Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-01 by <gregmoakley@...>

Hello all,

I'm new here. I purchased a used (new to me) 1997 MX100 IIXG with the DKC500R XG. This is my first piano purchase as my 7 year old is starting lessons and it was time for me to pull the trigger. I play a little (self taught).

I'd like to say thanks to everyone for the knowledge that has accumulated here. I've been reading past posts as well as going to carols' website. A little bit of a learning curve- (more like a flashback to living in 1997!) 3.5 inch drives, Windows 2000 computers, using DOS again! I cringe when i thing of windows 2000....

I have also run into a hiccup. The disk drive is reading Unformatted disk with the official disks. Looking at carols site, it means the drive is dead. I've gone ahead and already ordered the floppy emulator (from Poland-thanks to eric and scott) and will give it a shot.

My question is to get your thoughts on eventual upgrades. Is it worth to go all in on the dkc-850 or go slow and swap out boards and get the cd player etc. Does it end up being the same cost in the end?

Thanks again for helping out a newbie with this forum. There is such a wealth of information here!

Greg.

Re: [disklavier] New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-01 by Skanter123

I recently got a similar DKV - 1997 MPX 100II. It had a dead floppy drive as well. After agonizing what to do about it, I slammed a disk in really hard and it started working perfectly. Worth a try!

Connecting a laptop computer to the MIDI ports seems much smarter than hassling with emulators or new floppy drives from Yamaha (for $300). You can store as much music as you want, and have access to thousands of MIDI files (go to disklavierworld.com if you havent done so already). 

Think about if you really want or need all the features that an expensive upgrade will provide. Do you really want to subscribe to Disklavier  radio or TV? If so, go for the DKC- 850. Good luck, the DKV is great fun!

Sam 
www.keyboardcollective.com
(212) 684-3304

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> On Feb 28, 2014, at 7:50 PM, <gregmoakley@...> wrote:
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I'm new here.  I purchased a used (new to me) 1997 MX100 IIXG with the DKC500R XG.   This is my first piano purchase as my 7 year old is starting lessons and it was time for me to pull the trigger. I play a little (self taught).
> 
> I'd like to say thanks to everyone for the knowledge that has accumulated here.   I've been reading past posts as well as going to carols' website.  A little bit of a learning curve- (more like a flashback to living in 1997!)    3.5 inch drives, Windows 2000 computers, using DOS again! I cringe when i thing of windows 2000....
> 
> I have also run into a hiccup.  The disk drive is reading Unformatted disk with the official disks.  Looking at carols site, it means the drive is dead.  I've gone ahead and already ordered the floppy emulator (from Poland-thanks to eric and scott) and will give it a shot.  
> 
> My question is to get your thoughts on eventual upgrades.  Is it worth to go all in on the dkc-850 or go slow and swap out boards and get the cd player etc. Does it end up being the same cost in the end?   
> 
> Thanks again for helping out a newbie with this forum.  There is such a wealth of information here!
> 
> Greg.     
> 
>

Re: [disklavier] New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-01 by PianoBench@...

Good evening, everyone.

Greg, I purchased a DKC-850 for my Mark IIXG PRO. Although the upgrade is not inexpensive, I have appreciated the modern amenities:

--simple USB cables for MIDI I/O in addition to MIDI ports

--network connection for:

----control by the Disklavier app for iOS devices

----interaction with the DKVBrowser

----access to the From/To PC folder

----access to DisklavierRadio

----access to DisklavierTV

--simplified way of doing video-sync recording

--CD drive

--2 USB ports that support USB flash drives or an external USB floppy drive (not all USB floppies are compatible)

Disappointments are:

--lack of full support for the Disklavier PRO features of my instrument

--inability to access and navigate all of the menus using the front panel of the control unit (remote control required)

Fortunately, a remote is not required for calibration.

I would hesitate to poor money into any component of a Mark IIXG or Mark III that might, in the future, be replaced by the DKC-850.

Regards,

PianoBench

On Feb 28, 2014, at 7:50 PM, gregmoakley@... wrote:

Hello all,
I'm new here. I purchased a used (new to me) 1997 MX100 IIXG with the DKC500R XG. This is my first piano purchase as my 7 year old is starting lessons and it was time for me to pull the trigger. I play a little (self taught).
I'd like to say thanks to everyone for the knowledge that has accumulated here. I've been reading past posts as well as going to carols' website. A little bit of a learning curve- (more like a flashback to living in 1997!) 3.5 inch drives, Windows 2000 computers, using DOS again! I cringe when i thing of windows 2000....
I have also run into a hiccup. The disk drive is reading Unformatted disk with the official disks. Looking at carols site, it means the drive is dead. I've gone ahead and already ordered the floppy emulator (from Poland-thanks to eric and scott) and will give it a shot.
My question is to get your thoughts on eventual upgrades. Is it worth to go all in on the dkc-850 or go slow and swap out boards and get the cd player etc. Does it end up being the same cost in the end?
Thanks again for helping out a newbie with this forum. There is such a wealth of information here!
Greg.

