@DavidScottCrowe Hey David, if your system has MIDI inputs then it's just a matter of sending MIDI from ProTools into the Disklavier. I used an M-Audio Uno, which is about $30 and converts MIDI to USB and vice versa. MIDI goes out from ProTools, out USB, into the Uno, gets converted to MIDI and gets plugged into the Disklavier's MIDI input. Feel free to message me if you have any issues. I can try to help you troubleshoot.
@hoakyman I really appreciate you getting back to me on this. I've been wanting to figure this out for over 5 years and just gave up out of frustration. I've got protools 9, digidesign 003 rack with midi in/out1t/out2, m-audio uno (blue chord midi (out/in) to usb)), macbook pro 10.5.6, and disclavier (midi in/out/thru) with an option switch that says mac, midi, pc1, or pc2. Ive tried a few configurations but still can't get it to play through the piano like you're video.
@niepce38 I never used it to learn complex pieces but I imagine it'd be helpful. You could see exactly what keys are being played and you'd be able to slow down and speed up the music very easily. Disklavier is pretty expensive so get it just for that would seem overkill unless you can afford it, in which case you should buy all the cool toys that exist anyway.
Hi i want to play a disklavier for a concert with midi accompaniment. - but it only has a floppy disk and they don't really sell floppy disk any more. My laptop does not have a floppy disk drive. However I have midi files on my laptop. I examined the disklavier very carefully it does not have a place to stick the USB - so what do i do to get my midi files in the computer for a performance ?
@DavidScottCrowe I did get an answer --- but i'm not 100% sure i remember. It was a while ago and I have since moved to another state which doesn't have the device. I believe the strategy i was going to pursue was to record AUDIO on the CD and then stick it in and it would play the audio accompaniment while I play the piano part.
@steflova2 Does your Disklavier model have MIDI inputs in the back? I used an M-Audio Uno USB to MIDI converter box to go from USB on my laptop to MIDI on the Disklavier computer. The cables are about $30 or so.
Ok, I'm with Rich here, and I think it's CRIMINAL that I went through an entire degree here and never knew such a thing was available to me. What in the world?!?
Yamaha builds some of their pianos with a modern player mechanism included. It is MIDI compatible which is what lets it communicates with computers or other electronic keyboards. Google "Yamaha Disklavier" for more info.
Is there a limit to how many keys can be pressed at once? Because if there isn't then the piano could actually play stuff that isn't humanly possible unless you have another person. That would be awesome!
I believe the only limit is the bandwidth of midi data. I think theoretically you can press as many notes at the same time as the computer can transmit to the piano. I did some tests with a friend and we were writing huge, like, 20 note chords spanning the entire piano. It was glorious.
There is a very very slight and barely noticeable latency but you really only feel it when you're playing faster stuff. I'm pretty sure it's USB latency though, so if you're going straight MIDI or are running a faster computer, you probably will never notice it.
Im having problems with connecting to the internet..my pocket controller says 'failed to connect to the internet. ip address setting incorrect. please confirm your network environment ie. cable, hub, router'
However I am not given any opportunity to confirm this 'network environment' and it takes me back to the main menu
Pleeease help- Ive dowloaded 'The Heart Asks Pleasure' with the idea to leran it via playback
I'm sorry, I can't continue, I'm overcome with grief at the thought of this immense power in the hands of an idiot out to destroy the world by innundating our minds with senseless sound that makes us nauseous just listening to it.
My impression is that Yamaha pianos are the best ones out there, model to model. But the Disklavier IV Pro is without a doubt the best reproducing piano ever made. You need to post a longer sequence!
i bought mine direct from yamah, which was about that price. but it is an amazing instrument, and it sounds and feels absolutely perfect! i would recommend getting one if you have the money!
Haha, well, assuming I have a grand piano and a Disklavier and a laptop and my MBox available at all times, yeah, I suppose I don't need speakers anymore.
I really, really love this piece of music. Would like to hear the complete version. Reminds me of Steve Reich's work. What size Disklavier is this? C7?
