Disklavier

I have a question. I see where we can purchase Disklavier music, but 
the downloads seem to be for floppy drives. Our unit has the floppy 
and CD....but, my big problem is my computer only has a R/W CD and no 
floppy. Can I copy onto my CD and play the music on my piano or is 
there a place to download and record on CD?

Thanks

Radioshack has a $29 USB floppy drive that I bought for that purpose.  Or
get a cheap laptop (ThinkPad or Toshiba for $400) and slave/dedicate it as
your MIDI controller on top of the Disklavier.  That is what we do.

 

It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere mortals) to copy
tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use onto Disklavier.

 

Which of course is what we would all *love* to do.

 

Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV series read
standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does standard floppies?

 

Aaron

DC6A in San Francisco

 

  _____  

From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of corpfixer
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:38 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [disklavier] Making Discs

 

I have a question. I see where we can purchase Disklavier music, but 
the downloads seem to be for floppy drives. Our unit has the floppy 
and CD....but, my big problem is my computer only has a R/W CD and no 
floppy. Can I copy onto my CD and play the music on my piano or is 
there a place to download and record on CD?

Thanks

On Tue, 3 Oct 2006, Aaron Zornes wrote:

> It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere mortals) to copy
> tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use onto Disklavier.
> 
> Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV series read
> standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does standard floppies?


There is no secret to figure out; this feature is simply not present in
the Disklavier's firmware (at least not in the Mark II and III models).

It would be extremely difficult for a third party to implement support for
reading data CDs without Yamaha's source code and development environment.  
And even then, I doubt anyone would be willing to PAY a third party to
develop this enhancement, so it would be a labor of love.  Our best bet is
to continue to express interest in this feature to Yamaha.

Without iPod-style hierarchical navigation, I personally think this
feature would be of limited use once the number of tracks on the disc
grows larger than a few dozen.

Perhaps a better solution would be to hack an MP3 player to support
playback of MIDI files, converting them on the fly to "analog MIDI" output
through the headphone jack.  That would solve the large library navigation
problem, plus you could also store MP3 files of Pianosoft Plus Audio CDs
in the same playlist.

Mark Fontana

Good afternoon, everyone.

Another alternative, on pre-Mark IV Disklaviers, is to use a Windows  
computer and iTunes as the library/playback program for your  
collection of MIDI files.

Regards,
PianoBench

On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:08 AM, Mark Fontana wrote:

>
>
> On Tue, 3 Oct 2006, Aaron Zornes wrote:
>
> > It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere  
> mortals) to copy
> > tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use onto  
> Disklavier.
> >
> > Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV  
> series read
> > standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does standard  
> floppies?
>
> There is no secret to figure out; this feature is simply not  
> present in
> the Disklavier's firmware (at least not in the Mark II and III  
> models).
>
> It would be extremely difficult for a third party to implement  
> support for
> reading data CDs without Yamaha's source code and development  
> environment.
> And even then, I doubt anyone would be willing to PAY a third party to
> develop this enhancement, so it would be a labor of love. Our best  
> bet is
> to continue to express interest in this feature to Yamaha.
>
> Without iPod-style hierarchical navigation, I personally think this
> feature would be of limited use once the number of tracks on the disc
> grows larger than a few dozen.
>
> Perhaps a better solution would be to hack an MP3 player to support
> playback of MIDI files, converting them on the fly to "analog MIDI"  
> output
> through the headphone jack. That would solve the large library  
> navigation
> problem, plus you could also store MP3 files of Pianosoft Plus  
> Audio CDs
> in the same playlist.
>
> Mark Fontana
>
>
>

HI

> Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV 
series read standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does 
standard floppies?

Why not leave the midi files on the PC / Laptop and play the piano 
via Midi. That way you can create playlist and anf 1,000,000s  of 
midi files without ever geting up to change a floppy disk.

I have all of mine stored on the PC and CDROM (as backup) and the PC 
plays the piano.

