The Player Piano – VGP-3000

Hi everyone!

Today I would like to present our luxurious, highest-end model, the VGP-3000.

VGP-3000

The VGP-3000 is Dynatone’s most advanced, high-end digital piano model. It consists of all of the topmost qualities that the firm has been boasting about; the fine sound quality of the Real Orchestra Sound Source 4 (ROS.V4), the noble “grand” design that was featured last time, with fine Indonesian wood used for its beautiful grand piano casings, the usual highly versatile utilities and so on. However, the most daring of all is its incorporation of the player piano, which we had come to nickname the virtual pianist.

The player piano refers to a piano that is, basically, capable of playing itself. It is capable of playing pieces of music that are internally learned, but not in the sense of the usual demo music that are played out of only the speakers. Rather, the keys of the piano itself moves along with the music that is played, or more likely, the machine plays its keys by itself, the piano sound that is produced out of the speaker the consequence of the “performance”. The piano hence becomes the pianist; it is a powerful tool that provides the quality entertainment value for listeners and spectators alike.

Dynatone was one of the most prominent leading firms in the course of the development of the player piano. It holds two patents for its achievements in the field, and had become the first manufacturer of such pianos domestically, third in the world. Its contribution was widely recognized with the firm receiving various awards, and it still remains the only manufacturer of the player piano in Korea. The VGP-3000 is our primary player piano model currently in regular production.

The VGP-3000 is itself a well-crafted piece of art. Among our models currently in regular production, it is also the primary model with the player piano available. On any numbers of occasions where it would be handy to have a piano and a pianist at the place – whether to provide the gentle and sweet piano sounds as a toast to an evening social gathering, or even simply to impress your guests with self-moving piano keys – the VGP-3000 could give you it all.

Dynatone Designs: "Grand" Digital Pianos

Hello everybody!

Today’s post, including pictures of our fine digital pianos, is dedicated to their unique visual designs and appearance. Throughout last few posts we have gone through what the digital pianos are made of, and what they are capable of – and I’ve decided that, after a number of posts have gone without any decent visually catchy and satisfying images, now is the time to also offer some visual insight of our quality instruments; in the hope that it would provide glimpses of what they actually look like, and how it would match your interior.

The SGP-500 and GPR-2200

Though one may be surprised to find out that there are such things like ‘grand’ digital pianos that are in existence, considering that digital instruments do not need the specific designs of acoustic grands in order to produce sound, there is no saying that there should not be one! For those of you that prefers more fancier and eye-catching designs for your living place, Dynatone also offers the grand variants of its primary two models in the SGP-500 and GPR-2200.

SGP-500

SGP-500 - lid closed

The SGP-500 is the grand variant of the SDP-500, with the same specification, but in a very original look of a ‘slim’ grand. The refined and sharp case of the piano gives an atmosphere of naturalness, its resemblance to a grand piano that of nobleness, and yet its tiny size compared to that of acoustic grands allows it to be placed on casual home interiors. It is an interesting and unique design, completely original – an acoustic grand would never be possible in this size. Its functions and utilities are controlled by the button placed on the left. Its body, where strings would be laying had it been an acoustic grand, are covered by a wooden plate, the type that is used as the sound board of acoustic pianos.

GPR-2200

The GPR-2200, on the other hand, is thrived from the DPR-2200H. The model comes in a fine grand piano design, its size resembling that of a baby grand, a broader gesture of refinement and nobleness. It also comes with almost exact the daring specifications and wide choice of utilities of the DPR-2200H, besides a couple of small differences. The keyboard used in the GPR-2200 is, unlike its counterpart, not the ARHA-keyboard. Also, the body of the GPR-2200 is polished, whereas the original DPR-2200H comes in as a satin model. It is designed so that the appearance of the instrument would equally represent the daring capabilities of the instrument – a remarkable piece of finely crafted musical accomplishment.

Digital Piano Function Series: The Values and Three 'T's

Greetings!

On today’s posting, I would like to discuss the “values” that governs some of the interesting and versatile utilities of our digital pianos. Such utilities include that of three ‘T’s - Transpose, Tune and Touch. Each of these are set to a numeric value which represents a certain degree of said feature; the key to which the instrument is currently transposed, or the extent that the piano responds to the strength (velocity) with which its keys are struck, respectively.

The act of Transposing in music, by its definition, is changing the key of an existing piece of music into another key, retaining the exact materials but on a different pitch level. The purpose of transposing mainly is to accommodate the range of a singer by moving its range; it also is done often in instrumental music in order to facilitate easier playing by moving the music to a key that is more natural to the instrument. Also, for inexperienced musicians who have trouble reading scores with many sharps or flats on the key signature, the music is often transposed into keys with fewer sharps or flats like C major. Digital pianos today offer transposing capabilities to any keys, allowing the players to change the key of the music without necessitating changing and re-learning of fingerings, which can sometimes be a pronounced advantage.

