Disklavier

At the moment, you cannot convert a MarkIIXG Pro to a MarkIIIPro.  I noticed 
on the Yamaha web site the the MarkIIIPros come in two models - the DC3APro 
with CD and a DC3Pro without CD.  Just switching out the control boxes will 
not do the trick.

Any piano with a MarkIII Silent system will also have the new jacks in the 
piano action.  For 300 years, the escapement design is what has set the 
piano apart from any other keyboard instrument.  This is what makes a piano 
able to repeat notes very fast, and the ability to control the loudness and 
softness when playing.  The new jacks have a double bump so that the keys 
feel the same to your fingers when the Silent mode in turned on.  This is 
just absolutely a huge design improvement.

MarkIIIs with CD players also come with speakers and an audio amplifier.  If 
you connect speakers to a MarkIIXG system, you need to connect to "powered" 
speakers because there is no amplifier.  This MarkIII amplifier can be 
connected to your home stereo system and you can play regular audio CDs from 
a multi-disk changer module through your piano.  There is also the ability 
to turn the piano keys off and send the piano parts throughout your home 
speaker system - although your would be listening to the tone generator and 
not the actual strings on your piano. You can create audio as well as Midi 
performances of your own piano playing.

To archive a piano performance on a MarkIII in audio, you would put the 
MarkIII into Silent Mode and send the keyboard data through the audio out on 
the amplifier to a tape deck.  You could then take the audio data from the 
tape you just made into your home computer and create a .wav file that you 
could burn to an audio CD.  I helped a piano teacher do this on her new 
MarkIII so that each of her students could give their parents an audio cd 
for Christmas.

The MarkIII CD player will play the QRS and PianoDisc CDs.  The QRS CD 
player will not play Yamaha CDs.  You can play QRS CDs on a MarkIIXG by 
buying the converter from QRS, but you will not be able to play Yamaha CDs.  
I have this system on my own MarkIIXG.  I use their analog to digital 
converter and a Sony Walkman CD player.

You cannot connect a new Yamaha CD unit, the DCD1 to a MarkIIXG and play the 
Yamaha CDs.  You can, however, add it to a MarkIII play only system that did 
not have a CD player.  I believe it will also work on a a MarkIII upright, 
but you would need to have powered speakers or your home stereo system to 
hear the singing. Those MarkIII models where you can add this DCD1 will let 
you play regular audio CDs and Yamaha CDs, but NOT have the Piano Smart 
capability.

If you want a piano with a Silent System, buy one with it already installed 
because you cannot do it later.  If you want a MarkIII with all its 
features, buy a MarkIII with them already installed because you will not be 
able to exactly duplicate it later from a MarkIIXG.  Same thing goes for the 
Pro!

Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...





>From: MELAMAT@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] Re: Is it possible to upgrade MarkII-XG to Mark 
>III?
>Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 18:16:18 EST
>
>John:
>
>Thanks for the detailed feedback. Any idea of what the street price without
>installation is for the DKC55RCD? I should be able to plug it in myself
>unless a technician must calibrate it to the piano. I don't have a
>calibration manual but likely could perform that operation if I had one. I
>have already downloaded and upgraded the firmware once on my DS6Pro.
>
>Another option which I was considering is the QRS unit which allows playing
>other piano/vocal/instrumental CD's from Baldwin and others (Except for the
>Yamaha custom format). The advanatge is that a standard CD player with a
>carousel can be used. The disadvantage is the increased clutter of more
>electronic equipment around the piano.
>
>Any thoughts or words of caution.
>
>
>Mel Amato
>


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