Re: [ARSCLIST] Two other N.Y. Times article- now on "piano encoding"

[George Brock-Nannestad <pattac@xxxxxxxx>]

From: Patent Tactics, George Brock-Nannestad

Hello,

Karl Miller commented on 


> Don Cox <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>    
>>   ****One major problem is that the various notes of a chord are played at
>> different velocities (to use the MIDI term), in order to bring out the
>> counterpoint. I think it would be very difficult to disentangle this from
>> the noisy waveforms.
>    
>   Indeed, and with the reproducing piano roll this is a given limitation as
> the keyboard is divided into a treble and bass range with one dynamic level
> available for each.
>    
>   Karl

----- I have to confess that I do not know what "velocity" means in MIDI, but 
in piano playing this means the speed with which the key is depressed, and 
that determines the "strength" of the note sounded. However, it is the timing 
of a note and not its strength that determines what is perceived - the 
precedence effect (used to be called the Haas effect) says that the first 
sound to arrive will determine the timing, and if the same sound is 
reproduced stronger slightly later, it is still the first that determines the 
perceived timing. And fortunately, timing is what a piano roll can provide, 
although it cannot provide individual dynamics. I think that it is the 
precise timing that actually makes the illusion created by piano rolls so 
good.

----- in stating the above I will not say that the pianist does not think 
that he regulates the dynamics for each individual note - he may or he may 
not - but then the pianist also thinks that the feeling with which the key is 
held down _after_ the sounding will influence the sound. It will influence 
the pianist only (and perhaps an audience with eyes open to watch the 
antics).

Kind regards,


George