On Jan 7 2008, Carol Beigel wrote:
>I really do not want to get into this too deeply, but I think most of the
>information you are getting is NOT correct - especially from the seller.
>The MarkII can be upgraded using a DCD1 CD player AND a DSR1 and you can
>play a limited number of PianoSmart disks that correspond to the matching
>CDs if the CD audio is recorded near the pitch of A440. Mark III units have
>a far greater range in transposing audio accompaniments and people singing
>to match the tuning of a piano at A440. What makes PianoSmart so special is
>the ability of the MIDI time code to sync with the digital audio on the CD.
>
>If you want orchestra coming through your stereo system, you need audio
>files of an orchestra playing and not the tone generated emsemble sounds
>that require a MIDI tone generator and powered speakers. I doubt the
>soundcard in your laptop is a MIDI tone generator It probably has
>synthesized sounds that are digital audio and not MIDI.
Unless you have a specialized soundcard, your every modern PC/laptop will have the full GM/XG voice set.
>
>MarkII units can be very picky and covering the hole on a 1.44 Mb floppy
>does not guarantee that the DKV will be able to use it.
If you are trying to use blank HD floppies to record on, the trick with taping up the hole is likely to work, although there may be issues unrelated to the model of the Disklavier, but due to the fact that the replacement disk drives have changed serveral times (different brand/model).As most HD disks come preformated to 1.44Mb these days, you will have to reformat them to 720 Kb on your computer after taping up the hole. Once that's done, you should be able to use the disk in a MarkI/II.
>However, you will
>always be able to attach a MIDI interface between the piano and a laptop
>computer and have the piano play whatever MIDI data is on Channels 1 and 2
>of a MIDI 0 file. I am not sure the MarkII will play MIDI 1 format files
>where the tracks are separated. Basically, the older the model of
>Disklavier will require you to have more knowledge and jump through many
>more hoops.
>
>Carol Beigel
>
See atachment for some details of file/disk formats.