Disklavier

I have never looked at that model but have the Pianodisc 128+ which allows
you to hook up a CD player containing as many songs as you can fit on there.
I am happy with my PDS system but wish I would have figured out before I
bought it that you can add the system to any piano, new, used, upright,
grand, whatever.  It would have saved me some money by buying a used baby
grand and installing the system instead of going out to purchase a new piano
with the system already on it.
The Pianodisc can play almost any other brand disc and it is really easy to
create your own midi's and just pop the disk or CD in. I also have the
symphony option which plays background music and chorus.  I have actually
never listened to or seen any other system so I have no idea which one is
best.  All I can tell you is that I love mine.

P.S.  Does anyone know if there is a system or development that will allow a
voice to play along with the piano?  It would be like having a concert hall
in your home.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark A. Fontana [mailto:mfontana@...]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 10:34 PM
To: disklavier@egroups.com
Subject: [disklavier] Re: Evaluating options




Barry wrote:

> I just recently started researching options for a player grand piano.
> Disklavier was the first I looked at.
>
> Has anyone looked into or know anything about Baldwin ConcertMaster?   It
> looks good and has a 1 gig hard drive to store up to 10,000 songs.
>
> Any direction you can provide would be greatly appreciated.


I am considering the ConcertMaster as well.  The primary advantage it has
over the Disklavier is the capability to play 32 notes simultaneously
versus the Disklavier's 16 (the Disklavier also comes in a "Pro" series
that may not have this limitation-- anybody know?)  In my case, I could
use the extra polyphony since I like playing MIDI files encoded from
reproducing piano rolls.  Quite a few of those require 16+ note polyphony.

On the other hand, the Disklavier has a technical edge over the
ConcertMaster in several ways:

  - 128-position partial pedaling, record and playback
    (ConcertMaster is simply on/off pedaling)

  - far more accurate recording capabilities, using optical shutters
    on the hammer shanks to measure hammer velocity (ConcertMaster
    uses an under-key record strip like the PianoDisc system)

  - self-calibration; the Disklavier can adjust the solenoid drivers
    based upon feedback from the hammer shank sensors, to compensate
    for irregularities in the action's mechanics etc.

Apparently the ConcertMaster is really just a QRS Pianomation system
in a Baldwin piano with a customized control unit.

What I would really like to see is a Yamaha U-3 or U-5 with Disklavier
or Disklavier Pro installed.  Mark Wisner at Yamaha told me there are
no plans to make a 52" upright Disklavier, however.  As for the Pro option,
I have yet to see a Disklavier Pro in person.  A prominent Yamaha dealer
shooed me away when I asked about it, saying that those models are never
displayed in stores and that "customers who truly require a Pro series
unit already know they need it so there is no need for a demo".  Well!


--
Mark A. Fontana
Minneapolis, MN



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