Disklavier

Hi

"without breaking the protection (and then only on a Windows 
computer)."

This is NOT strickly true, as I was backing up Pianosoft disks long 
before windows. In those early days I used either DOS or an Atari 
computer. Even today one can use DOS to back them up.

MM




--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "George F. Litterst" 
<PianoBench@...> wrote:
>
> Good morning, everyone.
> 
> Aaron, I have tested iTunes on the Mac and Windows. Below is a 
full  
> explanation which I posted on 9/12. At this point, it really only  
> works for Windows. Yes, you will be able to use a USB MIDI 
interface  
> connected to the Disklavier.
> 
> Regards,
> PianoBench
> 
> **********
> iTunes has intriguing possibilities. When you import an audio 
song  
> file from CD, it checks an Internet-based database for 
cataloguing  
> information. You can accept or reject what it finds (or even 
update  
> the database on the Internet yourself), or you can enter any of 
the  
> cataloging data yourself directly into iTunes. There are many 
fields  
> that cover the crucial areas of composer, title, album, 
performer,  
> date, etc.
> 
> Unforutnately, the online database does not apply to MIDI files.  
> However, you can catalog and access your MIDI files within iTunes  
> very conveniently. On a Windows computer, you can even play the 
MIDI  
> files on your Disklavier using a MIDI connection. Also, you can 
use  
> iTunes to play PianoSoft Plus Audio CDs (assuming that you turn 
off  
> the Sound Enhancer feature of iTunes and make the appropriate 
audio  
> cable connections to the piano).
> 
> There are basically just 6 problems:
> 
> (1) Copy Protection
> Although most MIDI files are unprotected, Yamaha-published files 
are  
> delivered on protected media that cannot be read on your computer  
> without breaking the protection (and then only on a Windows 
computer).
> 
> (2) Smart PianoSoft
> You cannot coordinate the synchronized MIDI/CD playback of Smart  
> PianoSoft recordings (i.e. MIDI recordings that synchronize with  
> commercial audio recordings).
> 
> (3) Ideal Piano Playback
> Ideally, piano MIDI files should be played by the Disklavier 
itself  
> from an internal drive. Playback is more accurate in that 
situation.  
> When the Disklavier receives MIDI data over a MIDI cable, the data 
is  
> received serially (i.e. one event at a time) and that serial  
> transmission microscopically changes the timing of MIDI events. 
For  
> most people, however, this is unnoticeable.
> 
> (4) Lyrics
> iTunes does not display MIDI lyrics on playback.
> 
> (5) MIDI Adjustments
> iTunes does not give you the opportunity to adjust MIDI channels 
or  
> other MIDI parameters.
> 
> (6) Playback of MIDI Data on a Macintosh
> Remarkably, you used to be able to use iTunes to play back MIDI 
files  
> on externally connected MIDI devices (such as a Disklavier) under 
OS  
> 9, but this feature was removed in OS X. However, you can do this 
on  
> Windows if you know how.
> 
> To playback MIDI files from iTunes using a Disklavier connected to 
a  
> Windows computer:
> 
> --Connect an appropriate MIDI interface and MIDI cables or USB 
cable  
> between your computer and Disklavier, install any necessary MIDI  
> drivers on the computer, and set up the Disklavier appropriately.
> 
> --Use the QuickTime control panel to designate "General MIDI" as 
the  
> "Default MIDI Synthesizer" (instead of "QuickTime Music  
> Synthesizer"). You can find this setting under the Audio tab.
> 
> --Set your system-wide MIDI output default to the MIDI connection  
> that sends MIDI data to your Disklavier. The exact way that you 
do  
> this varies slightly with various flavors of Windows:
> 
> Windows 98
> Start:Settings:Control Panel:Multimedia
> click the Multimedia tab in the Multimedia Properties window
> choose Single Instrument
> under Single Instrument, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> Windows ME and Windows 2000
> Start:Settings:Control Panel:Sounds and Multimedia Properties
> click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Multimedia Properties window
> under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> Windows XP
> Start:Control Panel
> (1) if the next window is set to Categories View, click Sounds,  
> Speech, and Audio Devices
> then click Sounds and Audio Devices
> click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties 
window
> under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> or
> 
> (2) if the next window is set to Classic View, click Sounds and 
Audio  
> Devices
> click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties 
window
> under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> **********
> 
> On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:52 PM, Aaron Zornes wrote:
> 
> >
> > Before I run out and test this ...
> > (I know PianoBench has a 100% track 'good'
> > track record on technical advice IMHO),
> > is this "theory" or "practice"?
> >
> > Will iTunes not only play the MIDI on my laptop
> > sound card, etc. but also output to my MIDI USB
> > interface which I would connect to the DK control unti?
> >
> > THANKS!
> >
> > --Aaron in San Francisco
> >
> >
> >
> > From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com  
> > [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George F. 
Litterst
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 11:11 PM
> > To: disklavier@...m
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] Making Discs
> >
> > Good afternoon, everyone.
> >
> > Another alternative, on pre-Mark IV Disklaviers, is to use a 
Windows
> > computer and iTunes as the library/playback program for your
> > collection of MIDI files.
> >
> > Regards,
> > PianoBench
> >
> > On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:08 AM, Mark Fontana wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, 3 Oct 2006, Aaron Zornes wrote:
> > >
> > > > It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere
> > > mortals) to copy
> > > > tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use 
onto
> > > Disklavier.
> > > >
> > > > Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or 
IV
> > > series read
> > > > standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does 
standard
> > > floppies?
> > >
> > > There is no secret to figure out; this feature is simply not
> > > present in
> > > the Disklavier's firmware (at least not in the Mark II and III
> > > models).
> > >
> > > It would be extremely difficult for a third party to implement
> > > support for
> > > reading data CDs without Yamaha's source code and development
> > > environment.
> > > And even then, I doubt anyone would be willing to PAY a third  
> > party to
> > > develop this enhancement, so it would be a labor of love. Our 
best
> > > bet is
> > > to continue to express interest in this feature to Yamaha.
> > >
> > > Without iPod-style hierarchical navigation, I personally think 
this
> > > feature would be of limited use once the number of tracks on 
the  
> > disc
> > > grows larger than a few dozen.
> > >
> > > Perhaps a better solution would be to hack an MP3 player to 
support
> > > playback of MIDI files, converting them on the fly to "analog 
MIDI"
> > > output
> > > through the headphone jack. That would solve the large library
> > > navigation
> > > problem, plus you could also store MP3 files of Pianosoft Plus
> > > Audio CDs
> > > in the same playlist.
> > >
> > > Mark Fontana
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>