Prodikeys is a music and computer keyboard. It was created by Singaporean audio company Creative Technology. So far, three different versions of Prodikeys have been launched: Creative Prodikeys, Creative Prodikeys DM and Creative Prodikeys PC-MIDI.
The products are computer keyboards, extended by 37 mini-sized MIDI keyboard at the bottom. The MIDI keyboard is placed under a detachable palm cover. Prodikeys can also be used as a MIDI controller for third-party MIDI software. It supports Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Linux, but is incompatible with newer versions of Windows or Mac OS. [1] [2]
Prodikeys gained popularity on the Internet after one of its product demonstration videos went viral after its release in 2003; in it, Paul Seow shows the keyboard's keys functioning as drum pads by playing a simple rock beat, but eventually culminating in an unexpected drum solo. [3] [4] [5]
The products are shipped with an additional software. It includes the following features:
The Prodikeys DM has one single mini-DIN connector for the PS/2 port and is therefore detected as a regular typing keyboard. The included Windows software communicates with the keyboard driver in order to send and receive MIDI data over the PS/2 line.
This protocol has been partly reverse-engineered, [6] making it possible to use the Prodikeys DM on a regular USB port using an Arduino microcontroller as an adaptor.
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