Disklavier

Perhaps you have downloaded a MIDI format 0 file?  Convert to a MIDI format 
1 file and see if there are more tracks.

Carol Beigel


>From: DrSwiney@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@...
>Subject: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...
>Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 21:40:14 EDT
>
>Friends,
>
>I have been downloading some fine files from the Internet for playing on my
>Disklavier.
>
>In some cases while the only instrument that seems to be listed is 
>"GRANDPno"
>there seems to be a "twangy" sound somewhat like a honky tonk piano or a
>piano with tacks in the felt that usually accompanies but sometimes 
>contrasts
>with the acoustical piano music.
>
>There does not seem to be an instrument to remove on a track or channel.
>
>How can I get rid of this twangy sound?
>
>[I use the Gnmidi program to add titles etc.]
>
>Thanks,
>
>John S. Morgan




Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...


_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: 
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

-----Original Message-----

From: Carol Beigel [mailto:carolrpt@...] 
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 6:48 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...

Perhaps you have downloaded a MIDI format 0 file?  Convert to a MIDI
format 
1 file and see if there are more tracks.

Carol Beigel


>From: DrSwiney@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@...
>Subject: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...
>Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 21:40:14 EDT
>
>Friends,
>
>I have been downloading some fine files from the Internet for playing
on my
>Disklavier.
>
>In some cases while the only instrument that seems to be listed is 
>"GRANDPno"
>there seems to be a "twangy" sound somewhat like a honky tonk piano or
a
>piano with tacks in the felt that usually accompanies but sometimes 
>contrasts
>with the acoustical piano music.
>
>There does not seem to be an instrument to remove on a track or
channel.
>
>How can I get rid of this twangy sound?
>
>[I use the Gnmidi program to add titles etc.]
>
>Thanks,
>
>John S. Morgan




Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...


_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: 
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx



To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and
contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other
things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much
mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.
That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.
If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

HI,

My name is Buddhika and I live in Sri Lanka where there aren’t many
Disklaviers or people who know about them around. I am thinking of
buying a second hand one soon, (one from what's available over here). I
realized that there are several types. I would like to know the
difference in the models Mark I, Mark II and Mark II models and the file
formats.

1) The mark I says the recording format is Yamaha E-Seq
2) The mark II says Satanded MIDI file (format0, Format1)/E-Seq
3) Also What is XG and GM, 

4) Do's the Satanded Midi mean that I could get the disklavier to play
Midi files such as the once down loaded from the internet instead of
only Piano soft music?

5) Can I get a PSR 740 or a PSR 2000 coupled to the disklaver through
Midi and get it to play the a compliments such as Rithum, base, and left
hand strings etc while I play the piano left and right hand parts?

6) what does the DCD1 player exactly do?

Many thanks.
Rgds
Budds

-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Beigel [mailto:carolrpt@...] 
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 6:48 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...

Perhaps you have downloaded a MIDI format 0 file?  Convert to a MIDI
format 
1 file and see if there are more tracks.

Carol Beigel


>From: DrSwiney@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@...
>Subject: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...
>Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 21:40:14 EDT
>
>Friends,
>
>I have been downloading some fine files from the Internet for playing
on my
>Disklavier.
>
>In some cases while the only instrument that seems to be listed is 
>"GRANDPno"
>there seems to be a "twangy" sound somewhat like a honky tonk piano or
a
>piano with tacks in the felt that usually accompanies but sometimes 
>contrasts
>with the acoustical piano music.
>
>There does not seem to be an instrument to remove on a track or
channel.
>
>How can I get rid of this twangy sound?
>
>[I use the Gnmidi program to add titles etc.]
>
>Thanks,
>
>John S. Morgan




Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...


_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: 
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx



To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...m

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and
contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other
things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much
mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.
That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.
If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@eGroups.com or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Good morning, everyone.

In a message dated 9/20/02 9:41:03 PM, John writes:

<< I have been downloading some fine files from the Internet for playing on 
my 
Disklavier.

In some cases while the only instrument that seems to be listed is "GRANDPno" 
there seems to be a "twangy" sound somewhat like a honky tonk piano or a 
piano with tacks in the felt that usually accompanies but sometimes contrasts 
with the acoustical piano music.

There does not seem to be an instrument to remove on a track or channel.

How can I get rid of this twangy sound?

[I use the Gnmidi program to add titles etc.] >>

It is hard to tell from your description just what is going on. If you email 
one of these problem files to me (not to the group), and if you tell me what 
model Disklavier you have, I'll be happy to supply the solution.

Regards,
PianoBench

Good morning, everyone.

In a message dated 9/22/02 6:25:19 AM, Buddhika writes:

<< My name is Buddhika and I live in Sri Lanka where there aren’t many

Disklaviers or people who know about them around. I am thinking of

buying a second hand one soon, (one from what's available over here). I

realized that there are several types. I would like to know the

difference in the models Mark I, Mark II and Mark II models and the file

formats.


1) The mark I says the recording format is Yamaha E-Seq>>

Approximately 10 years ago, the music industry adopted standard file formats 
(called Standard MIDI Files) for MIDI files. Prior to that time, every 
company had its own. Yamaha's format was called E-SEQ. All models of 
Disklavier, including the newest ones, read the E-SEQ format, and in the 
U.S., Yamaha still publishes its own Disklavier files in this format. 
However, files that you get from the Internet or which you purchase from 
other companies will likely be in one of the two standard formats called 
Standard MIDI File (SMF) Type 0 or SMF Type 1.

In the U.S., Yamaha offers an add-on control box called the DSR1 which has a 
disk drive capable of reading SMFs. It also has an internal tone generator 
for playing the non-piano tracks--a feature which is lacking in the earliest 
model Disklaviers.

This raises another issue regarding standards: About 10 years ago the music 
industry adopted a standard sound set called General MIDI (GM). Most files 
that you find on the Internet or purchase from third-party sources require th
is sound set in order for the non-parts to play correctly. The DSR1 gives 
you a GM sound set (as well as an older Yamaha sound set called DOC and a 
newer Yamaha sound set called XG, which is a superset of GM).


<<2) The mark II says Satanded MIDI file (format0, Format1)/E-Seq>>

In the U.S., the Mark II Disklavier added support for SMF Type 0, not Type 1. 
In addition, it lacked a tone generator. Until recently, an upgrade was 
offered in the U.S. so that you could upgrade the unit with a new control box 
to turn it into a Mark IIXG unit. The Mark IIXG added support for SMF Type 1 
and included sound sets for DOC, GM, and XG.


<<3) Also What is XG and GM,>>

All MIDI files reference instrumental sounds by number. Sound number 007 in 
General MIDI, for example, is the harpsichord. Sound number 007 in DOC or 
some other manufacturer's proprietary tone format will likely be some 
instrument other than harpsichord.

People who make general-purpose MIDI files usually reference the GM sound set.

A few years ago, Yamaha proposed a new standard as a superset of GM. This new 
standard is called XG and is available on many Yamaha instruments. XG has 
also been licensed by other companies. Although XG has not become the 
industry-wide standard like GM, it is quite common. A skilled MIDI 
orchestrator can produce much better results with XG than with GM.


<<4) Do's the Satanded Midi mean that I could get the disklavier to play

Midi files such as the once down loaded from the internet instead of

only Piano soft music?>>

Yes. Please note, however, the many SMFs contain orchestral tracks that 
reference the GM sound set. This means that you need to be able to handle 
both SMF and GM. Any device that supports XG also supports GM by default.


