There's good discussion to be had around that topic.

The older, smaller sizes, lighter keys, less dynamic range etc. can be an oddity, for mainstream listeners, in this day and age where many recordings in many genres feature large grands.

Something about the historic instruments allow (for me and others I know) a sense of 'getting away from convention' - but - in a way positive to staying in touch with some sense of 'real' musicality.

Often the resultant music translates well to grand pianos - so not losing anything but gaining inspiration in the process, not to mention dearly loving the sound of those venerable instruments.

https://youtu.be/sFnU_udoBt0
New vid. Not much to add on the recording process other than no post production was used.

I have been using the KIViR pianos recently and do find them to be my favorite, it seems that the bass, not been as heavy makes playing much easier. I might go into to this in more detail later. Nick

This is a very nice recording & interpretation—thanks for sharing.
Have you tried it on any of the other historic pianos?  'seems to me it might sound especially nice on the Ph. Schmidt square piano (1780) from the Karsten collection (with your diapason at around 392 and using something like an Artusi temperament)...

I have been using the KIViR pianos recently and do find them to be my favorite, it seems that the bass, not been as heavy makes playing much easier. I might go into to this in more detail later. Nick

Well MeDorian, my setup seems a good one now in the confines of the apartment next to a just closed hospital of the local archdiocese to me and to which this apartment of mine was a part.

Will have soon though just as a drummer to post something from my own playing using naturally that setup.

My plan is to use just line level audio and MDI from my Handsonic.  I’m considering additionally a possible leap into video recording via a Xiaomi Fimi Palm or Sony ZV-1.

I feel I’m going to have to stride however to get video quality any as good as yours!  Yours you’ve deleted is some of the best I’ve ever seen at this forum.

This is really great to hear!!! I will look forward to your results. I have some knowledge (through much trial and error) on video and editing and I will help in any way I can. Making videos is real fun and rewarding.

Nick

Will have soon though just as a drummer to post something from my own playing using naturally that setup.

My plan is to use just line level audio and MDI from my Handsonic.  I’m considering additionally a possible leap into video recording via a Xiaomi Fimi Palm or Sony ZV-1.

I feel I’m going to have to stride however to get video quality any as good as yours!  Yours you’ve deleted is some of the best I’ve ever seen at this forum.

Interesting, you play on a djembe as though it were a talking drum one gets from Nigeria (or any online musical instrument store).

If you can ever afford a genuine talking drum, I would like to encourage you just to get it perhaps instead.  And, develop your technique seriously as a drummer if ever you’re interested only.

When your budget is low you put of course to use what you already got.  Even though, sometime you may appreciate the drum that much more unnecessarily repurposed.

I just like the Djembe, I have three in different sizes. I have in the past taken drumming very seriously but now piano is my main instrument.

On this subject, my favorite all time drummers are Yoshiki (X-Japan) and Les Binks (Judas Priest 1978-79).

Nick

If you can ever afford a genuine talking drum, I would like to encourage you just to get it perhaps instead.  And, develop your technique seriously as a drummer if ever you’re interested only.

When your budget is low you put of course to use what you already got.  Even though, sometime you may appreciate the drum that much more unnecessarily repurposed.

If anyone wants to try surrounds in this way, long cables will be required to place them safely and hidden, I used about 26 metres of speaker cable to have them just 4 metres away (behind) from my playing position.

To me, these effect channel speakers are a good way to create ambience. Also the further away the mics are from the surrounds, and more gain on the mics will bring in more 'room' and outside sounds, seagulls and traffic for example. I don't try to eliminate any outside sounds, they make things real. Nick

I remember seeing reviews on the Korg Handrum in the early 90's, very expensive but looked interesting. I think they produced a similar product more recently but I might be mistaking it for the Roland Handsonic as you mentioned.

I play the Djembe with piano like technique using fingers. My favorite though is the drum placed horizontal, and to play one handed with the other hand inside the base opening to change pitch, similar to a trombone, the pitch surprisingly becomes lower and one can actually create music, real fun!! Nick

I got now a Roland Handsonic which since it uses MIDI and has a headphone jack, I can play to get djembe and conga drum sounds along with others including PIANOTEQ Steelpans (Steel drums, Spacedrum, Hand Pan and Tank drum) all inside my small apartment  —without it disturbing anyone.

With a djembe drummer from Senegal I used to play as I performed in a troop that included dancers.  When the other djembe drummer was featured at UCLB (University of California at Long Beach) in the auditorium in which he played he took a solo as he repeatedly licked his fingers right in the midst of it  —his playing some extremely complicated polyrhythms nonstop!

As I was seated within the audience during his soloing, I feel he had spotted me and just was demonstrating his technique to me over his timing the echoes inside the modern huge auditorium, then in some finger lickin’ good playin'.

Man, now wasn’t he just calling me out!  Incidentally, some of the dancers there were overweight Americans, I have to say.  So, a lesson was definitely learned.

In conclusion, I’m a jazz drummer (who was maybe thinking too highly of his own licks er technique).

Handsonic 10

Just love how Pianoteq allows this luxury to us, to feel virtually the same sense as composers through history. That old quest "how do I express my feelings" is actually quite divine on the lovely old instruments. Modern artists should all visit this space, IMO.

Something immensely satisfying about sitting calm, playing freely one of the historical pianos - giving yourself the chance to be as one with pure music in that universal way - really made my day witnessing it in your fashion   Wishing you always the best.