Disklavier

Good evening, everyone.

Answers to Doug's questions below:

On Jan 17, 2014, at 9:32 AM, <douglas.macnaughtan@...> <douglas.macnaughtan@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Yamaha Disklavier MKII XG
> Serial No: 5533834 (1997)
> Model MPX 100 II XG
> Control Box DKC 500R
> 
> I should like to know if this can be easily upgraded to a DKC850 and if my Disklavier is capable of accessing all the functions of this Control Box?

In the case of Mark IIXG and Mark III Disklaviers, the upgrade is incredibly simple. The kit comes with all the cables you need and detailed, easy-to-follow instructions. All functions of the box will be available to you.


> Please could a member explain to me how this Control Box "reads" normal audio CDs and "converts" them to play through my Disklavier?  I am at a loss to understand how normal digital audio on a CD can be converted to MIDI to play on a Disklavier.  Is the resultant performance (assuming solo piano CD) as accurate as the original?  Does full piano key movement take place?


The CD drive does not convert audio data to MIDI data to drive the piano. The CD drive is used for either of 2 purposes:

(1) Play specially encoded CDs (called PianoSoft Plus Audio) which have MIDI data encoded as audio data on the right channel and normal audio on the left channel. The Disklavier reads the encoded MIDI and responds by playing the piano. The regular audio data is sent to the speakers.

(2) There is a feature that lets you record a piano part while listening to a CD. When you play back the CD, the recorded piano part will play synchronously.

Yamaha sells special MIDI performances that similarly play along with paired CDs, in this case, commercially-available audio CDs. This is called Smart PianoSoft.

Regards,
PianoBench