<<5) Can I get a PSR 740 or a PSR 2000 coupled to the disklaver through

Midi and get it to play the a compliments such as Rithum, base, and left

hand strings etc while I play the piano left and right hand parts?>>

Yes. If you configure things properly, you can play a disk on a Disklavier 
and output all tracks other than the piano track(s) to an external device. 
The PSR 740 and 2000 support the GM and XG sound sets. I believe that they 
support DOC, too, but you might want to check on that. Yamaha instruments 
typically have logos on the front panel for each disk and sound format that 
they support.


<<6) what does the DCD1 player exactly do? >>

In the U.S., Yamaha is now releasing certain Disklavier software titles on 
audio CDs for use in Mark III Disklaviers as well as older Disklaviers that 
have a DCD1 added. These CDs have MIDI (for the piano part) encoded on one 
audio channel and digital audio on the other channel. During playback, the 
MIDI channel is decoded and sent to the piano. The other audio track is sent 
to the speakers. The result is that you can hear a real orchestra or singer 
performing with the Disklavier. Unlike playback of MIDI files on floppy disk, 
you cannot change the tempo.

The DCD1 works really well. However, it does not give you all of the CD 
features of the Mark III Disklavier. The DCD1 has its own, small LCD display 
and uses a separate remote control. The Mark III has the CD feature 
integrated into its control unit.

Unlike the DCD1, the Mark III can transpose the CD. In addition, the Mark III 
will soon support a new feature that enables you to record a piano 
performance to floppy disk that is coordinated with playback of your favorite 
CD. In the U.S., Yamaha plans to sell piano accompaniments on floppy disk 
that coordinate with playback of CDs that you purchase separately. This new 
feature, called PianoSmart, is not available for the DCD1 but will be 
available as a flash ROM upgrade for existing Mark III Disklaviers. 

Regards,
PianoBench

I recently looked at the new Hal Leonard catalogue and saw that they have out (supposedly) new Smart Piano Soft software for the Mark III. Are they really available? Has anyone picked up one of the titles? Do they really work?  Is some updated software required for the Mark III to utilize them?

Ron B

Many Thanks for your detail explanation.

Rgds
Budds

-----Original Message-----
From: PianoBench@... [mailto:PianoBench@...] 
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 7:40 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...

Good morning, everyone.

In a message dated 9/22/02 6:25:19 AM, Buddhika writes:

<< My name is Buddhika and I live in Sri Lanka where there aren’t many

Disklaviers or people who know about them around. I am thinking of

buying a second hand one soon, (one from what's available over here). I

realized that there are several types. I would like to know the

difference in the models Mark I, Mark II and Mark II models and the file

formats.


1) The mark I says the recording format is Yamaha E-Seq>>

Approximately 10 years ago, the music industry adopted standard file formats 
(called Standard MIDI Files) for MIDI files. Prior to that time, every 
company had its own. Yamaha's format was called E-SEQ. All models of 
Disklavier, including the newest ones, read the E-SEQ format, and in the 
U.S., Yamaha still publishes its own Disklavier files in this format. 
However, files that you get from the Internet or which you purchase from 
other companies will likely be in one of the two standard formats called 
Standard MIDI File (SMF) Type 0 or SMF Type 1.

In the U.S., Yamaha offers an add-on control box called the DSR1 which has a 
disk drive capable of reading SMFs. It also has an internal tone generator 
for playing the non-piano tracks--a feature which is lacking in the earliest 
model Disklaviers.

This raises another issue regarding standards: About 10 years ago the music 
industry adopted a standard sound set called General MIDI (GM). Most files 
that you find on the Internet or purchase from third-party sources require th
is sound set in order for the non-parts to play correctly. The DSR1 gives 
you a GM sound set (as well as an older Yamaha sound set called DOC and a 
newer Yamaha sound set called XG, which is a superset of GM).


<<2) The mark II says Satanded MIDI file (format0, Format1)/E-Seq>>

In the U.S., the Mark II Disklavier added support for SMF Type 0, not Type 1. 
In addition, it lacked a tone generator. Until recently, an upgrade was 
offered in the U.S. so that you could upgrade the unit with a new control box 
to turn it into a Mark IIXG unit. The Mark IIXG added support for SMF Type 1 
and included sound sets for DOC, GM, and XG.


<<3) Also What is XG and GM,>>

All MIDI files reference instrumental sounds by number. Sound number 007 in 
General MIDI, for example, is the harpsichord. Sound number 007 in DOC or 
some other manufacturer's proprietary tone format will likely be some 
instrument other than harpsichord.

People who make general-purpose MIDI files usually reference the GM sound set.

A few years ago, Yamaha proposed a new standard as a superset of GM. This new 
standard is called XG and is available on many Yamaha instruments. XG has 
also been licensed by other companies. Although XG has not become the 
industry-wide standard like GM, it is quite common. A skilled MIDI 
orchestrator can produce much better results with XG than with GM.


<<4) Do's the Satanded Midi mean that I could get the disklavier to play

Midi files such as the once down loaded from the internet instead of

only Piano soft music?>>

Yes. Please note, however, the many SMFs contain orchestral tracks that 
reference the GM sound set. This means that you need to be able to handle 
both SMF and GM. Any device that supports XG also supports GM by default.


<<5) Can I get a PSR 740 or a PSR 2000 coupled to the disklaver through

Midi and get it to play the a compliments such as Rithum, base, and left

hand strings etc while I play the piano left and right hand parts?>>

Yes. If you configure things properly, you can play a disk on a Disklavier 
and output all tracks other than the piano track(s) to an external device. 
The PSR 740 and 2000 support the GM and XG sound sets. I believe that they 
support DOC, too, but you might want to check on that. Yamaha instruments 
typically have logos on the front panel for each disk and sound format that 
they support.


<<6) what does the DCD1 player exactly do? >>

In the U.S., Yamaha is now releasing certain Disklavier software titles on 
audio CDs for use in Mark III Disklaviers as well as older Disklaviers that 
have a DCD1 added. These CDs have MIDI (for the piano part) encoded on one 
audio channel and digital audio on the other channel. During playback, the 
MIDI channel is decoded and sent to the piano. The other audio track is sent 
to the speakers. The result is that you can hear a real orchestra or singer 
performing with the Disklavier. Unlike playback of MIDI files on floppy disk, 
you cannot change the tempo.

The DCD1 works really well. However, it does not give you all of the CD 
features of the Mark III Disklavier. The DCD1 has its own, small LCD display 
and uses a separate remote control. The Mark III has the CD feature 
integrated into its control unit.

Unlike the DCD1, the Mark III can transpose the CD. In addition, the Mark III 
will soon support a new feature that enables you to record a piano 
performance to floppy disk that is coordinated with playback of your favorite 
CD. In the U.S., Yamaha plans to sell piano accompaniments on floppy disk 
that coordinate with playback of CDs that you purchase separately. This new 
feature, called PianoSmart, is not available for the DCD1 but will be 
available as a flash ROM upgrade for existing Mark III Disklaviers. 

Regards,
PianoBench


To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Looks like the Disklavier I am going to buy is a Mark II Model DGH1BII baby grand piano 5.3ft and I was told to be of 1995 vintage!. It is pre XG, GM and SMF I guess.

Questions are,

1) The catalogue indicates recording format as Yamaha E-Seq, I guess it is a non IBM standard format unlike SMF, or GM , am I correct? Hence I cannot down load these files from the internet?

2) If I am to play SMF or GM files down loaded from the internet, I need to get a DSR1unit. Is it correct?

3) Does the DSR1 play PianoSoft Plus disk? If so then the DSR1 will need an amp and speakers?

4) Once coupled through Midi cables, can I get the PSR keyboard's left hand sounds such as strings, percussion, base to play as compliment to the Disklavier while playing both left and right on the Disklavier live?

5) Could you be able to give a couple of dealers names who sells DSR1 units and the rough indication of the price of DSR1 unit to fit a MARK II? (either secondhand or new).

