Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006, sindi keesan wrote:

> > This page seems to say that many Clavinova models are GM-compatible:
> > http://www.stagepass.com/midi/midichart.html
>
> The listed models all have floppy drives, to which you can apparently
> record what you play directly, and play GM-compatible files.
>
> Mine has no floppy drive so would not be on the list.
>
> I have a 1986 Clavinova, therefore a CLP-40, 45, 50 or 55.  The 50 has a
> 1/2 step transposer and pitch control....

It is a CLP-50 and the transposer/midi button appears not to do anything - 
no change in pitch.

Early CVP models also do organ and harpsichord.  Later CLP models do 
orchestra - 128 voices.

The Win98SE (upgraded from FE) laptop with onboard sound has no midi port. 
So we dragged out the desktop Win98SE from under the desk and plugged in 
speakers and piano, turned on the piano, and did a Find to find the only 
midi file, which played via FM synthesis on the ES solo1 card with Windows 
Media Player.  I then set the Device to MPU-401 and played the same file 
again and got silence, same as in DOS or linux.

We got the meter out to look for analog or digital signal and I noticed 
that the OUT end of the cable was plugged into the MIDI OUT hole and IN 
end into the IN hole.  I reversed them and had to turn the piano volume 
down to halfway.  The soundcard amp is not involved, it is sending digital 
signals about pitch and volume which I don't think can be altered with 
software as it plays.

I could play the first Brandenburg concerto in DOS with playb (playback?), 
playpak (play.exe), gsplay (with graphics, four instruments none of which 
were piano but all sounded like one), and beatmaster (hit the space bar to 
play, reboot to stop if you don't have a mouse).  Beatmaster also lets you 
edit or write midi files, and maybe also record them, and turn the 
computer keyboard into a MIDI keyboard and play notes while the midi file 
is still playing.  Maybe I can record the different parts that way - 
listen to the first track while playing the second (on ASDFGHJK?).  There 
are at least three octaves on the computer keyboard.  Bach used 5 octaves.

Playmidi -e brand1.mid plays perfectly, as does playmidi -e -r brand1.mid 
(same four instruments as gsplay).  playmidi -4 brand1.mid gives me the
prompt again.  playmidi -r brand1.mid (no device) segfaults.

Playmidi -e * is playing the first parts of all the midi files in the 
current directory, starting with WTK II preludes.  Someone may have 
scanned (with OCR) or typed in the score, it sounds mechanical, with no 
variations in tempo or dynamics (or wrong notes).

I keep expecting to see the keys moving by themselves.

I still don't know why FM synthesis won't work on this computer with two 
different SB16 cards.

Next Beatmaster and then Rosegarden.  Ron, how did you sequence your 
midis, by playing on a keyboard or with an editor, or both?

I think the piano can do at least 16 tracks (or 16 voices?).
Maybe there is some aftermarket add-on that will give additional 
instruments.

Thanks for all the help.  It narrowed down the problem.

Sindi