RE: New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-01 by <kassey22000@...>

I agree completely with George's assessment as I also own a Mark IIXG PRO and have found the DKC-850 to be a really excellent solution. However, I used the "add-in" method of installing the 850 allowing me to retain all of the functionality of my PRO piano playing ability and the modern features of the E-3/850 models. I'm not a huge fan of DK Radio so far, yet it's not a big deal to swap one cable, make one setting change in the 850 set-up menu and have DK Radio/TV at will. Best of both worlds.

These are marvelous instruments and I probably use/play mine daily. Enjoy.

RE: New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-02 by <gregmoakley@...>

Thank you for all of your thoughts! I went to guitar center today and got a $35 usb to midi cable, attached to my laptop and I'm back in business. I had it running off of my laptop. I can't believe i'm so impressed with 1997 technology! I'm sure I won't need to upgrade for a while. I'm just happy to see it play twinkle twinkle little star!

It's great to know that there are so many options with this system. Thanks for posting the link to the disklavierworld.blogspot.com. Wow, lots of midi files.

Thanks again for all the help.

Greg

Re: [disklavier] RE: New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-02 by Skanter123

Greg, glad you got it working. Unless one plans to subscribe to disklavier radio and TV, the laptop is a good option. Did you try slamming a disk hard into the drive to see if it brings it back to life? Worked for me. In any case, have fun with your wonderful instrument.

Sam 
www.keyboardcollective.com
(212) 684-3304

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> On Mar 2, 2014, at 1:13 AM, "gregmoakley@yahoo.com" <gregmoakley@...> wrote:
> 
> Thank you for all of your thoughts! I went to guitar center today and got a $35 usb to midi cable, attached to my laptop and I'm back in business.  I had it running off of my laptop.  I can't believe i'm so impressed with 1997 technology!  I'm sure I won't need to upgrade for a while.  I'm just happy to see it play twinkle twinkle little star! 
> 
> It's great to know that there are so many options  with this system. Thanks for posting the link to the disklavierworld.blogspot.com.  Wow, lots of midi files.  
> Thanks again for all the help.  
> Greg
>

Re: [disklavier] RE: New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-02 by Spencer Chase

the site mentioned is yet another plug of the Disklavier World web site 
by Robert C. Kuhmann. he "gives credit" to his sources in a very general 
sense but has actually stolen files and removed the midi text events to 
hide the sources from whom he has stolen. the E-comp stuff is offered 
for free by Yamaha but i don't think they intended others to screw it up 
and distribute it on their own.

even if you are interested in stolen music, there is something very 
strange about every file i have tried to play. the files will not play 
well on a Disklavier if for no other reason that the in appropriate 
velocity range used. i downloaded one set of files today just to check 
to see if this was the same junk i had downloaded before and found many 
notes with velocities below 10 in the first file i played.

if you just want quantity and don't care much about quality, this may be 
the site for you. i sort of remember checking out the e-comp files at 
one time and although i am not entirely sure, i think i had found that 
they were screwed up in many ways as well.

i would be interested in hearing the opinions of other more critical DKV 
owners.

On 3/1/2014 7:26 PM, gregmoakley@... wrote:
>
> Thank you for all of your thoughts! I went to guitar center today and 
> got a $35 usb to midi cable, attached to my laptop and I'm back in 
> business.  I had it running off of my laptop.  I can't believe i'm so 
> impressed with 1997 technology!  I'm sure I won't need to upgrade for 
> a while.  I'm just happy to see it play twinkle twinkle little star!
>
> It's great to know that there are so many options  with this system. 
> Thanks for posting the link to the disklavierworld.blogspot.com.  Wow, 
> lots of midi files.
> Thanks again for all the help.
> Greg
> 

-- 

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550-Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
(707) 984-8356
(425) 791-0309

Re: [disklavier] RE: New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-02 by Skanter123

There are thousands of MIDI files of varying quality on the disklavierworld site, in terms of performance and technical (MIDI) quality.  I've only scratched the surface in playing them.

The E-comp files seem OK, but it would be good to compare to those downloaded from E-comp website to see if they have been changed in any way.
Since I've moved the pedal data to ch 3 with your utility, the E-comp files sound much better with incremental pedal.

Disklavier world (Kuhmann) states that these are all public domain, is disappointing to find out that they are not.

