Using Wi-Fi, Airplay, and an Apple Express, Craig Knudsen of Yamaha has figured out how to get Siri to play a Yamaha Disklavier; complete with moving pedals and keys in full expression.
The pointer comes via Jim Dalrymple of Loop Insights:
Take a standard MIDI songfile and convert it to an audio file (while maintaining the MIDI data). The songfile is then sent wirelessly via WiFi to an Apple Airport Express (which is mounted underneath a Yamaha Disklavier reproducing piano. The audio output of the Airport Express is then connected to the analog MIDI inputs of the Disklavier, using a standard audio cable.
Then, you simply ask Siri to play your favorite song from your iTunes library, and Siri responds immediately, by making the Disklavier’s keys and pedal move up and down, recreating the performance, including full orchestration.
It’s pretty cool. Check out the video here.
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An attention grabbing title for sure.
But in reality, it is simply asking Siri to send a MIDI file to Disklavier.
Disklavier can already do all these “performances” from MIDI files. Those who have not seen Disklavier in action would be impressed by it. But this is done by Disklavier piano (“complete with moving pedals and keys”) , not Siri.
So instead of having Disklavier play the MIDI files from USB drive or hard disk, we have wireless transmission of the MIDI files with Siri as a remote control.
And we are supposed to be amazed by it? Really???
That information is incorrect! No music files are being transmitted from the iPhone at all! It is not a “hack”! The music is stored in the memory of the Yamaha Disklavier. The e3 Yamaha controller can be wifi enabled with any wireless bridge such as Asus, Netgear, or Apple Airport Express! Siri is merely acting as a voice activated remote control through the Apple Airport Express! The E3 app is available in the iTunes Store and is free for owners of Yamaha Disklavier Pianos!
The article writer, Stephen, is correct, in that, the MIDI files are stored in the IPhone as analogue MIDI files and played through the apple airport box into the analogue input of the Disklavier controller box.
Siri is used to command the IPhone which audio/MIDI file to play, Siri does not actually send commands to the Disklavier.