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OpenMPT VS Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard

Compare OpenMPT VS Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard and see what are their differences

OpenMPT logo OpenMPT

OpenMPT is a popular tracker software for Windows.

Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard logo Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard

Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard is a MIDI events generator and receiver.
  • OpenMPT Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-15

OpenMPT features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    OpenMPT features a straightforward and intuitive interface that even beginners can navigate easily.
  • Free and Open-Source
    OpenMPT is completely free to use and its source code is available under the BSD license, encouraging community contributions and transparency.
  • Wide Range of Formats
    Supports a variety of audio module formats, including MOD, S3M, XM, and IT, making it versatile for different projects.
  • VST Plugin Support
    Allows the use of VST plugins for extended functionality, enabling users to add effects and instruments that are not natively supported.
  • High-Quality Sound Engine
    Provides a high-fidelity sound engine capable of rendering detailed and complex audio compositions.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Available for both Windows and macOS, increasing its accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • Regular Updates
    Receives frequent updates and support from the developer community, ensuring ongoing improvement and bug fixes.

Possible disadvantages of OpenMPT

  • Steep Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, mastering all the features and functionalities can take significant time and effort.
  • Limited Native Effects
    Compared to some competitors, OpenMPT has fewer built-in effects, requiring users to rely on external VST plugins for more advanced audio manipulation.
  • No Native Linux Support
    Does not have an official Linux version, which can be a drawback for users who prefer or exclusively use Linux.
  • Older Tracker Paradigm
    Being a tracker software, it may feel outdated to some users who are accustomed to modern DAWs with different workflows.
  • Resource Intensive
    Heavy projects with multiple tracks and VST plugins can become resource-intensive, potentially causing performance issues on lower-end systems.

Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard features and specs

  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard (VMPK) is available on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users on different platforms to use it seamlessly.
  • Free and Open Source
    VMPK is free to download and use, with its source code available under the GPL license, allowing for customization and community-driven improvements.
  • MIDI Support
    It supports MIDI input and output, enabling it to interface with a wide range of MIDI compatible hardware and software instruments for enhanced functionality.
  • Simple User Interface
    The user interface of VMPK is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it accessible for beginners to get started with MIDI keyboard and piano applications.
  • Customizable Keyboard Layout
    Users can customize the keyboard layout to suit their needs, providing flexibility in terms of key mapping and configuration.

Possible disadvantages of Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial MIDI software, VMPK lacks advanced features such as built-in effects and recording, which might be a limitation for professional use.
  • Basic Visual Design
    The visual design and aesthetics of the software are rather basic, which may not appeal to users looking for a more modern interface.
  • Requires MIDI Knowledge
    Using the full capabilities of VMPK might require some basic understanding of MIDI technology, which can be a barrier for complete beginners.
  • Dependency on Other Software
    Since VMPK is primarily a MIDI controller, it often requires additional software or hardware to produce sound, unlike standalone digital audio workstations with integrated sound libraries.

OpenMPT videos

How to link VST effects in OpenMPT

More videos:

  • Review - About MPT / OpenMPT

Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard videos

Setting up Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard (VMPK)

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Virtual Midi Piano Keyboard - Tracktion T7 Tutorial
  • Review - Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard | Piano virtual multi OS | Programa gratis

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenMPT and Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard)
Audio & Music
67 67%
33% 33
Music
50 50%
50% 50
Music Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Audio
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using OpenMPT and Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenMPT should be more popular than Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard. It has been mentiond 25 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenMPT mentions (25)

  • need help finding these wav files.
    The bottom of the page says it's on The Mod Archive. What format is the song in? If it's still in its original modular format (as opposed to rendered to MP3 or WAV) you should be able to open it in OpenMPT and save the samples from there. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • wind ohs eggs pee
    The software that is used to make the music is (likely) OpenMPT, which is a software I use quite often for making Tracker Music. Tracker music is a really fun form of music software to work with if you don't know how music notes work but do know how computers work. If you want an example of how Tracker Music sounds, check out Dues Ex's title theme, which was composed entirely with a older tracker. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Are there any DAWs with something similar to Audacity's "Audio Selection Sequencer 2" plugin?
    There is also a type of app that is more sophisticated than Audio Selection Sequencer2, but simpler than a typical DAW sequencer. The type of application that I'm thinking of is called a "Tracker". Music Trackers were very popular back in the '90's, but their popularity has declined considerably since DAWs became common on PCs. One of the few music trackers that still exists is OpenMPT https://openmpt.org/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • does anyone know of a good daw that replicates the snes sound chips?
    When making mockups I typically use OpenMPT. With the 8-tap Sinc Resampler: Kaizer Window Filter at 72%(?) bandwidth. Didn't test it extensively for accuracy but it outputs a warm sound not unlike the SNES, bass becomes "plastic" in a similar fashion. For echo I just use the default Direct X Audio Effects Echo plugin but it's inaccurate. Another thing with OpenMPT is it has a decent sample editor so you can work... Source: over 2 years ago
  • How did you get into microtonal?
    My music theory teacher mentioned that in the days before 12 equal that G# and Ab were not the same pitch. IIRC he said that G# was lower than Ab. That was enough to send me down the microtonal Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole once years later I got my hands on something that could let me explore tuning other than 12 equal - and that was a music tracker. This is one that survives to this day and now has native... Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard mentions (5)

  • How can I get Ableton to register a USB typing keyboard as a MIDI device?
    Maybe something like this? https://vmpk.sourceforge.io. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Korg ix300 - SySex messages issue
    Second. Are you sending and recovering normal MIDI Notes okay? This rules out most connectivity issues between your OS, software and hardware. You can use Pocket MIDI and VMPK to test this out. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Can I connect my piano to a piano in game via MIDI
    Emulate midi input. Run a loopback midi driver and a program that can send (and optionally receive) midi. For example, you can run LoopBe1 and VMPK. This setup also works for people without a midi keyboard; they can use a conventional keyboard to provide input to VMPK, which will then generate the midi notes for LoopBe1 (which VRChat will pick up). Just make sure that the Midi Output Driver in VMPK is set to... Source: over 3 years ago
  • MAME 0.233
    VMPK (https://vmpk.sourceforge.io/) is handy too - it's a virtual MIDI keyboard that you can use to play some of the stuff in MAME if you don't have a real MIDI keyboard of some sort. Works on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • What composers do game developers follow?
    I found this: Https://vmpk.sourceforge.io. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenMPT and Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard, you can also consider the following products

Sibelius - Sibelius is a virtual score creation tool which allows composers to easily create new piano scores, developed by Avid.

Perfect Piano - Perfect Piano is a smartphone app designed to teach players how to play and record piano songs of...

Guitar Pro - Create, play and share your tabs

Free Piano - FreePiano is a virtual MIDI keyboard and a VST host for windows.

LilyPond - GNU LilyPond is a computer program for music engraving.

EveryonePiano - Everyone Piano is the best free computer keyboard piano software, which supports downloading 3 types of music score formats like stave, right and left hand numbered musical notation and EOP file.