| Which would be a better buy? An acoustic or a digital | | | | as music workstations. |
| piano? | | | | - They may incorporate a MIDI implementation. MIDI |
| Before anything else, let me give you my definition of | | | | stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a |
| what a digital piano really is. Although some electronic | | | | technology that was created in the 1980's that |
| musical instruments can also reproduce the sound of a | | | | provides various digital musical instruments and |
| piano (examples are music workstations, sound | | | | computers a standard way to communicate with each |
| modules, sample-based synthesizers, software and | | | | other. What this does is that it allows you to expand |
| hardware samplers), this article refers to a digital piano | | | | the capabilities of your digital piano by connecting it to |
| as an instrument that integrates a keyboard controller | | | | external sound modules, sequencers, and computers. It |
| with a sample playback device that specializes in piano | | | | also lets you playback standard MIDI files - available |
| sounds. Digital pianos vary in shapes and sizes. Some | | | | from various locations - on your piano making it act as |
| (like the ones designed for home use) may resemble | | | | a pianolla without the bulky and ungainly roll of punched |
| the look of an upright acoustic piano. But others may | | | | paper. |
| resemble the look of modern synthesizers or music | | | | - They may provide a way to record and store your |
| workstations. These are called stages pianos. They | | | | performances. Most models of digital pianos have built |
| are generally lighter since they don't usually include | | | | in sequencers with at least two tracks. So that if you |
| internal loudspeakers and amplification. | | | | have a sudden surge of inspiration, you can instantly |
| If you were to ask me the above question 20 years | | | | record your music and store it (on disk, smart media, or |
| ago (when our home piano was still brand new and | | | | to your computer) and play it back at a later time. |
| digital pianos sounded crappy), I may had answered | | | | - They may include a interactive learning assist feature. |
| acoustic piano. But today, with the advent of modern | | | | This is useful for those beginning to learn how to play |
| and state-of-the-art sampling technologies I may have | | | | piano. Eliminating the need for a piano teacher. (Bad |
| changed my mind. Especially now that our home piano | | | | news for them.) If you are a beginner, try asking your |
| started to show some signs of wear, such as broken | | | | piano dealer what models have this feature. |
| strings, worn out keys, and detuning (my brother | | | | - They usually include headphone output. If you |
| somehow got tired of constantly doing tuning jobs). | | | | suddenly feel a surge of inspiration in the middle of the |
| Furthermore, the modern digital piano has become | | | | night, you need not worry that you might wake up |
| more and more similar to its acoustic counterpart both | | | | other members of your household or even your |
| in sound and feel. Most of them utilize multi-sampled | | | | neighbors. |
| piano sounds. This means that samples are recorded | | | | - They often have a transposition feature. Now this is |
| from a real piano at different levels of loudness, so | | | | what I like about digital musical instruments because I |
| that if you lightly press a key in a digital piano, the soft | | | | always hated having to manually transpose a tune. |
| recording is sounded. If you pound on the keys, the | | | | With this feature, you could play a tune in a convenient |
| loud sample is used instead. This is necessary | | | | key but actually heard in another. |
| because in a real piano, the timbre and not just the | | | | - They almost always include an audio output. This |
| loudness changes with the pressure applied to the | | | | eliminates the use of microphones when recording |
| keys. Some newer models even have different sets | | | | your music and the problems associated with them like |
| of samples for each key in the piano. And still others | | | | feedbacks and noises. This greatly simplifies the |
| produce even the most intricate sounds of the piano's | | | | recording process. |
| internal machinery such as a hint of a hammer striking | | | | Some of the features may or may not be included in |
| the string, the delicate sound produce by the keys as | | | | some models. Just ask your music dealer about them. |
| you release them, and even the discrete sound of the | | | | ACOUSTIC PIANOS |
| damper pedal being depressed or released. All these | | | | I can not say much about acoustic pianos. But this |
| combine to produce an amazingly realistic piano sound. | | | | does not mean that I am bias about digital pianos. |
| Most models may also likely to incorporate graded | | | | Acoustic pianos also have advantages over the digital |
| hammer action. This simply means that the keys | | | | piano. Foremost of them is the sound quality. Experts |
