All of the data that controls the movements of the piano keys and pedals is in a non-compressed MIDI format (a high-definition MIDI format will soon be released). All music available for the new PNOmation II — currently over 6,300 tracks and growing — can be purchased one song at a time or by the album, giving listeners great flexibility in hearing what they want to hear.

While not required, connecting PNOmation II to a home network is easy to do. As a device on a home network, a PNOmation-equipped piano can be updated and/or controlled remotely via the Internet by accessing the web-app user interface via iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Android, Mac, Google Chrome browser, Kindle Fire, or any other similar piece of technology.

SyncAlong is a patented means of delivering music, whereby a MIDI-controlled piano performance synchronizes with a commercially available audio MP3 of a major recording artist. SyncAlong allows the listener to hear the original artist’s content while the piano plays along. Qsync is a DVD interface designed to implement QRS’s patented DVD SyncAlong technology. With the addition of Qsync, a PNOmation II player piano will be able to play along with selected popular, commercially available concert DVDs.

PNOmation II can also integrate with the PNOscan optical sensor strip, a leading technology for recording performances on an acoustic piano that is standard on all Story & Clark pianos. The PNOscan strip doesn’t touch the keys, using only reflected light to continuously measure key and pedal movements. By integrating PNOscan with PNOmation II, one need only push the Record button on the web app to record. When recorded, the file is automatically saved and named according to your preferences. The file can also be sent to your favorite editing program, or e-mailed to a friend — all without boxes or wires.

SilentPNO consists of the PNOscan record strip, a piano sound module, and a stop rail for muting the acoustic piano. By muting the piano and turning on the sound card, the pianist can play in privacy with headphones. See the article on “Hybrid Pianos” for more information.

Upgrades from existing Pianomation systems to PNOmation II require replacing the Pianomation processor, and installing a WiFi adapter and a port extender — altogether, about a two-hour operation. PNOmation II can also be added to competitors’ systems, allowing them to have PNOmation-type capabilities and music.

YAMAHA DISKLAVIER

Yamaha Corporation of America
P.O. Box 6600
Buena Park, California 90622
714-522-9011
800-854-1569
infostation@yamaha.com
www.yamaha.com

Disklaviers are Yamaha pianos that have been outfitted with an electronic player-piano system. These mechanisms are installed only in new Yamahas, and only at the Yamaha factory. They cannot be retrofitted into older Yamahas or any other brand.

Disklavier differs from most aftermarket systems in that Disklavier is not modular. Whatever Disklavier features come with a particular model of piano is what you get (although software upgrades are possible). The sophistication of the key, hammer, and pedal sensing also varies, depending on which Disklavier (E3 or Mark IV) is associated with that particular piano model.

Some of the highlights of the Mark IV Disklavier include:

• 80 Gigabyte hard drive capable of holding all Disklavier software ever written (and then some)
• CD drive
• floppy drive