Disklavier

Many apologies if this message eventually gets duplicated several times as I 
have been unable to post a reply with " in the subject line!  Perhaps this 
is due to the powers that be trying to prevent me from postulating the 
following stupidity in public!

It is my understanding that Yamaha Disklaviers use two different soundcards 
in the Silent Disklaviers.  The speakers are using the XG daughterboard in 
the control box, and the headphones are plugged into the MN board.  On the 
Pro models, there is a switch that toggles between these boards.  However, 
all the sounds are generated from the keyboard sensors.

Also, on the silent models, a rail is installed to keep the hammers from 
hitting the strings when in silent mode.  In order to keep the keys from 
feeling the same to your fingers, as in regular mode, Yamaha uses special 
piano action parts (jacks with an extra nub on them) to keep the let-off 
adjustment functional.

I think that if you really need or want the "silent" feature, you should 
trade in your disklavier and get one that has this feature installed at the 
factory for best results.  However, I think it might be possible to get what 
you have to work in silent mode if you do the following:

1)  install a rail to keep the hammers from hitting the strings.  These are 
available from 3rd party manufacturers, but will not work as well as a 
Yamaha one installed with those special piano action parts.

2)  put the Disklavier in "record" mode and select a voice from the menu

3)  attach a speaker with a headphone jack, or a set of amplified headphones 
to the audio output on the control box.  I don't know if such things exist!

or

4) hook up a computer to the Disklavier, using appropriate MIDI software and 
interface, and connect the headphones to the soundcard of the computer.

I, too, get tempted to fashion a "silent" mode for my Mark IIXG!

Carol Beigel

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