| progressively become heavier as you go down the | | | | will definitely argue that the acoustic piano sounds |
| lower pitched keys - much like in the real acoustic | | | | infinitely better than its digital counterpart. The reason |
| piano - for more expressive playing. | | | | for this is that there are crucial physical and |
| Some experts may argue that acoustic pianos sound | | | | mathematical aspects of an acoustic piano that are |
| better than their digital counterpart. But for the | | | | difficult if not impossible to accurately duplicate in digital |
| untrained ear (and admit it, most of us are) the | | | | format. |
| difference is not at all noticeable, especially in recorded | | | | An example is when the damper pedals are |
| music. Some newer and more expensive models of | | | | depressed, the keys that are not struck vibrate |
| digital piano such as Roland's KR series even went to | | | | sympathetically when other keys are struck. This have |
| the extent of sampling string harmonics, and even | | | | the effect of having a fuller more resonant sound in |
| include an actual soundboard to faithfully capture the | | | | acoustic pianos. (Although, as mentioned earlier in this |
| vibrance of a real concert grand. With these recent | | | | article, progress is being made in digital music to |
| developments, a question arises: What set these two | | | | emulate sympathetic vibrations and string harmonics.) |
| types of pianos apart? This article tries to point out the | | | | Another aspect where acoustic pianos are better than |
| advantages and downsides of using each type of | | | | digital ones is its unlimited polyphony. Polyphony refers |
| model which may guide newbie piano buyers what | | | | to the number of notes that can sound simultaneously. |
| model to choose. | | | | Digital pianos have limited polyphony which tend to |
| DIGITAL PIANOS | | | | become a problem when executing complex and thick |
| Let me point out that the extreme digital piano | | | | passages especially if the damper pedals are |
| features explained above may only be present in | | | | depressed. (Digital piano polyphony ranges from 32 to |
| newer and more expensive models. If you are an | | | | 120 notes. But of course, progress is also being made |
| amateur digital piano buyer and looking for an entry | | | | to extend this limit. |
| level model (or a used one), chances are, these may | | | | Furthermore, acoustic pianos doesn't need electric |
| fall short of the genuine article. Nevertheless, most | | | | power to function. So you can still enjoy playing your |
| digital pianos have certain advantages over the real | | | | instrument even when there is no available electrical |
| one. These include the following: | | | | power. In our village in the Philippines where power |
| - Digital pianos are generally less expensive. So if your | | | | outages often occur, this aspect proved to be a great |
| on a budget, a digital piano may be the right one for | | | | advantage. |
| you. | | | | Lastly, acoustic pianos generally last longer. (Although |
| - They are generally lighter and more compact. If room | | | | some may argue otherwise.) I once came across a |
| space is your concern, then you may choose to have | | | | hundred-year-old piano and it is still playable. The |
| a digital piano. Also, if you are a gigging musician, it is | | | | reason is that even old and worn out pianos can be |
| easier to transport a digital stage piano. It fits nicely at | | | | reconditioned by replacing a number of parts, and may |
| the backseat or even the trunk of most cars. | | | | be made to sound as good as new pianos. Although |
| - They do not require tuning. As with most string | | | | older pianos tend to sound warmer. I don't know if the |
| instruments, an acoustic piano lacks the ability to stay | | | | same can be said about digital pianos. Technology |
| in tune. Tuning the piano yourself is a painstaking | | | | progresses at a fast pace and this sometimes |
| process and hiring somebody to do it means additional | | | | becomes a disadvantage. To accommodate the |
| expense for you. On this aspect, a digital piano is a | | | | manufacture of newer chips, they may stop making |
| better choice. | | | | the older models. For example, if you bought a synth |
| - They may include many more instrument sounds. | | | | 20 years ago, chances are it would be difficult for you |
| You are not limited with only one piano sound. These | | | | to find spare parts now, or even a technician who |
| may include different types of piano sounds such as | | | | knows the technology. You end up buying a newer |
| modern pianos, electric pianos such as Rhodes, as well | | | | model. |
| as organ, guitar, and string sounds. It may also be | | | | I hope this article will help you in deciding what |
| possible to layer two or more sounds together to | | | | instrument you would choose - digital or acoustic piano. |
| produce some interesting effects. Some newer | | | | Whatever choice you make, I hope you enjoy making |
| models even include hundreds more sounds and act | | | | music with your preferred instrument. |