Another thing about digital pianos.

People always talk about the good points of digital pianos being - never need to tune, headphones, small space etc.

Another thing is that you can very the touch or timbre - radically even and work on your repetoire as if you were playing a a different or 'non-optimal' piano. (Unfortunately, this happens quite often :-{

For example - there is a Yamaha grand that I play at a school - it has no upper end and a stiff action (at least compared to my home piano.) I can practice my digital with an 'inferior' sounding patch to test how I will react in this environment.

Some pianos have an ultra light action or no bass - no problem.

I don't know why I never thought of this before - it's pretty obvious.

Cheers, Larry

Good points. I think a digital is a fine addition to any serious pianists instrument collection.

: People always talk about the good points of digital pianos : being - never need to tune, headphones, small space etc.

: Another thing is that you can very the touch or timbre - radically : even and work on your repetoire as if you were playing a : a different or 'non-optimal' piano. (Unfortunately, this happens : quite often :-{

: For example - there is a Yamaha grand that I play at a : school - it has no upper end and a stiff action (at least : compared to my home piano.) I can practice my digital : with an 'inferior' sounding patch to test how I will react : in this environment.

: Some pianos have an ultra light action or no bass - no problem.

: I don't know why I never thought of this before - it's pretty : obvious.

: Cheers, : Larry

Larry,

generally speaking digital pianos are the most boring musical instruments I know.

I accept that there are some reasons to use them from time to time, I own one myself. But still, digital pianos are worlds apart from a well tuned and well regulated grand piano (not necessarily a Steinway). They are boring after a few seconds. The sound is always static, is always one and the same sample played with one and the same loop and filter at a given velocity and key. An accoustic piano sounds different every day you play it. Yes, accoustic pianos need more attention. They cost more money and will require frequent tuning, voicing and regulation. If they get that attention, there won't be such things like a stiff action. This can be altered. The boring sound of digital pianos is static, it can't be altered.

Best regards,

Please excuse me, Jens, but, quite frankly, I have found this post to be, well, quite boring, actually. And, oh, by the way, I would like to wish you my kindest regards, so that you might be able to ascertain just how civilized I consider myself to be. Now you must please excuse me while I go sniff the air!

Michael Mandaville

Dear jens, Easy to fix, if you have a minor knowledge of electronics. best penny

True.

If you want that capacity it can be done in either hardware or software. You can do it, or you can get the manufacturers to know that there is a market for unstable, cranky

Kidding, right?

Aw, come on!

Let me guess : a twelve year old Roland HP 1800e Yes, those don't really sound good, had one of those myself, my new one is quite the opposite!

Not the modern ones. Played any of those?

They are boring

High end digitals have several samples for one note, from ppp to fff. If I'm not mistaking, the modern lower ends have it too. The range is indeed not endless and eventually all the different samples need to be 'connected' with software to be able to produce intermediate volumes, but it sounds closer to reality than you seem to know.

An accoustic piano sounds different every day you play it. Yes,

Yes it can, buy a midi module and play a different brand every day if you want. Adjust the reverb type, reverb depth, sharpness of the sound, some other sound effects and completely personalize your piano.

Now, although I'm sure this sounded much like an ode to the digital piano, it was not meant to be one. I know quite well that playing a fine grand or a very fine upright acoustic piano is more realistic and more satisfying than a digital piano (though the difference is far from 'stunning'. And yes, I love the way I can feel the hammers when playing that Kawai grand that is regrettably not mine, however, it bugs me that there are people who a. never even played a digital piano, b. only played a bad digital piano or c. have sworn to fight the emergence of the digital piano merely because they are the conservative type (maybe some of them even want to die for the cause?), are warning everyone else to stay away from that 'product of hell'. A fine digital (not necessarily the best) can easily compete with a regular upright. It is expressive, has realistic sound, realistic action (some models fake 'escapement', features to adjust the sound to your needs (like a technician adjusting the piano to the room), add to that a bunch of extra sounds, the capability of adding new piano samples (like for example a Steinway sample) or even a whole orchestra, the capability of recording your songs or pieces and printing out the score and you get an instrument that is anything else but boring (and I'm sure I forgot some other very nice features like the ability to play with headphones to keep you from being sued by angry neighbours, or just plug it on your home theatre system all day long to get rid of them).

For God's sake people, you'll only burn your fingers while playing a digital piano if you've put it on fire first, otherwise you'll be perfectly fine.

Michiel

PS : just for the record : I mainly play classical music.

I might should mention that I am a singer, and that I will be using my synthesizer 'digital piano' for accompaniment purposes only. If I was not a singer, I am sure that my point of view towards digital pianos would be considerably different. And I am looking forward to adding acoustical percussion to my act, so that the overall dynamics will be improved. Of course, if the percussionist can sing too, that will be an additional pluss.

<snip>

LOL. I get your point, but thought it was a funny line.

I've tried a lot of digitals, expensive ones, and not one has yet to even come close to the resonant sound of my upright. Sure, playing a single note on a digital produces a nice tone, if it was sampled from a decent piano, but what is missing is the experience of sympathetic vibrations, resonance. Digitals are terribly dry in this regard, and it is not a pleasant experience if one is used to a fine sounding acoustic piano.

This upright I own is a Cable and Nelson, and is the upright grand style built in the 20s, is tall, up to my shoulders,. grand length strings. You should hear it. I go into stores all the time, and only the more expensive grands sound better than it.

Patrick

The Kawai grand I have my lessons on is a fine sounding acoustic piano and yes, it does sound better than my digital, would be kind of weird if it didn't, and it's not even the finest grand around. However, the resonance effects of the new generation of digitals are all but terribly dry like you say. Have you tried adjusting the reverb settings? Also try the iAFC sound system on the Yamaha CLP 170, it might amaze you, only don't go expecting the same satisfaction you get from playing a nice grand, it's not what you should go looking for in a digital.

That's not what I call a 'regular' upright With a regular upright I mean one that is in the same or even a slightly higher price range than the high end digitals (like the Yamaha CLP 990, 170 and comparable models). The point is, for the price of a digital, get either a digital or try to get hold of one of those very hard to find, remarkably well maintained secondhand acoustic uprights that are priced way too low for their value. IMO, a 1500-3000€ priced (new) acoustic upright isn't the finest instrument around, and I'm sure that you feel exactly the same way since you do seem to have one of the finest pianos.

I'll buy an acoustic grand one day when I've saved enough money, for now my digital is a worthy alternative and anything but a boring instrument with an abominable touch and an awful, unsatisfying sound.

Rgds,

Completely agreed, the digital piano is meant to be a piano in the first place. If you really need a very nice sounding orchestra you either have to get a real one or buy additional hard- and software for your digital piano to get a more decent string sound.

Rgds,