Midi Magic



--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Aaron Zornes" <azornes@...> 
wrote:
>
> Radioshack has a $29 USB floppy drive that I bought for that 
purpose.  Or
> get a cheap laptop (ThinkPad or Toshiba for $400) and 
slave/dedicate it as
> your MIDI controller on top of the Disklavier.  That is what we do.
> 
>  
> 
> It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere mortals) 
to copy
> tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use onto 
Disklavier.
> 
>  
> 
> Which of course is what we would all *love* to do.
> 
>  
> 
> Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV 
series read
> standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does standard 
floppies?
> 
>  
> 
> Aaron
> 
> DC6A in San Francisco
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com 
[mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of corpfixer
> Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:38 PM
> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [disklavier] Making Discs
> 
>  
> 
> I have a question. I see where we can purchase Disklavier music, 
but 
> the downloads seem to be for floppy drives. Our unit has the 
floppy 
> and CD....but, my big problem is my computer only has a R/W CD and 
no 

> floppy. Can I copy onto my CD and play the music on my piano or is 
> there a place to download and record on CD?
> 
> Thanks
>

Even if you could put the files on a CD and play them on the disklavier CD  
drive you would still be limited to 99 songs because that is the maximum number 
 that can be displayed on the disklavier readout. The same for a  floppy.
I also have my piano connected to my PC and it works great but more often  
than not it is easier to put in one of my favorite songs floppies, with 70 - 80  
songs, instead of wait for the PC to bootup. 
 With 4- 5 hours of continuous music on one floppy, it not a big deal  to 
plug in another floppy if you have time to listen to more.
So in short I do not see an advantage to having thousands of midi's on a  CD.
The main reason Yamaha added a CD drive is to offer piano smart and  
pianosoft accompaniment to the disklavier. A CD will typically only have room  for 8- 
20 songs when using these features.
If I could copy my Pianosoft CD's to my PC and play multiple song on the PC  
that would be great.

Before I run out and test this ...
(I know PianoBench has a 100% track 'good' 
track record on technical advice IMHO),  
is this "theory" or "practice"?
 
Will iTunes not only play the MIDI on my laptop 
sound card, etc. but also output to my MIDI USB 
interface which I would connect to the DK control unti?
 
THANKS!
 
--Aaron in San Francisco
 
 

  _____  

From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of George F. Litterst
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 11:11 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [disklavier] Making Discs



Good afternoon, everyone.

Another alternative, on pre-Mark IV Disklaviers, is to use a Windows 
computer and iTunes as the library/playback program for your 
collection of MIDI files.

Regards,
PianoBench

On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:08 AM, Mark Fontana wrote:

>
>
> On Tue, 3 Oct 2006, Aaron Zornes wrote:
>
> > It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere 
> mortals) to copy
> > tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use onto 
> Disklavier.
> >
> > Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV 
> series read
> > standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does standard 
> floppies?
>
> There is no secret to figure out; this feature is simply not 
> present in
> the Disklavier's firmware (at least not in the Mark II and III 
> models).
>
> It would be extremely difficult for a third party to implement 
> support for
> reading data CDs without Yamaha's source code and development 
> environment.
> And even then, I doubt anyone would be willing to PAY a third party to
> develop this enhancement, so it would be a labor of love. Our best 
> bet is
> to continue to express interest in this feature to Yamaha.
>
> Without iPod-style hierarchical navigation, I personally think this
> feature would be of limited use once the number of tracks on the disc
> grows larger than a few dozen.
>
> Perhaps a better solution would be to hack an MP3 player to support
> playback of MIDI files, converting them on the fly to "analog MIDI" 
> output
> through the headphone jack. That would solve the large library 
> navigation
> problem, plus you could also store MP3 files of Pianosoft Plus 
> Audio CDs
> in the same playlist.
>
> Mark Fontana
>
>
>

Hi

"If I could copy my Pianosoft CD's to my PC and play multiple song 
on the PC that would be great."


You can, I have ALL of my Pianosoft disks stored on the PC AND 
backed up. At 30GBP, I can't afford to have a floppy become 
corrupted.

Midi Magic



--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, ISKI1@... wrote:
>
> Even if you could put the files on a CD and play them on the 
disklavier CD  
> drive you would still be limited to 99 songs because that is the 
maximum number 
>  that can be displayed on the disklavier readout. The same for a  
floppy.
> I also have my piano connected to my PC and it works great but 
more often  
> than not it is easier to put in one of my favorite songs floppies, 
with 70 - 80  
> songs, instead of wait for the PC to bootup. 
>  With 4- 5 hours of continuous music on one floppy, it not a big 
deal  to 
> plug in another floppy if you have time to listen to more.
> So in short I do not see an advantage to having thousands of 
midi's on a  CD.
> The main reason Yamaha added a CD drive is to offer piano smart 
and  
> pianosoft accompaniment to the disklavier. A CD will typically 
only have room  for 8- 
> 20 songs when using these features.
> If I could copy my Pianosoft CD's to my PC and play multiple song 
on the PC  
> that would be great.
>

Good morning, everyone.

