Frequently Asked Questions

About Disks
   How do I know what disks and files will work on my piano's floppy disk drive?
   How may songs can I put on a floppy disk?
   Can I just burn a bunch of MIDI files to a CD and play them?

About Music Files
  Are there different kinds of music files?
   What is MIDI?
   What is XG?
   Can I change the "voices" coming through the speakers?
   What kind of software do I need to edit these MIDI files?
   Is is possible to convert audio files to MIDI files?
   Is it possible to convert MIDI files to audio files?

About Music Files on the Internet
   Will my piano play files downloaded from the Internet?
    Where can I find good piano MIDI files on the internet?
    Why won't the keys on my piano play a file I downloaded from the Internet?
    Why does nothing happen when I try to play a disk of MIDI files from the Internet?
    
About My Piano
   Is there a way to make the player mechanism play my piano more quietly?
    How do I connect a computer to my MIDI player piano?

About Music Software
   Is there software to help me learn to play the piano?
    What kind of software do I need to print sheet music?
    Is there a way to generate piano accompaniment so I can practice my [flute]?
    Can I change the key of a MIDI file to fit my voice?
    What is Utility Software?

About Disks

How do I know what kinds of disks and files will work on my piano's floppy disk drive?

Refer to the Chart: Disk and File Formats and Managing Disks

You can burn MIDI files to folders on a CD; jazz, hymns, favorites, etc., but not individual MIDI files.  The only MIDI Player at this time that can play a data CD with MIDI files in the QRS Pianomation "Chili" system.  Both PianoDisc and Disklavier require a digital-to-analog conversion. You can however, connect a computer to your system using MIDI Player Software (Jukebox) and use Playlists of your favorite MIDI files.

Yes. Refer to your owner’s manual and the section on Editing MIDI Files on the Music Files page. To see a list of available voices and their MIDI assignments, refer to the Chart: MIDI Voice List

You would use Sequencer Software or a utility program like gnmidi.

Is it possible to convert audio files to MIDI files?

The dream of being able to convert the digital audio music played on stereos to MIDI files that would play your Midi Player Piano is still that – a dream! Transcription software attempts to do this. This works best on single voices rather than polyphonic sounds; including piano strings because they generate too many harmonics.

Is it possible to convert MIDI files to audio files?

You can use the "render" function in sequence software (Pro Audio 8 and Band-In-A-Box) to convert a MIDI file to audio using the sampled sounds on your computer's soundcard, or make an audio recording of a MIDI performance. You could use a microphone to record your piano playing; or on the MarkIII Disklaviers, you can send the piano part through the audio amplifier, record it on digital tape, take the taped performance into the soundcard of your computer and create a .wav file, then burn it to CD. You could then play the recorded piano performance on your stereo from the CD.

About Music Files on the Internet 

Yes. Most Midi Player pianos will play a standard MIDI file in Format 0. Many MIDI files on the internet are in Format 1, so you may have to use the Convert software to make it play on your system. Refer to the Chart: Disk and File Formats to see what will play on our piano's floppy disk drive.  Music Files on the Internet are discussed on the Music Files page.  However, all Midi Player pianos will play MIDI files from the hard drive of a computer connected through a MIDI interface and using a Player or Jukebox software program.  See the section Connecting to a Computer

The piano keys play data found on Channel 1 in MIDI files, and maybe none of the music on the file is assigned to Channel 1. If music is coming thru the speakers, a simple program change will fix this. Use Sequencer software to edit the file, or when using gnmidi select "prepare sound program for PianoDisc" from the Modify menu even if you have a QRS or Disklavier system. A good setting on the Disklavier for playing MIDI format 0 files is to set L=01 and R=Prg. See Owner’s Manual under Import Files. 

Make sure the files on the disk are all the same format, and that the format will play on your piano. It is possible the file you downloaded is not really a MIDI file, or it may be an Apple Music file. A program like gnmidi can evaluate and repair different file formats. Make sure the floppy disk is the right type; 2DD or 2HD. Refer to the Chart: Disk and File Formats and the sections on Managing Disks and Music Files.

Is there a way to make my piano play more quietly?

Yes. It is possible to lower the volume through software manipulation of the MIDI file. See the section Editing MIDI Files in the Music Files section. The three utilities that have been most successful are gnmidi, veloset, MidiMod2 and the Giebler software. There are also acoustic solutions such as foam baffles installed next to the soundboard. On MarkIII Disklaviers, the Silent System can be engaged and the volume of the tone generated piano sound can be infinitely adjusted.  See Volume Control in the Editing MIDI Files section of the Music Files page.

There are both hardware and software considerations. The section, Connecting to a Computer explains the difference between standard MIDI connections and Yamaha instruments equipped with a TO HOST port. You will also need some cables; either a CBX cable available from Yamaha, or a MIDI interface and standard MIDI cable available from stores that sell electric guitars.

Yamaha offers special music disks for their Smart Key feature. Home Concert and Voyetra’s Teach Me Piano have demo versions.

Programs dedicated to this task are referred to as Notation Software. Most Sequencer software also offers this option. Sheet music is printed from MIDI files.  See Music Software.

I play the flute (or guitar, violin, etc.). Is there any way to generate piano accompaniment so I can practice?

You can use a program like Band In A Box from http://www.pgmusic.com/.

I want to sing a song I have a MIDI file for, but the arrangement is too high/low for my voice. Is there a way to change the key?

You can transpose any MIDI file up or down using a program like gnmidi, or any MIDI sequencing software. You can also use the Transpose function on your piano.

What is Utility Software?

These are very powerful little programs that allow you to do such tasks as back-up your disks, convert files from one format to another and change the volume of the MIDI file to be played on your piano. The disk copy programs only run in true DOS environments, not a virtual DOS window. Usually, you must restart your computer in DOS mode. These programs may not work in Windows XP, and definitely not in Windows NT environments.

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