Disklavier

On Mon, 8 Dec 2003, Carol Beigel wrote:
> A Disklavier IS a "proper piano" in every way, first and foremost.  It also
> happens to have a computer installed inside of the mechanisms that make it
> both record and playback piano performances.  As a teaching tool, it enables
> you to have a piano teacher somewhere in the world and not necessarily in
> your neighborhood, by email even, and the ability to play multi-hand piano
> pieces by yourself.  I find the mechanisms are very quiet and often
> undetectable.
>
> Best thing to do is go look and play  some at a store and decide for
> yourself if you would like to own one.  You will certainly never find a
> "real" piano that is more fun, and it certainly won't be sitting in your
> home gathering dust from lack of use!

"I agree with Carol" (I think we should coin that phrase!) :) The
disklavier is a fantastic tool, and it is built into some really nice
pianos.

I've owned an MPX1Z (the forerunner to the DU1A) since April, and am
extremely impressed. I spent quite some time comparing the MPX1Z to normal
U1 uprights and couldn't tell a difference to how the normal piano plays.
The feel when in silent system isn't "quite" right for my liking, but its
better than any other digital instrument I've tried, and certainly a
fantastic practice tool.

Re: solenoid noise: bear in mind that a piano action is quite noisy
anyway. It is a complex set of moving parts, some of which fly together at
high speed, and it is all made of wood which is quite a good resonator.
I don't believe the solenoids add to this noise - IMO it is certainly no
more than the noise from a pianists fingers striking the keys.

For example, If you listen to someone playing a disklavier in silent
mode, and then set the disklavier playing back there is no noticable
difference in volume.

Unfortunately, because of the small nature of affordable British houses, I
have to have the piano right next to the dining table, and in order to
avoid offending guests I often have to have the silent mode on with the
action switched off if I want the instrument playing. One day I might live
somewhere bigger though :)

As Carol says, the instrument is really fun. For me it is really good to
be able to practice on a real piano but have the drums and bass as if I
were playing with the band. I've also been able to record other pianists
improvising solos and then replay them more slowly to analyse what they
are doing - it's a great learning tool.

I find the piano works great as a controller for sequencing too - some
people disagree with this, but I think it depends on what you are trying
to achieve - obviously the disklavier doesn't have modulation / pitch bend
wheels so it isn't ideal for playing those soaring synth solos - thats
what cheap midi keyboards are for :D

Cheers,

James