The tune feature is in a way similar to the transpose – in the sense that making a change to its value alters the pitch level of the instrument - but, unlike the transpose, which moves the pitch by a completely noticeable half step, the tune alters the frequencies of the notes ever so slightly – by units of cent. It is precisely the tuning that you hear players of strings and other instruments do every time prior to a performance, whereas pianos are tuned mostly by piano technicians. Of course, for obvious reason the digital piano requires few maintenance, if any, but the tune feature becomes another advantage of being a digital instrument when the instrument is used as a part of an ensemble that also includes acoustic instruments, in the sense that the acoustic instruments, tuned by hands and ears rather than machines, may not necessarily be terribly precise on matching the regular A=440 system.

The last on the list, the touch allows the players to adjust the way the piano responds to the velocity with which keys are struck. By setting the touch value to Soft, a player can produce loud sound out of the piano without having to play it forte. Vice versa, with the touch value set to Hard, the player can conjure beautiful soft lines of melodies out of the instrument with relative ease, since the notion of requiring larger force to produce louder sound allows for more delicate control of dynamic. A unique setting of “None” may be also applied, in which case the piano becomes completely insensitive to the playing strength of the fingers, resulting in equal and consistent volume of all notes that are played. More advanced models offer more detailed adjustment of Touch, dividing it into 9 degrees of different response levels.

Digital Piano Function Series: The Reverberation & Effect

The Reverb

Providing the user with an everyday concert hall. That is, basically, the ultimate goal of the reverberation feature of our digital pianos. It seeks to reproduce the resonance effects of a performance space, from the most casual dinner settings to the most prestigious and sound-abundant concert halls. Because it is, unlike all others that create unusual conditions that my not be achieved in acoustic instruments, designed based on real acoustic resonance - stuffs that actually happen in acoustic instruments - the reverberation is initially set active by default in many products.

Most of Dynatone digital piano models do allow their users to choose from a maximum of eight types of reverberation, depending on any desired performance spaces that the players may wish to recreate. The players, of course, also have the option to turn off the reverberation altogether, in case they wish to get the ‘secco’, or dry sounds out of the instrument.


The Effect

While referred to as the ‘effect’ here, the last on our firsthand list has been also often called the ‘chorus’ on many products, more so on keyboards. On Dynatone products the term effect is used more frequently, since what it does is not exactly attaching a ‘chorus’ to the voice in the traditional sense, but really adding a thick layer of voice effect that serves to enrich and deepen the sound of the chosen voice. Among the available types of effects, some are indeed named ‘chorus’ and their sounds allude to that, but others can be, well, quite different.

On most Dynatone models, eight types of effects are available. Unlike the reverberation mentioned above, the effect is not initially turned on by default - it's not a part of acoustic instruments.

Digital Piano Function Series: The Split

Right hand on piano, left hand on bass, and you're ready to jam.

Well, according to our process manuals, the split is next on our list. The split, like the name, is a utility that splits the piano keyboard into two smaller keyboards; separate voices may be assigned to each of them, effectively dividing the piano into two different instruments, one dedicated on high register and the other on lower.

The point on which the keyboard is divided is called the ‘split point’; for the majority of Dynatone digital pianos this is initially set to F#4 (F# right above the middle C), but the point may be set to any pitch to meet the user's preference and needs. Also, as with the layer, the split “accompaniment” voice has separate volume value that is independent from the main volume, allowing the player to address any potential balance issues between the two voices.

One musical practice that has been common throughout our history is that of having a “melody” part and an “accompaniment” part, found in the major bulwark of both classical and popular music. While not necessarily, a fair portion of these consists of a “melody” instrument on the high register, and an “accompaniment” instrument on the lower range. Sounds familiar? Again you no more need two players to observe the fine custom - activate the split mode on your digital piano, pick whatever instruments of your fancy for the two voices, and you're ready to go.

Some of our entry models have a couple of voices that are grouped together as split-specific; in this case, the voices included are the ones traditionally regarded as 'bass', which follows the norms of common musical practice, and assigned to the “left” part of the keyboard. On more advanced models, however, the player have total freedom of choosing whichever voice he or she desires as either the main “right” or the split “left” voice; it is totally feasible to pick a heavy instrumental "low" voice for the right while assigning a melodic instrument to the left, creating a highly unusual but nevertheless interesting instrumental combination.

Digital Piano Function Series: The Layer

Hi everyone!

