racketboy.com

Maybe this stuff should be moved to the "finds of the year" thread?

CRTGAMER wrote:I recently picked up a Miracle of a deal, getting pics together.

Miracle Piano Keyboard - Swap Meet $20.00

weltenschule wrote: http://weltenschule.de/TableHooters/Min ... Piano.html

The initial retail price in 1990 was about $500. Beside for PC (DOS or Windows 3.11) also software versions for Amiga and even for the Nintendo NES and Sega Megadrive Genesis game consoles were released. (Despite the game consoles this is not just a toy keyboard but has a far higher sound quality than e.g. My Music Center.) The hardware of this instrument was manufactured by Antex and the software by The Software Toolworks.

The guy orginally wanted $25.00. As soon as I saw the gold Miracle logo I knew exactly what it was. I remember the piano was expensive when they came out. I asked the seller if he would go twenty on it but he was adament at twenty five.

CRTGAMER: "Does it work, can I test it?"
Seller: "There is a power outlet in the last aisle, pay me the twenty five, if it doesn't work, I'll refund your money."
CRTGAMER with Poker Face: "Not sure if I even want it, can I leave you my Driver License?"
Seller takes license.
CRTGAMER: "No, don't leave it on the table, please put it in your pocket."

I leave my Driver's License and trudge over to the end of the row and a few aisles over to the power pole. I already knew the AC power plugs there were crap due to everyone testing devices over the years. A nice surprise to see a new wall jack was finally installed. Sure enough the piano works great! Only its not very loud. I smack the keys thinking they were not making a good contact. Weird the keys are louder when struck hard. Wait a minute, I never knew the Miracle Piano would velocity sense how hard the keys are struck! The harder you hit the piano keys, the louder it gets. Not booming base loud but more then adequate and besides, there are RCA jacks to hookup to an external amp and speakers.

I take the piano back, was it three aisles or four? In my zeal to test the uncommon piano I forgot where the seller's stall was. Keep in mind I got the piano for testing at 7:00 am, a lot of sellers were still setting up. Fifteen minutes later all the stalls look different! On the way back I spotted a very inexpensive PC tower for twenty five bucks. Tempting except for the Repair Shop business card taped at the top. I told the seller that she might sell the computer if the card was not there.

I finally found the right stall to retrieve my license and mentioned to the seller that the piano was not that loud. I pointed out a jack in the back with prongs sticking out, told him I would only go twenty five if he had the missing foot pedal.

Seller: "Sorry no other stuff, okay I'll let it go for twenty. I got this for my kid, he has no interest in a piano and all he wants to do is play Video Games."

If only the Seller knew this can be hooked up to a game console!

Yes the piano uses a Sustain Foot Pedal, there are two prongs sticking out of the back teasing that something is missing. An easy fix of connecting the two prongs to a foot switch.

I'm still at a loss why CAv found a cable with two NES controller plugs.

CAv wrote: viewtopic.php?f=2&p=242572#p242572

I have this cable that I obtained in a lot of Atari 7800 stuff, but I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with Atari. As you can probably see, on one side, it has two male NES controller plugs, so it must plug into NES controller slots, but the other side has this weird thing that kinda looks like a printer cable. Can anybody identify this thing?

Thanks for the research. That does look like the same thing, except of course for the extra cable.

I can't get hold of CAv, does not seem to be an active member anymore. If anyone knows this person, I am interested in buying the cable.

Here are pics of a new Miracle Piano in a box, you can see the Foam Foot Pedal and NES cable:
Miracle Piano NES Cart - $8.00 EBay
I searched online and it turns out the NES cart for it is inexpensive, so picked it up. The cart works but makes no sounds, it needs to be hooked up to the Miracle Piano. Now to find or make the cable. Meanwhile there are those Midi ports and I do have Midi cables boxed away, somewhere I have a C64 and PC Midi card too. Let the computer control the Piano and play the songs.

A rough printed out Template and NES Cart. Note the 1990 date on the cart.