Thanks for the comments, guys. This piano is in recording studio A at Berklee College of Music in Boston. I've been playing around with it for a few months now. Few other people at the school seem to care very much about it.
I haven't gotten a chance to do much more work with it this semester since I'm a few weeks from graduating but hopefully this summer I'll be able to use it some and write a few pieces for it. That's the plan at least.
sorry but id give anything for a grand, I got a crappy 200 year old piece of $#^% and im an inch from throwing a sledgehammer into it okay not that bad but i also wanted to know.... how much does all of this cost piano, laptop, mbox, and probably the program
The piano is probably anywhere from $2,000-$10,000. I can't be sure. The Disklavier system I believe is somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000-$15,000. The laptop was about $1,500. The MBox (which comes with Pro-Tools, which is the software I'm using) was about $500. Although I only actually own the laptop and MBox, not the piano or Disklavier.
Actually, that piano costs from £35,000 to £65,000 depending on the size...including the disklavier unit, which can be bought separately, but that is more expensive, as Yamaha have to fit it ussually. I own a disklavier, and mine cost £97,000 including the built in PC.
Wowzers. That's a lot more expensive than I thought. Looks like I won't be getting a grand piano with a Disklavier any time soon. I imagine it's probably a little cheaper in the States. Probably $35,000 to $65,000. Whatever, I'd get a Steinway anyway.
I always wanted to see how it worked. That's how Richard D. James recorded his piano tracks on Drukqs, he sequenced it on the computer and it sent the MIDI message to the Disklavier.
What a special composition, full of harmony. I liked a lot. And... what a nice piano, I've never played in one of those... really great stuff. Nice, very nice.
I think the song you composed is Beautiful.
tangofizz77 3 months ago
I've got protools, a yamaha dkc500rxg disclavier on my yamaha baby grand (c-3) and I want to be able to play from laptop. How did you do that?
DavidScottCrowe 4 months ago
@DavidScottCrowe Hey David, if your system has MIDI inputs then it's just a matter of sending MIDI from ProTools into the Disklavier. I used an M-Audio Uno, which is about $30 and converts MIDI to USB and vice versa. MIDI goes out from ProTools, out USB, into the Uno, gets converted to MIDI and gets plugged into the Disklavier's MIDI input. Feel free to message me if you have any issues. I can try to help you troubleshoot.
hoakyman 4 months ago
Comment removed
DavidScottCrowe 4 months ago
@hoakyman I really appreciate you getting back to me on this. I've been wanting to figure this out for over 5 years and just gave up out of frustration. I've got protools 9, digidesign 003 rack with midi in/out1t/out2, m-audio uno (blue chord midi (out/in) to usb)), macbook pro 10.5.6, and disclavier (midi in/out/thru) with an option switch that says mac, midi, pc1, or pc2. Ive tried a few configurations but still can't get it to play through the piano like you're video.
DavidScottCrowe 4 months ago
Is the disklavier system valuable to help learning songs ?
I mean not learning basics, but to learn complex pieces ?
niepce38 7 months ago
@niepce38 I never used it to learn complex pieces but I imagine it'd be helpful. You could see exactly what keys are being played and you'd be able to slow down and speed up the music very easily. Disklavier is pretty expensive so get it just for that would seem overkill unless you can afford it, in which case you should buy all the cool toys that exist anyway.
hoakyman 4 months ago
4 Steinway suckers + 1 analog hoe = 5 dislikes.
bilbring 7 months ago
how much is it?
Michele1297 8 months ago
So, have you finished composing it? Would like to hear the rest...
AKAtheA 8 months ago
Can I get some more technical details?
mightywarriorx 8 months ago
Hi i want to play a disklavier for a concert with midi accompaniment. - but it only has a floppy disk and they don't really sell floppy disk any more. My laptop does not have a floppy disk drive. However I have midi files on my laptop. I examined the disklavier very carefully it does not have a place to stick the USB - so what do i do to get my midi files in the computer for a performance ?
steflova2 9 months ago
same problem I have. Did you get any answers?
