Disklavier

Sounds like you got a very nice piano.  I am surprised though, that you can 
play MIDI files from your computer on it.  I thought that control box only 
plays ESEQ files (Yamaha proprietary).  Perhaps it also plays MIDI format 0 
files, but the tech manual only indicates ESEQ files.
Like PianoBench says, that control box only uses the older double density, 
IBM format (720k) disks.  I think you have to use any old PC with DOS to use 
utility software that will create disks with ESEQ files, or to convert MIDI 
files to ESEQ format.  I don't believe there is any software that runs on a 
Mac that will do that.  Would be nice, though!

There is a combination of buttons you press to format a disk in that unit.  
I forgot what it is.  Maybe it was pushing the Power button at the same time 
you press Play. or Stop, or something like that.  Perhaps someone with a 
similar unit can look it up and post it.

The easiest thing to do though, would be to get a DSR1 unit.

I know from taking the pedal assembly apart a few times that there are nice 
little connectors already on the pedal solenoids.  Perhaps Yamaha could 
offer you a schematic and help with an alternative connection.

Carol Beigel


>From: wsc@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@...
>Subject: [disklavier] newbie questions
>Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 22:34:58 -0400
>
>hello
>
>I've just joined the group -- my used 1994 MX88 upright arrived a couple of
>nights ago.  I bought it via eBay for $3999 from a dealer in Dayton, Ohio
>(I'll post this on the database soon).  Not the brightest way ot buy a
>piano, but it seems to be in fine condition -- all the notes play, the tone
>is quite good and even the tuning is surprisingly good considering that it
>came 1000 miles on a truck. It came with a few PianoSoft disks, and they
>play without problems.  The volume control works well. I've been able to
>play midi files directly from my iBook laptop using a MicroLogic Av
>sequencer.  So I'm quite happy with the purchase so far.
>
>The manual that came with it is for a later model.  I've ordered the right
>one (same as for MX80) from Yamaha, but if anyone is familiar with this age
>group of disklaviers, would you mind answering a few questions while i wait
>for the manual?  Or can you steer me towards FAQs -- the Yamaha site didn't
>seem to be of much use.
>
>The control unit is a DKC5R.  There is no "function" button, so how do I
>initiate formatting a floppy disk?  I use a Mac, and if I put one of them
>in the drive, it reads "unformatted disk"  -- perhaps a PC format disk will
>work as is?
>A floppy of Christmas songs was in the drive when it arrived.  I opened it
>on my computer via PC Exchange, and it contained standard PC midi files.
>As an experiment, I tried putting some of my midi files on that disk, but
>the disklavier refused them, saying "convert disk."  How is that done?
>When I put the PC files back on the disk, the same "convert" message came
>up.
>
>What is the best midi file type for disklavier, type 0 or 1?  Is there a
>conversion utility for Macs to convert midi to E Seq?
>
>I'm a paraplegic -- I've only played digital pianos up 'til now, since I
>can control the sustain pedal on them using a mercury tilt switch on a
>headband. I'm hoping to jack into the pedal solenoid circuit on the
>disklavier to use the same head/pedalling technique.  I'll have it done by
>a technician, but the first one I talked to wasn't sure how to do it.  Are
>there any techie types out there who could make some suggestions about how
>to proceed?
>
>Thanks for any help.
>
>Winfield Clark
>
>New Boston, NH
>
>




_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com