Topic by Marco B.

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Topic: Piano midi circuits

Hi, I've got Pianoteq some months ago and I've very happy because it is simply perfect. I use it with a real piano machinery that I assembled some years ago. It has a normal double contact rubber strip under the keyboard, but I would upgrade it with a new photosensitive circuit. Do you know what the best midi or silent piano kit and its cost?
In a next time I would build a very particular cabinet for my piano (I'm also a skilled woodworker), and I intend to make a perfect instrument.
Thank you so much for your help!
Marco.

Reply by dklein

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Re: Piano midi circuits

I have been very happy with my QRS PNOscan II and QRS Stop Bar that I installed in my upright piano about 7 years ago.  I know that there's at least one generation newer (PNOscan III) that followed.  I don't know the current cost, and don't know what the competition is like.

https://www.qrsmusic.com/ScanStudio.php

https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=4460

- David

Reply by sigasa

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Marco B. wrote:

Hi, I've got Pianoteq some months ago and I've very happy because it is simply perfect. I use it with a real piano machinery that I assembled some years ago. It has a normal double contact rubber strip under the keyboard, but I would upgrade it with a new photosensitive circuit. Do you know what the best midi or silent piano kit and its cost?
In a next time I would build a very particular cabinet for my piano (I'm also a skilled woodworker), and I intend to make a perfect instrument.
Thank you so much for your help!
Marco.

Bechstein make one,

Warmest regards,

Chris

Reply by dv

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Marco B. wrote:

Hi, I've got Pianoteq some months ago and I've very happy because it is simply perfect. I use it with a real piano machinery that I assembled some years ago. It has a normal double contact rubber strip under the keyboard, but I would upgrade it with a new photosensitive circuit. Do you know what the best midi or silent piano kit and its cost?
In a next time I would build a very particular cabinet for my piano (I'm also a skilled woodworker), and I intend to make a perfect instrument.
Thank you so much for your help!
Marco.

If you would like a bit more of DIY, you can take inspiration (or full project) form what these guys are doing over there: https://pianoclack.com/forum/d/745-summ...y-projects

Where do I find a list of all posts I upvoted? :(

Reply by Marco B.

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Thank you David, you made a great work! It's very useful for me because I didn't know the QRS PNO scan system. If you tell me that it has a very good sound and it's work very well, I'll keep your advice as very important.

dklein wrote:

I have been very happy with my QRS PNOscan II and QRS Stop Bar that I installed in my upright piano about 7 years ago.  I know that there's at least one generation newer (PNOscan III) that followed.  I don't know the current cost, and don't know what the competition is like.

https://www.qrsmusic.com/ScanStudio.php

https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=4460

Reply by Marco B.

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Thank you Chris, I had written to a dealer here in Italy about Bechstein Vario system, but I didn't receive the answer. I'll try to write at another dealer.


sigasa wrote:
Marco B. wrote:

Hi, I've got Pianoteq some months ago and I've very happy because it is simply perfect. I use it with a real piano machinery that I assembled some years ago. It has a normal double contact rubber strip under the keyboard, but I would upgrade it with a new photosensitive circuit. Do you know what the best midi or silent piano kit and its cost?
In a next time I would build a very particular cabinet for my piano (I'm also a skilled woodworker), and I intend to make a perfect instrument.
Thank you so much for your help!
Marco.

Bechstein make one,

Warmest regards,

Chris

Reply by Marco B.

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Hi, thank you so much! I read now about this work and I think that it would fit perfectly with the work that I want make. This system indeed is suitable to be connected directly to the hammers, as I'd make.
I've not understood if this project uses commercialized parts already finished, because I'm a very skilled man in electronics, mechanics and woodwork, but I'm not a computer technician and I wouldn't be able to program processors etc.
Do you know who could know anything about where to find these parts?
Thank you DV.

dv wrote:
Marco B. wrote:

Hi, I've got Pianoteq some months ago and I've very happy because it is simply perfect. I use it with a real piano machinery that I assembled some years ago. It has a normal double contact rubber strip under the keyboard, but I would upgrade it with a new photosensitive circuit. Do you know what the best midi or silent piano kit and its cost?
In a next time I would build a very particular cabinet for my piano (I'm also a skilled woodworker), and I intend to make a perfect instrument.
Thank you so much for your help!
Marco.

If you would like a bit more of DIY, you can take inspiration (or full project) form what these guys are doing over there: https://pianoclack.com/forum/d/745-summ...y-projects

Reply by dv

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Marco B. wrote:

Hi, thank you so much! I read now about this work and I think that it would fit perfectly with the work that I want make. This system indeed is suitable to be connected directly to the hammers, as I'd make.
I've not understood if this project uses commercialized parts already finished, because I'm a very skilled man in electronics, mechanics and woodwork, but I'm not a computer technician and I wouldn't be able to program processors etc.
Do you know who could know anything about where to find these parts?
Thank you DV.

Ciao Marco,
At the moment these systems need to be ordered by PCB-making companies such as JLCPCB (who can do the surface mount assembly for you, if you prefer to avoid soldering that many parts).
Most of what is needed (as both software and hardware) is already designed by others and available on their github repositories, but they are not a "just assembly" kit: some work required, for example in procuring the parts from separate vendors. As the very skilled person you describe yourself, I am sure you will be able to complete one of these projects. The software is written, but you will need to upload it into the hardware. Since there are more programmers around than skilled electronics people, if you are stuck I am sure you can find some help. Perhaps they can cajole you to help them with the electronics in exchange

Where do I find a list of all posts I upvoted? :(

Reply by Marco B.

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Ciao, thank you for your answer, I don't have any problem about the assembly of the PCBs, is it sufficient to give at the pcb printing companies the files that are at the bottom of the page in the list of pictures and files? I don't know the right format that they use.

dv wrote:
Marco B. wrote:

Hi, thank you so much! I read now about this work and I think that it would fit perfectly with the work that I want make. This system indeed is suitable to be connected directly to the hammers, as I'd make.
I've not understood if this project uses commercialized parts already finished, because I'm a very skilled man in electronics, mechanics and woodwork, but I'm not a computer technician and I wouldn't be able to program processors etc.
Do you know who could know anything about where to find these parts?
Thank you DV.

Ciao Marco,
At the moment these systems need to be ordered by PCB-making companies such as JLCPCB (who can do the surface mount assembly for you, if you prefer to avoid soldering that many parts).
Most of what is needed (as both software and hardware) is already designed by others and available on their github repositories, but they are not a "just assembly" kit: some work required, for example in procuring the parts from separate vendors. As the very skilled person you describe yourself, I am sure you will be able to complete one of these projects. The software is written, but you will need to upload it into the hardware. Since there are more programmers around than skilled electronics people, if you are stuck I am sure you can find some help. Perhaps they can cajole you to help them with the electronics in exchange

Reply by dv

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Re: Piano midi circuits

Marco B. wrote:

I don't know the right format that they use.

The "format" they use is a crappy zip of a variety of files which you have to generate from KiCad or equivalent CAD program. Then you have to upload related files separately. I suspect that each PCB manufacturing company uses its own version of the "format" (certainly in the how to deal with the separate uploads).

It's a pita to get it correctly, it feels like you are doing things with rapidograph and translucent draft paper (if you ever used those, you know what I mean). In the end, it's tedious and error-prone, but not difficult.

Where do I find a list of all posts I upvoted? :(