Disklavier

Well, Fred, this is where the Owner's Manuals come in real handy!  I will 
try to respond as best I can under each question:

From: "fkagel" <fkagel@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [disklavier] Pianosoft Plus
>Date: Sat, 05 Jul 2003 19:33:26 -0000
>
>Hi,
>
>I (really my wife) is the proud new owner of a Mark III Disklavier
>and am really excited about it. I am the technical assistant. I have
>a few questions and I hope I don't get carried away so soon. It is a
>great player piano, but we are interested in recording.

Disklaviers (DKVs) are the most marvelous things since sliced bread.  Glad 
to know you are enjoying yours!  I think you may want to become acquainted 
with the software called Band In A Box from www.pgmusic.com

>First a simple question: What does it mean Audio/Midi In on the RCA
>input jack of the Sound Controller? Isn't it all audio whereas the 5-
>pin DIN is the MIDI data in? What good is it if the MIDI in can't
>sync in real time. We have to mute the MIDI source even with the Key
>Delay turned off and that still is not satisfactory.

Audio In means that is where you would connect the CD player on your stereo 
system.  You would want to do this if the CD on your DKV broke.  The MIDI on 
the PianoSoft CDs is converted analog signal.
Version 4.45 of the software syncs MIDI keyboard playing to any commercial 
CD.  Check your version by holding down the Play button when you power up.

What is this MIDI source that you are muting?  MIDI should come in thru 
either the MIDI In or the To Host port.  Only MIDI data from a CD comes in 
thru the Audio In.

>More advanced q's:
>
>1) Does anyone know what software is used to create the Pianosoft
>Plus CDs?

It is proprietary Yamaha software.  I don't think there is any commercially 
available software that will do the analog to MIDI (or is it vice versa?) 
conversions.

>2) Is it possible to mute the audio/vocal track of the PS+ CDs?

Yes.  Just turn the volume knob on the left (box under keyboard where the 
Silent feature turns on).  Piano will play but you will hear no singing or 
MIDI.  The music on the CDs comes thru a different amplifier than the 
Ensemble sounds on MIDI floppy disks.
>
>3) Is it possible to capture/record just the midi/instrumentation of
>the CD for playback on Disklavier?

I don't think so.  MIDI information on a CD has been converted.  You can, 
however, capture any MIDI information that comes to you on a floppy disk.

>4) Is there some legitimate way to copy these PS+ CDs?

Yes.  Use any CD disk copy program that you would to copy any other CD on 
your computer.  These are not called "copies" but "back-ups" for your own 
use :-)

>
>5) With Smart Key and a PS+ CD, we can record in sync and play back
>(very nice), but can't from the floppy or memory disk.

What are you recording to?  Oviously, if you are able to "play back" it got 
recorded on either a floppy disk or a memory disk.  The MIDI time code only 
works with the CD.  Copyrighted files from PianoSoft can be copied onto the 
Memory disks, but not back out to your own disks.  You would use the dkvutil 
(disk copy) to "backup" your Pianosoft floppies.  The program is located in 
the Files section of this website, but dkvcopy only works in real DOS, not 
virtual DOS.  Won't work with Windows NT or XP.


 >Haven't tried
>it, but is it possible to put MIDI on the CD and record in sync from
>the keyboard.

Not yet, for Yamaha Disklaviers.  Cannot put MIDI files on a CD and expect 
the DKV to play them.  I do believe you can record several tracks at once.  
Put the MIDI data you already have on one track, and record your piano 
playing on another track. Look in the Owners Manual about over dubbing and 
merging tracks.


Carol Beigel

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