6) A Approximately, how much is a old DGH1BII 5.3ft grand disklavier be worth secondhand in the US?

7) The price of a DCD1 player (secondhand or new) and where to get it from.

Thanks
Budds
 

    


Good morning, everyone.

In a message dated 9/22/02 6:25:19 AM, Buddhika writes:

<< My name is Buddhika and I live in Sri Lanka where there aren’t many

Disklaviers or people who know about them around. I am thinking of

buying a second hand one soon, (one from what's available over here). I

realized that there are several types. I would like to know the

difference in the models Mark I, Mark II and Mark II models and the file

formats.


1) The mark I says the recording format is Yamaha E-Seq>>

Approximately 10 years ago, the music industry adopted standard file formats 
(called Standard MIDI Files) for MIDI files. Prior to that time, every 
company had its own. Yamaha's format was called E-SEQ. All models of 
Disklavier, including the newest ones, read the E-SEQ format, and in the 
U.S., Yamaha still publishes its own Disklavier files in this format. 
However, files that you get from the Internet or which you purchase from 
other companies will likely be in one of the two standard formats called 
Standard MIDI File (SMF) Type 0 or SMF Type 1.

In the U.S., Yamaha offers an add-on control box called the DSR1 which has a 
disk drive capable of reading SMFs. It also has an internal tone generator 
for playing the non-piano tracks--a feature which is lacking in the earliest 
model Disklaviers.

This raises another issue regarding standards: About 10 years ago the music 
industry adopted a standard sound set called General MIDI (GM). Most files 
that you find on the Internet or purchase from third-party sources require th
is sound set in order for the non-parts to play correctly. The DSR1 gives 
you a GM sound set (as well as an older Yamaha sound set called DOC and a 
newer Yamaha sound set called XG, which is a superset of GM).


<<2) The mark II says Satanded MIDI file (format0, Format1)/E-Seq>>

In the U.S., the Mark II Disklavier added support for SMF Type 0, not Type 1. 
In addition, it lacked a tone generator. Until recently, an upgrade was 
offered in the U.S. so that you could upgrade the unit with a new control box 
to turn it into a Mark IIXG unit. The Mark IIXG added support for SMF Type 1 
and included sound sets for DOC, GM, and XG.


<<3) Also What is XG and GM,>>

All MIDI files reference instrumental sounds by number. Sound number 007 in 
General MIDI, for example, is the harpsichord. Sound number 007 in DOC or 
some other manufacturer's proprietary tone format will likely be some 
instrument other than harpsichord.

People who make general-purpose MIDI files usually reference the GM sound set.

A few years ago, Yamaha proposed a new standard as a superset of GM. This new 
standard is called XG and is available on many Yamaha instruments. XG has 
also been licensed by other companies. Although XG has not become the 
industry-wide standard like GM, it is quite common. A skilled MIDI 
orchestrator can produce much better results with XG than with GM.


<<4) Do's the Satanded Midi mean that I could get the disklavier to play

Midi files such as the once down loaded from the internet instead of

only Piano soft music?>>

Yes. Please note, however, the many SMFs contain orchestral tracks that 
reference the GM sound set. This means that you need to be able to handle 
both SMF and GM. Any device that supports XG also supports GM by default.


<<5) Can I get a PSR 740 or a PSR 2000 coupled to the disklaver through

Midi and get it to play the a compliments such as Rithum, base, and left

hand strings etc while I play the piano left and right hand parts?>>

Yes. If you configure things properly, you can play a disk on a Disklavier 
and output all tracks other than the piano track(s) to an external device. 
The PSR 740 and 2000 support the GM and XG sound sets. I believe that they 
support DOC, too, but you might want to check on that. Yamaha instruments 
typically have logos on the front panel for each disk and sound format that 
they support.


<<6) what does the DCD1 player exactly do? >>

In the U.S., Yamaha is now releasing certain Disklavier software titles on 
audio CDs for use in Mark III Disklaviers as well as older Disklaviers that 
have a DCD1 added. These CDs have MIDI (for the piano part) encoded on one 
audio channel and digital audio on the other channel. During playback, the 
MIDI channel is decoded and sent to the piano. The other audio track is sent 
to the speakers. The result is that you can hear a real orchestra or singer 
performing with the Disklavier. Unlike playback of MIDI files on floppy disk, 
you cannot change the tempo.

The DCD1 works really well. However, it does not give you all of the CD 
features of the Mark III Disklavier. The DCD1 has its own, small LCD display 
and uses a separate remote control. The Mark III has the CD feature 
integrated into its control unit.

Unlike the DCD1, the Mark III can transpose the CD. In addition, the Mark III 
will soon support a new feature that enables you to record a piano 
performance to floppy disk that is coordinated with playback of your favorite 
CD. In the U.S., Yamaha plans to sell piano accompaniments on floppy disk 
that coordinate with playback of CDs that you purchase separately. This new 
feature, called PianoSmart, is not available for the DCD1 but will be 
available as a flash ROM upgrade for existing Mark III Disklaviers. 

Regards,
PianoBench


To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 






To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Good evening, everyone.

In a message dated 9/22/02 1:49:20 PM, Budds writes:

<< Looks like the Disklavier I am going to buy is a Mark II Model DGH1BII 
baby grand piano 5.3ft and I was told to be of 1995 vintage!. It is pre XG, 
GM and SMF I guess.


Questions are,


1) The catalogue indicates recording format as Yamaha E-Seq, I guess it is a 
non IBM standard format unlike SMF, or GM , am I correct? Hence I cannot down 
load these files from the internet?>>

All Disklaviers use DOS formatted disks. However, the Mark II models and 
earlier ones only use double-density disks. Newer models (as well as the DRS1 
which you can add to this Disklavier) support both double-density (DD) and 
high-density (HD) disks. If you could get the official Mark IIXG upgrade 
installed on this instrument, you would turn it into a Mark IIXG and this 
problem would go away. Also, you would not need the DSR1.

NOTE: The file format of the song files themselve (E-SEQ and SMF) is 
independent of the disk format.

You could download files from the Internet and play them from your computer 
using your Disklavier as an output device. This will work fine for piano 
solos, but it becomes more problematic with song files that have non-piano 
tracks. In the latter case, you either need a tone generator built into the 
Disklavier (i.e. upgrade to the Mark IIXG or add the DSR1) or you need to add 
an external tone generator or other MIDI instrument to the Disklavier (like 
the PSR instruments that you have mentioned).


<<2) If I am to play SMF or GM files down loaded from the internet, I need to 
get a DSR1unit. Is it correct?>>

Yes, unless you manage to get the instrument upgraded to a Mark IIXG or 
unless you decide to play them from your computer.


<<3) Does the DSR1 play PianoSoft Plus disk?>>

Yes. It is completely backward compatible with respect to disk format, song 
file format, and sound set.

<<If so then the DSR1 will need an amp and speakers?>>

Yes. Of course, if you get powered speakers, the amp is in one of the 
speakers.


<<4) Once coupled through Midi cables, can I get the PSR keyboard's left hand 
sounds such as strings, percussion, base to play as compliment to the 
Disklavier while playing both left and right on the Disklavier live?>>

I believe that this will work. Basically, you will be sending MIDI out from 
the Disklavier to MIDI In on the PSR. You will have the choice of sending all 
of the data from the Disklavier on a single MIDI channel or two adjacent 
channels if you set up a keyboard split on the Disklavier. You should check 
out the MIDI implementation on the PSR to see how it handles bass, treble, 
and lead voices when there is incoming MIDI data.


