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MMD > Archives > January 1999 > 1999.01.06 > 16Prev  Next


Lost Motion Adjustment For Playola Keytop Player
By Phil Dayson

I have a Playola Pianomation system from QRS.  To get the optimum
out of this system, it seems however to required some modification.

When the original unit is located on the piano keyboard it is adjusted
as best you can to give zero lost motion.  At this point, however, many
of the black keys, and a not-insignificant number of the white keys,
still appear have some lost motion that is visible.  If you lower the
unit any further then the keys that previously had zero lost motion
will be slightly depressed in the rest position.

Even if this was acceptable from an operational point of view, from
a visual point it is certainly not.  My solution to this problem is
perhaps obvious: build a small felt-tipped extension of adjustable
length to fit on the end of each solenoid in place of the factory-
supplied rubber tip.  The lost motion of each key can now be adjusted
to zero.

Although I have not carried out any formal tests, it certainly appears
that after the above modification have been completed, the minimum play
setting is reduced (as measured using the QRS Pianomation Text Box) and
the maximum potential volume is increased.

Phil Dayson


(Message sent Wed 6 Jan 1999, 09:03:56 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Adjustment, Keytop, Lost, Motion, Player, Playola

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