Disklavier

Greetings Robert,

http://www.spencerserolls.com/VelMod/VelMod.zip for the velocity
program.

On some computers, it seems that the c drive does not show up in the
directory tree until you add it from the add function below the tree.
I have not figured out why this is different on some computers. Anyway
it does work if you add it. Also, one person mentioned that the preset
file is saved on the desktop. Otherwise, it works.

The main use of the program would be with files that are consistently
different in terms of velocities from what is wanted. Nothing is going
to fix up an individual file as well as you can by listening to it
over and over and fiddling forever.

I can add a histogram plotting function to the program if it would be
useful but this will require some learning, on my part, about graphic
displays. Since veloset does this it might not be the highest
priority.

It has been my opinion that Yamaha would operate the pedals properly
and that thumping pedals are caused by improper adjustment. Getting a
tech to adjust this properly may not be easy and many pianos do seem
to thump loudly. It also seems to be a problem with PianoDisc. That is
why I am thinking about making the program to minimize it.

Monday, January 5, 2004, 12:16:20 PM, you wrote:

RW> Thanks for your note, Spencer.

RW> I haven't tried your program.  Please jog my memory and tell me where I
RW> can get it so I can give it a spin.

RW> When people in the group started debating, "Should I scale or should I
RW> shift velocities?", I thought it was time to say something, since to do
RW> a decent job, one may have to do more and have some understanding of
RW> what's happening.

RW> IMO, fussing with velocities is a desperate effort to make a piece
RW> listenable.  I do it myself--the Oguri files, for example.  I like his
RW> Satie pieces and I just don't know of any PianoSoft-quality files of
RW> Satie.  Worked-over, they are far better than nothing at all, but are
RW> still short of what I'd like.

RW> When I do resort to adjusting velocities, I like to see what I'm doing.
RW>   Veloset has been very useful to me in displaying an instant histogram.
RW>   (Before I used Veloset, I made histograms using a klutzy method 
RW> involving Cakewalk and Excel.)

RW> I do not adjust velocities so often that efficiency of the process is a
RW> big concern to me.  I would still do the files one at a time. The Oguri
RW> files were all sufficiently different that the scaling percentages and
RW> offsets that I chose were somewhat different.

RW> As for the thumping problems, much of that may be due to lack of DKV
RW> pedal adjustment and calibration.  It's a fussy procedure.  It's my
RW> impression that most tuner/techs are comfortable working on a piano, but
RW> tend to shy away from messing with the Disklavier portion.  I've have a
RW> publication from Yamaha which exhorts techs to perform, on every visit,
RW> the "Irreducible Minimum Disklavier Service", yet my tech will not.

RW> My point is: Just as you don't tune an engine with dirty spark plugs,
RW> you don't try to eliminate thumping with software when the pedal is out
RW> of adjustment.

RW> Limiting the pedal to the range of 20 to 95 has worked for me, both on
RW> continuous and on/off files.  The noise elimination is not total, 
RW> especially for on/off, but I believe it's tolerable.

RW> Bob



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Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
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