There is a limit though, because the keyboard matrix does not allow you to hit certain simultaneous key-combinations, you won't be able to jam in all chord or drum-kit percussion combinations. Using the PC-keyboard as a clavier currently serves, as a quick tool for altering a few notes without moving your hand to your MIDI clavier.

If you do want to use a keyboard for doing polyphonic jams in the most optimal way, make sure you have a keyboard that supports full n-key rollover. The regular older keyboards from '97 and older support it. Or go for keyboards created for people with a visual handicap.

Known facts about keyboard behaviour of keyboards that do not support full n-key rollover is that certain chord-combinations aren't recorded properly in Renoise.

I would rather advise you to invest in a simple master-keyboard which operatess through MIDI than investing in an expensive PC keyboard that gives you this little extra luxury. A simple MIDI master-keyboard offers you more and is usually easier to play and isn't really much more expensive than a special PC keyboard.

File:Vvoois renoise keyboard.png

Note-key bindings in Renoise

Each key is assigned to it's note-value. The lower-right keysection of the lower row's second octave match the first five note-keys of the upper-left keysection in it's first octave region. There is no way to change those mappings.

Lower key,l.;/

Upper key	Note reference
Q	C-x
2	C#x
W	D-x
3	D#x
E	E-x

If for some reason you assign samples to an octave region your current desktop keyboard cannot handle;

You can shift your octave ranges using the * and / keys on your numeric keypad, the octave-offset will be related to your lowerleft key upon your regular desktop keyboard, however, your Master / MIDI keyboard will be influenced by this change as well.

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Related topics

MIDI configurations for using a MIDI or Master keyboard