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Connect Mark III via Wireless MIDI to Computer?

2009-10-15 by lowdebt4me

Has anyone successfully connected a Mark III disklavier to a home computer via wireless MIDI?  If so, I'd appreciate hearing the details. I was wondering if something like the following two devices would work:

The M-Audio MidAir,  http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MidAir/

or the CME-WIDI-X8,  http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/WIDIX8/

I can't connect via a wire.

RE: [disklavier] Connect Mark III via Wireless MIDI to Computer?

2009-10-15 by Phil Becker

I have been quite successfully using the CME WIDI-X8 units for several years
now.  
 
One WIDI-X8 is connected to the computer USB port (set the "type" switch to
2), while the Disklavier end is connected using the MIDI in and out cables
(set the "type switch to 1).  
 
I used Velcro tape to attach the piano unit under the control unit where it
is essentially invisible, and built a special power plug to split the power
cable under the piano to power to the WIDI-X8 power brick so the entire
piano installation doesn't add any cables, not even power to the piano end
of the installation.
 
I've used this setup for several years, and it has worked very well.

  _____

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From: disklavier@yahoogroups.com [mailto:disklavier@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of lowdebt4me
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:18 PM
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [disklavier] Connect Mark III via Wireless MIDI to Computer?

Has anyone successfully connected a Mark III disklavier to a home computer
via wireless MIDI? If so, I'd appreciate hearing the details. I was
wondering if something like the following two devices would work:

The M-Audio MidAir, http://www.sweetwat
<http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MidAir/> er.com/store/detail/MidAir/

or the CME-WIDI-X8, http://www.sweetwat
<http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/WIDIX8/> er.com/store/detail/WIDIX8/

I can't connect via a wire.

Re: [disklavier] Connect Mark III via Wireless MIDI to Computer?

2009-10-15 by Spencer_Lists

Greetings lowdebt4me,

i have use a device called WIDI that worked fairly well. i don't know if it is still available. it has a small USB dongle that can be put on a notebook computer so it is worth checking out if that is what you want. the setup is a little screwy so i wrote some little programs for setting the channel device etc. one of which can be put in your startup (all assuming that you have a PC) so it connects to the WIDI when you boot the computer and you don't have to worry about configuration. if you do get a WIDI, i'll share and or customize the app for your neeeds. the WIDI is Chinese and the documentation and support are what you would expect. another problem with the WIDI is that you need to buy a pair (unless this has changed) of the bigger units and then buy the USB dongle separately making the total cost higher than the Maudio solution.

i have not used the m-audio wireless MIDI device but they do make reliable products and i would be surprised if this device was not good. also, Sweetwater is one of the best companies to buy from. good product support, fast shipping etc etc. can't recommend any company more highly.

another possibility, which is what i do is use an Airport Express through my wireless network and use Itunes to play MP3 files. the advantage of this is that they can be tagged using utilities i have written for that purpose or with other tools. unfortunately it is not sure if any particular DKV model will work with MP3 files so you may have to use WAV instead and then add the text information in Itunes. there are all sorts of programs for interfacing with Itunes and their library so it should be possible to automate this. with MIDI you are also stuck with little identification information. i have written a bunch of tools for adding text keywords to MIDI files but there is no convention for displaying them among different players.

welcome to the confused mess of MIDI WAV and MP3 on your piano.

Thursday, October 15, 2009, 11:18:12 AM, you wrote:

Has anyone successfully connected a Mark III disklavier to a home computer via wireless MIDI? If so, I'd appreciate hearing the details. I was wondering if something like the following two devices would work:

The M-Audio MidAir, http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MidAir/

or the CME-WIDI-X8, http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/WIDIX8/

I can't connect via a wire.

--
Best regards,
Spencer_Lists Chase mailto:lists@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Lists@spencerserolls(dot)com
http://www(dot)spencerserolls.com
replace (dot) with a .
(707) 984-8356

Re: Connect Mark III via Wireless MIDI to Computer?

2009-10-15 by lowdebt4me

Thanks for the responses, Phil and SpencerList.  I was wondering if I had to buy two of the WIDI-X devices to make it work.  Given the cost, I'm tempted to go with the MidAir Audio device.  My concern with the MidAir device is its range.  The device will have to penetrate a brick wall that is two bricks thick.  On the other hand, I have other wireless devices that penetrate my brick wall, so the Midair device will "probably" work (?).  

Looks like I should buy from a place with a good return policy!

Lowdebt4me

Re: [disklavier] Re: Connect Mark III via Wireless MIDI to Computer?

2009-10-15 by Spencer_Lists

Greetings lowdebt4me,

depends on the brick. for the listed price you get two WIDI devices but they are still more than the m-audio. WIDI is only useful if you want a small USB dongle which is pretty much essential with a notebook.

MIDI files are much smaller than WAV or MP3 and you can tag them with keywords with my tools and use my free player to show all the keywords if you like this sort of thing. also some stuff shows up in VanBascos. if you are stuck with WAV for the DKV (I suggest doing some tests with Mid2PianCD making WAV files from MIDI and then converting to MP3 to see if the DKV likes the MP3. if so, i would definitely go with an airport express for about $99. it is best used with an existing wireless network but it will also work on its own.

if you have to use WAV (you might also try some other encodings like apple lossless flac etc to see what you can easily tag if this is important to you) you will have to add your own text information without too much help. you can export and import playlists in Itunes as tab delimited text so you can mess around with these in excel but there will probably be some sort of glitch such as a "text qualifier" being added that might mess up the import.

if you just want to play CDs and other audio sources from your computer and are not terribly concerned with identification in Itunes then you don't have to worry about a lot of this.

Sweetwater will probably be fine with your returning the M-Audio thing if it doesn't work through your wall. Ask first. I know that the WIDI is not crazy about walls.

Thursday, October 15, 2009, 1:13:37 PM, you wrote:

Thanks for the responses, Phil and SpencerList. I was wondering if I had to buy two of the WIDI-X devices to make it work. Given the cost, I'm tempted to go with the MidAir Audio device. My concern with the MidAir device is its range. The device will have to penetrate a brick wall that is two bricks thick. On the other hand, I have other wireless devices that penetrate my brick wall, so the Midair device will "probably" work (?).

Looks like I should buy from a place with a good return policy!

Lowdebt4me

--
Best regards,
Spencer_Lists Chase mailto:lists@spencerserolls.com
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Lists@spencerserolls(dot)com
http://www(dot)spencerserolls.com
replace (dot) with a .
(707) 984-8356

disklavier and MP3 files

2009-10-16 by Spencer_Lists

Greetings,

I am interested in knowing which id any Disklaviers can be played via MP3 files. The soon to be released new version of Mid2PianoCD will have the ability to create MP3 files including ID3V2 tags. This is really helpful for display of all sorts of information. Each MIDI file that is processed needs to have an associated text file containing the tag information. I have written a simple program that generates the needed text files from a master listing. I also have programs that make text listings from the text events in MIDI files so it is often possible to extract most or all of the information from the files and to produce MP3 tags with little typing etc.

Since MP3 files are so useful in this way, I would like to determine which DKVs will play them. If anyone is interested in experimenting, I will send them a link for a simple WAV to MP3 converter that can be used to test various bit rate and quality levels.

Does anyone have experience with MP3 files and the DKV? Can you share information about which models will or will not accept them and what bit ragte and quality is necessary?

Best regards,
Spencer_Lists Chase mailto:lists@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Lists@spencerserolls(dot)com
http://www(dot)spencerserolls.com
replace (dot) with a .
(707) 984-8356