Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Thread

MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-10 by slickfix2

As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.

My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
anyway.

I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.

I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.

I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.

More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it compatible, but isn't that hard.

Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.

And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.

Thanks for this groups past help.

Eric
slickfix@...

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-10 by Bill Brandom

Hi Eric,

I am very interested in what you have done.

I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately with more specific information?

Bill Brandom

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 <slickfix@...> wrote:

As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.

My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
anyway.

I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.

I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.

I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.

More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works great. You don';t have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it compatible, but isn't that hard.

Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.

And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.

Thanks for this groups past help.

Eric
slickfix@...

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-10 by <slickfix@...>

I sure can Bill,

As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service manual, that

without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I will show you exactly want

to do, and send the you the config files once I’m all done. I want to get everything complete, before I send

anything.

Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from:

http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42

Once I’m complete, I’ll fill you in.

Eric

;

Hi Eric,

I am very interested in what you have done.

Bill Brandom

On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 <slickfix@...> wrote:

As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.

My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
anyway.

I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.

I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.

I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.

More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it compatible, but isn't that hard.

Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.

And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.

Thanks for this groups past help.

Eric
mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-10 by Bill

Thanks Eric.

Bill

Sent from my iPhone.

On May 10, 2013, at 9:27 AM, <slickfix@...> wrote:

I sure can Bill,
 
As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service manual, that
without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I will show you exactly want
to do, and send the you the config files once I’m all done. I want to get everything complete, before I send
anything.
 
Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from: 
 
 
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42
 
 
Once I’m complete, I’ll fill you in.
 
 
Eric
 
 
 
 
 
Hi Eric,
 
I am very interested in what you have done.
 
I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately with more specific information?
 
Bill Brandom

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 <slickfix@...> wrote:
>  
> As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
> source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.
> 
> My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
> 720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
> chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
> for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
> anyway.
> 
> I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
> of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.
> 
> I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.
> 
> I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
> works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
> floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
> or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.
> 
> More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it compatible, but isn't that hard.
> 
> Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically show the group how to do it, if there is any    interest.
> 
> And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
> work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.
> 
> Thanks for this groups past help.
> 
> Eric
> mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-10 by uecker.juneau@juno.com

I m glad for some progress in this direction. I have an MX100A that I would love to convert from its floppy system. Perhaps the info should be provided to

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-10 by Bill Brandom

Hi Rick,

Yamaha technical support is watching this thread.

Bill

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 12:54 PM, uecker.juneau@... <uecker.juneau@...> wrote:

I'm glad for some progress in this direction. I have an MX100A that I would love to convert from its floppy system. Perhaps the info should be provided to Yamaha tech support to encourage them to help out their customers owning earlier Disklaviers.

Rick

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Bill <billbrando@...>
To: "disklavier@yahoogroups.com" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "<disklavier@yahoogroups.com>" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.
Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:48 -0700

Thanks Eric.

Bill

Sent from my iPhone.

On May 10, 2013, at 9:27 AM, <slickfix@...> wrote:

I sure can Bill,

As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service manual, that

without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I will show you exactly want
to do, and send the you the config files once I’m all done. I want to get everything complete, before I send

anything.

Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from:

http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42

Once I’m complete, I’ll fill you in.

Eric

Hi Eric,

I am very interested in what you have done.

I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately with more specific information?

Bill Brandom

On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 <slickfix@...> wrote:

As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.

My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
anyway.

I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.

I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.

I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.

More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it compatible, but isn't that hard.

Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.

And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.

Thanks for this groups past help.

Eric
mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com

Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-11 by Scott Cammack

Wow, that's really interesting, and I'm going to be eagerly awaiting more details.  I have an MX100B, and so am very interested in dispensing with the mechanical floppy drive in favor of an SD card.

Great job!

Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-11 by slickfix2

Hello Bill, and the Rest of the Members of this Group.

My Project to Upgrade My Mx-88 Has bee a Complete Success.
The Control Unit Sees the Image File Selection Just as if you
Inserted and new floppy disk.

