This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
Don, hello, thanks for your proposal to give us some better understanding of
your system.
First I wonder if the strings have to be heated all day long to stay in
tune. ( a concern about warmness/dryness in the instrument)
>From a metallurgic point, the strings when heated are less stiff also, can't
it change the spectra significally ( I have tried to heat strings rubbing
them with a piece of wood, and the change in tone is amazing)
If not I suppose you uses some reserve of tension that you can move to the
speaking length with the warming (don't imagine how )
Third, I guess a "master tuning" is recorded in the memory of the system,
and indeed that should be precise enough in terms of justness for most uses
(-assuming the system can even the pitch reading or be calibrated at the end
of the ringing time where the string is supposed to be more stable in
pitch) - but what I suspect is that a system like this can't produce the
most pleasing tone that only good aural tuners are producing . Not to say
that the system may not be very useful, for instance in Jazz clubs or in
parts of the word where it is difficult to find a tuner, but the tone
projection and the color of the unisons is something we don't really have
understood yet I believe.
As it seem to me that these are very much related to a regulation of the
phase between couples of strings, and that the tuner try to match well this
phase with the acoustics available, (hammers, soundboard, strings, room)
to obtain the very best tone he can, I wonder if you have tried to take
these phase questions under analysis and try to obtain an acceptable dealing
of those.
My take is that it is not possible to have 3 strings coupled and phasing
together, one being in reverse phase from the others systematically (if I
are wrong please tell me) Then the second take is that these phases are
playing a role in the way the strings system loose its energy (so it plays a
role in the way the attack is stabilized)
That could be may be a very fine analysis of the pitch - while I guess the
precision needed is not possible with current equipment - of each string, if
one accept the idea that one of the strings is most probably a tad lower or
higher than others, I noticed that if one tune 3 strings by plucking them,
with a very precise ETD (and an ear check) , the final unison have chances
to be harsh or not carrying well.
So I am curious to know if you have worked on that part of the analysis,
tuning being considered like voicing (impedance match between strings/board
stiffness and hammer/action reaction ?
Nowadays we are amazed by your system.
Another thing I can say about unisons tuning. Before understanding how to
tune nice unisons, most tuners realize that the piano tones sometimes better
after having played a bit, most probably because some state of equilibrium
in resonance install itself in the strings system. After having understood
how to tune that part of the tone from the start, we see that the tone is
only subject to degradation when played, but mostly the better stability
from the start lend to a more pleasing sound that evolves way better in time
generally (than the evolving coming from a less full tone to begin with).
As usual so intellectual and "artistic" ideas !!! (that is why it is easier
to instruct someone with nice comparisons than with acoustic facts) The
piano "talks " to you, the tone suddenly "escapes" of the piano, the piano
"sings" the unison have an "immobile move" ... and so on !
Congratulations again for your work and thanks to be there on that list - I
also like the way you express things, some tend to confuse "a bit of salt "
and " a bit of pepper" (not me of course!) .
With all due respect and best regards.
Isaac
Pianotech
Isaac OLEG
accordeur - reparateur - concert 19 rue Jules Ferry
94400 VITRY sur SEINE
oleg-i@noos.fr tel:
fax:
mobile: 033 01 47 18 06 98
33 01 47 18 06 90
033 06 60 42 58 77
Powered by Plaxo Want a signature like this?
Add me to your address book...
-----Message d'origine-----
De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
part de Robin Stevens
Envoyé : mercredi 24 décembre 2003 07:16
À : Pianotech
Objet : "Self tuning piano"
Hi Don.
Thanks a lot for getting back to me. I have followed your invention
ever since I noticed the article some where or another.
I am a self employed tuner in South Australia, and have been been in
the trade for 45 years. I have always remained open to new advances and
techniques.
Apart from my tuning and restoration commitments I am the editor of
our Guilds small newsletter (I post out 28 copies). So if you don't mind,
could I print what you sent me? or would you like something different?
This coming year I am the convener of the Australasian bi-annual
National convention.
Do you do presentations at conventions about your invention?. It
would be great if somehow we could get you over (or should I say down
under!) for our convention.
Most of the tuners like myself are very interested in what you are
trying to accomplish, and feel it is no threat what so ever.
Some of the questions that come to mind for me are:
a.. Will you be aiming to get your product into one brand only?
b.. Will the piano be at A440, given the fact that a cooling or
heating process is needed to put the piano in tune?
c.. What tuning configuration will you apply so that the piano is
nicely in tune?
I use the cyber-tuner program and are aware that good sampling of
the partials is essential to get it right.
I could ask some more questions, but hopefully I can keep in touch,
and up to date with your progress.
Best regards
Robin Stevens
PS the weather her now is 37 degrees C (100.4) 4.42 PM. Just going
to crack a cold beer!! Best xmas wishes for you and your family.
-------Original Message-------
From: Pianotech
Date: Wednesday, 24 December 2003 10:38:12 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: Don's "Self tuning piano"
Hi Robin:
After a long wait, the self-tuning piano was finally patented
earlier this year. Currently the self-tuning piano is queued behind several
other inventions of mine. There are three other devices that, though they
were invented after the STP, are smaller and easier to get on the market
quickly. I can't tell you what they are yet, but you will see them in the
coming months. Only one of those three is piano related.
I have the prototype self-tuner here in my lab in Kansas City. I
did extensive preliminary work on it along with Soneticom, a firm QRS hired
to do the production electronics design, this summer. Our biggest concerns
were keeping the cost down and minimizing the power consumption.
The power consumption is directly related to tuning range: the more
range you want, the more juice it takes. All we have ever really wanted is
a reasonable range to cover normal, yearly climate changes (about 20 cents
or so). With age and stretch it will obviously have to be brought back into
range from time to time by a tech, but this should be much less time
consuming and tedious than an actual complete tuning.
The point of the system is to allow the pianist to have an in-tune
instrument on a daily basis. Rather than have a piano that is noticeably
out of tune after a few weeks, a musician can now touch it up and play a
perfectly tuned instrument at any time of the year. That's a basic luxury
that all other musicians in the orchestra have always enjoyed.
I would happy to explain its operation in more detail to anyone
interested as well as answer any technical questions that you have. Thanks
for your interest.
Don A. Gilmore
Mechanical Engineer
Kansas City
----- Original Message -----
From: Robin Stevens
To: Pianotech
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 12:32 AM
Subject: Don's "Self tuning piano"
Don...Would you mind filling us in with the latest news re
your "self tuning" piano. It seems to have gone quiet with your invention
progress.
Thanks
Robin Stevens
Convener "INTUNE SA 2004"
22-25 July 2004 Mercure Grosvenor Adelaide SA
08 8633 0533 mmrr6596@bigpond.net.au
---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/5e/f9/37/6a/attachment.htm
---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC