Beautiful setup, gvfarns! I'm just ordering a pair of RP-8 monitors to replace my much-too-thin RP-5s (they're scratchy on piano notes except at very low volume); now you're tempting me to splurge on the subwoofer as well. It's madness, I tellya...

I added track lights over my system, and the music stand angle is adjustable to null out any reflection on glossy pages (like the Tim Richards book). Late night jamming is much nicer now.

As to your wider music stand, gvfarns, why not cut a suitably sized sheet of something pretty (a nice laminate like 4mm okoume plywood compatible with the look of your system) and attach it to the existing stand?

Cheers,
Steve

How about this to put behind your keyboard?

gvfarns,

I like your shrine to music, now you just need some candles in wings to make the effect complete. Does your hair fly back when you blast that thing?

Nomadness, you might consider getting the subwoofer before upgrading the main monitors if you are considering doing both. I almost think it would have been as good to have gone with smaller monitors since I ended up getting the woofer anyway.

I'm so glad these monitors are directional. Or rather, the neighbors are glad. I do end up leaving everything on pretty low volume, though. I never have turned the system up. It scares me.

The setup actually draws more attention than this picture suggests because I live in a studio apartment and it's pretty small.

I used to set a piece of plywood almost the width of the piano against the wall behind it (before I got the speakers). There's a ridge on the MP8 that can hold it and then I put anti-friction shelf liner on top of the piano to keep the music from sliding down. It worked pretty well but it's just a little too tall for the current setup (partially covers the speakers). Maybe I should bust out my trusty saw...

Or there is packa's suggestion. When I figure it out I'll no doubt post it here.

Gvfarns... I did consider that (a subwoofer add-on to my existing system ), but I really don't like the RP-5 pair... assuming that I am indeed diagnosing the problem correctly and it's not some weird secondary artifact. There's a nasty scratchiness in otherwise clear piano sound that persists whether the source is the Roland or the Mac, and also whether or not the Mackie Mixer is in the loop (though an audio sinewave sweep over the full range sounds fine). I don't want to blame them until a replacement proves to be clean, but they're just a little thin anyway... so what the heck. Upgrades are fun.

It is good to hear your comment suggesting that the RP-10 might be overkill with the RP-8 pair; that reinforces my decision to just get the latter. Just in time to save me from myself... thanks!

Cheers,
Steve

Or how about this ?!

I have the Manhasset "Fourscore" stand that packa referred to, and it's great -- even strong enough to hold a laptop, if you want to play off a computer. The feet of the stand do get a little bit in the way of the pedals, but that's because my piano is backed up against a wall -- doesn't look like this would be a problem in your case. You've got a fantastic setup going there!

I just want to add that this thread is a huge source of inspiration to me too. Although I would like to see some Promega 3 setups here *hint*hint* :-)

AH, I should update - looks like the RP-5s were NOT the source of the noise; I replaced them with a pair of RP-8 and still was able to hear similar artifacts. I did find that the TRS via Hosa cables connection from the Roland is slightly less noisy than the XLR via Atlona cables (once level-normalized; the XLR ports are much hotter), but yesterday I had a local recording-studio guru over for a diagnosis.

Apparently there are multiple phenomena afoot. The background hiss and hum from the Roland is much higher than would be expected, so I'll start playing with chassis grounds and other power options... to really get serious, a balanced power conditioner would be nice, but SHEESH, they are expensive. Another artifact that I'm hearing (particularly in middle C and the D just above, as well as a few others) is a little digital buzz that adds scratchiness during the first couple seconds of the piano note... the guru felt that this is a digital noise resulting from adjacent samples interacting. Much of my confusion about this is attributed to hearing somewhat similar noise from GarageBand, and even more from Pianoteq (so naturally I've been pointing the finger at the components they all have in common). It is terrible to be a perfectionist.

His most immediately useful recommendation is to change my gain structure: the various noises are much less apparent if I lower the main mix output to about -10dB and raise the channel faders as needed. It helps, but the clutter is still in there.

One nice side effect of all this is that I now have bigger monitors that provide a fuller sound at low gain leves. I'll either eBay the RP5s or hang them on an aux out as a room-filling back channel.

