Disklavier

Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to play your piano totally hands-free? Well now you can!

Here is a project that I've been working on this past weekend and I thought other Disklavier users might interested in. I'm using an Amazon Echo Dot 2nd Generation and a Yamaha Mark IV Disklavier.

Here is an quick 2 min video demonstration I put on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/Re5m_D6vWkU

I am really excited about this technology and have been using it play my Yamaha Disklavier for the past week. However, it originally looked like there would have to be some major programming to get it working for the Mark IV.

However, Amazon just released their second generation version of the Echo Dot. This unit has the ability to send its output either by Bluetooth or a headphone jack. This means it should be able to play music on just about any Disklavier that has CD capability and speakers – as long as you have high speed internet connection and a Wi-Fi router to stream Disklavier-encoded content to the new $50 Amazon Echo Dot (2nd Generation.)

Let me explain:

I'm using my Amazon Echo Dot (2nd Generation) to stream special piano playing encoded software CD albums that I uploaded to my Amazon Cloud Music Library Account. This music is streamed from the cloud via my Amazon Echo Dot which output is wirelessly connected to an attached Bluetooth receiver attached to the OMNI-IN L&R RCA inputs on the I/O center of my Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV Player Grand Piano.

The special Disklavier-encoded music (signal) will actually cause the keys and petals to play music on my player grand piano. Unlike the Amazon Echo the Amazon Echo Dot can redirect its output via Bluetooth. Which is so much better than running an unsightly audio cable across the room from the Echo Dot to my piano. With this setup I can now control the playback of any song or album that I have uploaded to my Amazon online music library with a simple voice request to Alexa!

Want to play a certain song in your library. Ask Alexa by name:

"Alexa, Play THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER'"

Want to play all songs on a particular album in random order then say shuffle instead of play:

"Alexa, Shuffle Album ISN'T IT ROMANTIC"

The Echo Dot will quickly locate the album in my Amazon Music Library and stream it to my piano! It's fast and it works fantastic for me!

I can also as Alexa to Pause, Stop, Next Song, Repeat Song, and more.

Ever wonder what the name or artist of the current song playing? Just say, "Alexa, What is this song?" And she will not only tell you the title and but the artist and other information attached to the song's tags you entered when you uploaded the music.

This system works amazingly - right out of the box. If you have another older model of the Yamaha Disklavier with CD capability this solution will likely work for you, too! Just rip your current pianosoft plus audio CD's to 320-kbps MP3 files and upload them to your Amazon Cloud Music Account.

You'll need to set & keep the volume level on the Echo Dot to 10 since the analog-MIDI signal needs to be strong. I notice problems with notes dropping out and not being played is it's set below level 4. Just just the Disklavier Volume Level to control it.

Someday maybe someone will write an Alexa SKILL that can control the Disklavier Volume on the Mark IV. (If you have a Disklavier with an infrared remote control – can be done today using Harmony Hub - which can automate infrared operated electronics.)

I'm hoping an Alexa Skill will come out that will let me set the Echo to DISKLAVIER MODE... Like: "Alexa, Set Disklavier Mode" which will automatically limit the songs only you your Disklavier Albums and and redirected the Echo Dot's output to the piano.

Because now - when I get tongue-tied and say the wrong name of the song it will play a song from the Amazon Prime Music Store - which will MOT play the keys on your piano but will play the audio on your piano's speakers - which is okay, but with NO piano part which is boring in my opinion.

However, if you can play the piano - with your hands - it might be fun to play along with your favorite song! Imagine playing along with a recording of your favorite Orchestra.

Enjoy your Yamaha Disklavier Piano even more... Get the Echo Dot and play your Disklavier hands-free!

Enjoy

Ken Ruda

That is correct! Or maybe you can convert your existing MIDI files to analog midi files with the MID2PianoCD utility!  I used this utility several years ago to convert a midi file to an Disklavier -encoded MP3 file which I played from a digital picture frame while displaying pictures. the digital picture frame's audio output was connected to the OMNI-IN L&R Jack's on my Disklavier.

I play MIDI files from my desktop connected with MIDI cables to my DKV Mark II. I have a DOT, is there a way to control my computer with DOT to do this?

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

Photo Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography/

> On Oct 26, 2016, at 10:23 PM, ken@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> That is correct! Or maybe you can convert your existing MIDI files to analog midi files with the MID2PianoCD utility! I used this utility several years ago to convert a midi file to an Disklavier -encoded MP3 file which I played from a digital picture frame while displaying pictures. the digital picture frame's audio output was connected to the OMNI-IN L&R Jack's on my Disklavier.
> 
>