Piano Technology & Digital Applications 2

Question 1

Which file format is most commonly used to distribute digital sheet music that preserves layout fidelity across devices?

Accepted Answer

PDF

Answer

PDF preserves the visual layout of sheet music exactly as intended across all devices and printers.

Question 2

In digital audio workstations (DAWs), what does 'latency' refer to in the context of a MIDI keyboard?

Accepted Answer

The delay between pressing a key and hearing the sound

Answer

Latency is the time delay between a MIDI input action and the resulting audio output, critical for real-time performance.

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of an audio interface when recording piano into a computer?

Accepted Answer

To convert analog audio signals into digital data the computer can process

Answer

An audio interface handles analog-to-digital conversion, providing high-quality recording with low latency.

Question 4

Which notation software feature allows a pianist to slow down playback while practicing a difficult passage without changing pitch?

Accepted Answer

Tempo scaling

Answer

Tempo scaling reduces playback speed while maintaining the original pitch, useful for learning fast passages.

Question 5

What does 'velocity' represent in a MIDI piano performance?

Accepted Answer

The force with which a key is pressed, affecting volume

Answer

MIDI velocity is a value (0–127) corresponding to how hard a key is struck, which controls note loudness.

Piano Practice Test