Disklavier

I also have a software background (and some hardware experience) and
took a look at the MarkIV software.

The MarkIV doesn't run RedHat, its an embedded distribution based on
Redhat (as are many distros) that runs on a non-x86 cpu. Mounting the
disk is likely easy, but not very useful. You can see quite a lot of
stuff on the MarkIV install CDs, but I don't think there is anything
useful there for the hobbyist hoping to make a PC based controller - its
all for a different CPU, and all of the useful software is proprietary
Yamaha software and will likely have licensing restriction. There are
some playable media files there, but nothing interesting.

I'm more than a little disappointed at Yamaha for not producing a
replacement controller offering the MarkIV features for owners of older
pianos. Dealers used the upgradability of the DKV as a sales argument
when I bought my MarkIIXG upright as end of line. Several dealers told
me, independently, that Yamaha would produce revised control units for
older pianos as new features were introduced. One even showed me the
DCD1 and DSR1 on a wagon grand demonstrating Mk3 capabilities on one of
the first generation of instruments. This appears to have ceased, and
given that Yamaha don't produce a MarkIV upright, and as I don't have
room for a grand (like many people in Europe) I'm stuck with a control
unit with almost embarassing synth sounds (the MarkIII didn't sound much
better either).

(cue loads of people telling me that the MarkIV is far more than just an
upgrade to the control unit... WHOOOSH)

Best bet is to produce a home grown solution I think, for owners of all
player pianos and digital pianos. Probably a big market for
cross-platform media too.

James

Kevin Goroway wrote:
> I *do* have a software background.. .that's why I'm so intrigued. I've
> contacted the authors of the paper to see if there has been any progress.
>
> I wonder also if anyone has ever tried mounting the harddrive from the
> MKIV on a pc running RedHat to see what's there that's visible. I
> also wonder how hard it would be to swap out the standard harddrive
> with a much larger one after moving everything onto the new drive. Is
> the drive SATA, or ATA? Is it a standard 3.5" or is it a laptop drive?
>
> -Kevin
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: JORGE FERNANDEZ <jorgefedez@gmail. com>
> To: disklavier@yahoogro ups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 11:39:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [disklavier] Alternative to tablet and PDA for MKIV
>
> Thanks Kevin.
>
> Even I don't have a Mark IV DKV (may be will never have one) this
> information is very interesting and of great technical value to some
> of the software "gurus" in the group.
>
> If any of you have a computer software background, I suggest you
> to follow the link.
>
>
> 2007/10/24, kgoroway kgoroway@yahoo. com>>:
>
> First, a brief introduction. I've already posted once to the list,
> but without introducing myself.
>
> I've recently taken delivery of a DGC1b (Mark 3, with record). We
> love it. I've spent that last few weeks researching everything I
> could about this piano, and the Disklavier. We've had it about 3
> weeks, but, long story short, we are swapping it out for a DC3M4t in
> the next week or so. I've taken the past few days to read the last
> few
> thousand posts in this group. :-)
>
> One thing that I didn't find mentioned is this project (maybe I just
> missed it?)
>
> http://music. arts.uci. edu/dobrian/ disklavier/
> <http://music. arts.uci. edu/dobrian/ disklavier/>
>
> It seems very promising. Has anyone heard anything further about this?
>
> Thanks.
> -Kevin
>
>
>
>
> --
> Saludos
> Jorge Fernández
> '''
> | (0 0)
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