Should I go ahead??

[johnmar78]

Hi folks,

I need your vote, yes or no and reasons please.
I will decide by end of year....so I post here ealier to get more ideas from community.
https://www.gabor-pianos.co.uk/

I am thinking to install a silent system in my grand piano, but due to its design, it wont be silent but only built for upright since grand has its perferct action as told by Gabor Barton himself over Skypie. So you will hear the acoustic sound just like before. The only thing I added, is the digital sound when RECORDING. I will install itself when all approved.

After installation, when played, it is just like the original grand and the hammer action is sensed by optical sensor-light beam. It is pointless to put the headset on that you will hear both grand piano sound and digital sound. So the purpose here is to have DOUBLE RECORDING.

 The sound would be the original sound you hear in the room since "the stop bar" before the hammer hits the string does not apply to grand only upright.
Double recording means, is I can record at anytime using mic together using Gabor digital system that is recored in the box and can be transfered to computer.
The only advantage here is I get a digital recording with no whingers from the background and I can record anytime. It would be intersting to compare my digital vs original acoustic recording...

PS, have you wondered some youtube recording you hear is so quite,and no background noise that a person played on a real piano, but it sounded as digital...I think they may have installed the system as I suggested..
Please have your say.. MAnythanks in advance..

[quantum]

You have a C3 correct?  It is a very good model (I have one also).  If you don't like the sound of your acoustic recordings I would suggest upgrading your recording equipment and refining your recording technique.  The C3 is very capable of producing excellent acoustic recording with an optimized setup.  

If you are after silent practice or a direct digital capture of the sound a digital piano would be a good option.  It also gives you an alternative portable piano you can carry around if you do gigs, or help you assist in teaching students.  

From your description, the installation of the system will not result in you having a silent grand.  Only the option for direct digital recording.  What advantages would this have over getting a digital piano?  Because the piano is not silenced, it would be difficult to listen to the sampled voices real time as you play.  This means you will only hear the digital piano sound after the fact, in playback.  To me this seems more a disadvantage, as you are not able to shape the music in real time according to the piano samples you select.  

Looking a the product specs, it seems that it has 32 note polyphony.  That seems awfully low.  Add a bit of pedal and some arpeggios and you can reach the limit in no time.  The level of music you have been sharing with us in the audition room could easily max out that polyphony.  

My advice is to investigate either a better recording equipment/technique solution, or getting a digital piano before you consider installing this in your grand.  

[pianolive]

If you just want a silent piano, this here is the right product
https://www.pianodisc.de/en/products/quiettime-silent-and-midi-systems.html

It will do no harm to your piano.

[johnmar78]

thanks guys, Quatum,the advantage is I get a full size grand piano sound sampled by Roland-as said by Barton) where c3 does not have that ability. in otherwords, I cheat I use digital sound in my recording replacing c3 sound. . By all means, I am very happy with current real mic recording, I just dnt like that I am always underpressure, that I need to do my recording in a certain time limits, like, wife wantrs to make phone call, kitchen work, noises from kids chat and all that XXXX...you know what I mean. where 32 polysound too thin/?? I thought just for classical piano not sufficient/?

And Piano live, that sounds good, price tag may be 3X more , I wonder if I can install it myself???

[pianolive]

Yes, it is expensive and and I would recommend a qualified technician for the installation.

[quantum]

In the installation you propose, you are getting sampled sound without the ability to fully evaluate that sound as you play because of the inability to silence your acoustic piano.  When you are playing you should be compensating for the sound of the piano.  In such situation, you will be listing to one piano sound, while recording a completely different sound.  No two pianos are alike, and there will in all likelihood be differences between the two pianos.  You set yourself up to be producing sounds you are unaware of until after the fact of performance, when you listen to the playback.  

With a digital piano you can take your pick of many sampled pianos available, plus the (what I consider) requirement that you hear the sound as you play it, in order to get meaningful feedback to your playing.  

With 128 voice polyphony digital pianos around, 32 voices seems way too thin.  Especially true of the level of pieces you have been recording.  

I still see a much better solution in a digital piano than trying to install this system in your acoustic.  If you really want your grand to have sampled sounds and MIDI, go with what pianolive has suggested.  

[pianolive]

If you buy a Yamaha with this Silent system preinstalled, the pianosound will be from a another Yamaha grand model. This is just how it works.
Digital pianos are quite different instruments from acoustics.