Features of a VC MIDI Assistant Utility

The project, which is carried out in collaboration with the Finnish VC company Xenex Telecom, aims at improving the usability of Xenex' distance piano software. The Xenex product combines video conferencing with piano playing over ISDN. Two acoustic Yamaha Disklavier or PianoDisk equipped instruments are communicating through MIDI over IP.

It is difficult for music teachers to operate the current distance piano system without extensive training. The improvements aim at a better user interface and easier operation through the following upgrades:

• Fullscreen virtual keyboard with more octaves, blowing up the size to suit VC graphics
• Automated muting of microphone and incoming audio
• Integration with RAS dial-up automation

There are also some long term aims which will be dealt with in due time:

• Implementation of IETF's MIDI protocol
• Real low-level synchronization of MIDI and video streams

The project is an offshoot of the author's NetMeeting MIDI Combo utility and it will include many of the same features as the original software. The development work is carried out during preparation for the Syllabus Conference 28.-29.07.2003 in San José.

-- Ph. Donner, 29.05.2003