Topic by lowendtheory

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  • lowendtheory
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Topic: Extending the range to B8*

I was wondering if some time in the future, the key range of the D4 and K1 could be enlarged to 111 keys, A-1 to B8, and all future flagship piano models at least have the complete 8th octave. Why more notes? Well, if it can be done using today's music wire†, it can be done in Pianoteq. And, even with a high F, sometimes that isn't enough to express your ideas. Artur Cimirro was inspired by the following demonstration model to revise his Op.3 Sonata and Op.20 Eccentric Preludes to span 108 notes:

http://i.imgur.com/EDium0wl.png
Note range kindly provided by the engraver, Paul Corbin. Illustration done by yours truly.


The blue notes represent the current extension above high C, and the yellow notes are the proposed addition to complete the octave. The model's name is a pormanteau of Wayne Stuart and Stephen Paulello, and 'Omega 6' signifies the last 6 notes in the 8th octave. It was built to prove the possibility of going to high B.


In addition to the poll, I want to hear your thoughts on the prospect of completing the 8th octave, or even adding more bass notes. Are there times where you use the extra range? Do you feel it's too wide, too short, or just right? Please do comment.



*Middle C4

†Stephen Paulello's new XM wire can handle being tuned to these high notes without breaking.

Reply by delt

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Re: Extending the range to B8*

Not sure what i think about this.... in a sense, it's always nice to have a wider range on an instrument... but on the other hand the piano is already the instrument with the widest pitch range, and 88 notes is pretty much standard for (nearly) all pianos.

Composing a piece that uses such "extra" notes would just limit being able to play it on those "specially made" instruments with the extra notes.

http://soundcloud.com/delt01
Pianoteq 5 STD+blüthner, Renoise 3 • Roland FP-4F + M-Audio Keystation 88es
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Reply by EvilDragon

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Re: Extending the range to B8*

delt wrote:

but on the other hand the piano is already the instrument with the widest pitch range

Aren't some organs having the widest pitch range, instead?

Hard work and guts!

Reply by OrganoPleno

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Re: Extending the range to B8*

EvilDragon wrote:

Aren't some organs having the widest pitch range, instead?

Yes, easily ten full octaves (from low C on a 32-foot Stop to the top C on a 1-foot Stop).  Frequency range from about 16 Hz to over 16,000 Hz... pressing or exceeding the range of Human Hearing at both ends.

Reply by delt

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Re: Extending the range to B8*

Ah, i stand corrected, thanks for the info.

http://soundcloud.com/delt01
Pianoteq 5 STD+blüthner, Renoise 3 • Roland FP-4F + M-Audio Keystation 88es
Intel i5@3.4GHz, 16GB • Linux Mint xfce 64bit

Reply by Beto-Music

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Re: Extending the range to B8*

I would like that someone creates a page for ears sound test, with a giant virtual keyboard, like about 140 Keys or more.

The idea is to the visitor go and check his hearing ability, playing the keyboard, from deep bass to deep trebble, until do not hear a given frequency anymore.

Reply by lowendtheory

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Re: Extending the range to B8*

Beto-Music wrote:

I would like that someone creates a page for ears sound test, with a giant virtual keyboard, like about 140 Keys or more.

The idea is to the visitor go and check his hearing ability, playing the keyboard, from deep bass to deep trebble, until do not hear a given frequency anymore.

The problem with that is, assuming it's using Pianoteq as a model, the upper harmonics clue you in to the lower notes even below MIDI #0, and the fundamental contributes less and less to the tone the further you go down, though the higher frequencies should be fine.

If it's a pure sine wave test, however, the above doesn't apply.

Last edited by lowendtheory (19-11-2013 03:37)