You copy configuration files and disk image files via computer to the SD memory card. You then Insert the sdcard into the emulator and then
power up the DKC5R Control Unit.

The emulator has a display that shows disk file, file track info, and folders on sd card. Also has 3 buttons, left press to scroll left thru menu, right press to scroll right, center putton to select or eject floppy image file, or goto different folder. I am still working
on getting it to go to the last floppy played on startup.

On power up after booting you just have to select the disk image file
and that's it, the piano acts just like you inserted a new floppy.
I,ve tested playing, recording, display functions, everything works.

When I get time, I will upload a video to youtube.
I have uploaded some pics to the forums picture area.


Eric


--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, Bill Brandom <bill.brand @...> wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>
> Hi Rick,
> 
> Yamaha technical support is watching this thread.
> 
> Bill
> 
> 
> On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 12:54 PM, uecker.juneau@... <
> uecker.juneau@...> wrote:
> 
> > **
> >
> >
> > I'm glad for some progress in this direction. I have an MX100A that I
> > would love to convert from its floppy system. Perhaps the info should be
> > provided to Yamaha tech support to encourage them to help out their
> > customers owning earlier Disklaviers.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> > ---------- Original Message ----------
> > From: Bill <billbrando@...>
> > To: "disklavier@yahoogroups.com" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> > Cc: "<disklavier@yahoogroups.com>" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.
> > Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:48 -0700
> >
> >
> > Thanks Eric.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone.
> >
> > On May 10, 2013, at 9:27 AM, <slickfix@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I sure can Bill,
> >
> > As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service
> > manual, that
> > without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I
> > will show you exactly want
> > to do, and send the you the config files once I'm all done. I want to get
> > everything complete, before I send
> > anything.
> >
> > Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from:
> >
> >
> > http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42
> >
> >
> > Once I'm complete, I'll fill you in.
> >
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Eric,
> >
> > I am very interested in what you have done.
> >
> > I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my
> > knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see
> > a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately
> > with more specific information?
> >
> > Bill Brandom
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 <slickfix@...> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
> >> source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.
> >>
> >> My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
> >> 720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
> >> chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
> >> for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
> >> anyway.
> >>
> >> I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
> >> of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could
> >> eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.
> >>
> >> I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the
> >> correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.
> >>
> >> I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
> >> works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to
> >> add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
> >> floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
> >> or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the
> >> floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.
> >>
> >> More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works
> >> great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you
> >> can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to
> >> correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it
> >> compatible, but isn't that hard.
> >>
> >> Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the
> >> legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically
> >> show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.
> >>
> >> And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
> >> work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.
> >>
> >> Thanks for this groups past help.
> >>
> >> Eric
> >> mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com <slickfix%40gmail.com>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  
> >
>

Re: [disklavier] Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-11 by Bill Brandom

Eric,

Nice work! And they said it couldn't be done!!

Perhaps we should call this the "Eric Solution"...

I can't wait to see the movie!

Bill

Sent from my iPhone.

On May 11, 2013, at 12:16 PM, "slickfix2" <slickfix@gmail.com> wrote:



Hello Bill, and the Rest of the Members of this Group.

My Project to Upgrade My Mx-88 Has bee a Complete Success.
The Control Unit Sees the Image File Selection Just as if you
Inserted and new floppy disk.

You copy configuration files and disk image files via computer to the SD memory card. You then Insert the sdcard into the emulator and then
power up the DKC5R Control Unit.

The emulator has a display that shows disk file, file track info, and folders on sd card. Also has 3 buttons, left press to scroll left thru menu, right press to scroll right, center putton to select or eject floppy image file, or goto different folder. I am still working
on getting it to go to the last floppy played on startup.

On power up after booting you just have to select the disk image file
and that's it, the piano acts just like you inserted a new floppy.
I,ve tested playing, recording, display functions, everything works.

When I get time, I will upload a video to youtube.
I have uploaded some pics to the forums picture area.

