Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Siri plays the Disklavier

2011-12-19 by Peter Giles

I thought you would be interested to learn that Apple’s Siri can now play the piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLKUcUlutRk

As you can see in the video link, Yamaha consultant Craig Knudsen demonstrates a unique implementation of Apple’s incredible Airplay technology in an exciting new way.

Here’s how it works:

Take a standard MIDI songfile and convert it to an audio file (while maintaining the MIDI data). The songfile is then sent wirelessly via WiFi to an Apple Airport Express (which is mounted underneath a Yamaha Disklavier reproducing piano. The audio output of the Airport Express is then connected to the analog MIDI inputs of the Disklavier, using a standard audio cable.

Then, you simply ask Siri to play your favorite song from your iTunes library, and Siri responds immediately, by making the Disklavier’s keys and pedal move up and down, recreating the performance, including full orchestration.

The result is nothing short of magical.

Peter Giles

Re: [disklavier] Siri plays the Disklavier

2011-12-19 by Mark Fontana

Cool, and there's no proprietary app needed either.  It's just a matter
of connecting things up the right way and loading music files in the
right format via iTunes.  Siri can already control the iOS music player
with voice commands, and neither Siri nor the music player knows or
cares that the files are Disklavier tracks.

Personally, I think it might be less hassle to use Bluetooth instead of
WiFi for this, and that would also free up WiFi bandwidth for other
applications.  WiFi would let you get further from the piano, though.
Bluetooth is limited to a distance of about 30 feet.

Mark

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On Sun, 2011-12-18 at 17:28 -0800, Peter Giles wrote:

> I thought you would be interested to learn that Apple\u2019s Siri can now
> play the piano.
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLKUcUlutRk
> 
> As you can see in the video link, Yamaha consultant Craig Knudsen
> demonstrates a unique implementation of Apple\u2019s incredible Airplay
> technology in an exciting new way.
> Here\u2019s how it works:
> Take a standard MIDI songfile and convert it to an audio file (while
> maintaining the MIDI data). The songfile is then sent wirelessly via
> WiFi to an Apple Airport Express (which is mounted underneath a Yamaha
> Disklavier reproducing piano. The audio output of the Airport Express
> is then connected to the analog MIDI inputs of the Disklavier, using a
> standard audio cable. 
> 
> Then, you simply ask Siri to play your favorite song from your iTunes
> library, and Siri responds immediately, by making the Disklavier\u2019s
> keys and pedal move up and down, recreating the performance, including
> full orchestration.

Re: [disklavier] Siri plays the Disklavier

2011-12-19 by Spencer chase

I used to play my pianos with airport express and Itunes but soon learned that the system really sucks. Something about Itunes (this was the PC version so maybe Mac would work better) added random short and long hesitations making the performance essentially worthless.

I found that other applications worked better using a third party app called Airfoil which allowed any audio player to access the airport.

Unless Siri (*whatever that is) has fixed these problems, I think you will soon get tired of trying ot use the express for playing the piano.

I now use a small form factor computer dedicated to the piano (It is also my digital audio file server for regular music as well) and use "Team Viewer" to access that computer form any other in my house (or the world for that matter). There is page on my blog about it. The article refers to playing the LX piano but it works just the same on the Disklavier:

http://spencersviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/interfacing-to-lx-reproducing-piano.html

On 12/18/2011 5:28 PM, Peter Giles wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

\ufffd

I thought you would be interested to learn that Apple\ufffds Siri can now play the piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLKUcUlutRk

\ufffd

As you can see in the video link, Yamaha consultant Craig Knudsen demonstrates a unique implementation of Apple\ufffds incredible Airplay technology in an exciting new way.

\ufffd

Here\ufffds how it works:

\ufffd

Take a standard MIDI songfile and convert it to an audio file (while maintaining the MIDI data). The songfile is then sent wirelessly via WiFi to an Apple Airport Express (which is mounted underneath a Yamaha Disklavier reproducing piano. The audio output of the Airport Express is then connected to the analog MIDI inputs of the Disklavier, using a standard audio cable.

\ufffd

Then, you simply ask Siri to play your favorite song from your iTunes library, and Siri responds immediately, by making the Disklavier\ufffds keys and pedal move up and down, recreating the performance, including full orchestration.

\ufffd

The result is nothing short of magical.

Peter Giles

-- 
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550-Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
(707) 984-8356 
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