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DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-06 by Paul Getty

Sorry if this is an old question . . . 

 

I have just purchased a DKC850 control unit and plan to upgrade my Mark II XG Pro with the DKC500RW control unit to add new features. 

 

In doing research on the installation of the new unit, I came across the following:

 

“When used with a Disklavier PRO, the DKC-850 does not record or playback high resolution XP data that is normally recorded by a PRO. But it does play the normal MIDI data contained in an XP file, and it plays this data with exceptional refinement.”

 

What is the practical downside of this? Will I lose any recording or playback capability that is noticeable or compromise the value of the piano?

 

Thanks!

 

Paul G.

Show quoted textHide quoted text

From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>  [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2017 8:22 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> 
Subject: Re: [disklavier] Updated IOS app for Disklavier Mark IV?

Good morning, everyone.

Jan, I have no idea about Yamaha’s app development, but as an iOS developer, I can tell you a little bit about what Apple is doing.

A couple of years ago, Apple made it clear to developers that they were moving away from 32-bit apps in favor of a 64-bit platform, and the company stopped accepting developer submission of 32-bit apps to the iTunes Store. There was a certain amount of both logic and inconvenience to this situation.

Some months ago, the iOS operating system for iOS 10 started putting up an obnoxious message when you launched a 32-bit app, saying that it “might” slow down the device. Apple made no claim that any particular app actually did slow down the device. It appeared to me as though Apple was trying to shame developers publicly into updating their apps. Regrettably, Apple provides not way for a developer to sell upgrades, and this message put a lot of pressure on developers to spend their resources giving away free updates.

More recently, the message has changed to the message that you have cited. Indeed, Apple could turn off support for 32-bit apps in a future version of the operating system.

Additionally, from time-to-time, Apple deprecates certain system calls and apps that use those system calls have to be updated.

I don’t know if the Mark IV app is 32-bit nor whether it uses system calls that have become deprecated for future operating systems. All I can tell you is that this sort of dance between Apple and the developers goes on and developers eventually have to fall in line with Apple’s rules and regulations.

Regards,

PianoBench

On Jun 4, 2017, at 1:10 PM, Jan Silverman jancarlsilverman@... <mailto:jancarlsilverman@...>  [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> > wrote:

I'm new to this forum so I apologize if my question  has been answered. 

When I start my Apple IOS Disklavier Mark IV App. I get a message something like:

App out of date, may not run on future releases, tell your provider. 

I have the latest release from the App Store. V 1.2.2

Does anyone know what Yamaha is doing about this? 

Jan

Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-06 by kassey22000@...

Hello Paul, I have your exact set up on a C5 piano. You can set up the 850 two ways: 1. "replacement" (disconnect your old head-unit and store if for future use/testing/calibration). 2. "add-on", with the supplied midi cables you can set up the 850 to be the front end while keeping all of the nice benefits of the Pro recording/playback features. In addition the digital instrument tones are far superior to those supplied as samples on the 850. The concert grand is much more realistic as are many other sampled instruments. Plus if you like you can still use the instrumentation supplied on the 850 as just another set of instruments that can play all at once with the acoustic piano and instruments on both head units (example, set the 500 to violins, the 850 to brass, while playing the acoustic piano or any of the hundreds of combinations. The 500 has many other features for recording options besides the higher fidelity and accuracy of the Pro set up.

Now if you want the features of the 850 like DK radio and TV, it's a simple setting on the 850 to Replacement and now you have internet features (the 500 tones won't be used in this setting nor will high resolution playing or recording functions).

Hope this helps and feel free to ask any additional questions.

Keith

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

Sorry if this is an old question . . .

I have just purchased a DKC850 control unit and plan to upgrade my Mark II XG Pro with the DKC500RW control unit to add new features.

In doing research on the installation of the new unit, I came across the following:

“When used with a Disklavier PRO, the DKC-850 does not record or playback high resolution XP data that is normally recorded by a PRO. But it does play the normal MIDI data contained in an XP file, and it plays this data with exceptional refinement.”

What is the practical downside of this? Will I lose any recording or playback capability that is noticeable or compromise the value of the piano?

Thanks!

Paul G.

RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-06 by Paul Getty

Thanks Keith.

 

The main reason for the upgrade was to get away from floppies and store more content – plus use the iPhone app. 

 

However, I really do not want to compromise the sound quality – so your comments suggest that I may want to keep my current set-up. 

 

I also do not want to add a second control unit due to aesthetics. 

