Originally posted by Osakans:
4. The only differences anyone in the store could articulate between Disklavier and PianoDisc were 1) factory installation vs. retrofit and 2) 16 track sequencer on the Disklavier vs. 1 track on the PianoDisc. The store manager suggested that the only reason we'd get the Disklavier is if we wanted to use it to compose multi-track compositions.
Disclaimer: I sell both systems - I find the Disklavier to be a better system, but less versatile when it comes to piano selection. Both systems are great systems - I love the pianodisc for many of the things it does, but mainly because I can put it on anything.
It seems there is little support for the Disklavier on this thread, so let me fill in the blanks with information that does not to appear to have been offered. I would reccommend the Disklavier "A" series for the following reasons:
Optic sensor system vs. Analog - PianoDisc uses an analog record strip located beneath the keys. I have found the Disklavier to be more accurate in playback when I recorded something on it, as compared to when I recorded on the PianoDisc. The DC3A and above have two optic sensors, where the DC2A and smaller have one sensor. The extra sensor gives for more accurate recording (I have found the smaller Disklavier to be less dynamic in the recordings, but still far superior to the PDS228+)
Silent System: There is a button to the left that engages the "Silent mode" on the disklavier - it's a slick device that gives multiple advantages. When the button is pressed, a bar moves in front of the hammers blocking them from hitting the strings - instead you hear a sampled piano sound (that is the best sample I have heard on anything, anywhere). You can play the piano with headphones, or make the piano whisper quiet if you have the disklavier going during a dinner party. The Optic sensor really comes into play here: If you ever played a PianoDisc with quiet time installed, you would realize the piano sample and sluggish performance barely passes for a piano.
Software - The available pool of Yamaha artists for recording allows for a large quantity of quality recordings. The music available on the Disklavier is the best I have heard for any system. PianoDisk will play Yamaha floppys, but not their CDs - Yamaha CDs is where the Disklavier shines. Also, the orchestra related floppy disks don't perform as intended on the pDS228 because PianoDisc does not support Yamaha's XG MIDI format.
Piano Smart - Yamaha found a way to sync the floppy disk drive with the CD drive to allow simultaneous playback, giving birth to SmartDisk. Yamaha brings in pianists and records their perfomance with pre-existing CDs. This helps avoid copywrite laws becuase you already own the original CD or you will go buy it at Tower: All you need to do is buy Yamaha's suppliment floppy: When both CD and floppy are put into the disklavier, you will hear the piano accompany the original recording. This allows for a more expansive live audio library and they are being cranked out in droves.
SmartKey - The disklavier will "wiggle" a key waiting for you to play it, showing you the correct notes to play. This works on any disk you put on the disklavier, but it's not a method of learning how to play. It's more a "fun" thing to do with those who don't play at all: There are certain disks that take advantage of this with one note melodies accompanied by complex passages after every keystroke.
Sorry for the longwinded post.
