Disklavier

Spencer,


I truly understand what you are saying and I agree that listening to the piano at the volume it was recorded is the most ideal.  I love hearing my piano play back music like it was originally played. ANY volume reduction reduces the dynamic range of the performance and steals much of the expression.


However, I have turned down the volume on my piano on many occasions and I have turned it off when "down" wasn't enough. I have even asked some people to leave, but not really because of the piano. :)


Bill


-----Original Message-----
From: Spencer Chase <lists@...>
To: disklavier <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:25 pm
Subject: Re: [disklavier] Re: Piano volume too high


 
  
    
                  
        others on the list will disagree, as evidenced by how popular a    topic softening the piano is. i just don't understand wy someone    would spend the money to buy an acoustic piano if all they want is    background music. you can lower the volume of a stereo to the point    that you can't even tell it is music anymore. you can do all the    yacking you want and not be bothered by the distracting music.
    
    i prefer piano played at the volume the recording artist played it.    anything else is an insult to the performer IMHO. i also hate it    when people talk at concerts and other music venues. if they really    have something so important to say why not say it where they can    have a dedicated audience. much easier to hear their brilliant    conversation without music getting in the way. if you are discussing    the performance it may be somewhat acceptable but still better to    wait until it is over.
    
    i have never turned the volume down on my piano. if someone    complains, i turn it off, or depending on the circumstance, ask them    to leave.
    
    
On 2/8/2014 9:04 PM, Skanter123 wrote:
    
    
                       
            
I never liked the concept of "background music" anyway.              If music is good, it requires full attention. I'm not              enamored of crippling a piano's timbre so one can talk              over it either.  Just my two cents.
              
              Sam               
                
www.keyboardcollective.com
                
(212) 684-3304
                

                
                

                
                

                
                

                
              
            
            

              On Feb 8, 2014, at 11:59 PM, Donal Galvin <discodonal@...>              wrote:
              
            
            
              
                  
                  
I use the digital piano for ultra quiet                    background music and I'll sometimes even switch off                    the pedal and key movement as that can be louder the                    piano sound. 
                    
                    Regards                    

                    
                    
Donal
                    

                    
                  
                  

                    On 9 Feb 2014, at 01:26, Bill Brandom <bill.brandom03@...>                    wrote:
                    
                  
                  
                    
                        
                        
You are right. People expect player pianos                          to play softer than pianos can play.
                        

                        
                        
It is a little like asking someone to play                          a tuba softly. They can try, but the problem                          is that it's a tuba!
                          
                          
Bill
                        
                        

                          On Feb 8, 2014, at 4:44 PM, Donal Galvin <discodonal@...>                          wrote:
                          
                        
                        
                            
                            
My own view is that people want an                              acoustic piano to play at low volume                              levels not physically possible !! 
                              
                              Regards                              

                              
                              
Donal
                              

                              
                            
                            

                              On 9 Feb 2014, at 00:36, Bill Brandom <billbrando@aol.com>                              wrote:
                              
                            
                            
                              
                                  
                                  
Correct Donal, just cut the foam                                    about 5% larger than the opening and                                    then squeeze it in.
                                    
                                    
Bill
                                  
                                  

                                    On Feb 8, 2014, at 10:13 AM, Donal                                    Galvin <discodonal@...>                                    wrote:
                                    
                                  
                                  
                                      
                                      
I have just taken delivery of                                        4 inch acoustic foam and have an                                        electric kitchen knife ready to                                        go. I think he said to cut the                                        foam slightly larger so it does                                        not fall out.
                                      

                                        Sent from my iPhone
                                      

                                        On 8 Feb 2014, at 17:40,                                        gelsycycle <georgeall@...>                                        wrote:
                                        
                                      
                                      
                                        
                                            
                                            
Joe,
                                              
                                              How did you attach the                                              foam to the piano so it                                              doesn't fall off?
                                              
                                              George
                                              
                                              --- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com,                                              <jmorris651@...>                                              wrote:
                                              >
                                              > Here is my story....
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > I have my grand piano                                              disklavier in a living                                              room that has wood floors                                              and many windows. With all                                              of those reflective                                              surfaces it was impossible                                              to get the piano to play                                              at a low volume that was                                              acceptable for people to                                              talk.
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > I looked up the                                              different dampening                                              systems and IMO the prices                                              were too high. So here is                                              what I did:
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > I found some 2 inch                                              'egg-crate' foam padding                                              that had been cut into 1                                              foot by 2 foot pieces. I                                              actually found them on                                              Craigs list. I paid $30                                              for a bunch of the pieces                                              and have enough left over                                              to do about 5 more pianos.                                              :) 
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > I then went and                                              purchased a large artist's                                              sketch pad. I used this to                                              trace the different space                                              configurations on the                                              underside of the piano.                                              Using the foam pieces as a                                              head and back rest worked                                              well. I then used these                                              sketches and a magic                                              marker to outline the                                              pattern on the foam                                              pieces. Then using an                                              electric carving knife (it                                              worked like magic) I cut                                              the pieces to fit.
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > I placed the pieces                                              in the underside of the                                              piano and made sure that                                              they did not touch the                                              sound board. This                                              dramatically changed the                                              volume of the piano and my                                              piano teacher who has a                                              PHD in Piano performance                                              didn't notice any tonal or                                              any other difference.
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > It worked so well                                              that I can now play the                                              piano at volumes higher                                              than 10 and still have an                                              acceptable overall volume                                              level.
                                              > 
                                              > 
                                              > Joe
                                              >
                                              
                                            
                                          
                                                                                  
                                      
                                    
                                                                      
                                
                                                              
                            
                          
                                                  
                      
                                          
                  
                
                              
            
          
                          
    
    
-- 

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550-Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
(707) 984-8356 
(425) 791-0309