Keyboards for the Tuneful

Make beautiful music with your computer.

Michael S. Lasky, PC World

Questions or comments? Write to Michael Lasky.

Let's face it: Computer keyboards are utilitarian devices. No matter how many extra features vendors pile onto them, their main function is to input data. Sure, those customizable buttons for Web navigation can be handy, but they don't add that much to our keyboard experience.

The $99 Creative Prodikeys DM (Desktop Musician) does. By combining a 37-key piano-style MIDI controller with a conventional PC keyboard, Creative transforms the prosaic input device into a work and play gadget. I have been doodling with the Prodikeys DM and am constantly finding yet more controls that help me create multilayered music tracks with a higher level of sophistication than my meager musical training might otherwise permit.

Oh, yes, I use the PC keyboard, too. When I am making spreadsheets instead of music, I slip on the included MIDI keyboard cover, which doubles as a comfortable palm rest for the PC keyboard. But the temptation to fool around with the music maker has proven too enticing. I mean, c'mon, it's right there in front of me.

The included Prodikeys DM music software lets me add additional instruments, style the percussion the way I want, and play octaves higher or lower than the device's 37 keys allow (a piano has 88 keys). When my fabulous compositions are complete, I can save them in various digital formats such as wavetable, MP3, and MIDI for later playback. So far my talent hasn't impressed anyone else, though, so it's fortunate that I can fall back on the PC keyboard for more fruitful pursuits.

The software also provides wizards to help beginners learn music notation, scales, and other basics. The MIDI keyboard keys are touch-sensitive and can be customized to three levels of sensitivity. One disappointment, however: The Prodikeys DM connects via a legacy PS/2 only, not the more-common USB port. This prevents me from using the keyboard with my laptop when I'm away from the office.

Oom Pa Pa With Yamaha

After auditioning the Creative double-purpose keyboard, I moved on to Yamaha's Karaoke PSRK1 portable digital keyboard, which works--no, make that plays--with or without a PC. At first glance, this 61-key piano-style keyboard's control panel looks as intimidating as the cockpit of a 747; but after close inspection, a number of well-labeled buttons got me up and singing Billy Joel and Sting songs.

The $400 keyboard comes with a microphone and an 8MB SmartMedia memory card, good for saving about 20 of your renditions of the 100-plus songs built into the unit's internal ROM; of course, you can save more songs if you use a SmartMedia card with more memory. You can also connect to a PC with a USB cable to download songs from the Internet. Yamaha has a fee-based software download site with a wide array of music optimized to exploit the features of the portable keyboard, which includes a backlit LCD screen on the front panel above the keyboard that displays and automatically scrolls the digital sheet music and lyrics so you can play and sing along.

I was particularly taken with the Performance Assistant, a fail-safe button that lets you play along without making a single mistake--even if you have no musical training. But if you've got musical skills, you'll find the PSRK1 keyboard to be a powerful device. It offers a whopping 486 voices, plus reverb and other special effects, and can produce 26 types of harmony. The voices include all the instruments in an orchestra, rock band, and jazz combo, plus some other-worldly ones as well. There are more than 100 different styles of accompaniment, from disco beat and jazz swing to folk and gospel. Using all these options requires some learning and experimentation with the raft of function keys and scroll wheels.

I know I probably haven't hit 15 percent of the capabilities of this keyboard, and for many people the basic karaoke functions might be enough. But left to my devices, this is the type of gadget that will keep me enthralled for months and months--or until I hit the other 85 percent, which ever comes first. Much to the chagrin of my neighbors, of course.