Disklavier

Hello,

I have a Mark II Disklavier with a broken 720 KB floppy drive.  First
I thought I could simply replace the floppy drive with a new one. 
Then I learned that they cost about $300 and still require the crappy
720 KB floppies.  Then I heard about the magical DSR1 box that allows
us to "upgrade" our Mark II to use "normal" 1.44 MB floppy disks, but
according to the Yamaha spokesperson I talked with today, the DSR1 was
discontinued about a year ago.  I couldn't find any used DSR1s for
sale online.  Furthermore, she said that Yamaha won't have a
replacement for the DSR1 until a year from now.

So... I am thinking a good alternative at this point would be to use
my Mac laptop with a UX16 MIDI interface adapter to control the
Disklavier.  My needs are simple: I want the ability to "record" piano
pieces onto my Mac and then have them play back on the piano with the
real life key movements.  Basically I just want the functionality that
I had with my old 720 KB floppy disks, but using my computer hard
drive instead.

Is there such a program for the Mac OS X operating system that will do
the trick?  I understand the Mark II uses "ESEQ" files, but I'm not
sure if that matters if I do the recording and playback via the MIDI
interfaces.

Any thoughts/recommendations?  I am happy to pay for a nice little
piece of software to get the job done.

Thanks,
Bill

Hi Bill,
I posted this online about 10 days ago, but not sure if you saw it.  
There is a Canadian dealer just outside of Toronto - Steve Loates 
Music Gallery which was carrying them even after they were 
discontinued. Jacqui was looking for one also, I'm not sure if she 
had any success, but it's worth a shot.
Their website is MusicGallery.ca and I dealt with Pat Alpaugh at the 
Burlington Store.  He is the store manager and was able to get me the 
module I needed, and was very helpful.
If you do contact them, would appreciate a post if they still have 
them in stock.
Hope that helps.
Jules
--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "boyler1999" <bill@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
> 
> I have a Mark II Disklavier with a broken 720 KB floppy drive.  
First
> I thought I could simply replace the floppy drive with a new one. 
> Then I learned that they cost about $300 and still require the 
crappy
> 720 KB floppies.  Then I heard about the magical DSR1 box that 
allows
> us to "upgrade" our Mark II to use "normal" 1.44 MB floppy disks, 
but
> according to the Yamaha spokesperson I talked with today, the DSR1 
was
> discontinued about a year ago.  I couldn't find any used DSR1s for
> sale online.  Furthermore, she said that Yamaha won't have a
> replacement for the DSR1 until a year from now.
> 
> So... I am thinking a good alternative at this point would be to use
> my Mac laptop with a UX16 MIDI interface adapter to control the
> Disklavier.  My needs are simple: I want the ability to "record" 
piano
> pieces onto my Mac and then have them play back on the piano with 
the
> real life key movements.  Basically I just want the functionality 
that
> I had with my old 720 KB floppy disks, but using my computer hard
> drive instead.
> 
> Is there such a program for the Mac OS X operating system that will 
do

> the trick?  I understand the Mark II uses "ESEQ" files, but I'm not
> sure if that matters if I do the recording and playback via the MIDI
> interfaces.
> 
> Any thoughts/recommendations?  I am happy to pay for a nice little
> piece of software to get the job done.
> 
> Thanks,
> Bill
>

Good morning, everyone.

Bill, you can get any of several sequencers for the Mac: Cubase (a  
Yamaha product from Steinberg: www.steinberg.net), Digital Performer (www.motu.com 
), Metro (www.sagantech.biz), and others.

You can use the UX16 MIDI interface. Be sure to install the latest  
Yamaha MIDI driver:

http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/

When you play, your Disklavier will output MIDI data which is recorded  
into your computer. When you play back MIDI files, you'll be sending  
MIDI data back into the Disklavier. The E-SEQ file format will be  
irrelevant as far as recording and playback are concerned. E-SEQ is a  
format for storing data as a file.

Using your computer, you'll be able to play just about any MIDI file.  
Note, however:

(1) many MIDI files have non-piano tracks which assume that you have a  
tone generator--usually a General MIDI tone generator. If you want to  
play those files, you'll need to add a tone generator to the equation

(2) if you have a library of Yamaha-published song files on floppy  
disk, you won't be able to read them in your computer due to the copy  
protection.

