Yamaha Disklavier Self Playing Piano
The Yamaha Disklavier took 30 years to fully develop. This great journey of innovation started in 1982, and we now have an optical sensor system integrated into a Yamaha acoustic piano that can replicate the exact detail and level of expression of any piano performance. Ultimately, you (or any professional pianist) can record yourself playing and listen to the piano play your performance back to you! You can even name your own performances in the controller app.
The latest models available are from the Yamaha Disklavier Enspire series! There are 18 Enspire models in total. This includes 11 Disklavier Enspire Pro models and 7 Disklavier Enspire ST models (standard models). If you just want to update your older E3 and Mark IV Disklavier models, then you can get the DKC-900 upgrade kit and enjoy the benefits of all the new features this includes. Once you upgrade, the recording and playback technique stays the same, but all of the features are then controllable via the new app. The biggest difference is that the pro has higher resolution recording so it's the best in terms of accuracy! However, both systems are still wonderfully made!
How do they work?
The way a Disklavier records is different to the way it recreates a performance. Pedal, hammer and key sensors record the piano playing and convert it into MIDI data. The sensors measure key attack and release (the velocity) so that an authentic piano performance can be reproduced as accurately as possible. When the piano self-plays the keys, this is done using small, pointy electromagnets called Solenoids. It wasn't until the 1970's that Solenoid piano player systems were able to be added to pianos. These amazing little things are like vertical, thick, pin buttons that sit beneath the keys so they are pushed upwards to trigger the piano action. When a Solenoid comes into contact with each piano key it transfers all the MIDI data recorded by the electronic sensors back into the piano so that it can reproduce a recorded performance.
If you thought that the piano's pedal position might simply be on or off, then you will be amazed by the 256 increments of positional pedalling that the electronic sensors can detect! With up to 1024 dynamic levels of key and hammer velocities it's no surprise that you can have original live performance brought into any room!
Who can benefit from having a Disklavier?
Fantastic Resource for Education
If you become part of the Dislavier Education Network, you will have even more opportunities to discover just how versatile these pianos really are! Joining this network means your Disklavier piano not only performs entirely by itself but also has the capibiliity to connect with other disklaviers across the world. If you and your students both have access to a disklavier piano, you can teach them remotely! Simply connect both of your disklaviers together to begin lessons through wireless streaming. This even means that auditioning can take place from absolutely anywhere.
"Teaching piano using the Yamaha Disklavier has allowed me to connect with musicians I would have otherwise been unable to encounter..the Yamaha remote lesson is technology at its most human"
Lisa Yui, Piano and Keyboard Faculty, Manhattan School of Music
By using the record and playback system, you can record and send accompaniments or search for any available accompaniment track from the library.
Unique Asset For Your Home
Having a Yamaha Disklavier in your home could send you on thrilling musical journey as you (and maybe your guests) sit and listen to everything this piano has to offer! The new design of the piano means the control box is far smaller than it used to be and it blends into the piano. However you can still easily access the power, play & pause button and can also plug in a set of headphones when you want to use the integrated silent piano technology. There's no need to worry about disturbing the neighbours whilst you're practising! You will still be able to play with a CFX concert grand sample, and if you enjoy composing, you can connect the piano to your computer or laptop and use it as a MIDI controller.
Forego the trip from sofa to stereo as you control the Disklavier from a range of mobile devices (Apple and Android) using the Disklavier Controller App! The app allows you to control Disklavier radio, Disklavier TV and all the playback functions such as volume, record, transposition, tempo and you can even just turn off the bass or treble. The system is quick to set up and gives you the option of putting music on auto-pilot. There are already 500 built-in songs available in the MusicSoft library, but subscribing to Dislavier radio means you can listen to up to 9000 songs and you can even use Disklavier TV where you can stream recorded video performances of artists directly to your own disklavier. You can even listen to piano performances with vocals and additional instrumentation that play through separate speakers, whilst the acoustic piano still physically plays with the hammers hitting the strings.
Artistic Boost for Businesses
Having a Yamaha Disklavier piano system could boost your business by being the centre point of any one of your spaces. Recording studios, restaurants, hotels, churches or high-class retail spaces can all benefit from displaying this top quality musical phenomenon! Imagine the joy and interest a self-playing piano could also bring to care homes and hospitals. It would certainly produce performances that patients would not want to miss! If you're wondering whether the piano will fit into a certain space, Yamaha AR (augmented reality) is something you can now use to see what the Yamaha Disklavier Enspire will look like in a specific room.