Cheers,
Steve

After reading this post, i want to ask a question : finally, which have the better sound : the CA-9/CLP280 with a lot of speakers, "reproducing" acoustic distribution or MP8 with "simple" monitoring ? I ask that because i want to make a "cabinet" for my future MP8, and i'm thinking about a reproduction of the speakers of console DP.

Hey sarabiyo,

this is a very sensitive topic, for sure. First and foremost, you must decide whether you want the best possible sound for an audience or mainly for the pianist playing the instrument. Or a compromise thereof, perhaps? This will clearly determine your choices, here.

To be used as an out-of-the-box, plug-and-play product, surely the high-end consoles can't be beat (considering their price) except by high-end digital grands with openable lids and multiple speakers inside, but the latter cost a fortune.

The CLP270 (who needs a 280??) and the Kawai CA91 represent very good value if the above approach is considered. They will sound quite good both to the pianist's ears and to his/her audience's.

But if one plays mainly for oneself and has no use for one of the industry's vinyl-covered, pressboard consoles, then it makes a lot more sense to get a top-end stage piano with a pair of good close-range, self-powered studio monitors and obtaining the best possible, properly stereo-imaged sound all for less than half the price of a big console. That is how I ended up with an MP8 and never regretted it. I play mostly for myself, and on those rare occasions when other people around me are listening, be assured that they aren't getting bad sound for all that. Of course I am lucky enough to own an acoustic grand, which solves the problem if performing for an audience becomes an issue but still, I don't think I would choose a different DP even if I didn't have the acoustic grand close by.

Be assured you are extracting the best possible sound from your DP when your head is forming a perfect triangle at the proper height with a pair of good studio monitors properly hooked up. If you are playing mostly for yourself, that is the way to go. ...And the cheapest, too!

Regards,

Claude

Thanks a lot for your answer. You convince me to adopt something like MP8 + Behringer TRUTH B2031A + 1 average sound card (~150-200e).

EDIT : For only "live", which the best between EMU 0404, M-Audio Delta Audiophile 24/96 or other at this price ? In fact, the lowest latency ...

*drools over so many great setups*

this thread should be renamed "Lost in music"! If I had one such home-studio-in-a-box, I'd never leave home again!

ok, I'm finally done with my rig.

pics at http://shazware.com/piano/rig.html

I haven't really put the pcr800 to great use yet.
But I will be after a few mods to my sequencer.

I'm lovin' that cp33.

I even wrapped the cords up outa sight

This thread inspires me.

How did you all learn woodcrafting? I would love to learn, but have no idea how to start. Can anyone offer me tips and suggestions?

Steve,

absolutely awesome, the concept, the woodwork, the programming, your creativity leaves me totally at a lost for words. I wish everyone on the forum an opportunity to look at it closely.

And Tuan,

wood working can be studied right at home provided you've found the proper books. It needn't be dangerous at all, this is no russian roulette. There are very specific rules that apply to using various power saws and other potentially dangerous tools, but if you obey them faithfully you're at no risk. Also it can be very rewarding to go to night school for awhile and learn the basics from a specialized teacher. A wonderful project!

Regards,

Claude

Yeah, don't let my joking around about losing fingers keep you from getting a tablesaw.

Tablesaws are VERY cool !!

It's surprisingly easy to build a bookcase, etc.
But usually cheaper to buy em.

If you need a custom something-or-rather, tho...
THAT's where it pays to have a tablesaw.

Gotta house? Getta tablesaw.

The learning curve I went through involved just reading some books. About a week or 2 of reading and then making some sleds for it.

Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way and keep things braced right.

I made a sled for better cross cutting (tablesaws are set up to rip with the grain. going across the grain usually means using a really flimsy brace that'll slide and ruin the cut)

And another sled for cutting tapers (like for the legs of my rig)

Then get google's sketchup for your design.
It's an awesome cad package that's all -i'll- ever need.

Anywayz, I think the GAS has finally subsided !!
Just gotta fix up my sequencer to use the new sliders and such

Now it's more "code acquisition syndrome"...

...Steve

What a fantastic thread - thanks for sharing the pics guys, keep them coming Really interesting!

