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.....
Fairly measured repeated notes ore OK but those of the Gatling-gun variety which require rapid changes of fingers to produce, I have found, do not "come-off" on DPs at all reliably.
... That could have to do specifically with the level of polyphony supported. If your fingers are flying fast enough to exceed the level then there certainly could be issues. I suspect what he is talking about is more the ability of the key to support multiple strikes in a short period of time, not the level of polyphony. In this regard, even an upright loses a little to a grand because of the different orientation of the hammer structure. I suspect the mechanism for most DPs simply wasn't designed to fully duplicate the action of an acoustic piano, but more to duplicate the feel. Ed
"...a man ... should engage himself with the causes of the harmonious combination of sounds, and with the composition of music." Anatolius of Alexandria ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/ABF_Medals/12xmedals.jpg) YouTube Channel
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I'm not sure where I'd be if I started on a DP (I have a Yamaha P200), but I'm certain Liszt's Tarentella would be out of the question on this instrument. The issue of repeated notes is still not resolved for these beasts. It's also more difficult to play fast passages quietly, but at least that can be done.
I go to the music stores often to see if something new compares and it doesn't.
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That demo comes in my dp too, the kawai cl30 ... not sure if it was originally performed on that piano
If not, wouldn't that constitute fraud? LOL, I'm sure they covered their butts on that one. I've heard the same demo's on a variety of keyboards over the years. It's often a midi sequence designed only to show off the sonic capabilities of the instrument.
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Okay, now that I'm home I've tried my DP with the fastest passages with multiple key strikes -- and I think my fingers are too slow to hit the limit or, perhaps, I'm right at the limit. No matter how fast I was, the key was back and ready for the next note. As I said earlier, I'm getting old and I don't think my fingers are as fast as they once were -- but if that's the case it's not the DP holding me back. As with all comparisons of this nature, YMMV.
Ed
"...a man ... should engage himself with the causes of the harmonious combination of sounds, and with the composition of music." Anatolius of Alexandria YouTube Channel
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My response is undoubtedly "unfair" because I have had little experience with the latest generation of digital pianos.
I like to think that the repertoire I play requires very subtle nuances in touch, in voicing and in pedaling, and with my limited experience with digital pianos, I nevertheless can not imagine a digital responding to to my musical needs as satisfactorily as a good grand.
Regards,
BruceD
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Estonia 190
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My response is undoubtedly "unfair" because I have had little experience with the latest generation of digital pianos.
I like to think that the repertoire I play requires very subtle nuances in touch, in voicing and in pedaling, and with my limited experience with digital pianos, I nevertheless can not imagine a digital responding to to my musical needs as satisfactorily as a good grand. Bruce, My spinet is not as responsive as a grand and my DP is also not as responsive as a grand. It does have better pedaling than the spinet, but still not quite what a grand offers. From a dynamic standpoint I'm able to get a reasonable pp and a marginally acceptable ppp at the other end of the spectrum the f is good while the ff is acceptable -- the fff just doesn't quite get there. Still, for what I play these days it's not a limit. In fact, I think I can honestly say that had I had this particular DP from the beginning my skills would not be far off what I have now. I think I'm more limited by my own abilities than by the DP. Ed
"...a man ... should engage himself with the causes of the harmonious combination of sounds, and with the composition of music." Anatolius of Alexandria YouTube Channel
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Rephrasing: Can you imagine getting to where you are today if from the beginning you had used only one of the best DPs available now?
No. Agreed. My DP (A very nice one; I still have it) got me started, but without my Steinway I would be nowhere near where I am now.
Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear weapons.
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Bruce,
My spinet is not as responsive as a grand and my DP is also not as responsive as a grand. It does have better pedaling than the spinet, but still not quite what a grand offers. From a dynamic standpoint I'm able to get a reasonable pp and a marginally acceptable ppp at the other end of the spectrum the f is good while the ff is acceptable -- the fff just doesn't quite get there.
Still, for what I play these days it's not a limit. In fact, I think I can honestly say that had I had this particular DP from the beginning my skills would not be far off what I have now. I think I'm more limited by my own abilities than by the DP.
Ed My concern would be - and I could only allay that concern by having the opportunity to play a quality DP - is whether or not a DP could respond to the very subtle voicing needs of some of my repertoire. I'm working on some transcriptions by Liszt of Lieder of Schubert and one Liszt transcription of a Mendelssohn Lied where, within a given range of two octaves, there are melody notes that pass between the two hands while accompaniment figures move both above and below the melody line. I have a similar challenge in the Op 117, No 1 Intermezzo of Brahms where the melody line has to be brought out in the right hand by the fingers between the thumb and fifth fingers which are playing an octave accompaniment. So, my concern is not that of the range of dynamics of the instrument - or the limitations of that range - but the ability of the instrument to respond to such subtleties of touch that will bring out two or three levels of sound simultaneously, all within an overall dynamic of between mp and mf . I would also be concerned about whether or not the digital piano can respond to the needs for half-pedaling, quarter-pedaling and and flutter pedaling. Can a digital piano respond to such needs? Regards,
BruceD
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Rephrasing: Can you imagine getting to where you are today if from the beginning you had used only one of the best DPs available now?
