Tim Saddler,DrKeys

How we used to do it before Minidisk and MP3 !

Dr Key's Guide to Live MidiFile Playback Methods

Dr Key's backing tracks are played from Minidisc nowadays. However,midifiles still have a number of advantages in my opinion as they are more easily "tweakable" and lend themselves to running midi lighting systems, midi to dmx conversion, triggering samples, and Reverb patches et.c. Consequently, as not many new MFP's are being released (Yamaha's MDF 3 may be an exception to this) I have put together the following information on the subject. Please feel free to email me with your comments on the subject to Timbo

1.Hardware Method.

1.Viscount RD800.

Currently I use the Viscount RD800 fitted with 1 meg virtual memory(this can be upgraded to 4 meg if you can find any memory).
1st spot plays off floppy disk, and the 2nd spot plays SMF's stored on the virtual Disk.
The RD800 will use High Density floppies , so you can get a lot of songs on the floppy.
With this arrangement, I never need to insert a Floppy during live performance.
The downside to the RD800 is the 3 digit LED display which makes some operations impossible wihout the Manual. Luckily I have a hard copy.

Scans of the three Function Description pages from the manual are downloadable below.

Click here for Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Please Email Timbo for a cd copy of the complete manual (too large to download).

2. Alesis Datadisk.

Previously I used the Alesis Datadisk SQ. This proved to be very reliable over the last 4 years. The advantage of the unit is that the display is backlit and it is 1U rackmountable size. The disadvantage is that the storage capacity is relatively small at 800k. Realistically I have found that more than 85% usage can cause a problem with choking. Thus you only have 680k for storage. Another issue is that SMF's have to be recorded into the Datadisk in "real" time as it saves them in its own DD format. This can be an annoyance.
The other hardware favourite is the Yamaha MDF2. This reads SMF's (I think) but is not backlit and is a "standalone" tabletop type unit. Storage capacity is roughly the same as the Datadisk. Both these units are verging on being 10 years old.

3. Casio FD-1.

I have just acquired a Casio FD-1 for about £80. This is a very simple unit along the lines of the Yamaha MDF2.
The Casio FD-1 only plays back Format 0 Smf's, but has the great advantage of using High Density Floppy Disks.
There is only a Stop and Start button as well as Tempo and Song Select Buttons.For ease of use, I pre-arrange the song playback order and use the stop button when required.

Laptop PC Method.

As I require a reliable backup to my Alesis Datadisk, I have been lookig at the feasability of using Laptop PC's for Midifile playback.
Rather than obtain a proprietary midi interface, I have experimented with General Midi Sound Modules that have a built in "to host" connection. Examples of this genre include, the Yamaha TG 100 & 300, Korg 05/rw and Roland SC88 Sound Canvas (again i think this is true - I have never actually owned one).
The GM sound module that I am using for the experiment is the Yamaha MU5. This is connected to the RS232 port via a 9 pin din lead. The Laptop being used is a Sanyo 386 20mhz , 3 meg Ram, 60 meg hard drive bought for £20. I have installed a software Midifile player called GSPLAY, available from Harmony Central PC DOS programs page. This software by Mark Fontana is highly suitable for this application, as SMF's can be selected, started and stopped instantaneously. One point of note is that the baud rate to allow the MU5 to work needs to be set to 38400 (as per recommended setting for the SC88). There is a driver for the Yamaha sound modules CBXT3.drv , downloadable from the Yamaha website. You may find as I did, that GSPLAY will drive the sound module itself anyway.

Atari Method.

About 10 years ago , I did a some gigs using an Atari STE as the file player. This was fitted with Hands On MFP software and a hardware add on to the printer port which indicated by a series of LED's which bank of songs had been selected. All songs were loaded into RAM, so instant starts were possible. Unfortunately the hardware add on ceased to function and was not repairable. I replaced it with a 6 inch B/W TV which worked OK, though the whole set up was a little unwieldy.

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