HOW AN ACOUSTIC BABY GRAND PIANO WORKS WITH A PIANIST PLAYING.
When a pianist plays the piano they push down the keys on the keyboard from sitting at the front of the piano.
Depending on how hard the pianist plays the keys depends on how fast the hammer hits the string.
The harder the pianist plays the piano the faster the hammer hits the string and therefore the louder the sound.
The softer the pianist plays the piano the slower the hammer hits the string and the quieter the sound.
A skilled pianist will constantly vary how hard or soft they play during a performance depending on the piece they are playing and the ambiance, effect and drama they want the audience to experience as they play.
Often during a live performance as part of creating ambiance, effect and drama the pianist will use the pedals on the piano – most often the sustain pedal.
There is a total of 3 pedals on a piano the pianist can choose and each pedal serves a diffrent purpose.
HOW AN ACOUSTIC BABY GRAND PIANO WORKS ON SELF-PLAY WITHOUT A PIANIST.
A self-play system does not change or alter the mechanism or workings of the piano action from that when a normal pianist is playing the piano.
A self-playing piano does not compromise on the live piano performance experience for the listener.
All that changes when the piano starts to self-play is instead of pianists fingers playing the keys from the front of the piano a Solonoid pushes up the keys from inside the piano at the back of the keyboard.
This is the only diffrence between a pianist playing the piano and the self-play system playing the piano.
Due to the advanced technology the self-play system accurately records microscopic gradations of touch ensuring the same ambiance, effect and drama is felt by the listener even though the piano is playing itself without the pianist.
This includes when the pianist uses the pedals on the piano. Every naunce and detail of the performance is captured
When a piano is playing by itself the sound you hear is purely acoustic.
It is identical to if a pianist is playing the piano.
WHERE IS A SELF-PLAY SYSTEM FITTED ON A PIANO?
The self-play system is fitted to a piano at the back of the key bed.
When looking at a self-playing acoustic grand piano you will not be able to tell it has a self-play system fitted as there are no changes to the overall shape and appearance of the piano as a result of the self-play system being fitted.
Having a self-play system fitted to your piano does not effect the overall appearance or design of your piano at all.
The only way to tell if a piano has a self-play system fitted is by looking underneath the piano.
A self-play system never compromises the appearance of a piano when fitted.
You can watch our Creative Director, Mark Norman, demonstrate the self-play system without a keyboard in the piano to give you a better understanding of where it is fitted and how it works.
It is fitted here to ensure the solonoid’s are not restricted in anyway so they can fully engage and make proper contact with each and every 88 note’s on the keyboard.
The controlling force with the self-playing system is the strength and speed with which the solenoid pushes the key up, and this is very precisely controlled with every solenoid having just over 1,800 gradations of ‘force’ when playing each key. With normally one solenoid for each note on the piano, that is a total of 158,400 touch variations to be calibrated for every song you choose to have your piano play for you!
That’s why it’s so important the system is fitted and then calibrated and set-up correctly to ensure it perfectly plays back every nuance and detail the pianist performs.
All Edelweiss Pianos come with the Edelweiss Virtuoso Self Play System fitted as standard.
SUMMARY
In summary, there is no diffrence between a pianist playing an acoustic grand piano and an acoustic grand piano playing itself on an Edelweiss piano. We cannot guarantee this with other systems and brands of pianos.
There is no visual or sound difference with a piano due to a self-play system being fitted (on an Edelweiss) and there is very little discrepancy between the actual listening experience between a piece being played live by the pianist or it being played with the self-play system (on an Edelweiss).
A self-play piano gives the exact same experience to the listener but without the need to be able to play yourself to enjoy it. That is why every Edelweiss Piano comes fitted as standard with the Edelweiss Virtuoso Self-Play system – you don’t have to play the piano to be able to enjoy the live music experience.
You can browse our New Generation Collection or find visit one of our showrooms.
