

Synthesia was started around 2006 by Nicholas Piegdon, and was originally named 'Piano Hero'.

It can simulate the piano keyboard on your screen, mapping with the computer keyboard, so as to enable piano enthusiasts who even completely can’t understand the musical. Synthesia (formerly called Piano Hero, changed name to avoid confusion with Guitar Hero) is a very cool, user friendly and lightweight virtual piano game type of software. Synthesia 10.7 for Windows (zip package) Synthesia 10.7 for macOS 10.9 and later. It was originally named Piano Hero, due to the similarity of gameplay with Guitar Hero this was until Activision (the owners of the rights to Guitar Hero) sent a cease and desist to the program's creator, Nicholas Piegdon. Additionally, Synthesia can be paired with MIDI keyboards that have illuminated keys, or with virtualplayer piano on screen, which some people believe makes learning piano easier for beginners. Synthesia is a piano keyboard trainer for Microsoft Windows, IOS, Mac OS X, and Android which allows users to play a MIDI keyboard or use a computer keyboard in time to a MIDI file by following on-screen directions, much in the style of Keyboard Mania or Guitar Hero.