Eric

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, Bill Brandom <bill.brand @...> wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>
> Hi Rick,
> 
> Yamaha technical support is watching this thread.
> 
> Bill
> 
> 
> On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 12:54 PM, uecker.juneau@... <
> uecker.juneau@...> wrote:
> 
> > **
> >
> >
> > I'm glad for some progress in this direction. I have an MX100A that I
> > would love to convert from its floppy system. Perhaps the info should be
> > provided to Yamaha tech support to encourage them to help out their
> > customers owning earlier Disklaviers.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> > ---------- Original Message ----------
> > From: Bill <billbrando@...>
> > To: "disklavier@yahoogroups.com" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> > Cc: "<disklavier@yahoogroups.com>" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.
> > Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:48 -0700
> >
> >
> > Thanks Eric.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone.
> >
> > On May 10, 2013, at 9:27 AM, <slickfix@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I sure can Bill,
> >
> > As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service
> > manual, that
> > without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I
> > will show you exactly want
> > to do, and send the you the config files once I'm all done. I want to get
> > everything complete, before I send
> > anything.
> >
> > Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from:
> >
> >
> > http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42
> >
> >
> > Once I'm complete, I'll fill you in.
> >
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Eric,
> >
> > I am very interested in what you have done.
> >
> > I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my
> > knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see
> > a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately
> > with more specific information?
> >
> > Bill Brandom
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 <slickfix@...> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
> >> source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.
> >>
> >> My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
> >> 720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
> >> chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
> >> for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
> >> anyway.
> >>
> >> I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
> >> of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could
> >> eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.
> >>
> >> I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the
> >> correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.
> >>
> >> I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
> >> works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to
> >> add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
> >> floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
> >> or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the
> >> floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.
> >>
> >> More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works
> >> great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you
> >> can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to
> >> correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it
> >> compatible, but isn't that hard.
> >>
> >> Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the
> >> legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically
> >> show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.
> >>
> >> And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
> >> work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.
> >>
> >> Thanks for this groups past help.
> >>
> >> Eric
> >> mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com <slickfix%40gmail.com>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 
> >
>

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-12 by George Frederick Litterst

Good evening, everyone.

Eric, would you describe more fully the process of creating floppy image files?

If I am reading between the lines correctly, it does not sound as though the Disklavier interprets the SD card as one big floppy. It sounds as though you have to go through some hoops on your computer to assemble Disklavier recordings into a folder and then create an image of the folder. Am I correct about that?

If memory serves me correctly, the MX80 series pianos records and plays files in the ESEQ format.

Regards,

PianoBench

On May 11, 2013, at 3:16 PM, slickfix2 wrote:

Hello Bill, and the Rest of the Members of this Group.

My Project to Upgrade My Mx-88 Has bee a Complete Success.
The Control Unit Sees the Image File Selection Just as if you
Inserted and new floppy disk.

You copy configuration files and disk image files via computer to the SD memory card. You then Insert the sdcard into the emulator and then
power up the DKC5R Control Unit.

The emulator has a display that shows disk file, file track info, and folders on sd card. Also has 3 buttons, left press to scroll left thru menu, right press to scroll right, center putton to select or eject floppy image file, or goto different folder. I am still working
on getting it to go to the last floppy played on startup.

On power up after booting you just have to select the disk image file
and that's it, the piano acts just like you inserted a new floppy.
I,ve tested playing, recording, display functions, everything works.

When I get time, I will upload a video to youtube.
I have uploaded some pics to the forums picture area.

