Disklavier

Good morning, everyone.

In a message dated 12/13/02 1:51:12 AM, Regarding the titling of song files 
for the CVP Clavinova Ronny asks:

<< Can anybody tell me the syntax of the disk (files) ? 
What should I do to generate a disk like the YAMAHA disk ?
How can I add the song texts to show them during playing ?
Are the any internet pages were I can download complete disks 
with scores ?>>

When displaying song names for Standard MIDI Files, most keyboards will 
display the DOS file name for the MIDI file or the so-called "sequence name 
meta event" that is embeded in the MIDI file. Most sequencers will let you 
enter the sequence name meta event, but they may not identify it as such. I 
suggest that you probe your sequencing software for some dialog box or window 
in which you can give a song name, sequence name, or chunk name.

In addition to what I have mentioned above, some keyboards prefer to read 
song names from a directory file that is stored on the disk--if such is 
present. If such is not present, the keyboard defaults to one of the 
conventions mentioned above. Such directory files are created automatically 
by certain keyboards when you record a song file directly to the disk. If you 
have a disk of existing SMFs, you can sometimes force the creation of a 
directory file by recording a one-note song, saving it, and then deleting it.

A directory file will store titles that you input from the control panel of 
the instrument itself. If you have forced the creation of a directory on a 
disk that has SMFs already on it, the directory may put in song titles 
automatically for the existing songs using DOS file names or sequence name 
meta events.

The file format to which Ronny refers is the CVP directory file. Ronny also 
posted this question on an email list for CVP users. When I first saw the 
question, I thought I would do a quick test of the facts as I know 
them--using a CVP 207--and then give a response. What I discovered in my 
test, however, is that the CVP 200 series seems to have completely changed 
the rules by which the CVP displays song names. In the absence of a directory 
file, it simply names the songs as 01, 02, 03 etc. Or, if there is a DOS name 
given to the disk itself, it lists the songs as disk name 01, disk name 02, 
etc.

I have made inquiries at Yamaha as to what is going on with the CVP file 
names. If I get any info, I'll pass it on. Meanwhile, I suggest that you try 
forcing the CVP to create a directory file for you and also try manually 
titling songs from the CVP control panel. Then, examine the resulting 
directory file on your computer.

Regards,
PianoBench