Disklavier

Hi!

When using Disklavier as a MIDI controller sending to a computer a don´t get more than max just about 95 out of 127 , no matter how hard I bang the keys. I don´t find anything in the unit DKC55RCD that will change this.

Anyone recognising the problem, perhaps with a solution?

Best regards

Lars-Magnus Österberg

Good morning, everyone.

If properly calibrated, you should be able to generate the full range of note-on velocities under extreme circumstances. However, under normal playing conditions, the practical range is much more limited.

For casual playing, the velocity range will be from about 35 to 85—or a little more at each end of the range. During a professional performance of romantic piano literature with wide ranging dynamics, I would expect the range to go from about 20-25 to 105-110. If there are brushed notes, there will be velocities below 20. If there are thunderously loud chords, you may get an occasional velocity above 110.

A good way to verify what I am telling you would be to download and examine some of the files recorded over the years for the International Piano-e-Competition (www.piano-e-competition.com). They are nicely catalogued on the Disklavier Education Network website in the Signature MIDI Collection (www.yamahaden.com).

I have never heard an explanation from Yamaha as to why they have used the velocity curve that they do. However, I suggest that you consider this mental exercise: Imagine a Disklavier on which you could reasonably generate the full range of velocities from 1 to 127. Chances are, some pianist would come along and play louder than your velocity of 127 and softer than your velocity of 1 and then complain that the instrument cannot capture his full range of velocities. I think that this scenario illustrates the point that there is some advantage to building “headroom” into the velocity scale so that there is “padding” at each end.

Regrettably, there are lots of digital keyboards that easily generate velocities up to 127. When files recorded on those instruments are played back on the Disklavier, its sounds like someone is taking a sledge hammer to the instrument.

Regards,
PianoBench

> On May 8, 2017, at 6:08 AM, larsmagnus@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi!
> 
> When using Disklavier as a MIDI controller sending to a computer a don´t get more than max just about 95 out of 127 , no matter how hard I bang the keys. I don´t find anything in the unit DKC55RCD that will change this.
> 
> Anyone recognising the problem, perhaps with a solution?
> 
> 
> 
> Best regards
> 
> Lars-Magnus Österberg
> 
> 
>