Quick Links
- Download the MKey plugin: (download).
- Using the MKey plugin (go there).
- Using the MKey KeyMapper (go there).
MKey V1.01
MKey is a small VST plugin that allows you to use your PC keyboard as a MIDI control keyboard. It forms part of the adbe MVelope MIDI tool kit along with the MP5 pattern arpeggiator, the MChord chord generator, the MPulse MIDI CC LFO, and the MWay MIDI Router.
What does it do?
MKey simply allows you to play MIDI devices from your PC keyboard. It is probably of most use to laptop owners who do not wish to carry an extra controller synth around with them.
Unlike many other keyboard plugins, MKey uses a low level keyboard hook to allow it to trap key presses even when the MKey window is not being displayed. This means you can be editing synth patches on a VSTi and MKey will continue to convert your key presses to notes.
MKey supports fast toggling of regular and MIDI keyboard mode by using the caps lock key. When the caps lock mode is active, MKey switches to MIDI mode, and when it is off, your keyboard will behave as normal.
A further feature of MKey is that limited velocity control can be achieved by holding down either the ALT or CTRL buttons whilst playing. Normal keystrokes will be treated as medium velocity, whilst keystrokes with the CTRL key held down will produce a softer note, and keystrokes with the ALT key held down will create a louder note.
New : user customisable key maps
You can use the included Keymapper program to create your own keyboard layouts. Use this if your keyboard layout does not correspond well with US/UK style keyboards, or if you wish to have more specific control over key functions.
Each key can be assigned to be one of the following:
- Piano Note (sends the note of your choice to the host sequencer).
- Transpose (use this key to transpose your working scale).
- Nudge Transpose (the same as above but the transpose resets when the key is released).
- All Notes Off (if you want a panic button, here it is).
- Ignored (the key is passed through to the host - useful for transport controls etc.).
- Replaced (the key triggers a key combination of your choice to be sent to the host).
- Unassigned (the key does nothing and is blocked from reaching the host).
What do I need to use MKey?
Your sequencer or host must support VST plugins, and specifically it must support MIDI only plugins. If you host does not allow MIDI output from a VST plugin to be passed to another plugin then MWay will work but you will not be able to use it for anything much. Consult your sequencer's manual for information on passing MIDI data from plugins to other plugins.
Installing MKey
Download the zip file below, and copy the MKey.dll to your VST plugins folder. The Keymapper.exe file should be placed somewhere else on your hard drive. There are a few included key map files (.kmp files), place these in the VST plugins folder where the MKey.dll file was placed.
Using MKey
Load the MKey plug into your sequencer, and set its' output to go to the desired VSTi. In Tracktion, for example, you simply need to place MKey before the VSTi you wish to play in the filter list. Once you have MKey open, simply turn on the Caps Lock mode and press a few keys on your keyboard. By default 'q' is mapped to Middle C, so try pressing this first. You can change the velocity of the played note by holding down CTRL, or ALT when pressing a key.
For more detailed documentation on using the MKey plug, click here. For documentation on using the Keymapper, click here.
You can download the plugin here.