<<5) Could you be able to give a couple of dealers names who sells DSR1 units 
and the rough indication of the price of DSR1 unit to fit a MARK II? (either 
secondhand or new).>>

I believe that the list price is around $1,295. Your dealer may or may not 
discount it.


<<6) A Approximately, how much is a old DGH1BII 5.3ft grand disklavier be 
worth secondhand in the US?>>

I don't know. Its value in the U.S. may not be directly comparable to its 
value in another country where the tarrifs may cause significant price 
differences.


<<7) The price of a DCD1 player (secondhand or new) and where to get it from. 
>>

Any Yamaha piano dealer in the U.S. can sell this item. I am not sure about 
other countries.

Regards,
PianoBench

Many thanks for the detail information sent to me.
Will keep you updated with my project.
Rgds
Budds

-----Original Message-----
From: PianoBench@... [mailto:PianoBench@...] 
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 7:44 AM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...

Good evening, everyone.

In a message dated 9/22/02 1:49:20 PM, Budds writes:

<< Looks like the Disklavier I am going to buy is a Mark II Model
DGH1BII 
baby grand piano 5.3ft and I was told to be of 1995 vintage!. It is pre
XG, 
GM and SMF I guess.


Questions are,


1) The catalogue indicates recording format as Yamaha E-Seq, I guess it
is a 
non IBM standard format unlike SMF, or GM , am I correct? Hence I cannot
down 
load these files from the internet?>>

All Disklaviers use DOS formatted disks. However, the Mark II models and

earlier ones only use double-density disks. Newer models (as well as the
DRS1 
which you can add to this Disklavier) support both double-density (DD)
and 
high-density (HD) disks. If you could get the official Mark IIXG upgrade

installed on this instrument, you would turn it into a Mark IIXG and
this 
problem would go away. Also, you would not need the DSR1.

NOTE: The file format of the song files themselve (E-SEQ and SMF) is 
independent of the disk format.

You could download files from the Internet and play them from your
computer 
using your Disklavier as an output device. This will work fine for piano

solos, but it becomes more problematic with song files that have
non-piano 
tracks. In the latter case, you either need a tone generator built into
the 
Disklavier (i.e. upgrade to the Mark IIXG or add the DSR1) or you need
to add 
an external tone generator or other MIDI instrument to the Disklavier
(like 
the PSR instruments that you have mentioned).


<<2) If I am to play SMF or GM files down loaded from the internet, I
need to 
get a DSR1unit. Is it correct?>>

Yes, unless you manage to get the instrument upgraded to a Mark IIXG or 
unless you decide to play them from your computer.


<<3) Does the DSR1 play PianoSoft Plus disk?>>

Yes. It is completely backward compatible with respect to disk format,
song 
file format, and sound set.

<<If so then the DSR1 will need an amp and speakers?>>

Yes. Of course, if you get powered speakers, the amp is in one of the 
speakers.


<<4) Once coupled through Midi cables, can I get the PSR keyboard's left
hand 
sounds such as strings, percussion, base to play as compliment to the 
Disklavier while playing both left and right on the Disklavier live?>>

I believe that this will work. Basically, you will be sending MIDI out
from 
the Disklavier to MIDI In on the PSR. You will have the choice of
sending all 
of the data from the Disklavier on a single MIDI channel or two adjacent

channels if you set up a keyboard split on the Disklavier. You should
check 
out the MIDI implementation on the PSR to see how it handles bass,
treble, 
and lead voices when there is incoming MIDI data.


<<5) Could you be able to give a couple of dealers names who sells DSR1
units 
and the rough indication of the price of DSR1 unit to fit a MARK II?
(either 
secondhand or new).>>

I believe that the list price is around $1,295. Your dealer may or may
not 
discount it.


<<6) A Approximately, how much is a old DGH1BII 5.3ft grand disklavier
be 
worth secondhand in the US?>>

I don't know. Its value in the U.S. may not be directly comparable to
its 
value in another country where the tarrifs may cause significant price 
differences.


<<7) The price of a DCD1 player (secondhand or new) and where to get it
from. 
>>

Any Yamaha piano dealer in the U.S. can sell this item. I am not sure
about 
other countries.

Regards,
PianoBench


To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and
contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other
things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much
mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.
That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.
If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

You can play files downloaded from the internet on a Mark II without using a 
DSR1, but you will need to do some extra work.  You can use the file 
utilities on this site to convert all the standard MIDI files you download 
to ESEQ format, and put them on double density diskettes.  You would also 
need to buy a tone generator to hear the ensemble sounds.

The DSR1 would certainly be more convenient, as you would be able to use the 
standard high density disks, not have to bother with file conversions, and 
have a built-in tone generator for the XG sounds. More convenient, 
definitely, but not essential.

Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...





_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

Thanks, Got it now. Will try with File Utilities for the conversion.

As mentioned by some,, I hope I can use a PSR 2000 keyboard as the tone
generator,, can I not?

Thanks
Budds 

-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Beigel [mailto:carolrpt@...] 
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 7:00 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...

You can play files downloaded from the internet on a Mark II without
using a 
DSR1, but you will need to do some extra work.  You can use the file 
utilities on this site to convert all the standard MIDI files you
download 
to ESEQ format, and put them on double density diskettes.  You would
also 
need to buy a tone generator to hear the ensemble sounds.

The DSR1 would certainly be more convenient, as you would be able to use
the 
standard high density disks, not have to bother with file conversions,
and 
have a built-in tone generator for the XG sounds. More convenient, 
definitely, but not essential.

Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...





_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com



To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and
contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other
things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much
mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.
That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.
If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

As soon as the 3.5 update is ready your dealership
should send it to free of charge.  

--- Ron <gemini2@...> wrote:
> I recently looked at the new Hal Leonard catalogue
> and saw that they have out (supposedly) new Smart
> Piano Soft software for the Mark III. Are they
> really available? Has anyone picked up one of the
> titles? Do they really work?  Is some updated
> software required for the Mark III to utilize them?
> 
> Ron B
> 
> 
> 


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
http://sbc.yahoo.com

Thanks Morris. Does anyone know if the update is available. There is nothing
on Yamaha's site.

Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: Morris Smith [mailto:mdsatlanta@...]
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 2:00 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] RE: Smart Piano Soft


As soon as the 3.5 update is ready your dealership
should send it to free of charge.

--- Ron <gemini2@...> wrote:
> I recently looked at the new Hal Leonard catalogue
> and saw that they have out (supposedly) new Smart
> Piano Soft software for the Mark III. Are they
> really available? Has anyone picked up one of the
> titles? Do they really work?  Is some updated
> software required for the Mark III to utilize them?
>
> Ron B
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
http://sbc.yahoo.com


To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator,
send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in June 2001 and contains
some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among other things, The
url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail,
go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That
will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you
insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@...

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join


Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

NOT AVAILABLE YET.
--- Ron <gemini2@...> wrote:

> Thanks Morris. Does anyone know if the update is
> available. There is nothing
> on Yamaha's site.
> 
> Ron
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Morris Smith [mailto:mdsatlanta@...]
> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 2:00 PM
> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [disklavier] RE: Smart Piano Soft
> 
> 
> As soon as the 3.5 update is ready your dealership
> should send it to free of charge.
> 
> --- Ron <gemini2@...> wrote:
> > I recently looked at the new Hal Leonard catalogue
> > and saw that they have out (supposedly) new Smart
> > Piano Soft software for the Mark III. Are they
> > really available? Has anyone picked up one of the
> > titles? Do they really work?  Is some updated
> > software required for the Mark III to utilize
> them?
> >
> > Ron B
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
> http://sbc.yahoo.com
> 
> 
> To Post a message to the group, send it to:  
> disklavier@...
> 
> To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's
> founder and moderator,
> send it to:
> disklavier-owner@...
> 
> To reach our group's web site go to:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier
> 
> Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in
> June 2001 and contains
> some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites
> among other things, The
> url is:
> http://MuncyFamily.com
> 
> THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are
> getting too much mail,
> go the the web site and change your email delivery
> option instead.  That
> will fix the problem, while maintaining your access
> to the group.  If you
> insist on leaving us completely send a blank email
> to:
> disklavier-unsubscribe@...
> 
> Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a
> blank email to:
> disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this
> link:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

Does anyone know if there will be any way to update a Mark II XG 
Disklavier to work with PinaoSmart software?