 

Other ideas for replacing the floppy with another type of higher capacity disk?

Show quoted textHide quoted text

From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2017 11:13 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

Hello Paul, I have your exact set up on a C5 piano.  You can set up the 850 two ways: 1. "replacement" (disconnect your old head-unit and store if for future use/testing/calibration). 2. "add-on", with the supplied midi cables you can set up the 850 to be the front end while keeping all of the nice benefits of the Pro recording/playback features.  In addition the digital instrument tones are far superior to those supplied as samples on the 850.  The concert grand is much more realistic as are many other sampled instruments.  Plus if you like you can still use the instrumentation supplied on the 850 as just another set of instruments that can play all at once with the acoustic piano and instruments on both head units (example, set the 500 to violins, the 850 to brass, while playing the acoustic piano or any of the hundreds of combinations.  The 500 has many other features for recording options besides the higher fidelity and accuracy of the Pro set up.  

Now if you want the features of the 850 like DK radio and TV, it's a simple setting on the 850 to Replacement and now you have internet features (the 500 tones won't be used in this setting nor will high resolution playing or recording functions).  

Hope this helps and feel free to ask any additional questions.

Keith 

---In disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> , <paul.getty@... <mailto:paul.getty@...> > wrote :

Sorry if this is an old question . . . 

I have just purchased a DKC850 control unit and plan to upgrade my Mark II XG Pro with the DKC500RW control unit to add new features. 

In doing research on the installation of the new unit, I came across the following:

“When used with a Disklavier PRO, the DKC-850 does not record or playback high resolution XP data that is normally recorded by a PRO. But it does play the normal MIDI data contained in an XP file, and it plays this data with exceptional refinement.”

What is the practical downside of this? Will I lose any recording or playback capability that is noticeable or compromise the value of the piano?

Thanks!

Paul G.

RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-06 by james300@...

Hi Keith,

I'm also thinking of getting the DKC-850 for my DC7 Mark II XG Pro and would like to know where you place the DKC-850. Did you move the DKC500RW control unit from it's installed position under the right side? Also, if you recorded or played back using the DKC-850 did you notice any changes in the sound?

Thanks
James M.

RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-06 by Paul Getty

Keith, James,

 

I was finally able to reach a couple of experienced techs at Yamaha and learned the following:

 

*	Recordings made from the Pro piano contain added XP data that adds additional control of the playback. The DKC500RW recognizes the additional XP data and will adjust the playback while the DKC850 will not recognize it. The enhanced XP playback experience is subtle and may not be discerned by listeners in blind side by side comparions on Pro pianos where only the controller has been changed. 
*	The midi sounds from each controller are identical (XG format) except that the DKC850 can play more voicings simultanously. The differences should not be obviously discernable to causal listeners. 

 

Keith, can you elaborate on your comments regarding inferior digital sounds from DKC850 as compared to the DKC500RW?

 

I plan to upgade to the DKC850 since I need the extra storage space, like the iPhone control, and internet features. I will probably also keep the original DKC500RW just in case.  Not sure I would like the aesthetics of mounting both units – but that is also an option. 

 

Best,

 

Paul

Show quoted textHide quoted text

From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2017 3:29 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

Hi Keith,

I'm also thinking of getting the DKC-850 for my DC7 Mark II XG Pro and would like to know where you place the DKC-850. Did you move the DKC500RW control unit from it's installed position under the right side? Also, if you recorded or played back using the DKC-850 did you notice any changes in the sound?

Thanks
James M.

Re: [disklavier] DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-07 by George F. Litterst

Good morning, everyone.

I’ll chime in and point out that there are two primary sources of XP MIDI files that take full advantage of the Disklavier PRO:

—Files recorded by the International Piano-e-Competition (available at both piano-e-competition.com and yamahaden.com/midi-files)

—Files that you or someone else records on a Disklavier PRO with the original control unit

I know of no other commercial or free sources of XP MIDI files at this time.

Regardless as to whether the control unit for the PRO supports XP MIDI data, the PRO solenoids do a better job of reproducing standard (non-XP) MIDI data than the regular Disklavier.

I agree that it is highly unfortunate that the DKC-850 does not support XP data. After all, it uses the same cable to connect to the piano as the original control unit. On the other hand, I agree that many owners of the Mark IIXG and Mark III PROs will not notice the difference when swapping out control units.

In any case, if you switch to the DKC-850 (which certainly provides major conveniences), I advise not throwing away the original control unit.

