Disklavier

Karl,  
 
I think I can answer some of the questions for you....
 
If you don't have the MAC tool that will allow you to create PC format
floppies, then you will have to e-mail them to your PC in their MIDI
(.mid) format.  
I have not found the DiskClavier to be able to read native MAC format
disks.
 
I recall it being a tool available for OS 9 and back, but I forget if it
was optional since the systems I used had it already installed)  If you
have the tool you can format a PC disk in it and then copy the files
over.  Note that the files you want to use will be in a sub-folder on
the disk, NOT in the root where you would expect them. Also, because of
this I DO NOT recommend trying to use this disk directly.  The
Diskclavier wants files in the root folder.  You can of course simply
use the PC to move the files to the root and delete the files and
folders that the MAC created, leaving JUST the midi files themselves.
 
If your PC has a sound card, then you can test the file you sent there
to see that it will function properly before going to floppy.  Obviously
this would only test that you received the file properly and that it
"plays".
 
Once there you simply copy the file to the disk (if you had to e-mail
it).  Be sure that the extension is in ".mid"  NOT the common MAC form
of ".midi".
 
On the "metronome" function, I have not found this to be an issue with
the work I have done.  You won't know until you just try it.  You're not
going to hurt anything by testing.
 
You are correct about making use of TRACK 1 for the piano, however you
will find that you can use other tracks except track 10 as well.  Track
10 is used for the drum track, so depending on your work it may not even
apply.
 
I recommend simply taking one of your works transfering it to floppy and
trying it before considering making any other changes.  This way you may
find that changes you need to make before making anything that wasn't
required.
 
Good luck and have fun!
 
Bryan
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl M [mailto:mkarl2@...] 
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 1:22 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [disklavier] Performer user encounters Disklavier



Hi all.  I'm  a decent keyboard player with a fairly extensive MIDI 
studio - 88 note controller, rack of MIDI modules including Kurzweil 
and two from E-Mu Systems, a tremendous Class A amp / speaker combo, 
and Mark of the Unicorn Performer 6 running on an 8 year old MAC.

A good friend of mine who has long liked my music just purchased a 
Yamaha Disklavier Mark III.. a gorgeous piano, not even considering 
the amazing electronics hung off it.

At any rate, I have a lot of solo piano pieces recorded in my 
Performer environment, and we're talking about me transferring some 
of the better piano pieces from Performer to floppy for the Yamaha. 
If it sounds as good as I hope it does, I'll drag my CD recorder and 
a couple of mics over there.. instant piano solo album. 

We've been doing the reading, and I know it handles Type 0 and 1 
standard MIDI format (SMF) disks in PC or MAC format.  The thing I'm 
not sure of, is WHICH MAC format.. mine dates from 1996 and is 
running OS 7.something.  No DOS floppy emulation.

I could email the .MID file to my PC and write the floppy there.

Also, I had the habit of ignoring/muting Performer's 'metronome' 
function, just leaving it run / record at 120BPM.. assuming I solve 
the physical floppy format conversion, will the Disklavier have a 
problem playing MIDI files not recorded listening to the 'beat'?

And I assume the piano part should be on Track 1 assigned to MIDI 
channel 1.  I'll trim out the 'patch change' command but leave the 
pedal Continuous Controller (CC64) and Volume (CC7) information in 
the track.  Correct?

thanks!

Karl