Thanks Noel

Before I do as you suggested I have a couple of comments.

I don't need to prove that pressing a qwerty key will generate then start the song. In fact, since i am having trouble using a piano keyboard press to do this, I always use a foot switch programmed with "space bar" and this works every time with no Access Violation.

I am not sure what you mean by "see if a MIDI key from your Roland will start playback" The Roland synth has no keys and I can always start playback using my computer keyboard. It's just that I always get an access violation if I keep playing the piano while it is connected to the computer and I never get this if I simply stop playing the piano.

I sometimes wonder if I am the only person using a piano keyboard to start BIAB songs becuaue I never hear it mentioned.

Tony