grandtouch
2010-08-15 by tedbeddow
I love my grand touch, but I need to upgrade from floppy to cd or stream on the web. What are my best purchase options.
Thread
grandtouch
Re: [disklavier] grandtouch
2010-08-15 by Holly Hegeman
I can't believe this post just popped up this morning. I have been a member for a long time. Just changed email addresses. I too have the same problem. I purchased a DGT7A in 2003. I gave it to my parents in 2004. Piano was just delivered back to me, as they are moving into a small condo. I don't think it was played hardly at all. However, the floppy drive is not working correctly. The disk will not load right. Everything else on the piano seems to work just fine. I am assuming that it is not cost effective to replace the floppy. As Ted asked, what upgrade options would offer the best bang for the buck? I use a Mac, so I after reading through some of the other posts last night, I assume I could use RONDO and a Midi interface to stream midi files. Is this correct? Is it possible to upgrade to the new controller on the DGT7A? Also, how can I take those floppies that I have and copy the files so that I can listen to them -- either on a CD or via computer? I have quite a few that I purchased when I first got the piano. Thank you! -Holly
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Aug 15, 2010, at 10:57 AM, tedbeddow wrote: > I love my grand touch, but I need to upgrade from floppy to cd or > stream on the web. What are my best purchase options. > > > >
Re: [disklavier] grandtouch
2010-08-15 by Carol Beigel
Don't assume it is not cost effective to replace the
floppy disk. A new one from Yamaha and tech installation could be under
$300 and that instrument was VERY expensive! Try cleaning the floppy disk
drive first.
Copy (back up) the original floppys using dkvutil at www.carolrpt.com The resulting .fil
file can be converted to a standard MIDI file using dkv convert. These
MIDI files can be put onto a playlist and used via a MIDI interface to your
GranTouch from a computer.
If you ever wanted to listen to the MIDI files as audio
files on a CD, you would need to "render" them to make an audio file. Most
computers have sound cards, but they sound absolutely terrible when playing a
MIDI files. For those MIDI files I have recorded (like my Dad playing my
DKV), I run them through a "virtual piano" first. I have used The Grand
from Yamaha, but my favorite is Akoustic Piano from Native Instruments. It
s possible to do this for cheap, but I found that spending about $3K worked the
best. Since you already have a Mac, Logic Studio 9 costs about $500
(Logic Express is $199) and Akoustic piano is now broken into a less expensive
set - although I recall paying about $199 for all 5 pianos. On your
GrandTouch, it probably has an amplifier underneath that you could just convert
the audio signal directly and not need any other software.
I would definitely replace the floppy drive. The
reason the drive from Yamaha costs more than a cheap one has to do with the
wiring. The pins are allocated differently. I would also set up a
computer with playlist software just to get the convenience.
I believe the new DKV850 would also work for you and you
would also get internet radio as well for $1495. The USB floppy I think is
an additional $95? What a nice gift you made to your parents!
Carol Beigel
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----From: Holly HegemanSent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 3:00 PMSubject: Re: [disklavier] grandtouchI can't believe this post just popped up this morning.I have been a member for a long time. Just changed email addresses.I too have the same problem.I purchased a DGT7A in 2003. I gave it to my parents in 2004. Piano was just delivered back to me, as they are moving into a small condo. I don't think it was played hardly at all. However, the floppy drive is not working correctly. The disk will not load right. Everything else on the piano seems to work just fine. ;I am assuming that it is not cost effective to replace the floppy.As Ted asked, what upgrade options would offer the best bang for the buck? I use a Mac, so I after reading through some of the other posts last night, I assume I could use RONDO and a Midi interface to stream midi files. Is this correct?Is it possible to upgrade to the new controller on the DGT7A?Also, how can I take those floppies that I have and copy the files so that I can listen to them -- either on a CD or via computer? I have quite a few that I purchased when I first got the piano.Thank you!-Holly
On Aug 15, 2010, at 10:57 AM, tedbeddow wrote:
I love my grand touch, but I need to upgrade from floppy to cd or stream on the web. What are my best purchase options.
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.406 / Virus Database: 271.14.151/3068 - Release Date: 8/13/2010 6:34 AM
Re: [disklavier] grandtouch
2010-08-16 by Holly Hegeman
This is what I was wondering...whether or not the new DKV 850 was DGT7A compatible. If this is the case, I think this is the route I'd like to go, as I would love to have internet radio. How cool! As for the other suggestion let me make sure I understand. So I can take the old floppies and use the dkvutil to create a .fil. File. Then I can take this file and convert it to a standard MIDI file by using dkv convert. (Both of which I assume are on your site.) Then I can use the computer to play them through the MIDI port on the piano. As for the floppy in the piano, I can't figure out what happened. But when I go to put the floppy in, it just seems like the mechanism that loads the floppy has been bent. It's not like it goes in and just doesn't read the floppy. The floppy can't seat itself correctly. Thank you Carol! -Holly
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Aug 15, 2010, at 6:01 PM, Carol Beigel wrote: > I believe the new DKV850 would also work for you and you would also > get internet radio as well for $1495. The USB floppy I think is an > additional $95? What a nice gift you made to your parents! >
Re: [disklavier] grandtouch
2010-08-16 by Carol Beigel
Take a flashlite and look very carefully into the disk
drive. It sounds like maybe a metal shutter came off a floppy disk and got
stuck. In most cases, this is a fatal accident for the drive, but
sometimes removing the metal piece saves the day. I use a long pair of
forceps to remove these things. Sometimes, if you remove the control
box and turn it gently towards the floor, open the shutter, the thing will fall
out.