Regards,
PianoBench


www.georgelitterst.com
www.timewarptech.com

On Oct 20, 2008, at 9:17 PM, boyler1999 wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have a Mark II Disklavier with a broken 720 KB floppy drive. First
> I thought I could simply replace the floppy drive with a new one.
> Then I learned that they cost about $300 and still require the crappy
> 720 KB floppies. Then I heard about the magical DSR1 box that allows
> us to "upgrade" our Mark II to use "normal" 1.44 MB floppy disks, but
> according to the Yamaha spokesperson I talked with today, the DSR1 was
> discontinued about a year ago. I couldn't find any used DSR1s for
> sale online. Furthermore, she said that Yamaha won't have a
> replacement for the DSR1 until a year from now.
>
> So... I am thinking a good alternative at this point would be to use
> my Mac laptop with a UX16 MIDI interface adapter to control the
> Disklavier. My needs are simple: I want the ability to "record" piano
> pieces onto my Mac and then have them play back on the piano with the
> real life key movements. Basically I just want the functionality that
> I had with my old 720 KB floppy disks, but using my computer hard
> drive instead.
>
> Is there such a program for the Mac OS X operating system that will do
> the trick? I understand the Mark II uses "ESEQ" files, but I'm not
> sure if that matters if I do the recording and playback via the MIDI
> interfaces.
>
> Any thoughts/recommendations? I am happy to pay for a nice little
> piece of software to get the job done.
>

George,

George F. Litterst wrote:
> Good morning, everyone.
> 
> Bill, you can get any of several sequencers for the Mac: Cubase (a  
> Yamaha product from Steinberg: www.steinberg.net), Digital Performer (www.motu.com 
> ), Metro (www.sagantech.biz), and others.
> 
> You can use the UX16 MIDI interface. Be sure to install the latest  
> Yamaha MIDI driver:
> 
> http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/
> 


On the page you give, there is no drivers for 32-bit windows platforms,
normal ?

Regards,

-- 

Claude Renaud

Good evening, everyone.


On Oct 21, 2008, at 1:37 PM, Claude Renaud wrote:

> > http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/
> >
>
> On the page you give, there is no drivers for 32-bit windows  
> platforms,
> normal ?
>

Claude, there are 32-bit Windows drivers on that page:

--USB-MIDI Driver for Windows(R) Vista/XP(x64 Edition SP2)
This is works for any version of Vista and for 32-bit XP

--USB-MIDI Driver for Windows(R) XP/2000
This is 32-bit.

etc.

Regards,
PianoBench


www.georgelitterst.com
www.timewarptech.com

Logic Studio ($500) and Logic Express ($199) work just fine in OS X.  I am 
running Logic Studio on an iMac with Leopard.   Your Mark II Disklavier will 
play MIDI 0 files, but not MIDI 1 format.  It may only Record in ESEQ 
format, but there are free programs that will convert ESEQ to MID 0 if you 
have a PC.  In any case, your piano keys play from whatever is recorded on 
Channels 1 and 2.

I am using my iMac for post production editing of both MIDI and audio files. 
To make audio CDs from MIDI performances I plan to use my Steinberg VST, The 
Grand and The Grand 2 if I ever figure out how to get them to work on the 
Mac!!!

Software on a Mac is tricky these days.  The programs that ran on the 
PowerPC do not work on the newer Macs with Intel processors.  OS x computers 
usually require the Universal Binary versions of the software, because 
behind the interface, you are really using a UNIX system.  You really need 
to know what is inside your Mac to determine what software and drivers you 
will need.

Depending on what Mac you have, you may be able to run DOSBOX and use the 
free DKutilities that will convert ESEQ to MID.  Or you may be able to set 
up a virtual drive or partition and run the Windows programs.

