More on the thread started by Bob Lemon:  I also have a newly-restored
Vorsetzer and a "Well-Tempered Disklavier", and I regularly use the
Vorsetzer to transfer rolls to Disklavier.  I find no discernible
difference.  My Vorsetzer contains complete Ampico, Duo-Art, and Welte
mechanisms and the performances in each type of roll are outstanding.

The end result is completely satisfying, and I enjoy the flexibility
of being able to program 7 to 18 rolls on one disc, plus of course the
added fun of being able to transpose to different keys, change tempos
(either during a one-time play, or permanently if I did not like the
original tempo), and reduce the volume considerably more than one can
on the original pneumatic reproducing mechanism.

Of course, what is missing is the originality of the medium -- I miss
the fun of the rolls, especially when they are word rolls -- and some
songs have lyrics that are actually superior to the music.

I have played my own Disklavier recordings back on friends' PianoDisc
mechanisms, and the reproduction misses.  Of course the notes all hit
and the sustain works fine, but some of the dynamics are missing, and
of course the soft pedal is missing completely -- and Ampico, Duo-Art
and Welte all relied a great deal on the soft pedal for extending the
dynamic range down in the soft end.

I have also played my own Disklavier recordings on other Yamaha
Disklavier units and found that the performances are exactly as on
my own piano -- delightful.

This is not to say that I think Disklavier, or PianoDisc, is better or
worse than the original reproducing piano systems.  I love them all
equally.

Regards,

Tom Steuer
Los Angeles