--- In disklavier@y..., Morris Smith <mdsatlanta@y...> wrote:

> NOT AVAILABLE YET.
> --- Ron <gemini2@b...> wrote:
> > Thanks Morris. Does anyone know if the update is
> > available. There is nothing
> > on Yamaha's site.
> > 
> > Ron
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Morris Smith [mailto:mdsatlanta@y...]
> > Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 2:00 PM
> > To: disklavier@y...
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] RE: Smart Piano Soft
> > 
> > 
> > As soon as the 3.5 update is ready your dealership
> > should send it to free of charge.
> > 
> > --- Ron <gemini2@b...> wrote:
> > > I recently looked at the new Hal Leonard catalogue
> > > and saw that they have out (supposedly) new Smart
> > > Piano Soft software for the Mark III. Are they
> > > really available? Has anyone picked up one of the
> > > titles? Do they really work?  Is some updated
> > > software required for the Mark III to utilize
> > them?
> > >
> > > Ron B
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
> > http://sbc.yahoo.com
> > 
> > 
> > To Post a message to the group, send it to:  
> > disklavier@Y...
> > 
> > To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's
> > founder and moderator,
> > send it to:
> > disklavier-owner@Y...
> > 
> > To reach our group's web site go to:
> > http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier
> > 
> > Todd's family web site was completely rewritten in
> > June 2001 and contains
> > some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites
> > among other things, The
> > url is:
> > http://MuncyFamily.com
> > 
> > THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> > If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are
> > getting too much mail,
> > go the the web site and change your email delivery
> > option instead.  That
> > will fix the problem, while maintaining your access
> > to the group.  If you
> > insist on leaving us completely send a blank email
> > to:
> > disklavier-unsubscribe@y...
> > 
> > Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a
> > blank email to:
> > disklavier-subscribe@e... or give them this
> > link:
> > http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
> > 
> > 
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >

It will only work with Mark III.  There will be a
floppy disk upgrade for Mark III
--- thegorens <goren@...> wrote:
> Does anyone know if there will be any way to update
> a Mark II XG 
> Disklavier to work with PinaoSmart software?
> 
> --- In disklavier@y..., Morris Smith
> <mdsatlanta@y...> wrote:
> > NOT AVAILABLE YET.
> > --- Ron <gemini2@b...> wrote:
> > > Thanks Morris. Does anyone know if the update is
> > > available. There is nothing
> > > on Yamaha's site.
> > > 
> > > Ron
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Morris Smith [mailto:mdsatlanta@y...]
> > > Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 2:00 PM
> > > To: disklavier@y...
> > > Subject: Re: [disklavier] RE: Smart Piano Soft
> > > 
> > > 
> > > As soon as the 3.5 update is ready your
> dealership
> > > should send it to free of charge.
> > > 
> > > --- Ron <gemini2@b...> wrote:
> > > > I recently looked at the new Hal Leonard
> catalogue
> > > > and saw that they have out (supposedly) new
> Smart
> > > > Piano Soft software for the Mark III. Are they
> > > > really available? Has anyone picked up one of
> the
> > > > titles? Do they really work?  Is some updated
> > > > software required for the Mark III to utilize
> > > them?
> > > >
> > > > Ron B
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > 
> > > 
> > >
> __________________________________________________
> > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
> > > http://sbc.yahoo.com
> > > 
> > > 
> > > To Post a message to the group, send it to:  
> > > disklavier@Y...
> > > 
> > > To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the
> group's
> > > founder and moderator,
> > > send it to:
> > > disklavier-owner@Y...
> > > 
> > > To reach our group's web site go to:
> > > http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier
> > > 
> > > Todd's family web site was completely rewritten
> in
> > > June 2001 and contains
> > > some fun disklavier content and links to midi
> sites
> > > among other things, The
> > > url is:
> > > http://MuncyFamily.com
> > > 
> > > THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> > > If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you
> are
> > > getting too much mail,
> > > go the the web site and change your email
> delivery
> > > option instead.  That
> > > will fix the problem, while maintaining your
> access
> > > to the group.  If you
> > > insist on leaving us completely send a blank
> email
> > > to:
> > > disklavier-unsubscribe@y...
> > > 
> > > Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send
> a
> > > blank email to:
> > > disklavier-subscribe@e... or give them this
> > > link:
> > > http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >
> 
> 


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
http://sbc.yahoo.com

Good afternoon, everyone.

In a message dated 9/22/02 12:38:46 PM, DrSwiney writes:

<< The model is DGA1PE.  It was the "item number" in my invoice.

I have attached Bird in a Gilded Cage.  Whatever that sound is it is not a 
piano.

Thanks for offering to solve my problem. >>

I am sorry that it took me so long to look at the file that you sent. The 
problem is this: there are several tracks in the file and they are all set to 
a piano voice. I suspect that your Disklavier is set up so that it is playing 
one or two of these tracks and that the remaining tracks are being played by 
your tone generator.  The sound of the General MIDI piano voice, coming 
through speakers, is inferior to your instrument's native sound (i.e. hammers 
hitting strings) and is giving you the "twanging" sound to which you refer.

To see what I am talking about, pop the disk into your Disklavier and select 
the song in question. Then, press the Right Arrow button (not the Song Select 
button). This will take you to the next page of information about the current 
song. You will be able to see the 16 possible channels of MIDI data 
represented by little circles across the bottom. If you play the song, you 
will notice that many of these light up when there is activity on a 
particular channel.

You will also notice designations for L= and R=. These designation show your 
Disklaviers determination of which parts it should play on the piano itself. 
All other parts will be played on the tone generator. If you use the Arrow 
buttons to select L and R, you can use the +/- buttons to change these 
values. (The change is only temporary when made on this screen.) If you set 
R=## (i.e. no channel) and L=PRG(ALL) (i.e. all channels with a piano group 
voice) and then play the song file, you will hear all of the parts played by 
the piano.

In the case of this particular song, the performance is rather loud and 
mechanical, but the twang will go away.

To fix this situation so that most files play correctly automatically do this:

--press Function
--use the Right Arrow button to go to MIDI Setup
--press Enter to enter the MIDISetup area
--press Enter again to enter the PianoPart area
--press the Right Arrow button until you get to the screen that shows the 
default settings for L= and R=

At this point, you can either set L=PRG and R=PRG or set L=PRG(ALL) and R=##. 
There are subtle distinctions between the two choices and neither one will be 
the right one 100% of the time. I usually use the first option. For this 
particular file to have worked correctly by default, however, it would have 
been necessary to have chosen the second option.

Regards,
PianoBench

Hello PianoBench,

Referring to the two choices in your last paragraph, could you kindly 
elaborate on the differences. I went with the second set to play 
downloaded MIDI files and have always wondered about the first set.

Some of the MIDI files are very very loud. I had the same worry that 
my piano might get ruined by these files. I know Veloset can be good 
for piano solo files but remain unsure about what is the "tested and 
true" thing to do with non-solo files. Thanks for sharing your 
knowledge.

