Disklavier

Fellow Disklavier Egroup members:

The music disk ratings databases are now open for your inspection and
additions. Click on "Database" menu item, and then click on the name
(in blue type) of the database table you want to look at.  After the
table is displayed, you can click on "Add Record" button to start
entering ratings for your own disks.  When done, press "Add Record"
button at bottom of page.

Before adding your own reviews, I hope you'll read and heed the rest of
this message.  In that way we will have more consistent and more
valuable ratings of your disks, to the benefit of all. . You may want
to print this out for future reference.

THE RATING SYSTEM

Years ago I started a music CD ratings newsletter.  I used a database
to record published reviews according to a rating scale designed to
make the ratings more consistent.  Two years later, I had read
thousands of CD reviews and was thoroughly burned out.  I abandoned the
project.  But I learned much about how to rate music recordings and how
to write reviews.  

For example, I learned that a 5-point scale is as granular as one
should get in rating an individual recording.  And I also learned that
we should judge a performance by professional standards. 

Here's the scale I am asking you to use for our ratings databases:

1 = POOR.  Performance of manifestly poor quality and is therefore not
recommended.


2 = FAIR.    Performance problems or other sonic flaws (say, in the
orchestral parts), but has sufficient merit that it may be
recommendable with reservations, but in most cases not.


3 = GOOD    An acceptable, professional quality performance that has no
serious flaws.  For any umber of reasons it may not have inspired much
enthusiasm.


4 = EXCEPTIONAL   A performance that is technically very well executed,
and also gets you emotionally involved, that really communicates to
you.  We can often recognize these within the first few bars, but not
always.  


5 = SUPERIOR    Reserve this rating for something that is truly
excellent in every way - compositions, piano and orchestral
performance, arrangements, and a strong emotional reaction - the
goosebump factor.  If you're not sure it is in this category after
repeated listenings, then it probably deserves the next rating down.  I
sometimes rate a recording slightly lower if I don't feel qualified to
judge its superiority.

DOs and DON'TS:

DON'T use fractional ratings.  Go with the rating with the closest
match to your views.  If you think it somehow belongs between two
ratings, suggest you round down.  Yes, it's hard, but please comply. 
You can clarify with your comments.  Perhaps with more listening you
may change your mind.  That's OK, just go to the database and edit your
entry.

DO listen to the recording several times before rating it.  Write your
under-35-word comments and then see if that suggests a rating to you.

DON'T try to rate a recording that you haven't listened to very
recently.  When you listen critically, you listen with different ears. 
The more you listen, the more you will converge on your true opinions
about it.  It really does work!

DO enter the rating in the proper database.  We have three, you know:
one for holiday music, one for classical music, and one for
non-classical music (which I named "pop").

DON'T exceed the limit on word counts in the two columns where a limit
is specified (description and comments/recommendations).  It makes the
rows too high, and really isn't necessary.  For a complete list of
contents of disks, look in the vendor's catalog or go to a vendor's web
site where the complete contents are listed. 

DO separate your feelings about repertoire from your assessment of the
disk.  If you really don't like classical music, then perhaps you
should not try to rate classical music disks.

DON'T edit others' ratings or data, at least not without their
permission on a case-by-case basis.

DO give us your true opinion, irrespective of ratings that already may
have been published.  I concluded that "Last Night on the Titanic" is a
"3."  You may well think it a "5."  Call 'em as you see 'em, but be
sure to support your rating in the comments.


THE OTHER COLUMNS:


I wanted to cover the ratings first, because they and the process of
determining them are critical.  Now let's look at the other rows.

Label & Catalog No.:  Should be self-explanatory.  Look at existing
entries as examples.  For Pianosoft disks, I get the catalog number
from the spine of the plastic case.

Disk Format:   Specify whether solo or XG (or other non-solo format)),
then a forward slash "/" and then the data format such as SMF (for
standard MIDI format) or ESEQ (the native Yamaha format for the
Disklavier).  Tricky part: You may have purchased a disk advertised in
the Pianosoft catalog as "XG" and the cover reads "MU50." I go with
what the front cover of the case says.  For SMF files, specify whether
type 1 or type 0 if you know that info.  

Musical Genre:  Classical, Christmas, popular, film, jazz, etc.  Be
sure you are in the appropriate database for the disk you are rating. 
We have three:  "classical," "holiday "(mostly Christmas music), and
"pop" which includes everything else.

Disk Title:  Read it off the cover of the case

Self-explanatory except for the pop database, where you should use any
descriptive category you think is appropriate.

Artist(s):  The performer(s).  Should be self-explanatory.   Sometimes
you have to look pretty hard to find the names.  Look on the front and
back covers, and in the insert.  If not listed at all, say anonymous or
anonymous (rolls). 

Description (less than 25 words please):   List the songs or
compositions, and when you are nearing the 25-word limit, stop listing
songs, count how many remian to be listed, and e.g. if five more songs
to go, end with "five more."

Release Date and Length (mins):    Release date is on the diskette
(actually it is copyright date, but that's usually the same).  To get
length, you will have to either time the whole disk with your watch as
it plays (which will include pauses between tracks), or use a utility
to look at, and add up, the timings of individual songs.  I haven't
taken time to do this for any of my ratings yet, but intend do it
later.  

My Rating:  We've covered this above.

Comments and Recommendation (less than 35 words please):  Make every
word count. Think about what would be most helpful comments to the
reader, and leave no doubt as to whether you recommend it.  For the
most part, "I like it" doesn't add much.  You've already communicated
that by your rating.  This narrative is the most challenging part of
the review:  this involves deciding how you really feel about a disk,
why, and then determining how to say it in 35 word or less.

Email if Questions:  Your email.



I look forward to seeing your ratings in our tables.

Regards,

Mike McGregor