After writing a few numbers of posts about our featured digital piano, I’ve noticed that whenever I addressed the versatile utilities of our products, the words are then summarized into “the traditional digital piano utilities”, without providing any explanations of what they exactly are and what they actually do. From now on, I intend to regularly post a series of introductions on the conventional digital piano utilities that are found on our products, more or less depending on the model – this includes layer, split, reverb & effect (chorus), transpose, tune, twin piano to name a few. In other words, what digital pianos are capable of these days.


The Layer - You no more need two players to play two instruments.

The first on our list, the layer, is basically just that - playing two instruments at once. Using the layer mode incorporates an additional voice of instrument (“layered voice”) to be played along with the “main voice” simultaneously, allowing its player to sound two instruments by playing one piano keyboard. A combination commonly used in churches and other casual settings is that of piano and strings - the ensemble of piano and strings has been consistently exploited throughout the history of music, hence the appeal of this particular choice of layer – but other types of instrumental combinations can be also effective, and such exploration greatly expands the palette of tone colors.

On Dynatone’s digital piano models, the volumes of the main voice and the layered voice can be set individually, independent from each other. While some of the entry-level products offer limited palette of few voices designated specifically as layer-only voice, our more advanced models allow the players to choose any of the voices incorporated in the piano either as a main voice or a layered voice.

I hope this post and the consequent ones to follow would provide the general picture of what digital pianos today are actually capable of doing!

Dynatone Digital Piano: SDP-500

Hello, everyone!

The enormously popular SDP-500 digital piano is the subject of today. The SDP-500, unlike the models that has been discussed previously, is a model with polished body, with its piano casing manufactured at a facility that also produces casings for acoustic pianos. The outlook of the piano is simple and clear; with its polished body and refined design, the SDP-500 have the look of your ordinary acoustic piano.

SDP-500 digital piano

Like most of our other models currently in production, the SDP-500 also features the ARHA keyboard. It offers 24 types of voices, as well as 2 types of split-specific and 3 types of layer-specific voices. These voices, along with other versatile utilities, are assigned to the keys themselves and six buttons on the left. While the piano does not have these assignments printed on it due to it having polished body, it compensates with a key-map that contains all of the needed information. All of the traditional digital piano features - layer, split, reverberation and etc. - are there, as well as recording features and access to general midi voices via MIDI connections. A maximum of 128 notes of polyphony is possible.

One particular note to be made about the SDP-500 is the D-box located right below the keyboard. The D-box consists of all of the outgoing and incoming jacks, and serves as a kind of terminal of communication between the piano and other MIDI-capable devices. Headphone jacks are also located on the D-box, making its use as convenient as it gets. The placement of the speaker box of the SDP-500 is also of calculated choice; it is placed right under the keys, so that its sound would be freshly delivered without being unnecessarily censored.

An all-around digital piano, the SDP-500 catches the pivotal points of quality as musical instrument, with quality tones, versatile utility and user-friendly design. Dynatone also offers the SGP-500, the grand variant of the SDP-500, with same performance specifications and the unique look of a smaller, 'slim' grand.

Dynatone Digital Piano: SLP-200H

Hi everyone!

Today, I am posting a brief overview of another representative brand of Dynatone's digital piano, the SLP-200H. The letter 'S' of the model name SLP stands for 'slim' - meaning that the piano is designed with emphasis on its slim and compact size, allowing it to be used on areas where an ordinary sized acoustic piano, or even a digital one for that purpose, would not be able to fit in.

The SLP-200H

A compact piano for practical purposes

As it could be seen from the picture on the right, the size of the SLP-200H is more compact than that of other pianos. The piano also lacks the kind of extensive control panel that the DPR-2200H has featured, in exchange for its smaller size. However, that does not mean that the SLP-200H no more offers the range of options that distinguishes our digital pianos. Just with a number of buttons on the left side of the keyboard, along with the keys itself with functions assigned to them (the respective function takes effect when the key is pressed along with the setup button), the SLP-200H nevertheless features a wide palette of available options. Each assignments for the keys are clearly printed on the piano, right above the respective keys.

The function assignments of the keys 
are clearly printed above
for the user's convenience.

The available voice choices of the SLP-200H are divided into categories: main, layered, split and extra. 10 types of main voices are available; 3 for layer and 2 for split. An additional feature, the 'extra' voices are in fact, optional additional sampling layers that are either designed to enrich the depth or provide additional effect to the main voices, their exact effects being unique to each of the main voices. The 128 General MIDI voices can also be accessed by connecting the piano to external MIDI devices. The SLP-200H also includes all of the traditional digital piano functions, including the voice options such as layer, split and utility options like transpose, tune and even recording.

The SLP-200H also features Dynatone's unique brand of keyboard, the ARHA keyboard. It still offers a maximum of 64 notes of polyphony. By simply leaving out the excesses while maintaining the essence, the SLP-200H has became a firm staple of our products.

