Disklavier

Carol Beigel a écrit :

> I have seen Disklaviers used in theatre work.  Your singer could
play a few
> notes, then the Disklavier could be controlled remotely through a MIDI
> connection. It worked at the Kennedy Center.  Or you could just hide the
> remote control where she could press Play and start the accompaniment
> instead of a key that "shows up".  

You are right, and that' what we do now. One of the problems left, as
far as "Le piano de Nanette" is concerned, is that we sometimes have
to use a very long cable (some 120 feet long...) going from from the
DKV control box that our sound and light tech  manipulates, to the
stage. Most of the time we do not need that length, so we use a 60
feet cable, and  add another 60 feet cable whenever necessary. But
during the rehearsal we've had a few problems, with the control box
suddenly going crazy, off and on, and I still fear itmight happen in a
performance. I could not use a midi cable with "amplifiers" because
the control box is a very good tool to control the DKV (Hurrah Yamaha
!), an I did not want to tour with a computer this time.

> For some silly reason, I don't think
> Yamaha is being secretive - it's just knowing who to ask.  

I guess that's my problem...  I kept asking to the wrong people I am
afraid. And Yamaha Europe is in Belgium, they simply do not have a web
site... 

> Most Disklavier
> technicians and salespeople don't even know what sysex codes are. Maybe
> PianoBench could help you to make your own SmartKey arrangements as he
> probably knows more about Yamaha MIDI than anyone else.

I've been into computer music for quite a while, and composed music on
synthesizer for some 50 theatre productions here. Then 10 years ago I
stopped doing that because I was tired of  computers pretending to be
violins... <G>  Then when I had the opportunity to buy a DKV, I  was
so happy : I could have the best of both worlds !
Now I must admit that in ten years, one loses tracks in computer
music. The new  concepts in sequencer programming - like object
programming - are quite difficult  for me to deal with. I was in a
hurry and  did my best to make music, using very simple tools (my
hands as one, excuse me as two... ;-) ) leaving the  computer tasks
for a more relaxed atmosphere. I will do that now !
I guess the smartkey system is not THAT complicated. I can think of
ways to do the job without using it. But  I am thrilled by the idea of
giving the actors a way to decide themselves when the music comes in.
I hate to tell the actors that they are free to improvise onstage,
within limits of course, then tell them that, as soon as the music
comes in, controlled by the sound tech, they will have to obey it and
transform themselves into CD-player-controlled-robots. The DKV was, to
me, a first step in liberating the actor from that point of view... I
see now that I am still a few steps behind ! But I like it, anyway.
(and I am even further away from getting enough money to buy me a live
orchestra, which would be heaven !)

Fortunately,  Jorge Fernandez sent me -and the group-  the address of
 Yamaha UK site, full of very interesting links about Midi and the XG
format tutors. I am still searching through it all, and hope I will
find what I need.

> BTW, neither Maintenance Mode or Test Mode are no big secrets to access.
> The only reason they aren't included in your owner's manual is that
if you
> press the wrong button  you can put the piano into the wrong language or
> worse yet, tell your DKV it is the wrong model and nothing would
play right!
> Like most mechanical things you buy, these modes really don't have any
> "user" functions.

I totally agree with you. I sometimes use the "auto calibrating
function" (not sure of the name, because the piano is actually on
tour, and I do not have an access to it).  I guess it might be useful
 because of the number of moves the piano endures, bravely and almost
without complaints...  It's a pretty good, pretty solid piano !

>
> Until you find your sysex codes, why don't you explore some of the other
> capabilities of the DKV like remote access, time-delayed start, the foot
> pedal switch, etc.  

I am afraid ther's no pedal switch on the DU1A. The remote control
will not do as the tech undestandably  insists on knowing the title
(or  number) of the music he's gonna cue in.   The Cue Time and
Smartkey systems seemed to be very good answers to my problems, but I
lack the precise informations on how to use them. For example,
regarding cue-time, I would love to design a simple electro-mechanical
device -like a barrel organ of some sort- to let an actor control the
tempo of the music played by the DKV. I made a prototype of that for
use with a midi sequencer, controlling the SMPTE code, some 10 years
ago, but then I stopped using synthesizers and samplers, it's all in
my attic now.  I would love to have that on my DKV, but I am not sure
I could bring the old Atari computers I used then, back to life ! <G>    

> With MIDI, there is usually more than one way to do
> things!  

Which brings me even more choices to wander through !

> Meanwhile, good luck and Happy New Year!
> Carol Beigel

Thank you, Carol
I really appreciate your dedication and  answers to the group !

Jean Debefve

>
> (since when does Nanette mean "Granny"  ;-)

As a matter of fact it does in my case. My mother's name is Annette,
and her grandchildren call  her Nanette. She was a great pianist -to
my ears at least !-  and when my daugther decided  to stop  playing
piano,  I was a very sad father. And this is the story behind "le
Piano de Nanette", although  I disguised it quite a bit.  But the play
is a tribute to my mother, the Great Nanette. She decided to stop
playing piano onstage at the age of 19, after having missed the last
chord of some tricky Lizt piano competition tune by a whole key ! 
And, again, I agree  with you : Nanette is a very special name, and
probably does not apply to every Granny  in the world ! ;-)))
I will think it all over when the text will be translated in English,
probably in the next few months ! I've sent a couple of  photographs
of the play on this group website, by the way.

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