Yahoo Groups archive

Disklavier

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:20 UTC

Message

Re: [disklavier] Re: Mark IV disklaviers

2005-05-16 by Robert Welcyng

Describing a Disklavier's accuracy is not a simple matter. �Errors arise in both the recording process and, independently, in the reproduction process. �Further, the inaccuracies occur in both timing and loudness. �To fully characterize the Disklavier's accuracy, measurements would need to be taken over a full range of note velocities and across the keyboard. �

From a purely technical viewpoint, to fully appreciate the differences in accuracy of various models of Disklavier, one would need more than some simple figure, say "99% accurate", but numerous graphs of the error distributions. (I'd love to have a set.)

From a practical standpoint, the question� is: Can you detect the differences and how many thousands of dollars would you be willing to pay to make the needed improvement?

Consider this thought experiment: �A renowned pianist plays the same composition on your Disklavier several times in succession--each time perfectly, in your estimation. Both performances connected with your emotions and thrilled you. Were the two performances exactly identical? Probably not--there surely were small differences--after all, the performer is human. Would you tolerate differences of that order or less if they were introduced by your Disklavier--differences that you really could not put your finger on?

One of my Disklavier brochures shows a Disklavier owner and his wife with guests in their paneled living room. �(I love projecting myself into that picture!) �You remember the one--my wife is holding a spray of roses, and we're making charming conversation over coffee while the Disklavier plays. �(Would it be remotely possible to hear a voice over the piano in that cozy room?) �I've just explained to our guests how many BTUs were available for cooking their meal on our wonderful new stove, and now I'm going to amaze them by describing how many bits of resolution are behind each lovely note they are hearing on our piano. �Once they realize that, the music will take on a whole new dimension for them. They will be impressed with us.



Bill Brandom wrote:
Hello folks,

I have reviewed my statement below with our engineers and they have
clarified that the standard Mark IV does not playback XP data like the
PROs do. Sorry about that. In terms of playing regular MIDI data, the
Mark IV plays very close to the same performance level of the Mark III
PRO.


Bill Brandom
Senior Technical Manager, Piano Division 
YAMAHA Corporation of America 
TEL (800) 854-1569  FAX (714) 522-9424
E-mail: bbrandom@... 
Web: http://www.yamaha.com 

  
sjhart110@... 05/15/05 4:36 PM >>>
        
Does the Mark IV play back XP Standard files like the pro?  How does 
the Mark IV (non Pro), store the data to make it "virtually the same 
as a Mark III pro"?


--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Brandom"  
wrote:
  
The standard Mark IV performs at virtually the same level as the 
    
Mark
  
III PRO. The Mark IV PRO outperforms any reproducing piano ever 
    
made.
  
Bill Brandom
Senior Technical Manager, Piano Division 
YAMAHA Corporation of America 
TEL (800) 854-1569  FAX (714) 522-9424
E-mail: bbrandom@y... 
Web: http://www.yamaha.com 

    
carl@y... 05/08/05 11:22 AM >>>
          
I was wondering if any of you who know about the Mark IV 
    
disklaviers
  
could 
answer a question for me. As I understand it, the Mark IV allows 
    
for
  
much 
more accurate recording and reproduction than the Mark III. What 
    
I'm 
  
wondering is if this level of quality approaches the disklavier 
    
pro--if
  
not 
the new pro models, then the older ones. Anyone know?

Thanks,
Carl Youngblood
    




To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and
moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely updated 012/22/03.  It contains
some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among many other
things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com 

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much
mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.
 That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group. 
If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@... 

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join 
 
Yahoo! Groups Links



 





------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater?
Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/rKxVKC/SOnJAA/n1hLAA/MlLolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...

To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
disklavier-owner@...

To reach our group's web site go to:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier

Todd's family web site was completely updated 012/22/03.  It contains some fun disklavier content and links to midi sites among many other things, The url is:
http://MuncyFamily.com 

THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
disklavier-unsubscribe@... 

Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join 
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disklavier/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    disklavier-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 



  

-- 
Robert Welcyng
Anchorage, Alaska

Attachments

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.