Eric

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, Bill Brandom wrote:
>
> Hi Rick,
>
> Yamaha technical support is watching this thread.
>
> Bill
>
>
> On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 12:54 PM, uecker.juneau@... <
> uecker.juneau@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > I'm glad for some progress in this direction. I have an MX100A that I
> > would love to convert from its floppy system. Perhaps the info should be
> > provided to Yamaha tech support to encourage them to help out their
> > customers owning earlier Disklaviers.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> > ---------- Original Message ----------
> > From: Bill
> > To: "disklavier@yahoogroups.com" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> > Cc: "<disklavier@yahoogroups.com>" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.
> > Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:48 -0700
> >
> >
> > Thanks Eric.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone.
> >
> > On May 10, 2013, at 9:27 AM, wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I sure can Bill,
> >
> > As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service
> > manual, that
> > without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I
> > will show you exactly want
> > to do, and send the you the config files once I'm all done. I want to get
> > everything complete, before I send
> > anything.
> >
> > Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from:
> >
> >
> > http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42
> >
> >
> > Once I'm complete, I'll fill you in.
> >
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Eric,
> >
> > I am very interested in what you have done.
> >
> > I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my
> > knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see
> > a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately
> > with more specific information?
> >
> > Bill Brandom
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 wrote:
> >
> >>;
> >>
> >> As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
> >> source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.
> >>
> >> My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
> >> 720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
> >;> chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
> >> for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
> >> anyway.
> >>
> >> I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
> >>; of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could
> >> eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.
> >>
> >> I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the
> >> correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.
> >>
> >> I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
> >> works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to
> >> add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
> >> floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
> >> or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the
> >> floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.
> >>
> >> More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works
> >> great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you
> >> can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to
> >> correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it
> >> compatible, but isn't that hard.
> >>
> >> Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the
> >> legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically
> >> show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.
> >>
> >> And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
> >> work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.
> >>
> >> Thanks for this groups past help.
> >>
> >> Eric
> >> mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-12 by wandamusic@...

<<Eric,

Nice work! And they said it couldn't be  done!!

Perhaps we should call this the "Eric Solution"Per

I  can't wait to see the movie!

Bill>>
 
Perhaps Eric's Epic solution. The Final  Frontier.

Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-12 by <slickfix@...>

Hello George,

You are correct, the emulator sees each floppy image file on the sd card as an individual floppy.

The software that comes with the emulator converts the raw floppy image file (yourfloppyname.img)

to a special image format that also includes the type of disk, disk track recording info, and floppy interface

type. When you use the emulator, you select the image file and then it outputs the correct data and signals

on the 34 pin floppy cable interface.

The older yamaha disklaviers do not have a standard ibm compatible drive, the actual physical 34 pin

outputs are different than on a standard ibm compatible drive. Through my research and looking at

drawings and the DKC schematics, I determined that the interface output is the shugart type. This is

a interface type that came out way before the ibm compatible interface. The pins are physically the

same, but the actual pin outputs are different. I think this is why previous attempts of emulators have

failed.

That all being said, the older disklaviers that use the ESEQ format must have correct floppy format to

work correctly and play. Basically if you don’t have a floppy that will play when you insert it into the

disklavier control unit, the you can’t make an image file of it either that will work.

On the Mx-80 and Mx-100 Disklaviers you MUST have a 720k DS/DD disk, it must be in the ESEQ format

including the PIANODIR.FIL and SONG.FIL files or the control unit WILL NOT read the disk, it will

try to Format or Convert the Disk and not play.

Also to play on the disklavier, it has to be the correct midi/eseq format such as type 0 midi file, channel

1 or channel 1 and 2, etc. This is all explained on Carole Beigel’s Wonderful Website. Any one who has an'

older disklavier has been to her site to read midi explanations, and use tools to work with disklavier disks.

Thank You Carol!

If you want to download the software to look at it, it is on their site:

http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42

That’s all for now,

Eric

Good evening, everyone.

Eric, would you describe more fully the process of creating floppy image files?

If memory serves me correctly, the MX80 series pianos records and plays files in the ESEQ format.

Regards,

PianoBench

On May 11, 2013, at 3:16 PM, slickfix2 wrote:

Hello Bill, and the Rest of the Members of this Group.

My Project to Upgrade My Mx-88 Has bee a Complete Success.
The Control Unit Sees the Image File Selection Just as if you
Inserted and new floppy disk.

You copy configuration files and disk image files via computer to the SD memory card. You then Insert the sdcard into the emulator and then
power up the DKC5R Control Unit.

The emulator has a display that shows disk file, file track info, and folders on sd card. Also has 3 buttons, left press to scroll left thru menu, right press to scroll right, center putton to select or eject floppy image file, or goto different folder. I am still working
on getting it to go to the last floppy played on startup.

