Douglas Henderson pleads the case for correct Duo-Art terminology in
MMDigest 981228.

The fly in the ointment is that the term "half Duo-Art" for a pedal-
operated instrument -- which employs only half the dynamic codes
provided on the rolls and possesses only half the usual number of
control mechanisms -- is common currency amongst a great number of
enthusiasts and restorers to whom such a description seems entirely
apt and who also haven't the pleasure of knowing, or even knowing of,
Mr. Henderson.

His thesis that a pedalled Duo-Art can sound more lifelike than
an electrically-powered one was actually promoted by the Aeolian Co.
in some of their advertisements for it, but it's really a quite
separate issue.

If true, why would this be so?  Why would an amateur player sound
superior to the best efforts of the roll editors?

I suggest that the pedal Duo-Art enables the dynamic range to be
expanded back nearer to what happened in the recording studio.  We have
the evidence in the "Barden interviews" that the playback range of the
Ampico, at least, was toned down from the original, simply to produce
results that were acceptable for a machine rather than a live pianist.

Duo-Art is unlikely to have been any different; its power always has
to be raised for concert hall demonstrations, or the result sounds
pusillanimous and uncommitted.  Maybe a human operator licenses that
greater range ?

Dan Wilson, London

 [ Editor's opinions:
 [
 [ Even a pretty girl just sitting at the piano permits more volume
 [ than if no one is there.  I don't know if an amateur pianolist will
 [ sound superior to the work of the roll editor, but the audience will
 [ usually _permit_ the pianolist (or, for that matter, a live-playing
 [ pianist) to play louder than when there is no animation present.
 [ Furthermore, a lousy pianist can distract the audience when
 [ performing with lots of gyrations!
 [
 [ The modest Pianola is indeed capable of a tremendously satisfying
 [ performance under the hands, and feet, of a practiced pianolist.
 [
 [ The only fair comparison with the fully automatic reproducing piano
 [ is if the electric system is adjusted to produce the same dynamic
 [ range, as in a concert hall demonstration piano with two pumps.
 [ Seat a pretty girl on the piano bench if you like, to provide
 [ suitable animation.  Then eliminate the gyrations by judging only
 [ an audio recording!
 [
 [ -- Robbie