Disklavier

Just for the record, the highest possible MIDI note-on velocity is 127 
decimal, and the lowest, 0 (note-off).  (Velocity values are represented 
by seven bits within a Note On Message. The binary number 1111111 equals 
2^7 - 1, or decimal 127.)

If a note of velocity 90 does not damage your DKV, then neither will a 
note of velocity 127.  The reason is that the designers of the DKV have 
built in MIDI-velocity-limiting.  With the DKV Volume Control set at 
"0", a note of velocity 127 will strike the strings no harder than a 
note of velocity 90.  Therefore, you need have no special concern about 
the source of the MIDI file, be it PianoDisc, QRS Pianomation, 
electronic keyboard, or found on the Internet.

However, I believe most of us would agree with Carol that there is 
little benefit, mechanically or musically, in driving a DKV to the 
maximum.  Before playing a newly acquired MIDI file, take the precaution 
of reducing the DKV Volume Control to its minimum.  That has the effect 
of setting all note velocities to about 25.

The above statements are based on measurements made on my Mark II DC3. 
I assume that they apply as well to other DKV models, but I cannot say 
that with certainty.

I believe the original concern of this thread is "What range of note-on 
velocities is appropriate to the DKV?"  For guidance, I suggest using 
that fine downloadable tool from this site, "Veloset."  Convert some 
PianoSoft (solo) pieces to MIDI and open them with Veloset.  Observe the 
distributions and ranges of the note velocities. Now do the same for 
your "foreign" MIDI file.  This will give you an idea of how you might 
modify the latter's velocity distribution to play well on your DKV.

BTW, I said "solo" above.  If you open a PianoSoft Plus song, Veloset 
will display the combined velocity distributions of both the acoustic 
and tone module tracks and bias your impression of the acoustic 
distribution.

I agree with Carol that for most MIDI keyboards and sound cards, 
velocity is interpreted as corresponding to loudness. Generally, 0 is 
silent, 64 is mezzo piano (mf), and 127, fortississimo (fff).  The 
Disklavier has quite different velocity characteristics.  Velocities 
ranging from 20 to 90 are more appropriate for the DKV.  Even then, for 
casual listening, you will probably wish to reduce the DKV's Volume 
Control and sacrifice some acoustic dynamic range.

In anticipation of the next question, there is no pat formula for 
adjusting the velocity distribution of a MIDI file.  Using a sequencer, 
such as Cakewalk or Power Tracks, you can scale and/or offset velocities 
to your heart's delight, but it is an art to make the file even approach 
convincingly the sound of a well-performed recording on a DKV.

Carol Beigel wrote:
> Velocity does not work the same on a real acoustic
> piano as say an electronic keyboard.  A MIDI velocity
> value from 1 to 128 is a value for volume.
> Electronically the higher the number the louder it
> plays.
> 
> Not so on a mechanical piano action because there are
> so many variables.  First, no matter how hard you hit
> the piano key, the escapement will kick in before the
> piano hammer ever hits the string.  It's like running
> really fast to do a long jump, but tripping as you fly
> into the air.  The loudness (volume) of the piano sound
> is often a factor of hard the piano hammer felt is, the
> tension of the stringing scale, and how well the
> soundboard vibrates.  Some of those little GP1 pianos
> with really hard hammers play so much louder than a 7
> or 9 foot piano with softer felt, but the larger pianos
> will have a greater dynamic range of volume and sound.
> Also, the repetition levers in a grand piano action are
> spring-loaded.  All of these mechanical goodies give a
> pianist more  control of their piano playing dynamics,
> but this is tough to measure for a MIDI value.  Some
> Disklaviers with keys sensors only measure this
> mechanical action of the key.  The Disklaviers that
> also have hammer sensors will also measure the speed at
> which the hammer travels toward the strings, then do an
> algorythm with the key sensor.
> 
> This is why there is a huge caution about downloaded
> MIDI files from the internet playing in Disklaviers (or
> PianoDisc and QRS Pianomation).  If a MIDI file was
> created on an electronic keyboard at a velocity of 128,
> this will damage a piano action.  I really don't like
> to see Disklaviers played beyond a MIDI value of 100.
> I think Yamaha has designed a "limiter" into the
> recording of a Disklavier so that no matter how loudly
> you play the piano, you will not get a velocity of
> 128 - more likely 100.
> 
> Carol Beigel
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Don" <imakenoise@...>
> To: <disklavier@...>
> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 10:44 AM
> Subject: [disklavier] Midi velocity
> 
> 
> 
>>I did some tests -- saved a "normal" performance
> 
> played on my DC5A and
> 
>>analyzed the midi velocities... When I brought it
> 
> over to my
> 
>>professional
>>midi rig (playing back from LogicPro or ProTools into
> 
> a GigaStudio) -
> 
>>the
>>velocities were SIGNIFICANTLY lower. As in, playing
> 
> ff, maximum 90-100.
> 
>>mf
>>playing was more like 60-75. These velocities
> 
> playback rather "wimpy"
> 
>>on
>>the samplers or sound modules.
>>
>>Midi standards are quite open to interpretation.  It
> 
> has always been
> 
>>Yamaha's practice to have the velocity numbers be
> 
> smaller than most
> 
>>other manufacturer's scaling.  Yamaha seems to
> 
> consider midi velocity
> 
>>127 as 'overdriven' rather than full volume.  If you
> 
> record on a Yamaha
> 
>>system and than play on another you will need to
> 
> re-scale the
> 
>>velocities (simple in software) to make them play as
> 
> expected.
> 
>>Yamaha's whole method of addressing MIDI is more
> 
> complicated than
> 
>>others ... at least thats how it was in the old days
> 
> when I used to
> 
>>actually look at hex code for MIDI .... thankfully no
> 
> more!
> 
>>Don
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Robert Welcyng
Anchorage, Alaska