On power up after booting you just have to select the disk image file
and that's it, the piano acts just like you inserted a new floppy.
I,ve tested playing, recording, display functions, everything works.

When I get time, I will upload a video to youtube.
I have uploaded some pics to the forums picture area.

Eric

--- In mailto:disklavier%40yahoogroups.com, Bill Brandom wrote:
>
> Hi Rick,
>
> Yamaha technical support is watching this thread.
>
> Bill
>
>
> On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 12:54 PM, uecker.juneau@... <
> uecker.juneau@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > I'm glad for some progress in this direction. I have an MX100A that I
> > would love to convert from its floppy system. Perhaps the info should be
> > provided to Yamaha tech support to encourage them to help out their
> > customers owning earlier Disklaviers.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> > ---------- Original Message ----------
> > From: Bill ;
> > To: "mailto:disklavier%40yahoogroups.com" <mailto:disklavier%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Cc: "<mailto:disklavier%40yahoogroups.com>" <mailto:disklavier%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.
> > Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:48 -0700
> >
> >
> > Thanks Eric.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone.
> >
> > On May 10, 2013, at 9:27 AM, wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I sure can Bill,
> >
> > As soon as I verify all the settings. You sent me the Mx-80 service
> > manual, that
> > without the schematics, I would have been stuck.You,ve Always helped me, I
> >; will show you exactly want
> > to do, and send the you the config files once I'm all done. I want to get
> > everything complete, before I send
> > anything.
> >
> > Heres the link to the site I bought the emulator from:
> >
> >
> > http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=42
> >
> >
> > Once I'm complete, I'll fill you in.
> >
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
>; >
> >
> > Hi Eric,
> >
> > I am very interested in what you have done.
> >
> > I believe this is the first time this has been successfully done, to my
> > knowledge. I will watch for additional posts from you and would love to see
> > a U-Tube video of what you have done. Can you send me an email privately
> > with more specific information?
> >
> > Bill Brandom
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM, slickfix2 wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> As Other Members of This Group Have Helped Me and been a great
> >> source of disklavier info, I would like to share some info.
> >>
> >> My Disklavier, an MX-88 with a DKC5R Control Unit uses the DS/DD
> >> 720k floppies. I still love my piano, but using the floppys is a
> >> chore. Thought about upgrading to a DKC850, but way too expensive
> >> for me, and on my piano you cannot use the extra functionality
> >> anyway.
> >>
> >> I used to be a electronics tech before I retired, and so I did a lot
> >> of research, looking at drawings, schematics, etc to see if I could
> >> eliminate my floppy drive with an emulator.
> >>
> >> I found a company that makes a floppy to sd card emulator that has the
> >> correct pin interface and functions to work with my control unit.
> >>
> >> I decided to risk it,(The Unit cost $150). I installed it today and it
> >> works perfectly. I have it set up for 25 floppies now, but am going to
> >> add more. You can use the piano to format to create a regular
> >> floppy, that you can record or play just like a real floppy,
> >> or using the DKV Utilities create your own compilation, and then save the
> >> floppy image file to the SD Memory Card via computer, and your set.
> >>
> >> More testing to do, and still have to mount the emulator drive, but works
> >>; great. You don't have to do any wiring, or ribbon cable changing, so you
> >> can go back to your original drive anytime you want. You do have to
> >> correctly add the right configuration files to the SD card,to make it
> >> compatible, but isn't that hard.
> >>
> >> Once I'm all done, I will post a video to youtube. I don't know the
> >> legalitys of doing this, but if someone wants to know, I can specifically
> >> show the group how to do it, if there is any interest.
> >>
> >> And by the way, your standard cheap floppy to usb emulator will not
> >> work, and it does not have the correct shugart 34 pin interface.
> >>
> >> Thanks for this groups past help.
> >>
> >> Eric
> >;> mailto:slickfix%40gmail.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

;

Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-13 by jthyder

Can anyone say whether this mod would work with the DKC55RCD on my 13-year-old DCA3 (Mk III)? 