Regards,
Bin Kuei



--- In disklavier@y..., PianoBench@a... wrote:
> Good afternoon, everyone.
> 
> In a message dated 9/22/02 12:38:46 PM, DrSwiney writes:
> 
> << The model is DGA1PE.  It was the "item number" in my invoice.
> 
> I have attached Bird in a Gilded Cage.  Whatever that sound is it 
is not a 
> piano.
> 
> Thanks for offering to solve my problem. >>
> 
> I am sorry that it took me so long to look at the file that you 
sent. The 
> problem is this: there are several tracks in the file and they are 
all set to 
> a piano voice. I suspect that your Disklavier is set up so that it 
is playing 
> one or two of these tracks and that the remaining tracks are being 
played by 
> your tone generator.  The sound of the General MIDI piano voice, 
coming 
> through speakers, is inferior to your instrument's native sound 
(i.e. hammers 
> hitting strings) and is giving you the "twanging" sound to which 
you refer.
> 
> To see what I am talking about, pop the disk into your Disklavier 
and select 
> the song in question. Then, press the Right Arrow button (not the 
Song Select 
> button). This will take you to the next page of information about 
the current 
> song. You will be able to see the 16 possible channels of MIDI data 
> represented by little circles across the bottom. If you play the 
song, you 
> will notice that many of these light up when there is activity on a 
> particular channel.
> 
> You will also notice designations for L= and R=. These designation 
show your 
> Disklaviers determination of which parts it should play on the 
piano itself. 
> All other parts will be played on the tone generator. If you use 
the Arrow 
> buttons to select L and R, you can use the +/- buttons to change 
these 
> values. (The change is only temporary when made on this screen.) If 
you set 
> R=## (i.e. no channel) and L=PRG(ALL) (i.e. all channels with a 
piano group 
> voice) and then play the song file, you will hear all of the parts 
played by 
> the piano.
> 
> In the case of this particular song, the performance is rather loud 
and 
> mechanical, but the twang will go away.
> 
> To fix this situation so that most files play correctly 
automatically do this:
> 
> --press Function
> --use the Right Arrow button to go to MIDI Setup
> --press Enter to enter the MIDISetup area
> --press Enter again to enter the PianoPart area
> --press the Right Arrow button until you get to the screen that 
shows the 
> default settings for L= and R=
> 
> At this point, you can either set L=PRG and R=PRG or set L=PRG(ALL) 
and R=##. 
> There are subtle distinctions between the two choices and neither 
one will be 
> the right one 100% of the time. I usually use the first option. For 
this 
> particular file to have worked correctly by default, however, it 
would have 

> been necessary to have chosen the second option.
> 
> Regards,
> PianoBench

Good afternoon, everyone.

In a message dated 9/27/02 1:17:25 PM, Bin writes:

<< Referring to the two choices in your last paragraph, could you kindly 
elaborate on the differences. I went with the second set to play 
downloaded MIDI files and have always wondered about the first set.>>

Here is the  problem:

The Disklavier has a split personality. That is to say, it is really two 
instruments in one. It is a piano, and it is a tone generator.

When you ask the Disklavier to play a MIDI file, it needs help figuring out 
which channel data (from a total of 16 MIDI channels) should be played by the 
piano and which channel data should be played by the tone generator.

When you record a multitrack sequence on the Disklavier, it automatically 
inserts a sequencer-specific meta event into the SMF that tells it which 
tracks are intended for the piano. Over the last several years, I have spent 
time instructing many publishers of pedagogical MIDI files how to insert this 
event so that they can make sure that Disklaviers (and Clavinovas) can assign 
the piano tracks to the left and right part cancel buttons.

In the absence of this meta event, the older Disklaviers wanted to assume 
that the piano parts were on channels 1 and 2, which is the Yamaha standard. 
Most of the other publishers of pedagogical MIDI files put the piano parts on 
channels 3 and 4, which is the Roland standard. Authors of other files that 
you find on the Internet may use any of the other channels for the piano 
parts (except channel 10, which is reserved for the drum kit in a General 
MIDI compatible file).

In the absence of this meta event, the Disklavier lets you:

(1) change its current part setting manually (but does not remember the 
change when you turn off the instrument)
(2) designate one or two channels as the default channels to be assigned to 
the piano for all third-party files
(3) designate one of two methods of having the Disklavier intelligently guess 
the channels of the piano part for all third-party files

When you do the procedure that I mentioned in my last email and set 
L=PRG(ALL), the Disklavier will look at all tracks in the SMF and determine 
which ones contain a piano group voice. (A piano group voice is any of the 
first 8 voices in the General MIDI voice set). The Disklavier then assigns 
those tracks to itself and plays the rest of the tracks using the tone 
generator. It also lets you cancel the playback of these piano tracks if you 
push the L Part Cancel button.

If you set L=PRG and R=PRG, the Disklavier will similarly look at all of the 
tracks and determine which ones contain a piano group voice. It will then 
choose to assign the track on the lowest MIDI channel to the L Part Cancel 
button and the track on the second lowest MIDI channel to the R Part Cancel 
button. It will play these tracks on the piano and all others on the tone 
generator.

Setting L=PRG(ALL) is great except when:
(1) a file has separate right and left hand piano parts and you want them 
assigned separately to the L and R Part Cancel buttons
(2) a file has piano group voices (such as harpsichord) that you would rather 
have played by the tone generator

Setting L=PRG and R=PRG is great except when
(1) there are more than two channels of piano data
(2) One or both of the lowest numbered tracks with a piano group voice are 
tracks that you would rather hear on the tone generator

As you can see, either setting is a matter of intelligent guessing. I keep my 
Disklavier set to L=PRG and R=PRG. When I encounter a file that I like that 
doesn't work with these settings (which is about 5% of the time), I fix the 
file on the computer

<<Some of the MIDI files are very very loud. I had the same worry that 
my piano might get ruined by these files. I know Veloset can be good 
for piano solo files but remain unsure about what is the "tested and 
true" thing to do with non-solo files. Thanks for sharing your 
knowledge. >>

Unfortunately, there is no industry-standard velocity scale that all 
manufacturers use. Therefore, what is loud on one MIDI instrument is not 
necessarily loud on another.

Many people who make MIDI files that end up on the Internet:
(1) record them on light action keyboards, which results in high note-on 
velocities
(2) listen to their files using the weak General MIDI piano sound in their 
tone generator or computer sound card and therefore go to create lengths to 
boost the volume of the piano part
(3) listen to their files on weak speakers

If I get a MIDI file off the Internet, I make sure set the MIDI volume 
setting (controller 7) in piano tracks to 100 (100 being the Disklavier's 
default setting), and I reduce the note-on velocities of all of the piano 
notes if the piano part is still too loud.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
PianoBench

Hi PianoBench,

Thanks for your explanation. They are very helpful.

