electronics replacing pianos?

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

Ric,
There are some of us who still like tubes, as in tube amps, 
microphones etc.  I'm not too worried about losing the analog 
form.  I'm seeing electronics more as an add-on.  With Quiet-Time you 
can silence the piano and do all those things you mentioned without 
losing that special touch.  Electronics are becoming a viable 
alternative to cheap pianos, and perhaps that is a good thing.  It 
will bring out more quality as manufacturers plan to survive.

JMHO

Andrew Anderson

At 04:42 PM 1/11/2007, you wrote:
>David A... Joe... all you guys I like so very much...
>
>Great posts, full of good vibes and enthusiasms...  In particular I 
>like the reoccurring call  to taking the high road.
>But I am still sitting here missing an answer to a perhaps 
>uncomfortable but perhaps very relevant question... one that we all 
>may have to face in increasing degree sooner then we may think.
>IF.... one first accepts for the moment that an electronic based 
>replica of an acoustic piano could be made so as to be indiscernible 
>in every acoustic and touch sense of the word... what would be so 
>bad about this.... indeed.... what would the consequences be good / 
>bad / or neither ?
>
>Such an instrument could do many many things present day pianos cannot.
>For example play in any and all temperaments at the flick of an 
>eyebrow. Indeed... one could program the thing to real time update 
>its temperament so as to achieve pure thirds or fifths or anything 
>one likes no mater what the key center is or how far one wanders 
>from it in the course of any given piece.  Actually the 
>possibilities for what an such an instrument could do would be 
>virtually boundless.
>
>I seem to be getting a sense that some of you find an 
>unattractiveness to this simply based on the implicit loss of the 
>present day instrument.
>
>But what conflict is there in the pursuit of the high road of 
>excellence if ones goal is the realistic realization of such an 
>electronic replication of the acoustic world... or the rest of it 
>for that matter ?
>We can discuss back and forth how far virtual realities can go in 
>recreating real reality... but for my part I have no doubt that the 
>day is coming where all things real will be indiscernible with all 
>things virtually real. Humans if they are anything, are extremely 
>clever tinkerers.  As a general rule... when first an idea is 
>spawned it is only a question of time before we see it become a 
>reality.  And herein lies the real questions of import IMHO.  Just 
>where the hell are we going by welcoming this virtual world with far 
>more then open arms then many of us seem to want to admit ?
>
>Just some thoughts from the other side of the fence... by one who 
>loves the acoustic piano every much as bit as all of you.
>
>Cheers
>RicB
>