Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Upgrading old Disklavier

2005-04-07 by kwalker_ut

Hello.

I've inherited an older Disklavier:

  "It's a 5'10" grand "G2" with a MU50 synthesizer Diskclavier with the DK@10 Wagon"

What are my options for upgrading it?  I'm mainly interested in controlling it with a 
computer (via MIDI or some other documented protocol).

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Kevin

Re: [disklavier] Upgrading old Disklavier

2005-04-08 by PianoBench@aol.com

Good evening, everyone.

In a message dated 4/7/05 6:20:29 PM, Kevin writes:

I've inherited an older Disklavier:

"It's a 5'10" grand "G2" with a MU50 synthesizer Diskclavier with the DK@10 Wagon"

I am presuming that you mean DKW10.

What are my options for upgrading it? I'm mainly interested in controlling it with a
computer (via MIDI or some other documented protocol).

There are two upgrades:

(1) DSR1
This provides you with a new control unit that connects to the wagon using MIDI cables. It provides an extra set of MIDI ports so that you can use it with an external MIDI device as well.

The new control unit supports high density disks, Standard MIDI Files, and has a built-in GM/XG tone generator. It even supports video-synchronized recording if you get an appropriate SMPTE/MTC box.

If you get a DSR1, your MU50 becomes surplus equipment (unless you have a use for its performance mode).

(2) DCD1
This unit as the CD feature found on the Mark III Disklaviers. With it, you can play specially encoded CDs published by Yamaha. These CDs include digital audio recordings of musicians and singers as well as MIDI data for the piano.

The DCD1 will also work with the DSR1 to play Smart PianoSoft recordings (which consist of floppy-disk recordings of the piano that synchronize with commercial audio CDs).

If you merely want to use the piano with a computer, you can do so without the DSR1 or the DCD1.

When using the instrument and tone generator with a computer:

--Connect MIDI Out from the Disklavier to MIDI In on your computer's MIDI Interface.

--Connect MIDI Out from the computer's MIDI interface to MIDI In on the MU50.

--Connect MIDI Thru on the MU50 (or a second MIDI Out on the computer's MIDI interface) to MIDI In on the Disklavier.

--Turn on MIDI Thru in your computer MIDI software.

NOTE: These connections are a bit different from what you need when you want to play performances from the piano's control wagon, and you may find yourself constantly recabling your setup.

Things get a lot more simple when you use a computer if you get a DSR1. With a DSR1, you won't have to keep switching the cables around and you won't have the MIDI loop problems that you will face in the scenario that I outlined above.

(The MIDI loop happens when MIDI data goes from the piano to the computer, gets echoed back to the piano which, in turn, plays the keys and sends MIDI back to the computer, et cetera.)

Regards,
PianoBench

Re: Upgrading old Disklavier

2005-04-08 by kwalker_ut

Thanks very much!

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, PianoBench@a... wrote:
> Good evening, everyone.
> 
> In a message dated 4/7/05 6:20:29 PM, Kevin writes:
> 
> > I've inherited an older Disklavier:
> > 
> >   "It's a 5'10" grand "G2" with a MU50 synthesizer Diskclavier with the 
> > DK@10 Wagon"
> > 
> I am presuming that you mean DKW10.
> 
> > What are my options for upgrading it?  I'm mainly interested in controlling 
> > it with a
> > computer (via MIDI or some other documented protocol).
> > 
> There are two upgrades:
> 
[...]