Regards,
Bin Kuei



--- In disklavier@y..., PianoBench@a... wrote:
> Good afternoon, everyone.
> 
> In a message dated 9/27/02 1:17:25 PM, Bin writes:
> 
> << Referring to the two choices in your last paragraph, could you 
kindly 
> elaborate on the differences. I went with the second set to play 
> downloaded MIDI files and have always wondered about the first 
set.>>
> 
> Here is the  problem:
> 
> The Disklavier has a split personality. That is to say, it is 
really two 
> instruments in one. It is a piano, and it is a tone generator.
> 
> When you ask the Disklavier to play a MIDI file, it needs help 
figuring out 
> which channel data (from a total of 16 MIDI channels) should be 
played by the 
> piano and which channel data should be played by the tone generator.
> 
> When you record a multitrack sequence on the Disklavier, it 
automatically 
> inserts a sequencer-specific meta event into the SMF that tells it 
which 
> tracks are intended for the piano. Over the last several years, I 
have spent 
> time instructing many publishers of pedagogical MIDI files how to 
insert this 
> event so that they can make sure that Disklaviers (and Clavinovas) 
can assign 
> the piano tracks to the left and right part cancel buttons.
> 
> In the absence of this meta event, the older Disklaviers wanted to 
assume 
> that the piano parts were on channels 1 and 2, which is the Yamaha 
standard. 
> Most of the other publishers of pedagogical MIDI files put the 
piano parts on 
> channels 3 and 4, which is the Roland standard. Authors of other 
files that 
> you find on the Internet may use any of the other channels for the 
piano 
> parts (except channel 10, which is reserved for the drum kit in a 
General 
> MIDI compatible file).
> 
> In the absence of this meta event, the Disklavier lets you:
> 
> (1) change its current part setting manually (but does not remember 
the 
> change when you turn off the instrument)
> (2) designate one or two channels as the default channels to be 
assigned to 
> the piano for all third-party files
> (3) designate one of two methods of having the Disklavier 
intelligently guess 
> the channels of the piano part for all third-party files
> 
> When you do the procedure that I mentioned in my last email and set 
> L=PRG(ALL), the Disklavier will look at all tracks in the SMF and 
determine 
> which ones contain a piano group voice. (A piano group voice is any 
of the 
> first 8 voices in the General MIDI voice set). The Disklavier then 
assigns 
> those tracks to itself and plays the rest of the tracks using the 
tone 
> generator. It also lets you cancel the playback of these piano 
tracks if you 
> push the L Part Cancel button.
> 
> If you set L=PRG and R=PRG, the Disklavier will similarly look at 
all of the 
> tracks and determine which ones contain a piano group voice. It 
will then 
> choose to assign the track on the lowest MIDI channel to the L Part 
Cancel 
> button and the track on the second lowest MIDI channel to the R 
Part Cancel 
> button. It will play these tracks on the piano and all others on 
the tone 
> generator.
> 
> Setting L=PRG(ALL) is great except when:
> (1) a file has separate right and left hand piano parts and you 
want them 
> assigned separately to the L and R Part Cancel buttons
> (2) a file has piano group voices (such as harpsichord) that you 
would rather 
> have played by the tone generator
> 
> Setting L=PRG and R=PRG is great except when
> (1) there are more than two channels of piano data
> (2) One or both of the lowest numbered tracks with a piano group 
voice are 
> tracks that you would rather hear on the tone generator
> 
> As you can see, either setting is a matter of intelligent guessing. 
I keep my 
> Disklavier set to L=PRG and R=PRG. When I encounter a file that I 
like that 
> doesn't work with these settings (which is about 5% of the time), I 
fix the 
> file on the computer
> 
> <<Some of the MIDI files are very very loud. I had the same worry 
that 
> my piano might get ruined by these files. I know Veloset can be 
good 
> for piano solo files but remain unsure about what is the "tested 
and 
> true" thing to do with non-solo files. Thanks for sharing your 
> knowledge. >>
> 
> Unfortunately, there is no industry-standard velocity scale that 
all 
> manufacturers use. Therefore, what is loud on one MIDI instrument 
is not 
> necessarily loud on another.
> 
> Many people who make MIDI files that end up on the Internet:
> (1) record them on light action keyboards, which results in high 
note-on 
> velocities
> (2) listen to their files using the weak General MIDI piano sound 
in their 
> tone generator or computer sound card and therefore go to create 
lengths to 
> boost the volume of the piano part
> (3) listen to their files on weak speakers
> 
> If I get a MIDI file off the Internet, I make sure set the MIDI 
volume 
> setting (controller 7) in piano tracks to 100 (100 being the 
Disklavier's 
> default setting), and I reduce the note-on velocities of all of the 
piano 

> notes if the piano part is still too loud.
> 
> Hope that helps.
> 
> Regards,
> PianoBench

Thanks, Pianobench, for that last paragraph!  I have never figured out the 
differences between these settings. I have found that PrgAll setting makes 
different tracks try to play the same note at the same time, instead of 
playing a different voice. Would it make a difference if the file in 
question was a SMF 0 or SMF 1 file?

Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...

>From: PianoBench@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: DrSwiney@..., disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...
>Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 11:33:46 EDT
>
>Good afternoon, everyone.
>snip>
>>To fix this situation so that most files play correctly automatically do 
>>this:
>
>At this point, you can either set L=PRG and R=PRG or set L=PRG(ALL) and 
>R=##.
>There are subtle distinctions between the two choices and neither one will 
>be
>the right one 100% of the time. I usually use the first option. For this
>particular file to have worked correctly by default, however, it would have
>been necessary to have chosen the second option.
>
>Regards,
>PianoBench






_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

Good evening, everyone.

In a message dated 9/28/02 7:30:16 PM, Carol writes:

<< Thanks, Pianobench, for that last paragraph!  I have never figured out the 
differences between these settings. I have found that PrgAll setting makes 
different tracks try to play the same note at the same time, instead of 
playing a different voice.>>

If you have two separate tracks in a song file, each with a piano group 
voice--such as 01 Acoustic Grand Piano and 07 Harpsichord--you might have a 
situation in which both voices are playing the same notes. That depends on 
how  the song was arranged. In such a case, the PRG(ALL) setting would cause 
the Disklavier to try to play these tracks simultaneously on the piano.

<<Would it make a difference if the file in 
question was a SMF 0 or SMF 1 file? >>

It makes no difference whether the file is SMF Type 0 or SMF Type 1.

I have seen some posts to this group that show some confusion about these 
file formats. From a technical point of view, a Type 0 file is a single-track 
file and a Type 1 file is a multitrack file. HOWEVER, as far as the user is 
concerned, you can consider both types to function multitrack files. From a 
practical point of view (i.e. from a user's point of view), the distinction 
is very slight.

Any device or computer program that plays a Type 0 file looks at the data in 
the file and realizes that most of the data is assigned to various MIDI 
channels (of which there are 16 possibilities). When the device displays the 
data (such as a sequencing program on the computer or the window on the 
Disklavier), the device keeps all of the data separated according to MIDI 
channel as though the data were assigned to as many as 16 separate tracks. 
For this reason, if you open a Type 0 file using a sequencing  program on the 
computer, it will appear as though you have a multitrack file with up to 16 
tracks.

If you find the foregoing to be confusing, think of it like this: For all 
practical purposes, a Type 0 file acts like a multitrack file that has up to 
16 tracks in it.

A Type 1 file, however, can have an unlimited number of tracks. (Okay, there 
is probably an upper limit, but no one ever reaches it!) HOWEVER, these 
tracks can only be assigned to a maximum of 16 channels. For example, you can 
have a Type 1 file with 20 tracks, but every track will be assigned to a 
channel with a number between 1 and 16. In this example, some tracks are 
assigned to the same channel.

Why would you assign multiple tracks to the same channel? Well, think of the 
drum track, as an example. The drum track uses a single instrument called a 
drum kit. Each note in the kit makes a different sound. One note is the high 
hat, another the bass drum, et cetera. If you were sequencing a drum part 
using a computer sequecing program, you might want to record the high hat to 
one track, and then record the bass drum on another track, et cetera. By 
keeping these drum parts on separate tracks,  you will have an easier time 
editing them. However, all of them will get assigned to channel 10.

Similarly, you might want to sequence the left and right hand piano parts 
separately and keep them on separate tracks. However, since they use the same 
voice, you might want to assign them to the same MIDI channel so that you 
have more channels available for other voices.

