smooth strike ratios

[David Porritt]

On Tue, 6 Feb 1996, Dennis Johnson wrote:

>
> Sorry to have so many questions lately, but I have been reviewing some
> early keyboard designs with the balance pins not offset as we see today.
> Is it not true that actual strike ratio (as felt by the finger) is
> dependent on where the finger plays that key. Our current design allows for
> uniform (or nearly uniform) dip and strike ratios between sharps and
> naturals at the end of the keys, but this is not how keyboards are played.
> At the line roughly in front of the sharps dip is shallower and strike
> ratio higher on the naturals.  If the balance pins were in line that would
> certainly simplify geometry at the capstan/heel alignment, but we would
> have significantly less dip at the end of the sharps than at the ends of
> the naturals - which means the sharps could sit lower.
>
> Is truely uniform strike ratio an illusion to the player?
>
>
> ...rambling again.
>
>
>
>
> Dennis Johnson
> St. Olaf College
> johnsond@stolaf.edu
> djohn@skypoint.com
This is discussed in the book "Piano Key & Wippen" and it sounds to me
like there could be some advantages in not having the balance rail pins
ofset.  Just theoretical guessing.....

Dave Porritt
SMU - Dallas