Jody,

Sent this on 09/01 but it may lave been lost.

 [ Editor's Note:
 [
 [ Not unlikely.  Its been a litte confusing passing
 [ the editing back and forth, trying to remember which
 [ submissions were posted and which not.
 [
 [ Jody

Terry Smythe writes about player piano loudness (some parts clipped):

> Most any roll can be perceived to be "loud" if those in attendance try
> to talk over the music....  Inevitably my guests do start talking over
> the music which is my cue to switch to background music...  If
> talk-over is underway, most in attendance will find the piano too
> loud.  If they are there to listen to the music, the piano is never too
> loud.>

Robbie Rhodes adds (again, some clipping):

> "Gracious!" said the little old lady, "The music is too loud!"
>
> She might have been attending a contemporary Rock Concert, or perhaps
> the restaurant harpist three tables away began a new song.  Whatever
> the cause, the complaint "The music is too loud" often signifies: "I'm
> not interested in the music -- I want to talk, not listen!"

> No pneumatic or solenoid piano is made with a true volume control.  I
> asked Wayne Stahnke if the Boesendorfer SE system could be so
> equipped.  He said that it might be possible, but that there was no
> need to, since the buyers were interested only in accurate reproduction
> of SE recordings.

> ...I suspect that some Boesendorfer owners also feel overwhelmed, and
> revert to playing audio recordings on a fancy music system, with a true
> "Volume Control" which preserves the dynamics and allows conversation
> nearby.  I wish that my pneumatic piano was as controllable.

 - - -

Certainly there are times when the full dynamics of a player piano
performance should be maintained.  But, I have more often heard from
clients where quiteness is, at least sometimes, their primary desire.
There should be room for both needs.

I mainly want to respond to Robbie's statement: "No pneumatic or
solenoid piano is made with a true volume control."  Although I can't
reply for other systems, the QRS Pianomation Midi player does have a
true volume control.  If you set the volume control to 12:00, the
player leaves all MIDI velocities alone.  The playback will be exactly
as recorded.  As the volume control is turned down, the recorded MIDI
velocities are compressed.  The result is a performance that reduces
the total loudness, but maintains expression.

Of course, if the volume is turned all the way down, expression is
lost.  But, think about it... this is exactly how the volume control
on your stereo works.

One key element in allowing a lower playing volume is not losing short
time notes.  (I have seen this problem with some other systems.)  I
spent a lot of time addressing this problem and I believe the QRS
Pianomation MIDI design handles this situation well.

The QRS Pianomation MIDI system can play at a volume that allows people
to have a normal conversation right next to the piano.  OR... you can
turn it up.  In essence, you can have the best of both worlds.

Will Dahlgren