CNET Editors' review
Sweet Little Piano attempts to turn your computer keyboard into a virtual piano. The sheer novelty of it makes it fun to play around with, but don't expect to get the real experience of playing an instrument or use this as a practical alternative to the piano.
Once installed, the program's main interface appears as a tiny window containing a blueprint of your keyboard and the notes each key represents. As we tapped away on our keyboard, the notes played accordingly. However, while the notes were in the correct order, it was awkward to try and play a song since the computer keyboard doesn't exactly match the piano keyboard. You can switch the interface's display to either sharps or flats, and the keyboard layout between piano, accordion, and chromatic, but there's still not an exact match for what you'll see on the instrument's keyboard. If the sounds of a piano don't suit you, you can select from a long list of musical instrument sounds to mimic, such as a guitar, violin, and flute.
The program contains a built-in Help feature, but since it utilizes Windows Help format, Vista users won't be able to access it. If you're bored, and the idea of using your keyboard to play musical notes appeals to you, this free program is a fun download. But if you're looking for a means to play actual songs, you might want to look for a different program.
Publisher's Description
From Roni Music:
Allows the computer keyboard to act as, either a piano, an accordion keyboard or a chromatic wave bank trigger. Pressing a computer key will generate a MIDI note and send it to the device selected (a sound card or any other MIDI device). Different aspects of the MIDI message generated may be changed with different menu commands, keyboard commands and the control bars. Sweet Little Piano will work with all Windows programs that use standard Windows MIDI drivers for input.
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All versions:
3.0 starsout of 4 votes
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Current version:
3.0 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-4 of 4
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"My kids love it!"
Version: Sweet Little Piano 2.04
Pros
I downloaded this for my kids and they love it! I took it off when I was cleaning up the harddrive and now I have to download it again.
Cons
Being free, it does have limitations. The paid version has a lot more functionality. Not really a con, just "you get what you pay for."
Summary
Great program for kids!
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"Good, simple, and free program"
Version: Sweet Little Piano 2.04
Pros
Has good versatility for a program that's free. I also appreciate the ability to use the mouse and well as the keyboard.
Cons
Not at all a full program loaded with features (this is free after all).
Summary
This is simply a program to get a feel for some music without having use a full piano or pay a chunk of change for a fully loaded program.
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"reaction time is just too slow"
Version: Sweet Little Piano 2.04
Pros
it's ok for a beginner.
Cons
Too slow of reactions for anyone who actually plays music. The delay from keypress to audio sounding is perhaps a 20th of a second which is very frustrating.
Summary
not worth it for even an amature pianist.
For a beginner, ok enough -
"Great for play, but get too excited."
Version: Sweet Little Piano 2.04
Pros
Clear sound...well as clear as midi can get. Easy to use and start. Doesnt have that many bugs, like son of its counterparts (like that pianofx mess). Best of all its free
Cons
Since you're using your computer keyboard, layouts are often weird. Midi sound is never an ideal sound. Issues with playing several notes at once (max is four but depending on the placement of the note you might not be able to play it which is weird)
Summary
Great for messing around when you're board, but never to record. This freeware is amongst the best I've seen on CNET. Layout is pretty, and its not and actual keyboard look. Its a bunch of notes (letters only) and you choose whether its sharps or flats and play away. It free, so no password or trial. Help doesnt work for some reason. I really do understand why it wont let me play chords in a certain way (i was trying to play a B-half diminished chords and the A i choose wouldnt sound, unless i release the 8va B, or played a different A in a different 8va). Other than these minor tech issues and its small size (idk which A this is but ima guess and say it starts on A4 and ends on D6. this may be wrong again, im not good with the numbers of 8vas). Im guessing because it is free, so features were omitted, like record, loop, and some other like frills. Again a great, fun, free, and ease to use program with a few drawbacks.
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