To enjoy playing or composing music on a computer, you need a computer and a MIDI instrument, such as the Clavinova.
To make an analogy, think of the computer as a Russian musician and the Clavinova as a Japanese musician.
Both musicians have musical knowledge and talent, but they don’t speak the other’s language, and thus cannot communicate. Then, they find out that both understand English. Now, they can communicate and
exchange musical knowledge. In this example, English is MIDI. A computer (the Russian musician) can communicate with a Clavinova (the Japanese musician) using MIDI (their common language: English). “MIDI” is a
“language that lets digital devices exchange musical information so you may enjoy computer music.
“MIDI” is a standard data format for music that is recognized by both computers and electronic musical instruments.
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What can I do using the Clavinova and a computer?
You can connect the computer to the Clavinova and use different types of computer music software to do the following:
• Obtain songs that the Clavinova will display the score and/or lyrics in the LCD and synchronize the auto
accompaniment with the internal style of your choice.
→Scorch XF
• Practice your performance on the Clavinova at your own pace whenever you like. →Piano Suite
• The Clavinova will perform automatic playback of the performance data created by computer music software.
→XGworks
• Use the Clavinova as a master keyboard to input performance data into music software. →XGworks
• Record your performance on the Clavinova to music software. →XGworks
If performance data contains any voices that are not included in the Clavinova, playing the data using the
Clavinova as the sound source will not reproduce the music correctly.
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How do I connect the Clavinova to a computer?
MIDI connectors
Computer's USB port
Clavinova's USB connector
Step 1 Which connector and port should I use?
There are four ways to connect the Clavinova to a computer.
1. Using the Clavinova’s TO HOST connector
Connect the TO HOST connector on the Clavinova to the serial port on the computer.
IBM-PC or compatible with WindowsMacintosh
A serial port on an IBM-PC or compatible
computer varies depending on the
model. Check the serial port on your
computer.
2. Using the Clavinova’s MIDI connectors
Connect a MIDI interface device between the computer’s serial port and the
Clavinova’s MIDI connector.
3. Using the computer’s USB port
Connect a USB interface device between the computer’s USB port and the
Clavinova’s TO HOST connector or MIDI connector. Use this connection if your
computer does not have a serial port but has a USB port and your Clavinova
does not have a USB connector.
4. Using the Clavinova’s USB connector
Connect the USB connector on the Clavinova to the USB port on the computer.
Macintosh modem portD-sub 25-pinD-sub 9-pin
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Step 2 What do I need to make the connection?
1. Using the Clavinova’s TO HOST connector
You need a serial cable. The required type varies depending on the type of the computer.
Serial cable
WindowsMacintosh
D-sub 9-pin serial portD-sub 25-pin serial port
Standard 8-pin MINI DIN Standard 8-pin MINI DIN
D-sub 9-pin
→
9-pin D-sub cross cable
mini DIN 8-pin
25-pin D-sub cross cable
D-sub 25-pin
→
Standard Macintosh
8-pin system peripheral cable
iMac cannot be connected.
Both connectors
mini DIN 8-pin
mini DIN 8-pin
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2. Using the Clavinova’s MIDI connectors
You need a MIDI interface device and a MIDI cable.
3. Using the computer’s USB port
You need a USB interface device, and a serial cable or a MIDI cable.
Yamaha offers the following products:
Yamaha USB-MIDI interface “UX16”
“UX96”
“UX256”
4. Using the Clavinova’s USB connector
You need a USB cable.
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Step 3 How do I connect the devices?
CAUTION
Before making any connections, make sure that the power to the Clavinova and the computer is turned off. Connect a cable and set the [HOST SELECT] switch. Turn on the power
first to the computer, then to the Clavinova.
If you are not using the connection between the Clavinova and your computer, you must disconnect the
cable from the [TO HOST] connector or [USB] connector. The Clavinova may not operate correctly if a cable
is left connected.
If the Clavinova or the connected computer does not operate correctly after you make connection, the
power to the computer may be turned off, the cable may not be connected appropriately, the [HOST
SELECT] switch may not be set correctly, or the driver or MIDI application program on the computer may
not function.
In this case, turn off the power to the Clavinova and the computer, and check the cable connection and the
[HOST SELECT] switch setting. Then, turn on the power first to the computer, then to the Clavinova and
check to see if the driver or the MIDI application program functions correctly on the computer.
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The connectors that can be used will depend on the setting of the HOST SELECT switch.