Hi, I am thinking to extend my piano (NU1) that I use with PT5 with two exciters, that I plan to attach at the back board of the piano. I do target a more complete sound emerging from the whole piano instead of the speakers alone.
Anyone has an idea, if this might work out?
Thomas
Thomas,
You said "a more complete sound" and for it to "emerge from the whole piano instead of the speakers alone"
Just trying to be helpful so would you care to use different words so that we can better understand what you mean?
Ian
Hi,
first I apologize to Ian, as I missed your reply.
Actually I mounted then two Visaton EX60S exciters on my ePiano and after lots of experiments that included preset tuning within PT5 based on the U4 as well as locating the optimum positions on the piano, I got now good results, I find worthwhile sharing. To which extend, this can be repeated by others is not clear to me, as the setup contains a number of components. Those components do interact in a complex way. But now I got really a very tactile connection to PT5, feeling the vibrations on the keyboard and having the sound emerging from the wooden chassis instead of from the speakers. Changing the soundboard impedance in PT5 now feels like as the piano itself vibrates differently (though it is only the software that makes it vibrate).
Anyway, I use a Tascam US122-MK sound interface and two Visaton EX60S exciters driven by Dynavox amplifier. The internal speakers are turned off.
The position of the exciters is shown here: https://plus.google.com/photos/10923833...6piLqfWYWg
The FXP file has been uploaded.
I would be happy to receive feedback for further sound experimentation (and I promise to reply)
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
Very interesting experiment! Thanks for sharing. I understand your goal was to achieve a similar feature as N2/N3's Tactile Response System (similar to the soundboard speaker system in Kawai's CA/CS series) on your NU1. Could you please explain in more detail the components you used, and how they interact?
Regards,
Niclas
Thomas,
Thanks for your reply. I'm not convinced that these small transducers are powerful enough.
I look forward to your further comment.
Ian
Do you prefer a upright action over a grand piano action?
I ask because NU1 uses a real upright piano action.
Guys,
my initial motivation originated from the observation that when I played the PT sound through the internal speakers, it still sounded slightly like from coming out of a box (actually difficult to describe verbally). This was especially for notes in the C4-C6 region, despite all my tuning efforts. This is actually better for the internal sound and I assume that Yamaha did tune the sound to the speaker. When then looking for a better loudspeaker for PT5, I came across those transducers (=exciters) offert by Visaton which are actually by cheap.
In my first experiments I tried to use both (tranducers and the internal speakers). But there was still this boxed sound to some extend. Then I worked only with the transducers. Putting one at the top of the piano, doesn't look good, but actually you can hear that the sound comes now from top of the piano. It is also important that the exciters are not on the same wooden slab. My last improvent happend when I closed the lid in the software model of U4 with PT5 (in the microphone tab). This really made a difference and the sound is now really natural.
I do have 8 Ohm transducers and with my (poor) amplifier I have to use maximum gain in all elements (PT5, audio interface and amplifier). I would say that the sound is now as loud as an acoustic upright, but definitely not louder (expect for the bass region, where it can get really loud). If you place the transducers at other places, you can hear some clank and rattle. Eventually this will also occur at the current positions, if I further increase the volume.
The tactile response is a very nice side feature, but it was not my intention. Thanks also Beto-Music for the NU1 image. Regarding the tactile response, I would say that the NU1 hit the sensors relatively hard. Eventually Yamaha could have used softer hammers, but maybe there are acoutic pianos which hit hard too? Unfortunately I have not too much experience with a grand action.
The internal sound is great, but with the PT5 the richness and complexity of the pinao is at least one level better. But I think I do not have to mention this here...
Thomas