Dynatone Digital Piano: DPR-2200H

Greetings from Dynatone!

Today I'd like to introduce one of our prima donna models, the DPR-2200H.

The DPR-2200H, along with its grand variant GPR-2200, is one of the more advanced models among the lineup of Dynatone products, which is highlighted for its highly versatile features, beautiful tone quality and convenient user interface. It is equipped with the ARHA (Advanced Real Hammer Action) keyboard specifically developed by Dynatone, the ROS V.4 sound source and a powerful amplifier. The central LCD display and convenient, clearly marked buttons offer a mean of easy communication between the user and the piano. The DPR-2200H comes in a simple, pleasant and modern exterior design which allows the piano to fit well into any type of space.

Picture of the DPR-2200H digital piano.

The DPR-2200H is capable of producing beautiful piano tones. It also offers a significant number of other voices for the user's choice, which includes 80 types of rhythm patterns as well as a drum kit and the 128 GM (General MIDI) voices used in common with other MIDI devices. Its versatile utilities include the Layer, Split modes along with the reverberation and chorus effects. The aforementioned ARHA keyboard closely imitates the 'feeling' of the hammer action of acoustic piano keys, bringing its players the sensation of playing a fine acoustic instrument while offering all the advantages of being a digital instrument with its utilities and compactness.

Dynatone also offers the grand variant of the series, the GPR-2200, which comes with all the specifications mentioned above, but in a form that is visually more professional.

More on the product will be coming soon, as well as a video highlighting its versatile utility functions.

Music first,

Dynatone Corporation

An Introduction: Dynatone Corporation

Hi everyone!

After posting the opening statement, I've decided that we could do with a more detailed informative post - or introduction, depending on what you think - of Dynatone Corporation. In last post, it was briefly announced that our main product is the digital piano; and that we also deal with the selling of acoustic guitars and other type of instruments.

Dynatone is a musical instrument company, with its main business being the designing, manufacturing and selling of digital pianos. Its headquarter is located in Seoul, Korea, while its products are being manufactured in a number of facilities, their locations including Korea, China and Indonesia. Dynatone also operates a distinguished R&D office of musical instruments located at its Gumi factory to further improve the quality of its products and develop new models of products.

Though the official establishment of the company was at June 1, 2000, Dynatone Corporation has made its first step back in 1987, beginning its life as the Electric Instrument Division of KEC. It was the first producer of electric musical instrument in Korea. Since then Dynatone has been manufacturing quality instruments actively, hitting the 7 million production milestone in 1999. Dynatone has also seen significant improvements in its technical development throughout the course, developing its Sound Source IC in 1995, and with its close attention to environmental management, it has received the ISO 14001 in 1998. Dynatone began exporting its products to the United States in 1996. Its first exportation to Europe was in 1998.

Following its complete separation from KEC in 2000, Dynatone has then rapidly grown into No.1 seller of digital pianos in Korean home-shopping channel. 2002 saw Dynatone's first attendance of one of the major musical exhibitions, the MUSIK MESSE, which the company has been in attendance annually since then. In the same year Dynatone has finally became No.1 seller of digital pianos in all of Korea. The R&D center was established in 2003, which has then prompted the introduction of new lineups of products, such as the DPR and DPS series. In 2006, the first player-piano was developed, for which the company holds two patents in Korea.

Since 2012, the company now has been attending three international musical fairs regularly, including the aforementioned MUSIK MESSE in Germany, along with Namm show(Anaheim, USA)  and Music China(Shanghai, China). In the same year Dynatone was recognized and honored by the Korean officials for its achievements, including its nomination for 'GOOD DESIGN', 'AT&D(Advanced Technology and Design) by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Korea Institution of Design Promotion(KIDP). Currently Dynatone is exporting its products to over 30 countries, and has set up its American division recently (www.dynatoneusa.com).

Hopefully this post provides information on us with enough details!
If you want to know more about us please visit our website at: www.dynatone.biz (Global) or www.dynatoneusa.com (Dynatone America)

It's all about the music,
Dynatone Corporation

Dynatone Corporation Blog is Now Open!

A musician's best friend, Dynatone's official blog is now online!

Dynatone Corporation is an established brand manufacturer of digital instruments, with digital pianos being its main products. It also features acoustic guitars and other types of musical instruments. Dynatone instruments feature wide range of options to choose from - with interesting and yet fitting visual designs to fit naturally into home settings, diverse and improved functions on our digital pianos to satisfy customer demands, and much more.

Through this blog, we expect to communicate with our customers on a regular basis, feature our newest products and accommodate valuable ideas to improve the quality of our instruments even further. Meanwhile, videos of music performances made on various Dynatone instruments are to be updated on the blog regularly, so keep an eye on us!

Music First.

Dynatone Corporation