Disklavier

Tom, 

No thanks needed, but I appreciate your comment.

Assuming that the hardware is limited to USB 1.0 speeds, I wonder if they can implement a secure backup procedure via the networking port (I mean, I know that they can...but will they?)  It would be *considerably* faster than USB 1.0.

Here's something else that I wish Yamaha would do in the future, although it's probably even less likely than anything anyone else has asked for...

I'd like for them to open the architecture for developers like myself.  That could occur in two steps.  The first would document the current wire protocol that the PRC and TRC use.  I think I've got that mostly figured out, but it would be nice if it were confirmed, and documented.  They certainly don't want to get into a situation where they were supporting something like that, but making it available sans support would be great.  The second would be much better, and that would be to open up the server side (the piano) to third parties.  DKVBrowser would be an entirely different animal if I had access to the piano side of things...I'd certainly allow you to rename an album while a song was playing!!!  They could even license it such that they were entitled to all improvements.  I'd be happy to be on their programming staff!  Free of charge!

-Kevin




________________________________
From: Tom Wheeler <tnwheeler@...>
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2009 4:22:09 PM
Subject: Re: [disklavier] Mark4 Software

  
Kevin,

Thanks for letting me know that the 33 MHz processor is capable of multitasking.  I think that the "lazy programming" has unfortunately been the case from the introduction of the Mark IV in 2004. An example is a backup method that requires each time a full system backup rather than allowing for incremental backups. I would truly love to see that mess straightened out in a future Mark IV update.  It's no fun leaving your Mark IV running for more than 12 hours every time you want to do a backup. Yamaha charges a premium price for this equipment, and I think it is time that Mark IV owners pressed for a system that measures up to the premium being paid for it.  

Kevin, I also want to expressly thank you for producing and making available the DKV Browser -- a fine addition to the Mark IV. 

Tom
   

On Sep 5, 2009, at 2:01 PM, Kevin Goroway wrote:


