acoustical
piano A
conventional piano which produces sound by striking metallic strings
with felt covered hammers. The sound is amplified and projected
by the soundboard and case.
digital piano roll Although all piano rolls are, in fact,
binary representations of music and could therefore be considered
digital, this term is used as a synonym for electronic images
of piano rolls.
Disklavier The series of electronically controlled acoustical
pianos manufactured by Yamaha Corporation. They utilize electromagnetic
solenoids to operate the piano action. Music is played from computer
disks and MIDI sources.
dynamics The control or variation in volume level in
a performance. This is accomplished, in the reproducing piano,
by regulating the vacuum level. The pedals are also used
to control dynamics but, as their effect is more complex ,it is
generally referred to as expression control.
electric piano A piano which produces sound by mechanical
means such as strings or tone bars and amplifies this sound electrically.
electronic piano A piano which produces sound by by
electronic, rather than mechanical means, as in the acoustical
or electric piano . The source of the tone may be
recordings of actual piano tones (a sample) in electronic memory
circuits or magnetic media.
expression Elements of a musical performance other than
that specified by the notes alone. In reproducing pianos this
generally refers to the control of dynamics and the use of the
pedals in modifying the tone.
MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A popular
standard for the recording of musical events that are to be performed
by electronic or electronically controlled, mechanical or acoustical
instruments.
PianoDisk A brand of electronically controlled acoustical
piano. They utilize electromagnetic solenoids to operate the piano
action. Music is played from computer disks and MIDI sources.
PianoMation A brand of electronically controlled acoustical
piano. They utilize electromagnetic solenoids to operate the piano
action. Music is played from computer disks and MIDI sources.
Pneumatic Player Piano An acoustical piano that is played
by air pressure controlled by a perforated paper roll. The holes
in the paper roll control valves which direct vacuum pressure
to pneumatic actuators (pneumatics) which operate the piano action.
The source of vacuum pressure is usually foot powered.
PowerRoll
An electronically controlled (MIDI) interface for pneumatic player
and reproducing pianos. It is manufactured by Broadmoore Research.
Reproducing Piano A piano that is capable of "reproducing"
a previously recorded performance. Pneumatic Reproducing
pianos were manufactured from around the turn of the century (1900)
until the late 1930's. Solenoid operated and other electronically
controlled reproducing pianos are manufactured today.
Sample An electronically recorded interval of sound
which is used by various electronic devices as a basis for producing
music. Samples may be recorded form conventional musical instruments
or from other sources.
Sequencer An electronic device or computer program whose
function is to record and edit musical performances. Sequencers
may utilize MIDI as well as other standards.
Solenoid Piano A piano whose action is operated by the
action of electromagnet devices, referred to as solenoids. Sound
is produced and amplified in the same manner as in a conventional
acoustical piano.
Sound Card A plug in, add-on to a personal computer
that is used to produce various musical effects. Most sound cards
will act, in conjunction with the host computer, to produce music
from MIDI sources as well as many others. Sound cards may generate
musical tones by electronic means, similar to those of a synthesizer
as well as by playing samples from their own or the computer's
memory.
Sound Font A term, copyrighted by Creative Labs, referring
to a series of scaled music samples used for the generation of
music. Samples recorded at various loudness level may be contained
in one font. This allows for the production of varying tone quality
at different loudness levels. For the piano, this produces a more
realistic simulation.
Sound Module A stand alone electronic device that produces
audio output under the control of an input signal. Most sound
modules are controlled by a MIDI signal. The source of sound is
generally sampled.
Synthesizer An electronic device that produces music
by various means. Oscillators, filters, gates and recorded
samples are used in combinations to produce an almost limitless
variety of sounds.
Velocity The term used to refer to volume or loudness
in the context of the MIDI standard.
WindPlay Computer software, developed by Richard Brandle
for the purpose of playing a wide variety of recorded piano roll
music on pneumatic and electronic pianos as well as sound modules
and computers.