Regards,
PianoBench

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> On Jun 6, 2017, at 7:07 PM, 'Paul Getty' paul.getty@svn.com [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Keith, James,
> 
>  
> 
> I was finally able to reach a couple of experienced techs at Yamaha and learned the following:
> 
>  
> 
> Recordings made from the Pro piano contain added XP data that adds additional control of the playback. The DKC500RW recognizes the additional XP data and will adjust the playback while the DKC850 will not recognize it. The enhanced XP playback experience is subtle and may not be discerned by listeners in blind side by side comparions on Pro pianos where only the controller has been changed. 
> The midi sounds from each controller are identical (XG format) except that the DKC850 can play more voicings simultanously. The differences should not be obviously discernable to causal listeners. 
>  
> 
> Keith, can you elaborate on your comments regarding inferior digital sounds from DKC850 as compared to the DKC500RW?
> 
>  
> 
> I plan to upgade to the DKC850 since I need the extra storage space, like the iPhone control, and internet features. I will probably also keep the original DKC500RW just in case.  Not sure I would like the aesthetics of mounting both units – but that is also an option. 
> 
>  
> 
> Best,
> 
>  
> 
> Paul
> 
>  
> 
> From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>] 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2017 3:29 PM
> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@...m>
> Subject: RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> Hi Keith,
> 
> I'm also thinking of getting the DKC-850 for my DC7 Mark II XG Pro and would like to know where you place the DKC-850. Did you move the DKC500RW control unit from it's installed position under the right side? Also, if you recorded or played back using the DKC-850 did you notice any changes in the sound?
> 
> Thanks
> James M.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> <image003.png><image001.png><image004.gif>

RE: [disklavier] DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-07 by dan oconnor

Good day Disklavier World:

 

Have been “playing” with the Yamaha MD-BT01 wireless Midi adapter.

 

Setup is on a DSR1 that I have upgraded my wagon grand. (Works flawlessly with wired MidiSport Uno)

 

I able to connect via Bluetooth with my IPhone with MidiMIttr (free app that connects the Bluetooth) and a free midi app PA player (the only free app with Bluetooth support that I have found so far.

 

It seems to work well with this simple player.  

 

This gives me hope that someone will develop a midi player app that allows the IPhone to access midi files that I will upload to the IPhone/cloud for playing from the IPhone.

 

I looked at the PianoDisk app which seems like a good approach (Yamaha Musicsoft take note) that allows PianoDisk users to connect via Bluetooth to the app and midi files.

 

As for a windows computer based control, still have not been successful playing with Sonar (demo version as a trial (supports Bluetooth)).  My current copies of player software Van Basco, YamPlayer, Music Creator etc., have no support for Bluetooth connection to the Disklavier.

 

If anyone has had success connecting a computer to control the Disklavier via Bluetooth please share the “how to”!

 

I will keep plugging away. 

 

It may just be that the Bluetooth connector is “too new” and that the software has to catch up. 

 

How about a plug or patch from one of our software folks in the Disklavier family.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

DanO

Show quoted textHide quoted text

From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 9:36 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

Good morning, everyone.

I’ll chime in and point out that there are two primary sources of XP MIDI files that take full advantage of the Disklavier PRO:

—Files recorded by the International Piano-e-Competition (available at both piano-e-competition.com <http://piano-e-competition.com>  and yamahaden.com/midi-files <http://yamahaden.com/midi-files> )

—Files that you or someone else records on a Disklavier PRO with the original control unit

I know of no other commercial or free sources of XP MIDI files at this time.

Regardless as to whether the control unit for the PRO supports XP MIDI data, the PRO solenoids do a better job of reproducing standard (non-XP) MIDI data than the regular Disklavier.

I agree that it is highly unfortunate that the DKC-850 does not support XP data. After all, it uses the same cable to connect to the piano as the original control unit. On the other hand, I agree that many owners of the Mark IIXG and Mark III PROs will not notice the difference when swapping out control units.

In any case, if you switch to the DKC-850 (which certainly provides major conveniences), I advise not throwing away the original control unit.

Regards,

PianoBench

On Jun 6, 2017, at 7:07 PM, 'Paul Getty' paul.getty@... <mailto:paul.getty@...>  [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> > wrote:

Keith, James,

I was finally able to reach a couple of experienced techs at Yamaha and learned the following:

*	Recordings made from the Pro piano contain added XP data that adds additional control of the playback. The DKC500RW recognizes the additional XP data and will adjust the playback while the DKC850 will not recognize it. The enhanced XP playback experience is subtle and may not be discerned by listeners in blind side by side comparions on Pro pianos where only the controller has been changed. 
*	The midi sounds from each controller are identical (XG format) except that the DKC850 can play more voicings simultanously. The differences should not be obviously discernable to causal listeners. 

