With the Linux Operating System finding its way into everything from cell phones to coffee makers, its no surprise that high-tech piano makers are following suit.  Today, pianos that were once the center of home entertainment are often relegated to dark corners or dusty garages. Sacramento-based PianoDisc is changing that--by transforming the traditional piano into a high-tech entertainment hub--while retaining the original beauty of the instrument. The technology breathes new life, and consumer interest, into a centuries-old instrument.

PianoDisc's technology can be installed in any acoustic piano, and uses solenoids to move the keys. Unlike the pneumatic player systems of the past, a modern reproducing piano has much better control over the key movement, with hundreds of velocity levels per key. When the piano plays itself, the original performance is perfectly reproduced—nearly indistinguishable from a human performer.  Integrating modern technology with a complex, mechanical instrument is a challenge. “The piano is a beautiful instrument. To some, it's of deep sentimental value, and to others, an important status symbol.  We found a way to give pianos a technology upgrade--creating live entertainment--while maintaining the instrument's natural beauty and symmetry.” explained Tom Lagomarsino, PianoDisc’s Executive Vice President.

In its flagship product, the company uses a Linux-based web server and 802.11 wireless technology (both hidden within the piano) to enable full control of the instrument. According to David Honeywell, Engineering Manager, “An embedded web server gives us the most flexibility, and allows customers to control the piano via computers, web pads, or mobile devices.” PianoDisc's Opus7 gives users a choice between Adobe Flash and AJAX-based HTML interfaces. Both allow full

control over nearly every aspect of the performance. 

PianoDisc's use of open-source technology is not limited to the OS.  In fact, when it came time for a sound file format, engineers chose MP3 rival, Ogg Vorbis. PianoDisc commissioned the creation of special open-source tools which allow the piano data to be streamed along with compressed digital audio. The end result is several streaming radio stations that allow piano owners to listen to their real pianos play along with accompaniment and vocals.

PianoDisc's latest product is a device that allows any consumer music player (such as an iPod or DVD player) to control the piano. The patented iQ technology even senses the volume level of the music player, and tailors the piano dynamics to match. With an iQ-equipped piano, customers can play the piano with a familiar device such as an iPod, and avoid the frustration of learning how to operate yet another new gadget.

While the control technology is impressive, it would be useless without content. PianoDisc's in-house recording studio has released hundreds of piano albums over the years, but something was missing.  Customers wanted a way to play off-the-shelf music from popular artists such as Billy Joel and Elton John, on their pianos.  While PianoDisc is the leading manufacturer of reproducing piano systems in the United States, they aren't large enough to entice Billy Joel to abandon a large record label like Sony/BMG. PianoDisc needed to find a way to synchronize popular, mainstream music and piano accompaniment without treading on any copyright issues.  Apple's ubiquitous iTunes, along with some custom software, turned out to be the magic bullet.

After loading an audio CD into iTunes, customers can purchase the piano accompaniment directly from PianoDisc. The accompaniment software scans the iTunes library for the matching album, and appends the data necessary for piano playback directly to the audio in iTunes. Customers can then burn a CD, or play the music directly through iTunes into a piano.

With the playback technology and musical content to bring pianos into the twenty-first century, it's no wonder more and more consumers are considering a piano as their next home theater upgrade. Who'd have guessed that the entertainment center of yesteryear would once again prove to be a viable entertainment device--at home with the latest technology.