DavidScottCrowe 4 months ago
@DavidScottCrowe I did get an answer --- but i'm not 100% sure i remember. It was a while ago and I have since moved to another state which doesn't have the device. I believe the strategy i was going to pursue was to record AUDIO on the CD and then stick it in and it would play the audio accompaniment while I play the piano part.
steflova2 4 months ago
@steflova2 Does your Disklavier model have MIDI inputs in the back? I used an M-Audio Uno USB to MIDI converter box to go from USB on my laptop to MIDI on the Disklavier computer. The cables are about $30 or so.
hoakyman 4 months ago
seems haunted... o.o
miserygirl456 9 months ago
Get it to play Circus Gallop and I'll be amazed!
SAFSguy 1 year ago
the best video i've ever saw
FatalisWhite 1 year ago
AWESOME!!!
tell how
TheGoldenlegend1 1 year ago
one of my dreams is get one.
s0nicxo 1 year ago
awesome song! where can i download it?
thefireguy22 1 year ago
can you explain how you did that? Last time i checked, grand pianos were acoustic, not electric
heartachingpain 1 year ago
O_O?!?!?!?
oldpoop00 1 year ago
This sounds like "Phrygian Gates" by John Adams. Beautiful!
banjoman2375 1 year ago
nice presentation ;)
yaro900901 1 year ago
Ok, I'm with Rich here, and I think it's CRIMINAL that I went through an entire degree here and never knew such a thing was available to me. What in the world?!?
ttolympics 2 years ago
WHAT?! I was at Berklee four years and NEVER knew the piano in Sutiod A was a Disklavier! Unbelievable!
richvreeland 2 years ago
I know! No one knew about it! I actually found it by accident one time when I was climbing around under the piano. It ruled.
hoakyman 2 years ago
Amazing. I'd love to hear the finished composition.
ZabbyX 2 years ago
lol. Brilliant. You can use this to scare people!
GHOST!!!
vajboi97 2 years ago 15
@vajboi97 funny
freddysaar 2 years ago
Did you remove eac key and put some mechanincs underneath?!?
knucklessg1 2 years ago
Yamaha builds some of their pianos with a modern player mechanism included. It is MIDI compatible which is what lets it communicates with computers or other electronic keyboards. Google "Yamaha Disklavier" for more info.
Garselo 2 years ago 2
@roryisgoed
Are you fucking serious? He is a genius to make that. Go do something fun with your life.
cocoman2121 2 years ago
OMG ITS A GHOST!!! XD
sk8erkid2007 2 years ago 2
Thats amazing man :) what laptop is that by the way?
joshwakbak3 2 years ago
It's a (now old) Apple Titanium Powerbook. I think they came out around 2003 or so.
hoakyman 2 years ago
Is there a limit to how many keys can be pressed at once? Because if there isn't then the piano could actually play stuff that isn't humanly possible unless you have another person. That would be awesome!
jshaw6000 2 years ago 3
I believe the only limit is the bandwidth of midi data. I think theoretically you can press as many notes at the same time as the computer can transmit to the piano. I did some tests with a friend and we were writing huge, like, 20 note chords spanning the entire piano. It was glorious.
hoakyman 2 years ago
That is so great, is there any issues with latency when tracking ?
DonJuanDeMarco2 2 years ago
There is a very very slight and barely noticeable latency but you really only feel it when you're playing faster stuff. I'm pretty sure it's USB latency though, so if you're going straight MIDI or are running a faster computer, you probably will never notice it.
hoakyman 2 years ago
Awesome stuff thank you.
DonJuanDeMarco2 2 years ago
wow thats amazing :)
xoCAZZA 2 years ago
You have to play it by yourself
paranormaalutrecht 2 years ago
whoa.. a ghost was programmed to play the piano lolz
smallwai937 2 years ago
how did you do that?
yevgeniyRUS 2 years ago
O_o wtf?
skull905 2 years ago
That's amazing. lol
karaysexay 2 years ago
that's bloody creepy xD
sjafalconz 2 years ago
WTF THAT IS AWESOME!
