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An option for the budding Piano player is that of the Digital Piano if they have neither the funds nor the space for a Grand or Baby Grand and, if living upstairs the logistics of moving an Upright Piano or when living in close association with other people, where the noise of scales and practice may not assist in congenial relationships with neighbours and loved ones.
A Digital Piano is a modern electronic musical instrument, different from the electronic keyboard as it not only has the full 8 octaves of keys but also has a weighted keyboard which resembles more closely the pressure required to play an acoustic piano and the resultant sound. It is meant to provide an accurate simulation of a real piano.
Some digital pianos are also designed to look like an acoustic piano. While digital pianos may fall short of a real piano in feel and sound, they nevertheless have many advantages over normal pianos:
- Generally less expensive.
- Smaller and considerably lighter (there are large ones as well).
- They do not require tuning.
- They do not become adjusted to one persons playing method and therefore can be enjoyed by multiple individuals.
- Some Digital Piano's may include many more instrument sounds including strings, guitars, organs, and more.
- MIDI implementation is common with Digital Pianos permitting link up with computer recording, synthesizing and playback capabilities.
- Certain Digital Pianos possess features to assist in learning and composition.
- Most Digital Pianos include headphone output.
- the majority of Digital Pianos have a transposition feature.
- No microphone is required therefore eliminating the problems of audio feedback and facilitating easier recording.
Sounds
In the vast majority of cases a Digital Piano produces a variety of piano settings and commonly other sounds as well. Some Digital Piano may have the capability of a selection for a concert grand, an upright, a tack, and various electric pianos. Some digital pianos incorporate other basic "synthesizer" sounds such as string ensemble, for example, and offer settings to combine them with piano.
The sounds produced by a digital piano are from samples stored in its memory. The samples stored are usually of high quality and made using world class pianos, professional-quality microphones, and high-quality preamps in a professional recording studio.
Digital Pianos do have some issues with reproducing the exact sounds of an acoustic piano;
- Lack of implementation of harmonic tones.
- Limited polyphony, and a lack of natural reverberation .
They often lack the incidental acoustic noises associated with piano playing, such as the sounds of pedals being depressed and the associated machinery shifting within the piano, which some actually consider a benefit. These limitations apply to most acoustic instruments and their sampled counterparts, the difference often being described as "visceral".
On an acoustic piano, the sustain pedal lifts the dampers for all strings, allowing them to resonate naturally with the notes played. Digital pianos all have a similar pedal switch to hold notes in suspension, but only some can reproduce the resonating effect.
For the vast majority of listeners, however, professional recordings made with a digital piano are difficult or impossible, depending on the player and the type and quality of the Digital Piano, to distinguish from a recording made with an acoustic piano.
Many digital pianos include
- Amplifier and loudspeakers
- Headphone output.
The physical form of a digital piano can vary considerably. Most vaguely resemble a low upright piano (but usually lacking a fully enclosed lower section). Others, notably the "GranTouch" range are based on the casework of traditional upright or grand instruments. An opposite and recent trend is to produce an instrument which has a unique and distinctive appearance, unobtainable with a conventional instrument. One leading manufacturer makes a model which is designed to stand against a wall and is far shallower from keyboard to back than any possible upright design.
Sourced from Wikipedia, MTM music, MTS and other reputable sources.
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