Ref. 070306 MMDigest

> I just got a PianoDisc delivered that was factory installed.  The
> unit was in storage for about ten years and is unused.  I am having
> a problem in that it does not seem to respond to the new-convention
> MIDI "note off," with zero velocity being "note off." ...

I am a certified PDS installer and service technician.  Wow, ten years
in storage?  That says a lot.  There have been a world of changes in
the past ten years.

For starters, you need to verify if this is a 'Silent Drive' system or
the original PDS-128 system.  If it is ten years old, that is right about
the time the newer system was introduced.  There were earlier systems,
the PDS-32 and the PDS-1000, but they go way back further than ten
years.

'Silent Drive' was a completely redesigned driver system that
revolutionized the way the player worked and is still in use today.
It is called "silent" because it uses a much higher pulse modulation
rate which eliminated the high-pitched humming that other systems
(including PDS) had been struggling with for years.  It also vastly
improved expression.

You can verify if it has 'Silent Drive' by the following:
- It should have a black power supply, not aluminum.
- It should have a panel on the back of the bass side rail cover
  with LEDs and two buttons labeled "test" and "reset".
- Selecting "info" in the main menu should indicate 'Silent Drive'.

If the system does not have 'Silent Drive', these older systems are
much more limiting in their capabilities.  They can, however, be
completely upgraded to 'Silent Drive' if you wish by installing all new
circuit boards without replacing the solenoids.  The power supply and
the older 128 control boxes can also be reconfigured and do not need to
be replaced.  Expect to pay somewhere around $2,500-$3,500 to upgrade
(retail price, installed by a certified tech).

Either way the systems have an operating system that is completely
and easily upgradable.  The older operating systems had many more
limitations and upgrading may give you what you are looking for.
I don't recall the last version for the pre-'Silent Drive' systems, but
the final major O.S. upgrade for the PDS-128+ boxes was version 4.0.
Later versions will also work but the changes apply to the newer
PDS-228 box and won't make much difference for the PDS-128.  I have
seen profound performance improvements when upgrading older 'Silent
Drive' systems.

If this is not a 'Silent Drive' system, V. 4.0 or later will work 
but there won't be much improvement in performance, only in certain
features.  This may be what you are looking for however.  I must
mention that I have upgraded old pre-'Silent Drive' systems with 4.0
only to find that the sustain system did not work properly and ended up
having to go back to an earlier version.

You can download the latest O.S. off the PianoDisc web page for free
(version 4.whatever) and try it.  Read the instructions on the web page
carefully, as there are specific format procedures you must follow.  If
the system doesn't work properly contact PDS technical support directly
with your system's serial number for the appropriate software.

Upon upgrading the O.S. have your local technician calibrate the player
system.  Tell him/her you want the "learn" and "duration" velocities
adjusted, they will know what that means.  This is pretty basic stuff
so if the tech you have been talking with has been giving you bad
answers find another certified PDS technician.  A local reputable
dealer should be able to help you, or contact PianoDisc for a
recommendation.

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, Nevada