Re: PianoDisc PDS-32
By Larry Fisher
Zoltan Janosy wrote in Digest 970120:
> 1. Is it possible to use the control unit as a standalone MIDI
> synthesizer module?
Not that I'm aware of for the application you describe, and as I understand it. You can generate key-down information from the record strip under the keys, and access one voice from the Proteus board for listening in real time, but to record the accessed voice is beyond the capabilities of the record strip. It only sends key-down information to be recorded on track one, which is prioritized at the factory to be piano only.
> I had no luck with the MIDI_IN port; it doesn't seem to pass the
> data to the synthesizer, though it can record the data and play it
> afterwards.
Track one is piano, all other tracks should access the voices of the Proteus module.
> Maybe a software upgrade is needed? Mine is version 1.01.
The current version is 1.12, and I've not known of any additional upgrades since that one.
> 2. Is it possible (possibly via a software upgrade) to play IBM
> formatted disks containing Standard MIDI Files?
It's not possible with the PDS 32, however the upgrade will be released (so I'm led to believe) in February to play any MIDI file on a model PDS 128+. I don't expect that this upgrade will be made available for the PDS 32. You can convert MIDI files using Gary Giebler's software providing the piano is on track one.
> 3. What is the difference between the new PDS-128 and the PDS-32?
> What limitations has the latter?
The power supply, smaller size, green LCD, better response, and a host of other things. But then they came out with the 128+ and have improved it quite a bit since it first came out.
> 4. What is the latest software version anyway? Does someone have an
> upgrade disk? I think it should be possible to do a disk upgrade
> since the control unit has a flash (electrically programmable) ROM.
It IS upgradeable -- Ver 1.12 is available from the factory at email address <msr@pianodisc.com>.
> 5. The PDS-32 installation manual I got says that pressing the "1" and
> "4" together lets you to a 'service' mode. Is this available only with
> later software?
It's been available with all versions of software that I know of.
> I have sent these questions to the PianoDisc tech support as well, but
> they seem to respond rather slowly (if at all).
They've been slow to fill my orders, return my calls, my email, etc. of late anyway. Maybe now that the NAMM (Music Merchants) show is over, we'll see some action from them.
Larry Fisher RPT
specialist in players, retrofits, and other complicated stuff
phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com
http://www.pacifier.com/~larryf/ (revised 10/96) |
(Message sent Sat 25 Jan 1997, 15:17:25 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.) |
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