Aaron, I have tested iTunes on the Mac and Windows. Below is a full  
explanation which I posted on 9/12. At this point, it really only  
works for Windows. Yes, you will be able to use a USB MIDI interface  
connected to the Disklavier.

Regards,
PianoBench

**********
iTunes has intriguing possibilities. When you import an audio song  
file from CD, it checks an Internet-based database for cataloguing  
information. You can accept or reject what it finds (or even update  
the database on the Internet yourself), or you can enter any of the  
cataloging data yourself directly into iTunes. There are many fields  
that cover the crucial areas of composer, title, album, performer,  
date, etc.

Unforutnately, the online database does not apply to MIDI files.  
However, you can catalog and access your MIDI files within iTunes  
very conveniently. On a Windows computer, you can even play the MIDI  
files on your Disklavier using a MIDI connection. Also, you can use  
iTunes to play PianoSoft Plus Audio CDs (assuming that you turn off  
the Sound Enhancer feature of iTunes and make the appropriate audio  
cable connections to the piano).

There are basically just 6 problems:

(1) Copy Protection
Although most MIDI files are unprotected, Yamaha-published files are  
delivered on protected media that cannot be read on your computer  
without breaking the protection (and then only on a Windows computer).

(2) Smart PianoSoft
You cannot coordinate the synchronized MIDI/CD playback of Smart  
PianoSoft recordings (i.e. MIDI recordings that synchronize with  
commercial audio recordings).

(3) Ideal Piano Playback
Ideally, piano MIDI files should be played by the Disklavier itself  
from an internal drive. Playback is more accurate in that situation.  
When the Disklavier receives MIDI data over a MIDI cable, the data is  
received serially (i.e. one event at a time) and that serial  
transmission microscopically changes the timing of MIDI events. For  
most people, however, this is unnoticeable.

(4) Lyrics
iTunes does not display MIDI lyrics on playback.

(5) MIDI Adjustments
iTunes does not give you the opportunity to adjust MIDI channels or  
other MIDI parameters.

(6) Playback of MIDI Data on a Macintosh
Remarkably, you used to be able to use iTunes to play back MIDI files  
on externally connected MIDI devices (such as a Disklavier) under OS  
9, but this feature was removed in OS X. However, you can do this on  
Windows if you know how.

To playback MIDI files from iTunes using a Disklavier connected to a  
Windows computer:

--Connect an appropriate MIDI interface and MIDI cables or USB cable  
between your computer and Disklavier, install any necessary MIDI  
drivers on the computer, and set up the Disklavier appropriately.

--Use the QuickTime control panel to designate "General MIDI" as the  
"Default MIDI Synthesizer" (instead of "QuickTime Music  
Synthesizer"). You can find this setting under the Audio tab.

--Set your system-wide MIDI output default to the MIDI connection  
that sends MIDI data to your Disklavier. The exact way that you do  
this varies slightly with various flavors of Windows:

Windows 98
Start:Settings:Control Panel:Multimedia
click the Multimedia tab in the Multimedia Properties window
choose Single Instrument
under Single Instrument, make your selection for the desired choice  
for MIDI output

Windows ME and Windows 2000
Start:Settings:Control Panel:Sounds and Multimedia Properties
click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Multimedia Properties window
under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired choice  
for MIDI output

Windows XP
Start:Control Panel
(1) if the next window is set to Categories View, click Sounds,  
Speech, and Audio Devices
then click Sounds and Audio Devices
click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties window
under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired choice  
for MIDI output

or

(2) if the next window is set to Classic View, click Sounds and Audio  
Devices
click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties window
under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired choice  
for MIDI output

**********

On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:52 PM, Aaron Zornes wrote:

