Installations

Pianos are a large investment both monetarily and in floor-space. Does your piano sit dormant more than you would like? Perhaps the kids who played it have moved away, you can’t find the time to sit and enjoy it yourself, or maybe it was initially purchased purely as furniture. No matter the impetus, the reasoning is clear: The feeling of hearing your own piano played cannot be replicated by a stereo system.

PNO4 by QRS Music is their latest advancement in electronic player-piano systems. QRS has its roots in the early 1900s manufacturing piano-rolls for the pneumatic player pianos of the time, something they still do to this day with modern hits. Based in Seneca, PA in the old Story & Clark piano factory, they are easily able to adapt to the latest technological advancements.

  • Control from any device or at the piano

  • Software and Library updates via the internet

  • Record you or your loved ones’ performances

  • The largest music library of any system by far

  • Exceptional volume control with the latest technology

  • Experience live performances broadcast right to your piano’s keys

A player system installation is an involved process requiring that the piano be moved into my shop for the operation. While it is suitable for a broad range of pianos, there are a number of variables to consider to ensure your piano is capable. Contact me to start a conversation about your piano and what is possible.

Upgrades

Already have an older player system on your piano? Let’s modernize it. Many player systems of yester-year can be upgraded without the need to replace the entire system. With any upgrade, you are only replacing the ‘brains’ of the system, giving you access to the latest features for your older hardware. While a brand new installation with new hardware is the ideal solution, it is not always the smartest choice.

QRS - PNO4

The PNO4 Upgrade Kit by QRS can be installed on many older systems, giving you all of the features that a brand new PNO4 system would. It’s compatible with any system that supports MIDI, which includes the vast majority of Yamaha Disklavier, PianoDisc, and of course older QRS systems.

Yamaha Disklavier - DKC900

Yamaha offers the DKC900 upgrade for your Mark IV or E3 systems. This upgrade brings your system up to their newest ‘Enspire’ features, such as radio stations featuring full audio, improved smart-device integration and library features, and a more invisible control unit up front. Mark IV owners in particular will be happy to know that the old PDA device will be eliminated completely.

If your system is a Mark III or older, Yamaha no longer offers an upgrade solution. However, the QRS PNO4 Upgrade Kit works with nearly all Disklavier models, and provides an excellent alternative.

Repairs

Like any technology, parts will fail with time. Different systems by different manufacturers over the last three decades have varying degrees of repairability and longevity. While many issues boil down to a lack of regular maintenance, some very old systems from the 90’s and 00’s may have failures in parts that are simply no longer available (but sometimes repairable). If your system doesn’t function correctly, it is always worth investigating the cause and the possible solutions. Contact me to have a conversation about your player system and what could be the culprit.