Piano Music

Recording 93 is a 4K/60 Disklavier set with Piano VFX over the real overhead piano. The source mornings were June 19 and June 22.

Recording 92 is the first weekly episode being prepared for 4K video delivery. The overhead piano footage and Piano VFX composite remain part of the finished Final Cut Pro master, now exported at 3840 × 2160 and 60 frames per second. A new lens on the Canon provides the framing for the 4K setup, while an OBSBOT video conferencing camera adds another angle. Lighting adjustments continue around the MIDI-reactive LED strip. The latest printed parts for its replacement are finished, with assembly planned for the coming week.

After a lot of measuring, test prints, and revisions, the LED rail now has printed mounts and bar sections that work. That replaces the temporary metal ends. The next step is cartridge spacing. Each short section has to aim its LEDs at the correct piano keys, and a few millimeters is enough to show up from the overhead camera. I am tuning one section at a time before committing to the full keyboard.

I got a 3D printer so I can replace the angle-iron ends with printed mounts that sit in the fallboard supports. The metal worked, but I never liked that hardware that close to the piano, even with felt tape. I also added a second LED strip. Fitting and reprinting took longer than I expected. The bar was out of commission for the first two morning streams. When it is on, it adds a really cool dynamic while I play.

First working LED rail. Removable aluminum bar in the existing fallboard supports — nothing glued to the finish or the keys. A Raspberry Pi reads the MIDI and drives per-key lights so the overhead camera can show more of the shape in the playing. First version, not the last. Next up: printed clips and baffles, and a cleaner power path for a second strip.