Carol Beigel



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "boyler1999" <bill@...>
To: <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:17 PM
Subject: [disklavier] Simple MIDI recording/playback software for Mac OS X 
and Mark II

> Hello,
>
> I have a Mark II Disklavier with a broken 720 KB floppy drive.  First
> I thought I could simply replace the floppy drive with a new one.
> Then I learned that they cost about $300 and still require the crappy
> 720 KB floppies.  Then I heard about the magical DSR1 box that allows
> us to "upgrade" our Mark II to use "normal" 1.44 MB floppy disks, but
> according to the Yamaha spokesperson I talked with today, the DSR1 was
> discontinued about a year ago.  I couldn't find any used DSR1s for
> sale online.  Furthermore, she said that Yamaha won't have a
> replacement for the DSR1 until a year from now.
>
> So... I am thinking a good alternative at this point would be to use
> my Mac laptop with a UX16 MIDI interface adapter to control the
> Disklavier.  My needs are simple: I want the ability to "record" piano
> pieces onto my Mac and then have them play back on the piano with the
> real life key movements.  Basically I just want the functionality that
> I had with my old 720 KB floppy disks, but using my computer hard
> drive instead.
>
> Is there such a program for the Mac OS X operating system that will do
> the trick?  I understand the Mark II uses "ESEQ" files, but I'm not
> sure if that matters if I do the recording and playback via the MIDI
> interfaces.
>
> Any thoughts/recommendations?  I am happy to pay for a nice little
> piece of software to get the job done.
>
> Thanks,
> Bill
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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>

George,

George F. Litterst wrote:
> Good evening, everyone.
> 
> 
> On Oct 21, 2008, at 1:37 PM, Claude Renaud wrote:
> 
>>> http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/
>>>
>> On the page you give, there is no drivers for 32-bit windows  
>> platforms,
>> normal ?
>>
> 
> Claude, there are 32-bit Windows drivers on that page:
> 
> --USB-MIDI Driver for Windows(R) Vista/XP(x64 Edition SP2)
> This is works for any version of Vista and for 32-bit XP
> 

	
Ok, thank George, the problem was the words "x64 Edition SP2" which I
did not really know what OS it concerned...


Regards,

-- 

Claude Renaud

Just to let everyone know, the DSR1 is no longer available.  I
confirmed with Yamaha (it's been discontinued for one year and a
replacement won't be available for another year).  I also checked with
Pat Alpaugh at his store and they do not carry the DSR1 anymore
either.  So it's probably all sold out.  However, thanks to everyone
with the great ideas for Mac MIDI players and recorders.  I am having
great luck now and enjoy using the Mac laptop as a playing/recording
device instead of the clunky 720 KB floppy disks!

PS: Unlike the Mark I, I don't need to keep a floppy disk in the drive
when using MIDI from the computer, so that's great!

Take care,
Bill

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Jules" <juliet@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Bill,
> I posted this online about 10 days ago, but not sure if you saw it.  
> There is a Canadian dealer just outside of Toronto - Steve Loates 
> Music Gallery which was carrying them even after they were 
> discontinued. Jacqui was looking for one also, I'm not sure if she 
> had any success, but it's worth a shot.
> Their website is MusicGallery.ca and I dealt with Pat Alpaugh at the 
> Burlington Store.  He is the store manager and was able to get me the 
> module I needed, and was very helpful.
> If you do contact them, would appreciate a post if they still have 
> them in stock.
> Hope that helps.
> Jules
> --- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "boyler1999" <bill@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> > 
> > I have a Mark II Disklavier with a broken 720 KB floppy drive.  
> First
> > I thought I could simply replace the floppy drive with a new one. 
> > Then I learned that they cost about $300 and still require the 
> crappy
> > 720 KB floppies.  Then I heard about the magical DSR1 box that 
> allows
> > us to "upgrade" our Mark II to use "normal" 1.44 MB floppy disks, 
> but
> > according to the Yamaha spokesperson I talked with today, the DSR1 
> was
> > discontinued about a year ago.  I couldn't find any used DSR1s for
> > sale online.  Furthermore, she said that Yamaha won't have a
> > replacement for the DSR1 until a year from now.
> > 
> > So... I am thinking a good alternative at this point would be to use
> > my Mac laptop with a UX16 MIDI interface adapter to control the
> > Disklavier.  My needs are simple: I want the ability to "record" 
> piano
> > pieces onto my Mac and then have them play back on the piano with 
> the
> > real life key movements.  Basically I just want the functionality 
> that
> > I had with my old 720 KB floppy disks, but using my computer hard
> > drive instead.
> > 
> > Is there such a program for the Mac OS X operating system that will 
> do
> > the trick?  I understand the Mark II uses "ESEQ" files, but I'm not
> > sure if that matters if I do the recording and playback via the MIDI
> > interfaces.
> > 
> > Any thoughts/recommendations?  I am happy to pay for a nice little
> > piece of software to get the job done.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Bill
> >
>