>
> Before I run out and test this ...
> (I know PianoBench has a 100% track 'good'
> track record on technical advice IMHO),
> is this "theory" or "practice"?
>
> Will iTunes not only play the MIDI on my laptop
> sound card, etc. but also output to my MIDI USB
> interface which I would connect to the DK control unti?
>
> THANKS!
>
> --Aaron in San Francisco
>
>
>
> From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com  
> [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George F. Litterst
> Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 11:11 PM
> To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [disklavier] Making Discs
>
> Good afternoon, everyone.
>
> Another alternative, on pre-Mark IV Disklaviers, is to use a Windows
> computer and iTunes as the library/playback program for your
> collection of MIDI files.
>
> Regards,
> PianoBench
>
> On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:08 AM, Mark Fontana wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 3 Oct 2006, Aaron Zornes wrote:
> >
> > > It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere
> > mortals) to copy
> > > tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use onto
> > Disklavier.
> > >
> > > Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or IV
> > series read
> > > standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does standard
> > floppies?
> >
> > There is no secret to figure out; this feature is simply not
> > present in
> > the Disklavier's firmware (at least not in the Mark II and III
> > models).
> >
> > It would be extremely difficult for a third party to implement
> > support for
> > reading data CDs without Yamaha's source code and development
> > environment.
> > And even then, I doubt anyone would be willing to PAY a third  
> party to
> > develop this enhancement, so it would be a labor of love. Our best
> > bet is
> > to continue to express interest in this feature to Yamaha.
> >
> > Without iPod-style hierarchical navigation, I personally think this
> > feature would be of limited use once the number of tracks on the  
> disc
> > grows larger than a few dozen.
> >
> > Perhaps a better solution would be to hack an MP3 player to support
> > playback of MIDI files, converting them on the fly to "analog MIDI"
> > output
> > through the headphone jack. That would solve the large library
> > navigation
> > problem, plus you could also store MP3 files of Pianosoft Plus
> > Audio CDs
> > in the same playlist.
> >
> > Mark Fontana
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>

Hi

"without breaking the protection (and then only on a Windows 
computer)."

This is NOT strickly true, as I was backing up Pianosoft disks long 
before windows. In those early days I used either DOS or an Atari 
computer. Even today one can use DOS to back them up.