In researching online, I found that some Miracle pianos have a sound bank label on top, and a Select button, disappointed that mine has just eight instrument buttons. I downloaded the manual for both the PC and NES versions. It turns out all the pianos have the sound bank built in and the Select button is one of the primary instrument buttons! I downloaded and printed the key overlay. No programmed beats but a nice assortment 128 instruments and sounds.

The piano plays fine without any hookups, great features especially how the keys add louder emotion as they are struck harder. The sound is not as loud as a real piano but comparable in volume to other keyboards. Hooked up to the stereo it thunders just fine. Eventually I'll get a NES cable or build one. I really want to try the NES cart out. There are songs that download to the piano as well as games to try using the keyboard. Oh and also a teaching tool, maybe I might learn something more then Mary Had a Little Lamb. Until then I can plink away on the keys and drive the whole house nuts with my repertoire.

weltenschule wrote: http://weltenschule.de/TableHooters/Min ... Piano.html

Miracle Piano Main Features

- 49 velocity sensitive fullsize keys (non- weighted)
- 2 built-in speakers (stereo, but rather thin and hollow sounding)
- polyphony 16 notes (only 8 notes with stereo preset sounds)
- 128 preset sounds (including 3 drum kits and 2 effect kits)
- all functions selected through only 8 buttons
- volume +/- buttons (10 steps) those also select other functions
- 6 function buttons {1= "piano / melody 1", 2= "vibraphone/ bass", 3= "harpsichord/ melody 2", 4= "elect piano/ percussion", 5= "organ/ accompany", 6= "synthesizer /select"} with each a green indicator LED
- 9 default key split modes {classical, rock, jazz, blues, rap, latin, country, cathedral, new age} those assign each a set of 6 OBS preset sounds to the 6 buttons
- "library select" mode to select preset sounds by number (function button 6= sound "0", 1= "step up", 2= "step down", 3= "10 steps up", 4= "10 steps down")
- 10 step green LED indicator bar (for mode and volume)
- wavetable sound generator: all sounds based on medium and high resolution samples with partly audible zipper noise.
- no battery compartment
- jacks for AC- adapter, headphones, line out, foot pedal, MIDI in/ out and special serial port

References
Game Faq: http://www.gamefaqs.com/snes/938523-the ... faqs/59003
Piano Education FAQ: http://pianoeducation.org/pnompfaq.html
NES Manual: http://pianoeducation.org/Miracle-NES-Manual.pdf
Make a Cable: http://pianoeducation.org/pnompcab.html
Quick Start and Key Template: http://pianoeducation.org/mirqwiks.pdf

Right click to see a huge image.

Hazerd wrote:

pvt_awol wrote:

harper wrote:I'm jealous. That Zelda 3DS is beautiful. I would buy it just so I could stare at it.

I've been wanting to pop on one too, there are a few new ones where I live still.... but I think they are $170? I want it.... but.....


Man, I would have crapped myself if I found that deal. Very nice.

$170 is a DEAL, have you looked online recently? the Zelda 3DS is going for $250+ easy.

So I should buy the ones sitting on the shelf at my closest GS?

Breetai wrote:


You need to get to around this level:


You are almost there! 9 down, 726 to go!

Wow, that looks amazing

Its going to take way more money than I have to do that, but maybe someday

Takes a lot of time and dedication to do that. Personally I think the time would be better spent actually playing games, but it sure is cool to look at.

Smaller collections are loads of fun, though. I want complete Ace Combat, Mario and F-Zero collections pretty soon.

@CRT... the post was way too long for my tired eyes. But seriously, Miracle Piano for $20? That's awesome.

s1mplehumar wrote:
So I should buy the ones sitting on the shelf at my closest GS?

I would lol.

s1mplehumar wrote:So I should buy the ones sitting on the shelf at my closest GS?

Cough*MarioKart7*cough

@ CRT, i thought that Miracle Piano was on the SNES only, never knew a NES version existed, or others.

swiftzx wrote:

s1mplehumar wrote:So I should buy the ones sitting on the shelf at my closest GS?

Cough*MarioKart7*cough

??? hes talking about the Zelda 3DS Special Edition.