[sdiy] MIDI isn't musical : Flame bait?

[Ian Fritz]

At 01:36 PM 1/16/2002, Don Tillman wrote:
>    Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 08:00:39 -0700
>    From: Ian Fritz <ijfritz at earthlink.net>
>
>    Yes, that agrees with some of the studies I've been reading about. 
> Test on
>    timing simultaneity, for example, show that the best that the most gifted
>    people can resolve is around 10 ms.  People here who claim being able to
>    resolve 1 - 2 ms don't appear credible according to these results.
>
>Here's a little demo of superhuman skills...
>
>Go up to a keyboard; a real one.  This works best on a Clavinet
>because the notes are so distinct, but an acoustic piano works
>completely fine too.  Play a ten note chord.  Any ten-note chord will
>do, so choose one that you're especially comfortable playing.
>
>Now roll into the chord so the lower notes speaks first.  "Arpeggio"
>is the proper term.  If you're at a piano, it'll be smoother if you
>hold down the sustain and soft pedals.  Listen to it as you play and
>practice that a few times.
>
>Roll the chord over, say, a tenth-of a second.  That's 100 notes per
>second without breaking a sweat.  What's more, you can clearly hear
>every note speak.  You can easily tell how smooth your technique is
>and you can hear yourself improve as your practice.
>
>Now roll twice as fast, that's 200 notes a second, 5mSec per note.  No
>problem.  Each note is audible.  If one note were missing you'd notice
>it, if one or more notes came out slightly early or late you'd notice
>it.

I'll give it a try, or have my piano player friend demonstrate for me. On 
question. How do I tell if I'm rolling a chord in .1 sec or .2 sec?

   Ian