MM




--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "George F. Litterst" 
<PianoBench@...> wrote:
>
> Good morning, everyone.
> 
> Aaron, I have tested iTunes on the Mac and Windows. Below is a 
full  
> explanation which I posted on 9/12. At this point, it really only  
> works for Windows. Yes, you will be able to use a USB MIDI 
interface  
> connected to the Disklavier.
> 
> Regards,
> PianoBench
> 
> **********
> iTunes has intriguing possibilities. When you import an audio 
song  
> file from CD, it checks an Internet-based database for 
cataloguing  
> information. You can accept or reject what it finds (or even 
update  
> the database on the Internet yourself), or you can enter any of 
the  
> cataloging data yourself directly into iTunes. There are many 
fields  
> that cover the crucial areas of composer, title, album, 
performer,  
> date, etc.
> 
> Unforutnately, the online database does not apply to MIDI files.  
> However, you can catalog and access your MIDI files within iTunes  
> very conveniently. On a Windows computer, you can even play the 
MIDI  
> files on your Disklavier using a MIDI connection. Also, you can 
use  
> iTunes to play PianoSoft Plus Audio CDs (assuming that you turn 
off  
> the Sound Enhancer feature of iTunes and make the appropriate 
audio  
> cable connections to the piano).
> 
> There are basically just 6 problems:
> 
> (1) Copy Protection
> Although most MIDI files are unprotected, Yamaha-published files 
are  
> delivered on protected media that cannot be read on your computer  
> without breaking the protection (and then only on a Windows 
computer).
> 
> (2) Smart PianoSoft
> You cannot coordinate the synchronized MIDI/CD playback of Smart  
> PianoSoft recordings (i.e. MIDI recordings that synchronize with  
> commercial audio recordings).
> 
> (3) Ideal Piano Playback
> Ideally, piano MIDI files should be played by the Disklavier 
itself  
> from an internal drive. Playback is more accurate in that 
situation.  
> When the Disklavier receives MIDI data over a MIDI cable, the data 
is  
> received serially (i.e. one event at a time) and that serial  
> transmission microscopically changes the timing of MIDI events. 
For  
> most people, however, this is unnoticeable.
> 
> (4) Lyrics
> iTunes does not display MIDI lyrics on playback.
> 
> (5) MIDI Adjustments
> iTunes does not give you the opportunity to adjust MIDI channels 
or  
> other MIDI parameters.
> 
> (6) Playback of MIDI Data on a Macintosh
> Remarkably, you used to be able to use iTunes to play back MIDI 
files  
> on externally connected MIDI devices (such as a Disklavier) under 
OS  
> 9, but this feature was removed in OS X. However, you can do this 
on  
> Windows if you know how.
> 
> To playback MIDI files from iTunes using a Disklavier connected to 
a  
> Windows computer:
> 
> --Connect an appropriate MIDI interface and MIDI cables or USB 
cable  
> between your computer and Disklavier, install any necessary MIDI  
> drivers on the computer, and set up the Disklavier appropriately.
> 
> --Use the QuickTime control panel to designate "General MIDI" as 
the  
> "Default MIDI Synthesizer" (instead of "QuickTime Music  
> Synthesizer"). You can find this setting under the Audio tab.
> 
> --Set your system-wide MIDI output default to the MIDI connection  
> that sends MIDI data to your Disklavier. The exact way that you 
do  
> this varies slightly with various flavors of Windows:
> 
> Windows 98
> Start:Settings:Control Panel:Multimedia
> click the Multimedia tab in the Multimedia Properties window
> choose Single Instrument
> under Single Instrument, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> Windows ME and Windows 2000
> Start:Settings:Control Panel:Sounds and Multimedia Properties
> click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Multimedia Properties window
> under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> Windows XP
> Start:Control Panel
> (1) if the next window is set to Categories View, click Sounds,  
> Speech, and Audio Devices
> then click Sounds and Audio Devices
> click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties 
window
> under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> or
> 
> (2) if the next window is set to Classic View, click Sounds and 
Audio  
> Devices
> click the Audio tab in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties 
window
> under MIDI Music Playback, make your selection for the desired 
choice  
> for MIDI output
> 
> **********
> 
> On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:52 PM, Aaron Zornes wrote:
> 
> >
> > Before I run out and test this ...
> > (I know PianoBench has a 100% track 'good'
> > track record on technical advice IMHO),
> > is this "theory" or "practice"?
> >
> > Will iTunes not only play the MIDI on my laptop
> > sound card, etc. but also output to my MIDI USB
> > interface which I would connect to the DK control unti?
> >
> > THANKS!
> >
> > --Aaron in San Francisco
> >
> >
> >
> > From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com  
> > [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George F. 
Litterst
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 11:11 PM
> > To: disklavier@...m
> > Subject: Re: [disklavier] Making Discs
> >
> > Good afternoon, everyone.
> >
> > Another alternative, on pre-Mark IV Disklaviers, is to use a 
Windows
> > computer and iTunes as the library/playback program for your
> > collection of MIDI files.
> >
> > Regards,
> > PianoBench
> >
> > On Oct 4, 2006, at 12:08 AM, Mark Fontana wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, 3 Oct 2006, Aaron Zornes wrote:
> > >
> > > > It is maddeningly difficult (some say impossible for mere
> > > mortals) to copy
> > > > tens, hundreds, or thousands of MIDIs onto CD-ROM for use 
onto
> > > Disklavier.
> > > >
> > > > Has any one cracked the secret yet to making Mark II, II or 
IV
> > > series read
> > > > standard CD-ROMS as file directories as the system does 
standard
> > > floppies?
> > >
> > > There is no secret to figure out; this feature is simply not
> > > present in
> > > the Disklavier's firmware (at least not in the Mark II and III
> > > models).
> > >
> > > It would be extremely difficult for a third party to implement
> > > support for
> > > reading data CDs without Yamaha's source code and development
> > > environment.
> > > And even then, I doubt anyone would be willing to PAY a third  
> > party to
> > > develop this enhancement, so it would be a labor of love. Our 
best
> > > bet is
> > > to continue to express interest in this feature to Yamaha.
> > >
> > > Without iPod-style hierarchical navigation, I personally think 
this
> > > feature would be of limited use once the number of tracks on 
the  
> > disc
> > > grows larger than a few dozen.
> > >
> > > Perhaps a better solution would be to hack an MP3 player to 
support
> > > playback of MIDI files, converting them on the fly to "analog 
MIDI"

> > > output
> > > through the headphone jack. That would solve the large library
> > > navigation
> > > problem, plus you could also store MP3 files of Pianosoft Plus
> > > Audio CDs
> > > in the same playlist.
> > >
> > > Mark Fontana
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>