Conference hydra::amiga_v1

4985.0. "The Miracle Piano Teaching System" by MACNAS::MERLEHAN () Thu Aug 22 1991 14:47

    
    
    	Has anybody done an evaluation of "The Miracle Piano Teaching
    System". I am very interested in learning to play the piano and the
    above seems to fit the bill. It will be launched in the U.K. for AMIGA in
    September and will cost approximately 300 pounds sterling.
    
    It comprises of a keyboard and software, originally designed for the
    Nintendo Entertainment System but now ported to the IBM PC and AMIGA.
    
    Keyboard Specifications:
    
    	-	49 standard-sized velocity-sensitive keys
    	-	128 digitized instruments and sound efects
    	-	Fully MIDI compatible
    	-	Built-in 4" stereo speakers
    	-	RCA jacks to connect to home HIFI system
    	-	Plays up to 16 notes and up to 8 different instruments at a
   		time.
    	-	Split keyboard can provide different sounds for left and
   		right hands.
    	-	Stereo earphones includes for private practice
    	-	Sustain pedal for realistic piano performance.
    
    Software Specification:
    
    	-	Toolworks Orchestra - play songs with full orchestral
    		accompaniment
    	-	Rythm Practice
    	-	Note Practice
    	-	Ripchord - video game teaches chords
    	-	Aliens - video game teaches melody recognition
    	-	Shooting Gallery - video game teaches note reading
    	-	Demonstration - The Miracle plays the piece for you to help
    		you learn
    	-	Improved Accompaniment
    	-	Flashcards - Quick and easy drill teaches music theory
    	-	Songs (100)
    	-	Lessons (250)
    	-	Progress Tracking - Automatically tracks the progress of
    		multiple students
    	-	Mouse suppport
    	-	Volume control
    	-	Enhanced Graphics
    	-	Certificates - prints achievement certificates
    	-	Music Recorder - record & playback your own music
    	-	Sight Reading - creates new exercises to develop
    		your sight-reading skills.
    	-	Adjustable Metronome
    	-	Hypertext
    	-	Add-on Song Collections
    
    
    If anyone has tested such a system or a similar system please reply to
    this note or mail me at MACNAS::MERLEHAN
    
    
    Regards
    
    	Colm
    

There was a flurry of activity concerning that system in the COMMUSIC conference
a few months back. Not very heavily based on experience with the system, as I
recall, but perhaps useful to you.

Didn't know it had been ported to the Amiga; that's interesting.

Bob

    I've been on the lookout for a MIDI keyboard and interface for quite a
    while now (in spite of apparent difficulties using a MIDI interface
    under KS/WB 1.3.2) and this caught my eye when it appeared for the
    Nintendo.
    
    The biggest deterrent has been price.  I'm only a hacker (at best), so
    I don't have any interest in making a major investment.  It looks like
    I should visit DNEAST::COMMUSIC to see what they have to say.

>in spite of apparent difficulties using a MIDI interface
>    under KS/WB 1.3.2)

HUH?

    Re .3:
    
�   >in spite of apparent difficulties using a MIDI interface
�   >    under KS/WB 1.3.2)
�   
�   HUH?
    
    I'm also a DMCS user.  There's a discussion in another note about an
    incompatibility between DMCS and the 1.3.2 version of serial.device
    when it comes to handling MIDI interfaces.  As I understand it, the
    1.3.2 version allows multiple devices to be supported, but does so by
    using reserved fields that DMCS smashes (it was written for an earlier
    version), causing GURUs at DMCS shutdown time.  One can install the
    earlier version to avoid visits from the GURU (or one can use a
    different music program).

Relying on DMCS to drive a MIDI is probably not the best way to go.  I've tried 
it once or twice with poor results.  Instead, you could use a relatively inex-
pensive program specifically designed for MIDI work (I use Tiger Cub.)

That worked fine on my A500 and is now working on the 3000 as well.

Tony

P.S., try MED (shareware) to see how you like it.  

    Is the miracle piano system available in the states for Amiga??? This
    is the first that I have heard of it.

    I saw a couple of the Miracle keyboard units at Memory Location on
    Friday.  Their price is about $425, with software, cables, etc. for
    Amiga.