Disklavier

Good evening, everyone.

This week, Yamaha announced at the NAMM (National Association of Music 
Merchants) show that it will be providing a feature update to the DCD1 so 
that it can play Smart PianoSoft software when used with a compatible 
Disklavier control unit. Smart PianoSoft software is the software that 
combines commercial CDs (that you purchase separately) with floppy disk-based 
piano recordings. Currently, Yamaha has about 500 software titles of this 
sort already for sale or in the pipeline for sale in the near future.

The update has not been finalized, but sometime in the next few months, there 
will be a flash memory upgrade for the DCD1 provided on floppy disk or as a 
download. To install the update and to use the DCD1 in this new way, you will 
need to attach two MIDI cables between the DCD1 and your Disklavier control 
unit. The update disk will run from the control unit.

Compatible control units include the DSR1, the Mark IIXG vintage Disklavier 
Pro, Mark IIXG Disklaviers that have the SmartKey feature, and Mark IIXG 
Disklaviers that have the EMK1 expanded memory kit installed. Any other 
owners of a Mark IIXG vintage Disklaviers should be able to upgrade their 
control unit for this purpose by adding the EMK1 memory kit first.

The good news about this is that the most of the latest features associated 
with CD-based software can be made available to all Disklaviers. Owners of 
the early models (MX100AorB, Wagon Grand, MX80 series, and Mark II) can use 
the DCD1 with this update if they have a DSR1.

This update does not include the ability to transpose the playback of the 
DCD1 or to tune the playback--features that are available on the Mark III 
system.

Regards,
PianoBench