Sam 
www.keyboardcollective.com
(212) 684-3304

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> On Mar 2, 2014, at 2:17 AM, Spencer Chase <lists@spencerserolls.com> wrote:
> 
> the site mentioned is yet another plug of the Disklavier World web site by Robert C. Kuhmann. he "gives credit" to his sources in a very general sense but has actually stolen files and removed the midi text events to hide the sources from whom he has stolen. the E-comp stuff is offered for free by Yamaha but i don't think they intended others to screw it up and distribute it on their own. 
> 
> even if you are interested in stolen music, there is something very strange about every file i have tried to play. the files will not play well on a Disklavier if for no other reason that the in appropriate velocity range used. i downloaded one set of files today just to check to see if this was the same junk i had downloaded before and found many notes with velocities below 10 in the first file i played.
> 
> if you just want quantity and don't care much about quality, this may be the site for you. i sort of remember checking out the e-comp files at one time and although i am not entirely sure, i think i had found that they were screwed up in many ways as well.
> 
> i would be interested in hearing the opinions of other more critical DKV owners.
> 
>> On 3/1/2014 7:26 PM, gregmoakley@... wrote:
>> Â 
>> Thank you for all of your thoughts! I went to guitar center today and got a $35 usb to midi cable, attached to my laptop and I'm back in business. Â I had it running off of my laptop. Â I can't believe i'm so impressed with 1997 technology! Â I'm sure I won't need to upgrade for a while. Â I'm just happy to see it play twinkle twinkle little star!Â 
>> 
>> It's great to know that there are so many options Â with this system. Thanks for posting the link to the disklavierworld.blogspot.com. Â Wow, lots of midi files. Â 
>> Thanks again for all the help. Â 
>> Greg
> 
> --
> 
> Best regards, Spencer Chase
> 67550-Bell Springs Rd.
> Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
> Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
> Spencer@spencerserolls.com
> http://www.spencerserolls.com
> (707) 984-8356
> (425) 791-0309
>

Re: [disklavier] RE: New to Forum and New to Disklavier

2014-03-02 by Spencer Chase

i don't know for a fact from whom D World stole the piano roll files but know there are not that many sources that make them publicly available and if these files did in fact come from those sources, why is all the meta data striped from the files. if the files came from Warren Trachtman, Richard Stibbons or others who encourage their sharing, they should be given credit by leaving their text events in the files. this information as well as even the track name has been systematically removed.

if Kuhmann reads this list i would be interested in his explanation as to why this information has been stripped from the files. i suggest that the site be boycotted until he comes up with a reasonable explanation.

i have a full set of E-Comp files to which i have added all the meta data that Yamaha should have included. i also have text listings for each file that allow you to make MP3 files with MP3 tags using Mid2PianoCD. if your DKV will play MP3 files you can use Media Monkey or Itunes to display all the meta data and choose files to play using this data instead of playing randomly. i provide these files for free to anyone who buys any of my CDs or will charge a nominal charge for shipping and handling. if there is enough interest (i don't know how many DKVs will play MP3 files) i can post the file set on my web server so i don't have to bother mailing CDs. there was a fair amount of inconsistency and duplication of files names from one competition to another so it was not a trivial task to make sense out of the files and to apply the correct metadata. it is too bad that Yamaha never bothered to make this information more easily available. i had to copy hundreds of pages from their site and run automated scripts to extract the data and then did a lot of hand editing. because of re-use of file names and other problems, my text data will not match up with the files as Yamaha named them. it is necessary to append the competition date as well as fix some other random errors the details of which i no longer remember.

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On 3/1/2014 11:28 PM, Skanter123 wrote:

�
There are thousands of MIDI files of varying quality on the disklavierworld site, in terms of performance and technical (MIDI) quality. �I've only scratched the surface in playing them.

The E-comp files seem OK, but it would be good to compare to those downloaded from E-comp website to see if they have been changed in any way.

Since I've moved the pedal data to ch 3 with your utility, the E-comp files sound much better with incremental pedal.

Disklavier world (Kuhmann) states that these are all public domain, is disappointing to find out that they are not.

Sam�

www.keyboardcollective.com

(212) 684-3304

On Mar 2, 2014, at 2:17 AM, Spencer Chase <lists@...> wrote:
�
the site mentioned is yet another plug of the Disklavier World web site by Robert C. Kuhmann. he "gives credit" to his sources in a very general sense but has actually stolen files and removed the midi text events to hide the sources from whom he has stolen. the E-comp stuff is offered for free by Yamaha but i don't think they intended others to screw it up and distribute it on their own.

even if you are interested in stolen music, there is something very strange about every file i have tried to play. the files will not play well on a Disklavier if for no other reason that the in appropriate velocity range used. i downloaded one set of files today just to check to see if this was the same junk i had downloaded before and found many notes with velocities below 10 in the first file i played.

if you just want quantity and don't care much about quality, this may be the site for you. i sort of remember checking out the e-comp files at one time and although i am not entirely sure, i think i had found that they were screwed up in many ways as well.

i would be interested in hearing the opinions of other more critical DKV owners.

On 3/1/2014 7:26 PM, gregmoakley@... wrote:

Thank you for all of your thoughts! I went to guitar center today and got a $35 usb to midi cable, attached to my laptop and I'm back in business. I had it running off of my laptop. I can't believe i'm so impressed with 1997 technology! I'm sure I won't need to upgrade for a while. I'm just happy to see it play twinkle twinkle little star!

It's great to know that there are so many options with this system. Thanks for posting the link to the disklavierworld.blogspot.com. Wow, lots of midi files.

Thanks again for all the help.

Greg
--

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550-Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
(707) 984-8356
(425) 791-0309

-- 

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550-Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
(707) 984-8356 
(425) 791-0309