Well, it's kind of an ancient thread, but I suppose one could revive it...



Of course when the laptop (Truepianos, Pianoteq, or Audacity) or the PC (Rosegarden or one of the Linux soft synths) are attached, it's even more crowded, so I'll spare you that.

Yeah why not revive it, I find it really interesting seeing peoples work spaces! As Tuan Vo said above, it's inspiring

Nice pic, Martin C. Doege, thanks for posting! Coincidentally I'm in the market for a Digital Piano and had actually shortlisted the Yamaha P-85, have you been happy with it? Recommend it?

BTW, the poster is http://www.castaliapub.com/shop/index.php?itemid=3&shop=1



Well, I needed a DP with a decent look, touch, and sound that is light enough for airline luggage and that doesn't have so many buttons, dials, and displays to distract me. And I think the P-85 does that brilliantly. Pure piano Zen.

I wasn't all that tempted by the P-140, and I haven't tried or heard enough from the P-155 to judge it, so I'd absolutely recommend the P-85 to anyone who is looking for a no-nonsense portable DP and who prefers an instrument with a light and responsive touch...

Could you please share with us your experiences travelling on the airlines with your p85?

So far I haven't had to, but I know I will later this year, so when I bought the instrument this was a major point to consider for me, so I read the reviews with that in mind.

How about this one (http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Keyboard+And+MIDI/product/Yamaha/P85/10/1):

Got a great picture this morning of my digital setup. I thought it might be worth sharing...

Sunday Morning

This thread needs to wake up once in a while

Hey Kevin,

only one word to describe your pic: stunning !! I'm sorry the adjective itself is a bit of a cliché, but your photo does convey such an intense feeling of atmosphere it makes one yearn to be there right now... So, many many thanks for it. And you're right, this thread should be kept going as it affords folks on this forum a pictorial, documentary lifeline of one aspect of history that is zooming by soooo very fast, that of digital technology applied to re-creating the piano.

Regards,

Claude

Thanks,

One of my favorite things about this thread is it shows how very diverse each digital system is. Digital is very interesting because everyone has very different needs and goals when using digital. This thread shows that very well.

Each person uses a different combination of equipment, which grows and morphs all the time. I would bet that systems that are listed in the first pages of this thread are vastly different now. I know mine is. Mine is also focused much better than it was on the first pages. I would be interested in seeing then now comparisons of members setups

I don't know if it's appropriate to revive an old topic like this, but I'm just so darn thrilled with my new keyboard cover that I couldn't resist. My poor seamsmanship doesn't even show up until you get about five feet away. Here it is with cover:



And without:



-Tom

This was a fun thread. Thanks for resurrecting it. I see you're using Humphrey's "Piano Handbook". Me too.

Great job with the cover Tom! This makes me wonder why DP manufacturers do not offer tailored covers for their portable DPs as accessories, or even as standard.

Cheers,
James
x

I agree, a fitted cover would have been a nice option. The spandex aftermarket kind just isn't my style. Good thing I'm so crazy-talented with a sewing machine.

-Tom

http://imgur.com/K9xzx.jpg
http://imgur.com/oWNdK.jpg

I have been looking around online for piano shells for my digital piano to make it fit better in the decor of my dining room (antique-ish white wood). They are all > $1000. I have a Yamaha PF-500 with 2 8 inch monitor speakers that were sitting on stands and a subwoofer that was sitting on the ground. All the cables to my computer (running Pianoteq) were visible.

In October ago I decided just to build one myself and went to Home Depot and bought $200 worth of wood and paint and built it in two days.

It works pretty well. The speakers and subwoofer sit in the "piano" case, and the wing of it can be adjusted to best fill the room with sound. Inside the case I now can "feel" the music through the keyboard and the music really envelopes the player and the room. I'd recommend it to anyone with a digital piano who wants a more full experience. Total cost is $2000 for the DP, $350 or so for Pianoteq, $200 for supplies, $700 for speakers/subwoofer, and $1000 for the computer, or about $4250... cheaper than an Avantgrand I guess or a V-piano for that matter.

Anyway, thought I'd share.