Call for scaling spreadsheets

[David Love]

There's not really a link between inharmonicity and loudness.  Choices have
to be made (hopefully) when rescaling as to a balance between smooth
tensions, inharmonicity and loudness (Z factor).  Different
manufacturers/scalers will choose different criteria to emphasize and
different shaped curves to follow.  Perfectly smooth curves in all areas are
difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.  Small jumps between sections are
common though the goal of smooth tension, in my view, should trump other
factors.  Inharmonicity isn't something you really hear though it can,
obviously, effect how a piano tunes.  Changes in tension and overall tension
levels have a definite impact on aural perception.  I'm not sure yet about
the loudness factor.  I find inconsistencies in the numerical data and my
perceptions.  Soundboard and bridge design, of course, will interplay with
scaling for overall impact and certain perceptual details.

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ric Brekne
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 6:13 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Call for scaling spreadsheets

Hi Stéphane

Why yes, of course we want to look at the overall amount of 
inharmonicity in re-scaling.  My point was that once you settle on a 
standard to use for calculating... then that becomes your 
<<reference>>.  Any reference (within reason of course) can be used to 
evaluate both note to note inharmonicities and overall levels yes ?

Now of course if you run into a formula for Inharmonicity that doesnt 
even come close to representing real levels then you have a problem ... 
:)  But anything reasonably close to real inharmonicity levels should 
serve the purpose well... as long as you remain consistant in your usage 
of it.

I'm not sure about a link between inharmonicity and projection... tho I 
havent really thought about it that way.  Usually I associate projection 
with loudness/power which is more a function of tension I think....  I'm 
relatively new at all this so I am sure others will pipe in with needed 
corrections.

Yes ??

Cheers
RicB

Hi Ric.

While evenness of inharmonicity seems indeed obviously desirable, don't we
want to be able to evaluate the overall inharmonicity of a piano ?  I mean
you can desing a scale that will be even in inharmonicity, but whose 
overall
inharmonicity is so high that the piano sounds funny, same (but less
probable) for a piano with too low inharmonicity.  Isn't there a link
between overall inharmonicity and "projection" (ability of the piano to 
fill
a space with it's sound) ?  There is certainly a link between overall
inharmonicity and personnality (sorry for that vague and subjective word).

Regards

Stéphane Collin