In MMD 071108, on the subject of "Pneumatic vs. Solenoid Pianos",
Robbie Rhodes commented:

>[ ... There are no technical problems with the solenoid player
>[ mechanisms that can't be overcome with thorough engineering;
>[ witness the Stahnke SE system in Boesendorfer pianos.

I recently had the opportunity to see and hear Wayne Stahnke's latest
invention, the Live Performance LX.  This is a low-cost, high-resolution
electronic player system that can be installed in any grand piano for
not much more than the cost of a PianoDisc or QRS Pianomation system.

The LX system was developed over the past few years, and this past
summer it became available for purchase through a growing network of
dealers and technicians.  The web site for this product will eventually
be at http://www.live-performance.com/ though today there is only a
placeholder there.

The LX system plays non-encrypted Yamaha, PianoDisc and Pianomation
CDs, Marantz Pianocorder recordings, and high-resolution content in an
LX-specific CD format.  The system is designed around many of the same
technical specs as the big Boesendorfer SE system, including 800 Hz
timing resolution, ten-bit note expression (over 1000 levels), support
for up to 96 playing notes, the ability to strike any number of notes
simultaneously (each with its own expression level), and closed-loop
proportional sustain pedaling.

The LX can play back recordings made on the Boesendorfer SE with
excellent fidelity.  In fact, Wayne's 25 albums of high-resolution SE
recordings form the basis of the initial music library available for
the LX.

Rather than relying on a proprietary embedded control unit / CD
player for its user interface as many electronic player systems do,
the LX is equipped with stereo analog audio inputs (RCA jacks).  This
enables the system to be driven from any current or future audio
source, including MP3 players, CD/DVD players, radio links, and laptop
computers.  (This seems to be the trend in electronic player systems;
PianoDisc recently introduced a similar audio interface system which
they call "iQ".)

Paragraphs of description do little to show how a mechanical musical
instrument actually performs, so here are two videos I shot of the LX
in action playing high-resolution SE recordings:

  Albeniz: El Puerto (from "Iberia"), played by Gerald Robbins
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnbkuM0qwA


  Scarlatti: Sonata in A, K.533, played by Gerald Robbins
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjhOvi5-Rk0


Here are better-quality versions of the above recordings in MP3 format
(perhaps these can be added to the MMD web site's "Sounds" section?):

  http://192.67.78.42/tmp/el_puerto.mp3
  http://192.67.78.42/tmp/sonata_in_a.mp3

As one of the younger MMD subscribers, I grew up during the era of
the Marantz Pianocorder and admittedly I have only limited experience
with pneumatic player systems.  I realize that many MMD readers are
(understandably) biased towards pneumatic systems.  But to my ears,
the LX performs at least as well as the best well-maintained pneumatic
reproducers that I have heard.  It may be the first low-cost,
retrofitable electronic player system to achieve this level of
performance.

The latest Mark IV Yamaha Disklavier pianos do come close to matching
the LX's performance, but they are available only factory-installed in
Yamaha pianos and at a much higher cost.

Mark Fontana

 [ Just now I'm 'way behind with MMD Archives maintenance but
 [ I'll place the sound files there someday soon.  Watch at
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Sounds  -- Robbie