I'm trying to find out if the playola portable piano system makes any noise. As I would like to record piano using it.

I'll be recording individual notes by themselves. I want a clean sound without the playola making any noise. So, if the playola makes a noise outside of the piano note sound, this can be cropped out.

I understand the playola, being mechanical, does have a mechanical noise.

Exactly when does the noise occur? (e.g. during the start of the solenoid movement before it hits the note, during the retract of the solenoid from the note, or during the sound of the note...)

I'd appreciate very much feedback on this from anyone who has used a Playola.

Thanks very much in advance.

There is a small amount of noise that is made as the plunger is striking the key. In normal circumstances the sound of the piano itself would completely drown this noise out.

With the type of recording you are trying to do however, this noise might be picked up by the microphones. Because the noise should (theoretically) happen just before the actual tone is produce by the string, it may[/b] be possible to edit out this noise.

I spoke with the engineers myself yesterday, and they just didn't seem 100% confident in recommending it for the purpose you are considering. (excellent idea though...) They aren't confident in saying it wouldn't work either--they just aren't sure, and they are trying to avoid misleading you into making a wrong decision.

Even end-users would have a difficult time discerning whether or the the system would be usuable for your purposes. Unless they also sophisticated recording equipment, any recording they do for you may miss something yours would pick up. Conversely, if there's isn't set up just right--it could be making noises that a better set-up might eliminate.

In your other thread, it sounded as though QRS quoted you essentially a wholesale price. (thanks a LOT to them for that...) If you can get it for close to that, then it seems worth the "risk" to me. --but that is just a personal opinion!

best luck