Fran\ufffdois,
I have some remarks to offer, but not any suggestions that are likely to please you.
I have also had experience making audio recordings, but with a Mark II C3 (grand). I've found that while loud pieces will hide some of the mechanical noises of the sustain pedal and of the keyboard escapement, when pieces of lower note velocities are played, the noise can become quite prominent.
I believe that your dealer is basically correct when he says that little can be done (assuming that your instrument is in good regulation and has been calibrated). Certainly a Mark IV Pro would reduce some objectionable noise when your music is played, but, being a mechanical device, would probably still be short of perfection for the kind of music you wish to record.
One technique that professional recorders use for keeping the noise down is to incorporate more ambient (diffused room sound) and less direct sound into the recording. As you know, that requires placing the microphones at some distance and makes a higher demand for good room acoustics and sound proofing to block outside noises.
Even if you had the money to spend for a more expensive piano, to take advantage of it, you would also need to spend a great deal on a proper recording environment. As one reaches toward perfection, the cost of doing so rises enormously.
The kind music you are composing is very demanding of a fine and quiet instrument and recording environment. The ECM recording by Alexander Malter of Arvo P\ufffdrt's "F\ufffdr Alina" must indeed have been a challenging one to make with its crystalline tones that decay to the threshold of hearing. It's an absolutely beautiful recording and had to have had extreme care in its making and in the preparation of the piano. (Yet, some mechanical noises can be faintly heard.) This is not a recording one could begin to approach through recording a DU1A at home with close microphones.
If I were faced with your problem, I would consider a solution which you have apparently tried and rejected. I would go back to digital samples--the GigaPiano (or equivalent) approach. Admittedly that would not be an exciting turn after having invested in your Mark lll DU1A with hopes of using it for your music. However, the DU1A remains an excellent instrument for making your initial midi recordings. Working with a GigaPiano setup has the advantages of eliminating the offensive noise and of offering ease of audio recording. And, as you surely know from experience, it introduces some new problems. In my opinion, given the overall circumstances, a compromise is called for and this would be the most promising approach that is affordable.
I wish you the best in your musical efforts and hope someday to hear your compositions.
franpeyr wrote:
>Good evening everybody
>
>I want to tell you every information about my "problem".
>
>Sooooo, it will be a little bit hard to say it in english...
>
>First, there are differences, hudge, between the Mark III (full function or not) and the Pro
>series, and one of these differences is the fact that only the Pro series pianos are
>controlling the return of the keys. The midi parameter "velocity note off" is used for it, and
>with Mark lll Series, it makes nothing.
>
>Second, there are differences between uprights and grands pianos, and one of those is the
>mechanic of the hammer itself. It's hard to explain, but the DK mecanism, while working
>on an upright, is not using the long part of the key, but the short one, which is lested. It
>means that, when DK stops playing a key, the key returns to her initial position faster and
>stronger than with a finger.
>
>It's a Yamaha's french specialist of the DK who told me that. So, there is *nothing* to do
>with my problem (the only solution is to by a pro-grand piano, wich is veeeery expensive,
>and unfortunally I don't have the house to contain it...).
>
>Those woody sounds are disturbing, but only if you play few notes, and you want to record
>a little close to the harmony table, ok.
>But "adios" to Debussy-like, Arvo P\ufffdrt-like,.... Peyrony-like (that's my name :\ufffd) )
>
>WHat do you think of that ?
>
>
>
>
>
>
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--
Robert Welcyng
Anchorage, Alaska