Compatibility of Solenoid Pianos
By Robbie Rhodes
Erik Silverson inquired about compatibility in Digest 960313.
As I understand matters, the older Yamaha Disklavier pianos will accept only their "native" disk file format, known as "ESEQ". Later production pianos also have a limited capability to accept MIDI files. PianoDisc files, to my knowledge, are standard MIDI format and my be reproduced on any MIDI device.
[ Editor's Note: I've had some dealings with PianoDisc PDS-32 and
[ PDS-128 systems. The PDS-32 systems, if upgraded with the latest
[ software will play all Yamaha disks that I've tried. I don't know
[ for a fact that they will play "older" Yamaha disks.
[
[ Unfortunately, PianoDisc will not read or write DOS disks containing
[ standard MIDI files. Of course you can "record" a standard MIDI file
[ onto a disk in PianoDisc format by by playing the MIDI file on a PC
[ with a MIDI interface and recording on the PianoDisc unit via the MIDI
[ cable. There is at least one commercial program for doing this
[ conversion directly as well.
The "continuous pedal data" is generated by a position transducer which is rather casually connected to the loud-pedal pushrod on the pedal-lyre of the Disklavier. Also, this pedal-position information is recorded with equal casualness whenever the computer feels like it! I recommend ignoring this recording mode. Fortunately, ordinary "on-off" pedal data is always recorded to the disk file, and any solenoid piano or piano synthesizer will properly reproduce the pedaling.
Visit a big, old-time piano store which sells Yamahas. It's likely that they can show you a new piano (perhaps a Yamaha) equipped with a PianoDisc system, which costs quite a bit less! At a nice store like this you can verify compatibility.
-- Robbie Rhodes
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(Message sent Thu 14 Mar 1996, 07:38:57 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.) |
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