No. Me neither.
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My concern would be - and I could only allay that concern by having the opportunity to play a quality DP - is whether or not a DP could respond to the very subtle voicing needs of some of my repertoire. I'm working on some transcriptions by Liszt of Lieder of Schubert and one Liszt transcription of a Mendelssohn Lied where, within a given range of two octaves, there are melody notes that pass between the two hands while accompaniment figures move both above and below the melody line. I have a similar challenge in the Op 117, No 1 Intermezzo of Brahms where the melody line has to be brought out in the right hand by the fingers between the thumb and fifth fingers which are playing an octave accompaniment.
So, my concern is not that of the range of dynamics of the instrument - or the limitations of that range - but the ability of the instrument to respond to such subtleties of touch that will bring out two or three levels of sound simultaneously, all within an overall dynamic of between mp and mf .
I would also be concerned about whether or not the digital piano can respond to the needs for half-pedaling, quarter-pedaling and and flutter pedaling.
Can a digital piano respond to such needs?
Regards, Bruce, My DP supports half and flutter pedaling. Although it recognizes quarter pedaling (in fact, it's capable or recognizing any position between full up and full down) the sampling did not include a quarter pedal and so it would be simulated via filters and that simulation would be the same as half-pedaling. I think you'd be pleased at the way you can bring out the various voices in the music. One of the pieces my children used to love hearing me play was the Moonlight Sonata with the melody singing out in the little finger of the right hand -- and this piano is certainly capable of that. One of my friends who is a Bach specialist is able to bring out two and three voices with no effort at all. On that score (no pun intended) the DP would serve well. Ed
"...a man ... should engage himself with the causes of the harmonious combination of sounds, and with the composition of music." Anatolius of Alexandria YouTube Channel
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epf, please tell us the make and model of your DP.
(Ah, your profile says it's a Privia PX-800. By Casio.)
Thanks
Last edited by pianozuki; 04/07/09 08:59 AM.
Kawai RX-2
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(BTW have you seen the demos of the soon-to-be-released Roland V-Piano?) kennychaffin has just posted this review of the Roland V-Piano in the Piano Teachers Forum.
Kawai RX-2
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(BTW have you seen the demos of the soon-to-be-released Roland V-Piano?) kennychaffin has just posted this review of the Roland V-Piano in the Piano Teachers Forum. Well, I would call it less of a "review" and more of an opinion/reaction as I didn't really get into any of the technical details. 
Last edited by kennychaffin; 04/07/09 10:07 AM.
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I just bought the 340 and couldn't be happier. It is a nice complement to the Mason and Hamlin.
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I just bought the 340 and couldn't be happier. It is a nice complement to the Mason and Hamlin. 340?
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With the evolution of computer and electronics technology - and with the modern grand practically rooted in the technology of the late 19th- early 20th-century - I would be concerned that any digital piano I might consider buying would be superceded by a later and better model before I had a chance to get my purchase home.
What's the longevity of a digital piano? How long are parts available?
Regards,
BruceD
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Estonia 190
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With the evolution of computer and electronics technology - and with the modern grand practically rooted in the technology of the late 19th- early 20th-century - I would be concerned that any digital piano I might consider buying would be superceded by a later and better model before I had a chance to get my purchase home.
What's the longevity of a digital piano? How long are parts available?
After some substitution we have:
With the evolution of computer and electronics technology - and with the modern typewriter practically rooted in the technology of the late 19th- early 20th-century - I would be concerned that any digital PC I might consider buying would be superceded by a later and better model before I had a chance to get my purchase home.
What's the longevity of a PC? How long are parts available?
My point being that the grand will become obsolete -- and to borrow from the Roland marketing hype of the V-Piano -- it's already happening.
Kawai RX-2
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My point being that the grand will become obsolete -- Well, think that if it makes you happy. You can't prove it (obviously) until it's happened. I'm not quite sure why you have so much emotion invested in this (here and in the teachers' forum). If you prefer a DP, then play one. If you prefer an acoustic, then play that, like I do. If someone tells you they won't teach you if you have a DP, then find another teacher. You don't have to accurately predict the extinction of the acoustic piano in order to play what you like, do you? And a random thought, which may or may not be relevant: Electric guitars have been around for a very long time. Acoustics are still being made and played.
Du holde Kunst...
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You can't prove it (obviously) until it's happened.
And you can't prove that the sun will set until it's happened. (I'm trying like crazy to put a smiley in here but can't figure out how to :-))
Kawai RX-2
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