HighOnCrack2 2 years ago
HUH
JasperTwq 2 years ago
awesome , but please dont kill the humane music...
djmikenewman 2 years ago
WTF?
dreamcatcher2092 2 years ago
What the crap...?!
Lol
You did great!
BFFsAutumnK8 2 years ago
can you post the rest of the song?!
i wanna know how the rest goes so far the song sounds amazing!!!
AMsharples 2 years ago
wtf
Stormbubi 2 years ago
WTF
Viper030069 2 years ago
thats such a beautiful piano and the song is amazing
AMsharples 2 years ago
Im having problems with connecting to the internet..my pocket controller says 'failed to connect to the internet. ip address setting incorrect. please confirm your network environment ie. cable, hub, router'
However I am not given any opportunity to confirm this 'network environment' and it takes me back to the main menu
Pleeease help- Ive dowloaded 'The Heart Asks Pleasure' with the idea to leran it via playback
superminxy 3 years ago
Too cool to see this baby come to life!! However, much cooler to see human hands on the keys :D
FreeFallin1976 3 years ago
omg I hope people won't use this technology for bad and self purposes...especially fakers...
claireglory 3 years ago
This technology in the hands of terrorists !!!
Oh, the horror, the humanity.
I'm sorry, I can't continue, I'm overcome with grief at the thought of this immense power in the hands of an idiot out to destroy the world by innundating our minds with senseless sound that makes us nauseous just listening to it.
Other than that last comment. Good playing.
firewalled1951 3 years ago
....if fakers use this technology to pretend that they know how to play then that would be bad. thats what I wanted to say.
claireglory 3 years ago 4
I knew what you were getting at. I was just having fun at your expense.
I'm one of the fakers that would use this technology.
I want to make music but I can't play a note with out it.
this gives me hope that I can make beautiful sounds that are enjoyable to listen to.
The truth is, I have trouble playing a radio, let alone a musical instrument.
This stuff is great technology.
firewalled1951 3 years ago 2
I have a cvp 305, the 300 range is better than the 400 range for some reason!!! I decided on the 305 over the 405
jameswp266 3 years ago
You can get them cheaper than that.
jameswp266 3 years ago
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (I'm falling)!
afkamistan 3 years ago
really interesting...:)
bagamoyoamedeo 3 years ago
One big question. How much?
afkamistan 3 years ago
wow that's so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
illegallynotblonde 3 years ago
Thats beautiful!
oscotto 3 years ago
this is the disklavier playback right ?
Makavelysan 3 years ago
i wish i was rich
wiliscool 3 years ago 15
haha me too, i cant afford this
Elsxs 3 years ago
Wow amazing!
maty7976321 3 years ago
i wish i could do that with my laptop and piano... i could learn songs easier bc i cant read.. im still learning...
Skyori1 3 years ago
lo. nice...so im guessin thats how they make the piano play by itelf in those movies
saamy23 3 years ago
can i BUY one of them? I want a autoplaying piano!
scams4u 3 years ago
This is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Essexpianos 4 years ago
OMG!!!
Ivan1230 4 years ago
thats amazing,, both you performance and the machine..
man its unbelievable, its actually playing an acoustic piano with midi data,
stalwart911 4 years ago
Now I know - it's a Mark II XG, from the mid 90's. Nice era for Disklavier.
jsteeber 4 years ago
My impression is that Yamaha pianos are the best ones out there, model to model. But the Disklavier IV Pro is without a doubt the best reproducing piano ever made. You need to post a longer sequence!
jsteeber 4 years ago
cool but freaky!
logitech172g25 4 years ago
WOOOOOOW! Tom and Jerry reality! SOOOOOOO impressive, still hilllllarious.