Carol Beigel
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----From: Holly HegemanSent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 9:16 PMSubject: Re: [disklavier] grandtouchThis is what I was wondering...whether or not the new DKV 850 was DGT7A compatible. If this is the case, I think this is the route I'd like to go, as I would love to have internet radio. How cool!As for the other suggestion let me make sure I understand.So I can take the old floppies and use the dkvutil to create a .fil. File. Then I can take this file and convert it to a standard MIDI file by using dkv convert. (Both of which I assume are on your site.) Then I can use the computer to play them through the MIDI port on the piano.As for the floppy in the piano, I can't figure out what happened. But when I go to put the floppy in, it just seems like the mechanism that loads the floppy has been bent. It's not like it goes in and just doesn't read the floppy. The floppy can't seat itself correctly.Thank you Carol!-Holly
On Aug 15, 2010, at 6:01 PM, Carol Beigel wrote:
I believe the new DKV850 would also work for you and you would also get internet radio as well for $1495. The USB floppy I think is an additional $95? What a nice gift you made to your parents!No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.406 / Virus Database: 271.14.151/3068 - Release Date: 8/13/2010 6:34 AM
Re: [disklavier] grandtouch
2010-08-16 by George F. Litterst
Good evening, everyone.
The DKC-850 does completely replace the control unit in a DGT7A as well as the control unit for any of the other Mark IIXG or Mark III DGT-type Disklaviers.
However, Yamaha does not recommend this because, "volume controls become a little confusing. The volume control of the DKC850 will control the background volume and the DGT2/7 volume control will control the volume of the piano." I interpret this to mean that you can control the volume of song playback (except for the piano itself) using the remote control but that you'll have to adjust the volume of the piano with its volume control knob.
If I owned a DGT Disklavier, I would much rather upgrade to a modern control unit that supports USB devices, copying files over the network, faster loading and saving of recordings, and Disklavier Radio as opposed to fixing an old floppy drive and staying with the old control unit.
What I don't know if this volume control issue is addressable in a firmware update to the DKC-850. If you have feelings or questions about this issue, I recommend that you address Brandom Bill <bbrandom@...>.
Regards,
PianoBench
On Aug 15, 2010, at 9:16 PM, Holly Hegeman wrote:
This is what I was wondering...whether or not the new DKV 850 was DGT7A compatible. If this is the case, I think this is the route I'd like to go, as I would love to have internet radio. How cool!
As for the other suggestion let me make sure I understand.So I can take the old floppies and use the dkvutil to create a .fil. File. Then I can take this file and convert it to a standard MIDI file by using dkv convert. (Both of which I assume are on your site.) Then I can use the computer to play them through the MIDI port on the piano.As for the floppy in the piano, I can't figure out what happened. But when I go to put the floppy in, it just seems like the mechanism that loads the floppy has been bent. It's not like it goes in and just doesn't read the floppy. The floppy can't seat itself correctly.Thank you Carol!-HollyOn Aug 15, 2010, at 6:01 PM, Carol Beigel wrote:I believe the new DKV850 would also work for you and you would also get internet radio as well for $1495. The USB floppy I think is an additional $95? What a nice gift you made to your parents!
Re: [disklavier] grandtouch
2010-08-18 by Holly Hegeman
George (and Carol!) -- a couple of pieces of feedback. I had a wonderful callback from Yamaha yesterday and a couple of points. One, the replacement floppy drive is only $90, not $300. So that is a nice surprise. Also, I was walked through what the DKC-850 upgrade would mean for me. However, the tech who called me back was not sure on the firmware update/volume question. He made a note of my question and is scheduled to call me back tomorrow. But overall, I was very impressed by the feedback. To be honest, it was much better than the last time I contacted Yamaha directly with a problem. Then again, that was about 7 years ago. -Holly
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Aug 16, 2010, at 6:23 PM, George F. Litterst wrote: > The DKC-850 does completely replace the control unit in a DGT7A as > well as the control unit for any of the other Mark IIXG or Mark III > DGT-type Disklaviers. > > However, Yamaha does not recommend this because, "volume controls > become a little confusing. The volume control of the DKC850 will > control the background volume and the DGT2/7 volume control will > control the volume of the piano." I interpret this to mean that you > can control the volume of song playback (except for the piano > itself) using the remote control but that you'll have to adjust the > volume of the piano with its volume control knob. > > If I owned a DGT Disklavier, I would much rather upgrade to a modern > control unit that supports USB devices, copying files over the > network, faster loading and saving of recordings, and Disklavier > Radio as opposed to fixing an old floppy drive and staying with the > old control unit. > > What I don't know if this volume control issue is addressable in a > firmware update to the DKC-850. If you have feelings or questions > about this issue, I recommend that you address Brandom Bill <bbrandom@... > >. >