macnn/electronista/ipodnn
05/04/2007, 10:30am, EDT
Friday, May 4thfrom: www.electronista.com
PianoDisc unveils iPod player piano
At this year's MusikMesse expo in Germany, PianoDisc made an unusual addition to its lineup with the introduction of its iQ add-on. The docking device works with most pianos and retrofits them to respond to the melody of almost any digital device, with special attention to Apple hardware. While it will cue the piano to play alongside CDs, DVDs, and generic digital players, the receiver includes a Universal Dock to play directly from any compatible iPod. The system is also smart enough to play music from a networked computer's iTunes library and will record the owner's own pieces through software.Pricing and release dates for PianoDisc's system are currently unavailable. [via AVING]
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iPod dock, and doesn't even require an iPod. It is actually a control unit
that allows ANY music player to be used in conjunction with a reproducing
player piano. The iPod looks cool, and is therefore used in some of the
marketing shots, but is by no means required.
When you play music through the iQ, the piano's keys move up and down, and play
along with other recorded instruments and vocals. The result is a dynamic
performance where the piano accompanies pre-recorded audio or video. The idea
behind iQ is to allow a reproducing player piano to be compatible with modern
technology, and not require the owner to install ugly electronics or learn
another new device.
With the iQ, the piano is totally controlled via your music player—it will even
raise and lower the volume of the piano as you adjust the volume on your music
player. Each piano key can play at hundreds of different velocity levels, from
fortissimo (very loud) to pianissimo (very quiet). It really is both cool and
simple--and is NOT an iPod dock.