Bozder 4 years ago
wow wow wow greta job and yea i hella like it keep it up dude
snatchandle 4 years ago
first words out of my mouth "thats fucking crazy"
jbraun23 4 years ago
GREAT STUFF! KEEP GOING! BRILLIANT!
pianolasociety 4 years ago
Thanks!
hoakyman 4 years ago
in the states, it's around $60,000 to $120,000
jamesthepianoman 4 years ago
Ugh!
hoakyman 4 years ago
i bought mine direct from yamah, which was about that price. but it is an amazing instrument, and it sounds and feels absolutely perfect! i would recommend getting one if you have the money!
jamesthepianoman 4 years ago
I will start saving IMMEDIATELY.
hoakyman 4 years ago
me too, hopefully after 86 years im ready to afford one
wowiejunior 4 years ago
so you do not need any speakers anymore ^^
Chiv4l 4 years ago
Haha, well, assuming I have a grand piano and a Disklavier and a laptop and my MBox available at all times, yeah, I suppose I don't need speakers anymore.
hoakyman 4 years ago
haha thats amazing !
Chiv4l 4 years ago
I really, really love this piece of music. Would like to hear the complete version. Reminds me of Steve Reich's work. What size Disklavier is this? C7?
isadar 5 years ago
I'm not sure the size of the Disklavier. It's on a Yamaha grand piano but I don't believe it's a full sized grand. Maybe a 7 foot.
hoakyman 4 years ago
I wonder if this came to Berklee from Boston Organ and Piano. Is it a IV Pro, or is it a much older model?
jsteeber 4 years ago
Wow, that looks and sounds amazing
ZodiacKillerSFPD 5 years ago
Thanks for the comments, guys. This piano is in recording studio A at Berklee College of Music in Boston. I've been playing around with it for a few months now. Few other people at the school seem to care very much about it.
hoakyman 5 years ago
Have you done any more recording with this piano? I would love to get a Disklavier one day.
csajdak 4 years ago
I haven't gotten a chance to do much more work with it this semester since I'm a few weeks from graduating but hopefully this summer I'll be able to use it some and write a few pieces for it. That's the plan at least.
hoakyman 4 years ago
dont care very much????!!?!?!?! ARE THEY INSANE
sorry but id give anything for a grand, I got a crappy 200 year old piece of $#^% and im an inch from throwing a sledgehammer into it okay not that bad but i also wanted to know.... how much does all of this cost piano, laptop, mbox, and probably the program
BrentosTFM 4 years ago
Yeah, they're totally insane.
The piano is probably anywhere from $2,000-$10,000. I can't be sure. The Disklavier system I believe is somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000-$15,000. The laptop was about $1,500. The MBox (which comes with Pro-Tools, which is the software I'm using) was about $500. Although I only actually own the laptop and MBox, not the piano or Disklavier.
hoakyman 4 years ago
Actually, that piano costs from £35,000 to £65,000 depending on the size...including the disklavier unit, which can be bought separately, but that is more expensive, as Yamaha have to fit it ussually. I own a disklavier, and mine cost £97,000 including the built in PC.
jamesthepianoman 4 years ago
Wowzers. That's a lot more expensive than I thought. Looks like I won't be getting a grand piano with a Disklavier any time soon. I imagine it's probably a little cheaper in the States. Probably $35,000 to $65,000. Whatever, I'd get a Steinway anyway.
hoakyman 4 years ago
i also have a steinway, one person once said "a pianist without a steinway is like a singer without a voice". i agree completely.
jamesthepianoman 4 years ago
That's freaking awesome, but I'll tell you something. If I ever get into a room and I see a piano playing itself, I'm gonna need some extra pants.
JackPoint 5 years ago
thats really amazing both technologically and musically
bshuker 5 years ago
Jesus christ..
That is amazing, nice work :)
omnislasherer 5 years ago
I always wanted to see how it worked. That's how Richard D. James recorded his piano tracks on Drukqs, he sequenced it on the computer and it sent the MIDI message to the Disklavier.
And the song you made is amazing.
Buceephilis 5 years ago
What a special composition, full of harmony. I liked a lot. And... what a nice piano, I've never played in one of those... really great stuff. Nice, very nice.
ozibru 5 years ago