Keith, can you elaborate on your comments regarding inferior digital sounds from DKC850 as compared to the DKC500RW?

I plan to upgade to the DKC850 since I need the extra storage space, like the iPhone control, and internet features. I will probably also keep the original DKC500RW just in case.  Not sure I would like the aesthetics of mounting both units – but that is also an option. 

Best,

Paul

From:  <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> disklavier@yahoogroups.com [ <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2017 3:29 PM
To:  <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

Hi Keith,

I'm also thinking of getting the DKC-850 for my DC7 Mark II XG Pro and would like to know where you place the DKC-850. Did you move the DKC500RW control unit from it's installed position under the right side? Also, if you recorded or played back using the DKC-850 did you notice any changes in the sound?

Thanks
James M.

<image003.png><image001.png><image004.gif>

Re: [disklavier] DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-07 by George F. Litterst

Good afternoon, everyone.

Dan, on the iOS platform, BT MIDI connections have to be established by a BT MIDI-aware app. Once that connection is established, any CoreMIDI-compatible app (which is most iOS MIDI apps) will see the connection and use it.

Free iOS apps that can establish this connection include:

-MidiMttr
-GarageBand
-SuperScore Music (from my company, TimeWarp Technologies)

My company’s other app, Home Concert Xtreme, currently does not know about BT MIDI. However, it will see the BT MIDI adapter as an option if another app initiates the connection.

If you are looking for a music librarian/MIDI player app for iOS, you might take a look at Sweet MIDI Player. The app is not free, but it does know how to initiate the BT MIDI connection.

Once you power-cycle your BT MIDI adapter or your iOS device, the connection is lost and must be re-established when the devices are powered on again. The connection will not be established automatically as it would be with other BT devices.

Windows support for BT MIDI is emerging, and I think that developers have to get caught up with the new Windows 10 APIs. You can read about them here:

https://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2016/09/21/midi-enhancements-in-windows-10/#bwAzlukPOGZ42xMp.97

Of course the PC also has to be Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy (BLE)-compatible and run Windows 10.

