Disklavier

Greetings!  Now that you helped me control by Disklavier Mark IIXG remotely from the computer in the next room via Bluetooth wireless, I have discovered another problem.  For years I auditioned my MIDI files using the computer synthesizer.  Now I can listen to them actually playing the piano!  To my surprise, many files are corrupted and won’t play from my computer, but I can redo those and test them in real time.

However, yesterday, on many files, I could hear the pedal noise (loud clunk) all the way into the next room!  So far today, I have not had that problem, but I think it is the data on some files, so it depends upon what files you are playing.

Am I correct in assuming this is a controller message that operates the pedal? I assume the value is between 0 and 128?  Where to I find the controller message in editing software?  To be specific, since I am operating on an iMac running Sierra, I will be using Logic Pro 9 to edit MIDI files providing I figure out how to even load a MIDI file and find the controller.

I also own a Windows 7 laptop where I converted (backed up) the ESEQ files to MIDI files.  I realize that a lot of Disklavier utility software only works on Windows, so let me know if I should edit these MIDIs in Windows.

All suggestions welcome. I know others have also had this problem and I have suggested that perhaps the pedal solenoid needs be adjusted.  This is not the case. 

Carol Beigel

Carol,


I have experienced the same problem with my new Enspire Pro with certain some standard midi files. Timber floors probably accentuate the noise compared to a solid concrete slab floor despite the Persian rug I have beneath the piano. I bought 8 square black rubber anti-vibration isolation pads at the local hardware shop for $1 each, 4" square and 1/2" thick – and put 2 under each leg and also under the pedal lyre, between the carpet and the brass wheel. It helps immensely. I also fitted a stiff brass spring beneath the back of the sustain pedal to dampen the thump every time the pedal returns to 'off'. I doubt that it is what a technician would recommend, but it helps immensely.




Ian Williamson

On 14/05/2017, at 2:35 AM, Carol Beigel carol@... [disklavier] wrote:


> Greetings! Now that you helped me control by Disklavier Mark IIXG remotely from the computer in the next room via Bluetooth wireless, I have discovered another problem. For years I auditioned my MIDI files using the computer synthesizer. Now I can listen to them actually playing the piano! To my surprise, many files are corrupted and won’t play from my computer, but I can redo those and test them in real time.
>
> However, yesterday, on many files, I could hear the pedal noise (loud clunk) all the way into the next room! So far today, I have not had that problem, but I think it is the data on some files, so it depends upon what files you are playing.
>
> Am I correct in assuming this is a controller message that operates the pedal? I assume the value is between 0 and 128? Where to I find the controller message in editing software? To be specific, since I am operating on an iMac running Sierra, I will be using Logic Pro 9 to edit MIDI files providing I figure out how to even load a MIDI file and find the controller.
>
> I also own a Windows 7 laptop where I converted (backed up) the ESEQ files to MIDI files. I realize that a lot of Disklavier utility software only works on Windows, so let me know if I should edit these MIDIs in Windows.
>
> All suggestions welcome. I know others have also had this problem and I have suggested that perhaps the pedal solenoid needs be adjusted. This is not the case.
>
> Carol Beigel
>
>

Good morning, everyone.

Carol, any good sequencer with a graphical interface should make it pretty straight forward to edit pedal data.

The piano pedals are MIDI controllers:

Sustain = Controller 64
Sostenuto = Controller 66
Una Corda =  Controller 67

Sustain and una corda range in value from 0 (fully off) to 127 (fully on). 

Somewhere in the range of 0 to 40 or 50, the sustain pedal should be in the lost motion area in which the dampers have not yet left the strings. In the approximate range of 40-80, there should be some amount of partial damper contact with the strings. Beyond that, the dampers should be off the strings.

The Sostenuto pedal only records values of 0 and 127 and does not move on playback. However, on playback the Disklavier will hold down the keys of the notes that were captured by the sostenuto pedal.

If you are working from older E-SEQ files that were translated to SMF, you may find that the notes and on/off pedal data are on channel 1 or channels 1 + 2 and that the incremental pedal data is on channel 3. For playback on a Mark IIXG or more recent instrument, you should merge the incremental pedal pedal into channel 1 (or channels 1 + 2).

I presume that Logic has both an event list view and a graphic view. I have found that incremental pedal data is pretty easy to manipulate in graphic view using Digital Performer on the Mac. Other sequencers with a graphic UI should be similar.

I am puzzled that many of your files are corrupted. That seems doubtful, and I wonder if those files deserve further investigation.

As for sustain pedal noise: You might look at the pedal data and see if there is incremental pedal data or just on/off pedal data. The lack of incremental data would mean that the instrument needs to move the pedal quickly from 0 to 127 and back again. However, the Disklavier does have a built-in algorithm for doing this smoothly. I don’t have a problem with on/off pedal data with my Disklavier PRO. However, the PRO solenoids probably perform in a more nuanced fashion. I would check the mechanical regulation of the pedals and then recalibrate the instrument.

Regards,
PianoBench

> On May 13, 2017, at 12:35 PM, Carol Beigel carol@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> Greetings! Now that you helped me control by Disklavier Mark IIXG remotely from the computer in the next room via Bluetooth wireless, I have discovered another problem. For years I auditioned my MIDI files using the computer synthesizer. Now I can listen to them actually playing the piano! To my surprise, many files are corrupted and won’t play from my computer, but I can redo those and test them in real time.
> 
> However, yesterday, on many files, I could hear the pedal noise (loud clunk) all the way into the next room! So far today, I have not had that problem, but I think it is the data on some files, so it depends upon what files you are playing.
> 
> Am I correct in assuming this is a controller message that operates the pedal? I assume the value is between 0 and 128? Where to I find the controller message in editing software? To be specific, since I am operating on an iMac running Sierra, I will be using Logic Pro 9 to edit MIDI files providing I figure out how to even load a MIDI file and find the controller.
> 
> I also own a Windows 7 laptop where I converted (backed up) the ESEQ files to MIDI files. I realize that a lot of Disklavier utility software only works on Windows, so let me know if I should edit these MIDIs in Windows.
> 
> All suggestions welcome. I know others have also had this problem and I have suggested that perhaps the pedal solenoid needs be adjusted. This is not the case. 
> 
> Carol Beigel
> 
> 
>

Thank you, George.  I noticed some very important events on the third day of playing with the new system.

1) the files were NOT corrupted!  I was too impatient to realize they were being downloaded from iCloud.  Once downloaded, they worked just fine.  Apparently in Sierra, everything is stored on the cloud  to make space on the computer.  I now have over 770 Gig left on the 1T fusion drive

2) I did not realize you need to turn on the MD-BT01 TWICE each time you turn on the Disklavier.  One needs to look at MIDI Studio time, then wait a nanosecond and look at the bottom window.  Select the MD-BT01 to turn it on.

3) Yesterday, I simply turned off the soft pedal by setting the volume to 4.  I heard no pedal thumps all day!

4) After 7 years, I am finally reading the Logic Pro manuals to learn how to edit MIDI files.  I have Logic Pro 8 and Logic Pro 9.  It is tempting to get Logic Pro X so the audio and MIDI editing software is in the same place on one screen.

I am very happy with Sierra, but I needed Windows 7 to convert the floppies.  BTW, for those disks that have .fil files (those ESEQ files that have been converted so the computer sees them on the floppy) I cannot convert those to MIDI.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thank you very much!

Carol Beigel