Topic: Damper position and partials: Position = partial heard

I think I'm finding that the position for the damper determines on a 1:1 scale the partial heard when the damper is released. In other words, if a string's damper position is set to 4.0, the fourth partial (upper octave of the fundamental) is heard when the key is released and the damper falls back in place. So it does just the opposite of the strike position, which dampers the node\partial.

In the bass, setting it to an octave of the fundamental (2.0 is best, here, to me) or the fifth (3.0 or 6.0) does a lot towards creating what might be called body resonance. Easy to overdo, though. In the midrange and treble, the same settings are sounding good, too, particularly for "milder" Well or Meantone temperaments. But experimenting with things like the 7th partial is worth trying for some ranges\notes. Setting it for the higher upper octave of the fundamental, however, makes for a softer release sound, since those octaves are just not very loud in the partial structure.

More prominent, of course, if the length of the damper time is increased and\or the amplitude of the partial is slightly increased. Setting the position to near the exact partial reduces its strength while still sounding  it.

iH comes in here, too. The actual freq is of course sounded when the damper falls, and not the ideal multiple of the fundamental.

Odd, but I've done some searches on the internet and can't find much about the damper position for various makes of pianos. There's more information about the strike position. About all I've found is general information about how the damper almost always falls just behind the strike position, from the player's perspective. Nothing at all about the variances for different makes of pianos, etc. Even on tech sites that discuss damper repair, nothing seems to be mentioned about the exact place where the damper should come to rest on specific makes. Has anyone else seen information?

Last edited by Jake Johnson (20-04-2010 18:35)

Re: Damper position and partials: Position = partial heard

Working along these lines, here's Baby's Grand, based on the great new K1 piano:

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/uploads.p...0Audio.mp3

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/uploads.p...eat-up.fxp

May be a little sweet for many ears. Obviously I like those sweet 10ths and 12ths. Has the treble dampers hitting around 2.5 to bring out the octave and the bass dampers hitting in the high 7's, approaching the 8th partial. The octaves are narrow, too, at 2:1 and the temperament is a rough well, with the M3's and M6's narrowed.

I can't decide about the G below A440. May have too much of something in it. You may want to retune it or lower some partials on it.

Last edited by Jake Johnson (16-04-2010 19:01)