I am a certified PDS tech/installer with over 250 installs under my
belt.  To generalize, there are two different types of PDS-128 models
and it is important to know which is which.

The earliest model is an extension of the old PDS-32 design in that it
has the _blue_ circuit boards.  This is no longer technically supported
by PianoDisc and has a variety of crude points.  It can potentially work
decently provided that everything, including the piano, is adjusted and
regulated perfectly, but it is not my favorite.

The later PDS 128 model is the "Silent Drive" system, with green circuit
boards, which is still in use today with various different control
systems and is technically supported.  If you have the green Silent
Drive boards, after installing the record system upgrade the OS with
v4.0 or higher and it will work considerably better both with and
without record.  If it is the old blue board system the OS is probably
better left alone.

The early 128 "blue board" TFT strips _will_ work with the later
Silent Drive "green board" systems with the exception that some of
them may not detect the sustain pedal switch.  Honestly, I can't
remember when the last time I saw an old blue board unit with record
so I'm trying to visualize.

To summarize, the TFT tabs face _forward_ toward the player, not
toward the action.  If you reverse them it will record backwards
(treble in the bass, bass in the treble), which would be pretty weird.
Where it actually goes varies from one piano to the next.  The tabs
should bend down slightly against the key in the up position but
should not bend excessively in the down position.  Most of the time
this usually works out for me with the tabs about 1/8-inch from
touching the front rail punchings when bent all the way down.  They
_must_ clear the punchings though, don't let them touch!

The "Tiger" sound card is excellent.  In spite of their age, in my
opinion the Alesis cards they currently use are not significantly
better.  PianoDisc likes to make consumers believe that it is a
proprietary and you have to use theirs only.  In reality the card is
nothing more then a standard Wave Blaster compatible card.  Years ago
they were sold as daughter boards to "upgrade" cheap Sound Blaster
compatible cards.  If you look at an old generic PC sound card you will
notice the socket is exactly the same.  There are a number of good
cards out there for less money then what PianoDisc will sell you one
for.  I wish I had a few old Tiger cards laying around!

Rob Goodale