If you take a Type 1 file and convert it to a Type 0 file, all of the tracks 
that are assigned to the same MIDI channel are essentially combined together. 
If, for example, you had originally put the high hat and the bass drum on 
separate tracks in a Type 1 file, then converted the file to Type 0, and then 
opened it again in your sequencer, you would find that all of your drum parts 
would appear on a single track assigned to channel 10.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
PianoBench

Your explanations concerning tracks and channels help a lot!!  Also, I had 
no idea that Roland used Channels 3 and 4 instead of 1 and 2 for the piano 
parts. I know that one of the reasons people buy Disklaviers is to be able 
to have a piano accompany another instrument, i.e. students playing flute, 
violin, clarinet, etc.; and be able to slow down the piano part while 
learning the other parts.  It is also helpful to understand which channels 
make the piano play so that only the piano parts can be turned down on songs 
that have ensemble parts.

BTW, where does one look for that meta tag that assigns the piano parts?  
How do you recommend reducing those "note-on" velocities - edit them 
individually or globally?

>From: PianoBench@...
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] twang, twang twang...
>Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 19:54:26 EDT
>
>Good evening, everyone.
>
SNIP>
From a technical point of view, a Type 0 file is a single-track
>file and a Type 1 file is a multitrack file.

>If you find the foregoing to be confusing, think of it like this: For all
>practical purposes, a Type 0 file acts like a multitrack file that has up 
>to
>16 tracks in it.
>
>A Type 1 file, however, can have an unlimited number of tracks. (Okay, 
>there
>is probably an upper limit, but no one ever reaches it!) HOWEVER, these
>tracks can only be assigned to a maximum of 16 channels. For example, you 
>can
>have a Type 1 file with 20 tracks, but every track will be assigned to a
>channel with a number between 1 and 16.
...>Similarly, you might want to sequence the left and right hand piano 
parts
>separately and keep them on separate tracks. However, since they use the 
>same
>voice, you might want to assign them to the same MIDI channel so that you
>have more channels available for other voices.
>
>If you take a Type 1 file and convert it to a Type 0 file, all of the 
>tracks
>that are assigned to the same MIDI channel are essentially combined 
>together.
>If, for example, you had originally put the high hat and the bass drum on
>separate tracks in a Type 1 file, then converted the file to Type 0, and 
>then
>opened it again in your sequencer, you would find that all of your drum 
>parts
>would appear on a single track assigned to channel 10.
>
>Hope that helps.
>
>Regards,
>PianoBench


Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...




_________________________________________________________________
Join the world\ufffds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. 
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Good morning, everyone.

In a message dated 9/28/02 10:57:34 PM, Carol writes:

<< BTW, where does one look for that meta tag that assigns the piano parts?>>

I was afraid that someone was going to ask that. First, some background:

Most computer sequencers are not true MIDI editors. They open and save files 
in their own format. True, they do store MIDI data and should comply with the 
official MIDI spec. Nonetheless, they have their own format which allows them 
to let you save all sorts of preferences that apply only to your particular 
situation (like the layout of the  screens on your computer, et cetera) and 
may include data types that have nothing to do with MIDI (such as audio 
tracks).

If you use a typical computer sequencing program to edit a SMF, the program 
actually imports the SMF into its own format, lets you do the editing, and 
then exports the data back to SMF. During the conversion to and from SMF, the 
sequencer may choose to reorder some of the MIDI events in a subtle way (and 
that normally doesn't matter, unless you are editing XP data from a 
Disklavier Pro) and the sequencer may choose to ignore and discard certain 
MIDI messages.

For reasons that I cannot fathom, nearly every computer sequencer that I have 
encountered discards a type of MIDI message called a "sequencer-specific meta 
event." That is the type of event that we are discussing.

A sequencer-specific meta event is similar to a system exclusive (SysEx) 
message.  It begins with a manufacturer's ID and then continues with other 
hexadecimal numbers. I am not sure what the technical distinction is between 
the intended functionality of SysEx and sequencer-specific meta events, but I 
suspect that the latter is capable of holding a much longer string of numbers.

Most sequencers do save the SysEx messages.

The MIDI Manufacturers Association encourages companies to publish their 
manufacturer-specific messages so that everyone can take advantage of them. 
Many of these messages, however, are undocumented.

The fact that these messages begin with a manufacturer's ID means that it is 
easy for devices that do not understand these messages to ignore them.

There are only two computer sequencing programs with which I am familiar that 
display and save sequencer-specific meta events: Yamaha's XGWorks and 
Tontata's MIDIGraphy (http://member.nifty.ne.jp/mmaeda/e/works.html). The 
former is available for both Mac and Windows (but I can only confirm that the 
Windows version saves these meta events; I presume that the Mac version does 
as well). MIDIGraphy is for the Mac only and is a true, native MIDI file 
editor.

When you make a recording on a Disklavier, model Mark IIXG or later, the 
Disklavier puts this meta event into the file as a default:

43 7B 0C 02 01

(Note: This is hexadecimal. The 0s are zeros, not capital letters.)

"43" is Yamaha's ID code. I presume that "7B 0C" identifies the purpose of 
the meta event. "02" tells the Disklavier to play the data on channel 2 on 
the piano and assign that data to the R Part Cancel button. "01" tells the 
Disklavier to play the data on channel 1 on the piano and assign that data to 
the L Part Cancel button.

(As an aside, I'll mention that the Yamaha CVP series Clavinovas makes use of 
these messages, too. In the absence of these messages, the Clavinova would 
assign data on channel 1 to R and data on channel 2 to L. The Disklavier does 
the opposite. The presence of these messages insures that both types of 
instruments read the data as it was intended by the author of the file.)

The publishers of pedagogical MIDI files that coordinate with piano teaching 
methods (such as those from Hal Leonard, Alfred, Warner Bros., FJH, et 
cetera) have been putting this version of the meta event into their files in 
recent years:

43 7B 0C 04 03

As you can see, this message tells Yamaha instruments to assign data on 
channel 4 to R and  data on channel 3 to L.

You can use your own Mark IIXG Disklavier or later model to add these meta 
events to a Type 0 SMF. (If you have a Type 1 SMF, I think you will have to 
convert it to Type 0 first, which you can also do on the Disklavier.) To add  
this event:

--Press Record
--Use the backward Song Select button to choose the SMF in question
--Press the Right Arrow button repeatedly to get to the last screen, where 
you will see L= and R=

If the file already has the meta event, you will be able to see what L and R 
are set to. If the file does not have the meta event, it will appear as 
though L=1 and R=2. This is not actually the case!

At this point, you must use the + and - buttons to change the values for L 
and R. (Even if you want the message to be L=1 and R=2, use these buttons to 
change the default values and then to set them back to 1 and 2.) When you are 
done, press Stop and then press Enter to save your changes. Your file now as 
this meta event.

<<How do you recommend reducing those "note-on" velocities - edit them 
individually or globally? >>

I have not used the Velocet program. I know that others on this list have 
suggested ways of reducing velocities in a way that presumably preserves the a
 proper scaling for the velocities. I personally take a much more cavalier 
approach. I first set controller 7=100 for the piano tracks. Then, if they 
are louder than I like, I select all of the piano notes at once and subtract 
some number of velocity points from them, such as some number between 5 and 
30. Based on experience or by glancing at the velocities in the file, I can 
usually guess the right amount on the first try. However, trial-and-error do 
not take very long.

In general, my feeling is that most files that were not recorded on a real 
piano are a bit artificial, as far as note-on velocities are concerned. If 
they were recorded on a digital piano, for example, the touch of the pianist 
would have been heavily influenced by the setting of the speaker volume.  Who 
knows where that was set. Given the artificial circumstances of the original 
recording, I don't worry too much about maintaining an authentic scaling of 
the velocities for Disklavier. I am not saying that my opinion is any better 
than anyone else's. It is simply my opinion.

Hope that helps.

Regard,
PianoBench