Regards,
PianoBench

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> On Jun 7, 2017, at 10:12 AM, 'dan oconnor' dano77vette@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Good day Disklavier World:
> 
>  
> 
> Have been “playing” with the Yamaha MD-BT01 wireless Midi adapter.
> 
>  
> 
> Setup is on a DSR1 that I have upgraded my wagon grand. (Works flawlessly with wired MidiSport Uno)
> 
>  
> 
> I able to connect via Bluetooth with my IPhone with MidiMIttr (free app that connects the Bluetooth) and a free midi app PA player (the only free app with Bluetooth support that I have found so far.
> 
>  
> 
> It seems to work well with this simple player.  
> 
>  
> 
> This gives me hope that someone will develop a midi player app that allows the IPhone to access midi files that I will upload to the IPhone/cloud for playing from the IPhone.
> 
>  
> 
> I looked at the PianoDisk app which seems like a good approach (Yamaha Musicsoft take note) that allows PianoDisk users to connect via Bluetooth to the app and midi files.
> 
>  
> 
> As for a windows computer based control, still have not been successful playing with Sonar (demo version as a trial (supports Bluetooth)).  My current copies of player software Van Basco, YamPlayer, Music Creator etc., have no support for Bluetooth connection to the Disklavier.
> 
>  
> 
> If anyone has had success connecting a computer to control the Disklavier via Bluetooth please share the “how to”!
> 
>  
> 
> I will keep plugging away. 
> 
>  
> 
> It may just be that the Bluetooth connector is “too new” and that the software has to catch up. 
> 
>  
> 
> How about a plug or patch from one of our software folks in the Disklavier family.
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks for the help,
> 
>  
> 
> DanO
> 
>  
> 
> From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>] 
> Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 9:36 AM
> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [disklavier] DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> Good morning, everyone.
> 
>  
> 
> I’ll chime in and point out that there are two primary sources of XP MIDI files that take full advantage of the Disklavier PRO:
> 
>  
> 
> —Files recorded by the International Piano-e-Competition (available at both piano-e-competition.com <http://piano-e-competition.com/> and yamahaden.com/midi-files <http://yamahaden.com/midi-files>)
> 
>  
> 
> —Files that you or someone else records on a Disklavier PRO with the original control unit
> 
>  
> 
> I know of no other commercial or free sources of XP MIDI files at this time.
> 
>  
> 
> Regardless as to whether the control unit for the PRO supports XP MIDI data, the PRO solenoids do a better job of reproducing standard (non-XP) MIDI data than the regular Disklavier.
> 
>  
> 
> I agree that it is highly unfortunate that the DKC-850 does not support XP data. After all, it uses the same cable to connect to the piano as the original control unit. On the other hand, I agree that many owners of the Mark IIXG and Mark III PROs will not notice the difference when swapping out control units.
> 
>  
> 
> In any case, if you switch to the DKC-850 (which certainly provides major conveniences), I advise not throwing away the original control unit.
> 
>  
> 
> Regards,
> 
> PianoBench
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>> On Jun 6, 2017, at 7:07 PM, 'Paul Getty' paul.getty@... <mailto:paul.getty@...> [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>> wrote:
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Keith, James,
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> I was finally able to reach a couple of experienced techs at Yamaha and learned the following:
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Recordings made from the Pro piano contain added XP data that adds additional control of the playback. The DKC500RW recognizes the additional XP data and will adjust the playback while the DKC850 will not recognize it. The enhanced XP playback experience is subtle and may not be discerned by listeners in blind side by side comparions on Pro pianos where only the controller has been changed. 
>> The midi sounds from each controller are identical (XG format) except that the DKC850 can play more voicings simultanously. The differences should not be obviously discernable to causal listeners. 
>>  
>> 
>> Keith, can you elaborate on your comments regarding inferior digital sounds from DKC850 as compared to the DKC500RW?
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> I plan to upgade to the DKC850 since I need the extra storage space, like the iPhone control, and internet features. I will probably also keep the original DKC500RW just in case.  Not sure I would like the aesthetics of mounting both units – but that is also an option. 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Best,
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Paul
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com> [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>] 
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2017 3:29 PM
>> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com <mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
>> Subject: RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>   
>> 
>> Hi Keith,
>> 
>> I'm also thinking of getting the DKC-850 for my DC7 Mark II XG Pro and would like to know where you place the DKC-850. Did you move the DKC500RW control unit from it's installed position under the right side? Also, if you recorded or played back using the DKC-850 did you notice any changes in the sound?
>> 
>> Thanks
>> James M.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> <image003.png><image001.png><image004.gif>
>> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
>

RE: [disklavier] Re: DKC850 control unit upgrade issues with Mark II XG Pro with DKC500RW

2017-06-07 by kassey22000@...

Regarding the accompaniment instrumentation on the 850 vs. 500. There is a big difference, try it out for yourself. I believe the issue is not the XG voices, but the soundboard in each unit. To my ear, the pianos, strings, brass instrumentation sounds so much more authentic coming from the 500.

tried

On placement, there are a lot of possible solutions. I first tried leaving the 500 on the right then adding the 850 bracket (with minor modifications) to left side of the keyboard underside. Ultimately, I found this to be too crowded and not very ascetically pleasing. Instead, I built a little black cabinet out of off-the-shelf materials from Home Depot, put both head-units on different shelves, added a Sonos Player (1. so I don't have to string Ethernet cabling, 2. to be able to play all my .wav DK songs through the Sonos controller/playlists/shuffle/etc.)

The box is mostly out of site, but easy to reach, and I use the iPad/Pod controller or Sonos for most of my DK music selections.

Another suggestion: I plug a high quality surge protector into a remote outlet and plug all of the DK/Sonos/monitor speakers into the surge protector not only to protect from spikes, but this allows me to remotely turn off the "mains power supply" to the DK, which I understand helps reset the master unit. This also comes in handy during wind/lightning storms to make sure no electricity can reach any part of the piano (or when I'm away). I always make sure I turn on each component in this order (and off in reverse). 1. DK 500 head unit (wait for boot), 2. DKC 850. 3. monitor speakers.

To get extra powerful playback of the accompaniment instrumentation, I run a mini-jack from the back of the headphone unit (not all DK's have this), to my stereo amplifier which allows me to change the volume levels of both the amplified piano and the accompaniment instrumentation independently. This is not only great for the piano's XG voices, but the accompaniment that comes from Smart Pianosoft and Pianosoft +CD audio albums.

Happy listening.