I've just ordered a new floppy drive from Yamaha ($100!) to replace the original one that crapped out on me a few months ago. 

This looks like a more reliable system, if the floppy drives are going to die every decade or so.

Re: [disklavier] Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-13 by <slickfix@...>

Would depend on the type floppy, and electrical pin interface of floppy drive.
Do you have a service manual of your piano with a schematic of your control
unit?

Eric


Can anyone say whether this mod would work with the DKC55RCD on my 13-year-old DCA3 (Mk III)? 

I've just ordered a new floppy drive from Yamaha ($100!) to replace the original one that crapped out on me a few months ago. 

This looks like a more reliable system, if the floppy drives are going to die every decade or so.

Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-14 by jthyder

The service manual is here: http://www.owner-manuals.com/DKC55RCD-service-manual-YAMAHA.html

The user's manual (with no schematics) is here: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.midiplayertools.com%2FDKVmanuals%2FMarkIII%2FDKVMK3Full_A_e_X2657B0.pdf&ei=oEiSUaHyObLW0gGVyIHoAg&usg=AFQjCNEsVcRL6YBgZytME5FzFTYf9U0WqA&sig2=gqTdJgujvZWaU4EHURhaQw&bvm=bv.46471029,d.dmQ&cad=rja

Thanks.

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, <slickfix@...> wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>
> 
> Would depend on the type floppy, and electrical pin interface of floppy drive.
> Do you have a service manual of your piano with a schematic of your control
> unit?
> 
> Eric
> 
> 
> Can anyone say whether this mod would work with the DKC55RCD on my 13-year-old DCA3 (Mk III)? 
> 
> I've just ordered a new floppy drive from Yamaha ($100!) to replace the original one that crapped out on me a few months ago. 
> 
> This looks like a more reliable system, if the floppy drives are going to die every decade or so.
>

Re: MX-88 Floppy Drive Conversion.

2013-05-15 by slickfix2

Took a quick look at your schematics. The Control Unit of you piano is much more complex. It looks like the floppy pinout is more like a pc compatible interface than a shugart interface, as pins 34 and 2 are different functions.

I believe the emulator can also emulate the pc compatible interface.
So it probably would work. Are your prerecorded floppys 720k(DD) or 1440k(HD)? Will your piano play pianosoft solo disks? You still have
to be able to backup your floppys to be able to create a disk image
on the sd card to make the emulator work. I don't know the disk specifics of your piano.
>
The Emulator comes with software to create a backup image, BUT it
must be on a 32 bit windows os system like xp or widows 2000 with
a disk controller that has a physical ribbon cable connection to the 
PC installed floppy drive.

Believe  me, a USB Drive, or USB Bus Driven Drive will not work, I have Tried. The Floppy drive must be accessed at the hardware level which bypasses windows to make the disk readable.

Hope This Helps,

Eric

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> 
> 
> The service manual is here: http://www.owner-manuals.com/DKC55RCD-service-manual-YAMAHA.html
> 
> The user's manual (with no schematics) is here: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.midiplayertools.com%2FDKVmanuals%2FMarkIII%2FDKVMK3Full_A_e_X2657B0.pdf&ei=oEiSUaHyObLW0gGVyIHoAg&usg=AFQjCNEsVcRL6YBgZytME5FzFTYf9U0WqA&sig2=gqTdJgujvZWaU4EHURhaQw&bvm=bv.46471029,d.dmQ&cad=rja
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> --- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, <slickfix@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > Would depend on the type floppy, and electrical pin interface of floppy drive.
> > Do you have a service manual of your piano with a schematic of your control
> > unit?
> > 
> > Eric
> > 
> > 
> > Can anyone say whether this mod would work with the DKC55RCD on my 13-year-old DCA3 (Mk III)? 
> > 
> > I've just ordered a new floppy drive from Yamaha ($100!) to replace the original one that crapped out on me a few months ago. 
> > 
> > This looks like a more reliable system, if the floppy drives are going to die every decade or so.
> >
>