>
>
>Bill, I'm salivating just knowing that more updates are being worked on.  :-)
>
>Tom, just a note about the 333Mhz processor not being able to do multiple things at once...
>
>As it turns out, it's already doing about 40 things at once (processes running under the linux OS).  And it could *certainly* support the ability to manage your library while a song continues to play.  It's just lazy programming that makes the current situation a reality.
>
>I'm pretty certain that it could even deal with decoding MP3 and keeping it in sync with MIDI.
>
>Phil, Thanks for sparking this topic!  I think many of your suggestions, unfortunately, require hardware changes.  That being said...there are slots available in this box that are just waiting to be taken up by some cool new toys.  Judging by how much Yamaha charges for a battery for the PRC-100, I'm not inclined to believe that hardware upgrades will be cheap, though. ;-)
>
>-Kevin
>
>
>
>
________________________________
From: Bill Brandom <BBrandom@yamaha. com>
>To: "disklavier@yahoogro ups.com" <disklavier@yahoogro ups.com>
>Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2009 1:46:55 PM
>Subject: RE: [disklavier] Mark4 Software
>
>
>Great suggestions Phil. I am fowarding on your suggestions to our engineers. Several of your suggestions are already "in motion." I just am not at liberty to say what they are at this time.
>
>In the next 10 days I will be able to share a couple of exciting Mark IV updates that will be coming...
>
>Bill
>
>Bill Brandom
>Senior Technical Manager
>Keyboard Division
>Yamaha Corporation of America
>bbrandom@yamaha. com
>714-522-9417
>____________ _________ _________ _________ _
>From: disklavier@yahoogro ups.com [disklavier@yahoogro ups.com] On Behalf Of Phil Blah [phil.blah@yahoo. com]
>Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2009 2:15 AM
>To: disklavier@yahoogro ups.com
>Subject: [disklavier] Mark4 Software
>
>Hey Guys,
>
>No much happening with the Disklavier forums lately, perhaps everyone is content with their piano!
>
>Does anyone know if Yamaha are going to release new software for their pianos? (psst Bill Brandon you still here?)
>
>I must say that the DKVBrowser software that Kevin has made is so great! It makes moving files around so easy.. the clunky old PDA is pretty crappy for this!
>
>On a side note, has anyone tried running the java app on an iphone? it would be much better than the clunky old PDA's... the battery does not last long (even a new one only lasts 2 hours max). Also the wireless is pretty weak signal. Perhaps the DKVBrowser can be made for iphones? lol.
>
>Dear Yamaha, here is my wish-list/advice for version 4 of the software :)
>
>1) Disk image needs to support 'fresh' install. This has various advantages.. as the old 80gb drives clag out people can just put in a new HD easily or they want a bigger HD so they can install from scratch. A fresh install will be clean and have performance advantages too. Plus it will solve 99% of peoples problems if their software gets screwy.
>
>2) Finish off the half done Graphics support.. ie allow songs to have .jpgs attached to them as a slide show or just as a cover to the song (this is the TV out part, not all Disklaviers have the tablet thing like in Australia for example!).
>
>3) Allow access to the XG voices in performance mode.
>
>4) Make a new 'live sounding' special drum and base kit.. the current base and drums are alright but they all sound too synthetic. Surely Yamaha can try harder with these most critical synths... There are free drum/base sound fonts on the net that people have just recorded a real drum and base that sound better! Lets face it guys, no one listens to crappy midi with their beautiful piano... the only exception is Jazz that has a base/drums only. Most Sue Downs songs are excellent like this.... anyway having a 'live' drum sound font would be perfect!
>
>5) Better strings and wood instruments overall... some songs are just embarrassing with these cheezy synths, sounds like a big mobile phone with most midi's.
>
>6) More control with the network setup ie wep keys/ip everything overall etc. Also as they use Samba it would take 2 seconds to put a basic password for windows networking (not everyone has their piano in their home!).
>
>7) MP3 Support. Wave files are so inefficient. MP3's have been around since 1995 or eairler and as it runs linux I am sure it can handle it (yes ofcorse pun was intended). For quality freaks, the MP3 can be 256bit rate so its losless. Then each song will be about 8 - 12 meg rather than 40+
>
>8) Faster seek for playing/stopping songs!
>
>9) Faster and better methods of recording... I am not sure if it's just me, but when you 'know' that it's recording you usually make a mistake while playing a song and then want to quicky start the recording again. But the current way is all bumbly and clumsy and slow... worst case is I have to just keep it recording and I copy the midi to my computer and use cakewalk to edit... but that's a big pain.
>
>10) Backup! - Like most people, we just trust everything will just keep working and we get complacent.. . but imagine if your HD failed tomorrow, all the songs you bought all the CD's that took you hours to save on the HD... all the midis and files arranged... all gorn! So a backup option would simply copy everything to a network share as a big archive file (to preserve the secret database etc etc). And you can simply restore it all back if needed.
>
>11) Better playlist managment and random play
>
>12) Guys this is not a mark3 nor is it 1990. It's a linux box that is already multitasking, surley we can play a song while searching or copying things! So yes, a song needs to contiune to play while we do other things.
>
>13) Back to recording, It's a bit hard to figure out how to simply record while a .wav/CD (god bless) is playing... So we need to simply be able to play a CD/.wav and you can record your piano playing. Also recording other voices and in performance mode is not easy to do. My 1992 Yamaha Clavinova makes it easy.
>
>14) Just on my 1992 Yamaha Clavinova, it has several built in drum beats and groovy synth riffs even with a 'varation' button! but there are no built in drum kits with the mark4.... bit sad really..... nothing more fun then just having a good beat and playing the piano with it!
>
>15) Better use of the internet, while it might sound all cool 'wow the pianos on the internet' but it's really a closed system, Yamaha's mini web thing only.... the whole internet piano thing is NOT available to normal people only 'special' Yamaha people... can we get over this and allow our pianos to connect to friends.
>
>15b) As a Yamaha Radio subscriber and regular song buyer... I think Yamaha needs to allow people to 'trial' a song... the little 20 second preview is not really enough somtimes.. even if it costs 20c or something to play only but not save would be good, I think $4.50 USD for a song is so over priced... some songs are just awful and lifeless.. Also the fact that they even tell people that 'the midi file might be unacceptable' ... those songs should be heaps cheaper.
>
>15c) Just with the whole internet thing, just like you can stream internet radio like 'smoothjazz. com' surley they can stream songs with audio and midi data. They could quite easily setup a large buffer to handle 192k streams... and lets face it we all have broadband these days, not like people are on modem or somethin!. So Even if it costs a bit more or they charge per hour or something... there is a time when I just crave a voice with piano and get so sick of my usual collection!
>
>15d) Yamaha need to allow for Piano Soft with Audio downloadable. .. I don't always want to buy an entire CD just for 1 song, plus the whole slow clumsy CD thing is not very modern for a company trying to make out how modern they were (the piano on the internet thing). I am quite happy to pay $6 per song if it had audio!
>
>Well that's all I can think of for now.
>
>Let's hope these features will be in Version 4 :)
>
>Cheers,
>
>Philip
>
>____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
>Get more done like never before with Yahoo!7 Mail.
>Learn more: http://au.overview. mail.yahoo. com/
>
>------------ --------- --------- ------
>
>To Post a message to the group, send it to: disklavier@YahooGro ups.com
>
>To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
>disklavier-owner@ Yahoogroups. com
>
>To reach our group's web site go to:
>http://Yahoogroups. com/group/ disklavier
>
>THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
>If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead. That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group. If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
>disklavier-unsubscr ibe@yahooGroups. com
>
>Know someone who wants to join? Have them send a blank email to:
>disklavier-subscrib e@eGroups. com or give them this link:
>http://Yahoogroups. com/group/ disklavier/ join
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>