I recently installed a Nalbantov floppy disk emulator using an updated version of the insert and mount that I designed. You can see based on the pictures below that the Nalbantov slim is slightly too small to fill the entire cavity left by the original floppy disk drive. Additionally, there are no mounts of any … Read more
I have a customer who recently experienced an issue with his Yamaha Disklavier HQ100. The HQ100 is the Japanese version of the MX100II. He primarily uses this instrument via MIDI, and finds the Disklavier quite useful. This discussion should apply to other models of Yamaha Disklavier. Although the solenoids and part numbers differ between models, … Read more
I’ve had a couple of people reach out over the years looking for the bracket that supports the Yamaha DKC-850, otherwise known as the “hanger assembly.” The part number for this is, according to Yamaha, WT79210. Unfortunately, it’s been discontinued. However, you can use the hanger assembly for the Yamaha DKC-800, which is a perfect … Read more
Yamaha’s earlier floppy disks use the propriety ESEQ format. They also use a primitive form of copy protection, where the first sectors of the disks are missing. This means computers identify the disks as corrupt, requiring you to use specialized software to back up your Disklavier disks. In place of these sectors, Yamaha uses the … Read more
Over the years of installing USB emulators in Disklaviers, I’ve become increasingly choosy about my USB sticks for Nalbantovs. My current recommendation is the Kingston 64GB DataTraveler. These are all-metal USB sticks that dissipate heat very nicely, and are durable in the event of an impact. I’ve found them to be both durable and reliable. … Read more
I recommend customers with worn-out floppy disk drives upgrade them to “Floppy Disk Emulators.” There are a couple of these on the market. However, the easiest to install and use is the Nalbantov USB Floppy Disk Emulator. I install these regularly in Yamaha Disklaviers, but they can also be installed in keyboards. If you order … Read more
This post is intended to help you read from, write to, or replace Yamaha Disklavier floppy disks. Some of my customers choose to upgrade their older Disklavier floppy drive to a Nalbantov USB drive, and want to know how to copy songs from their old Disklavier floppy disks onto a USB. Some of them just … Read more
Can I upgrade my older Yamaha Disklavier? This is such a common question that Disklavier upgrades and modifications now have their own page! Read about PianoStream, which brings internet and an app to even the oldest Disklaviers, or about the Nalbantov, which replaces the floppy disk drive. If you have a newer system, such as … Read more
The Yamaha E3 / DKC-800 / DKC-850 firmware update is wonderfully simple, unlike its older Mark IV sibling. The entire update can be done using just a USB stick with at least 20 MB of memory. The Problem: No Internet Connection, Despite Being Plugged In In late 2021, Yamaha mandated that its pianos use better … Read more
In order to connect your Yamaha Mark IV to the internet, you’ll need to update the firmware; otherwise, you’ll receive an error telling you it can’t connect to the internet. This is a pretty confusing error, since you might actually be properly connected. However, the Disklavier can’t tell the difference between no internet and just … Read more