Answers below:
On Mar 6, 2014, at 7:44 PM, <steno7777@...> <steno7777@...> wrote:
Hello,
i own a great disklavier mx100a since many years and i just discovered this great forum.Some questions...1) Has anyone experienced any problem connecting both midi in and out with computer ? It seems that my disklavier works properly only if i connect just midi in or midi out...when both are connected to midi interface, some strange messages and not all notes are played correctly. When i disconnect one of the midi connector from the interface, the behaviour is ok. Is it normal? Is my mx100a "broken" or too old? Any firmware update i may request? I know it's not flash - upgradable...it needs eprom replacement or reprogramming, but it's not a problem for me.
Please tell us more detail about what is going on when you connect a MIDI interface. If you use only the MIDI In connection, can you successfully play MIDI data from an external source, such as a computer?
If you only use the MIDI Out connection, can you successfully transmit MIDI data to an external source?
What is your external source? Are you running a particular MIDI software program?
I am suspicious that you have created a MIDI loop in which MIDI data is transmitted from your piano to the MIDI interface at which point one of two things happens: (1) the MIDI interface immediately loops the data back to the piano or (2) a computer software program loops the MIDI data back to the piano.
There are a small number of MIDI interfaces that have a two-position toggle switch on the side. When the switch is in one position, MIDI data that is received from the MIDI In side of the interface is immediately directed to the MIDI Out side. In the other position, MIDI data that is received from the MIDI In side of the interface is transmitted to the computer.
Many MIDI software programs have a function called MIDI Echo or MIDI Thru. If that feature is on, any MIDI data that is received by the program is immediately sent to the designated MIDI output device.
2) Is it possible that the only way of using midi connectors is putting an empty floppy inside the floppy disk drive? No other way to work with midi connectors?
3) Is it possible to use a module for disk lavier markIII (also rewiring it if the cabling is not the same) ? I may take one from a friend that upgraded his markIII to dkc-850... i know it may require some extra wiring and cabling but if anyone made it, i would appreciate if he could help me doing that...thanks.
Hypothetically, you can use a DKC-850 with your instrument. You would connect it to your piano with MIDI cables. Your old control unit would have to be turned on and a floppy disk inserted. Beyond that, you would interact with the DKC-850.
This replacement control unit gives you similar user features to an E3 Disklavier. However, it does nothing to change the functionality of the piano's current record and playback system, and when it is connected to a Disklavier with MIDI cables, certain E3 features, such as DisklavierRadio, are note available.
I hasten to point out that Yamaha has NOT advertised the DKC-850 as being compatible with or recommended for the Wagon Grand, MX100A&B, or MX80 series. My personal opinion, however, is that if you are into the concept of "modding" your piano, then this is the control unit to get.
I have not used a DKC-850 with this model of Disklavier. It would be very interesting for someone to replace your Disklavier's floppy drive with an emulator that makes the instrument appear as though it is always ready to transmit and receive MIDI data, and then control it with the DKC-850.
I should point out that the DKC-850 has only one set of pair of MIDI ports which would be used to connect to the piano in this case. That means that the MIDI ports would not be available to connect to an external device. However, the DKC-850 also has a USB MIDI feature that enables you to connect to a computer using a simple USB device cable (the same cable that you would use to connect to a USB printer).
4) Is there any way to "mod" an mx100a to improve midi capabilities and is there any "mod" for eprom firmware modifications that anyone did ? (for example avoiding putting a floppy inside or others)
Regards,
PianoBench
Thanks!