Moog Music Piano Bar Acoustic Piano MIDI Converter

The Moog PianoBar, a collaboration of Moog Music and synth pioneer Don Buchla, transforms virtually any 88-key acoustic piano into a wonderfully expressive new instrument.

What makes the PianoBar unique is the revolutionary, patent-pending technology utilized in the Scanner Bar. The Scanner Bar sits ever so slightly above the piano's keys; nothing touches the keys, leaving the touch and feel wonderfully unaffected. The Scanner Bar is less than 1/2 in. thick and rests against the fall board out, of the way of flying fingers. The Pedal Sensor rests underneath the piano's pedals to register their motion. The Scanner Bar and Pedal Sensor work together to capture the full range of your expressive touch -- from resounding chords to delicate passages.

The sensors feed the note and the velocity of the note to the Control Module where it is transformed into MIDI information and can be used to trigger over 300 built-in sounds. The configuration of MIDI is called a 'setup'. There are a total of 100 setups in the Control Module; 20 can be stored on the portable Library Card. A setup contains information about what sounds are played on the 16 MIDI channels, programmable zones, volume, velocity curves, and other functions. The Control Module's internal sound generator houses a large array of high quality sounds that can be played by the piano keys. These sounds, layered with the sound of the acoustic piano, can add an exciting new dimension to your playing. The PianoBar is portable and can be installed on virtually any 88-key piano -- it goes wherever you go. It all comes in a rugged carrying case for easy transport.

Here are some of the applications of the PianoBar:
Sound exploration. Choose from a collection of more than 300 instruments, 16 at time, to layer with the sound of your acoustic piano.

Aid to composition. Interface the PianoBar to composition software (like Sibelius) and watch your score instantly appear as sheet music on a laptop.

New Tool for piano teachers. Play a MIDI file into the Control Module. Watch as the LEDs above each key light-up showing chord changes, patterns, or riffs -- great for visual learners!

Entertainment. Play a MIDI file from a computer into the PianoBar and convert your piano into a virtual player piano!

Features
The Moog PianoBar turns an acoustic piano into a MIDI controller. It consists of:

The Scanner Bar

The Pedal Sensor

The Control Module

The Library Card

A carrying case

Technical Info

Scanner Bar
The Scanner Bar rests on the piano's cheekblocks against the fallboard. It sits slightly above the piano's keys, without touching them.

Dimensions: 50 1/4 in. x 2 1/2 in. x 7/16 in.

Weight: 8 lbs.

Features:
-- Connects to the Control Module with a 6-foot detachable cable (provided)

-- Detects the motion of the piano's keys when they are played

-- Detects the Velocity of the piano key's motion

-- Sets up and calibrates in 5 minutes or less. No special expertise required

-- Adjustments for height and key spacing to accommodate a wide
variety of 88-key acoustic pianos

-- Requires flat cheek blocks of at least 1 in. in width

Pedal Sensor
Rests underneath the piano's pedals

Dimensions: 10 in. x 3 in. x 3/4 in.

Weight: 1/4 lb.

Features:
-- Detects the use of the Sustain and Soft Pedals

-- Connects to the Control Module with a 15-foot detachable cable (provided)

Control Module
As the brains of the PianoBar, the Control Module receives information from the Scanner Bar and Pedal Sensor and turns it into MIDI data.

Dimensions: 9 in. x 5 in. x 3 in.

Weight: 2 lbs.

Power requirements: +12VDC, 830 mA; center-positive barrel connector.

Connections: (2) 1/4 in. audio outputs, 1/8 in. headphone output
MIDI in and out, (3) expression pedal inputs, Library Card slot,
ScannerBar and Pedal Sensor inputs.

Features:
-- Translates the motion of keys and pedals to MIDI

-- Transmits and receives on up to 16 MIDI channels.

-- Internal sound generator features a General MIDI 2 sound set: 64 voice polyphony; 16-part multitimbral; 300 high quality sounds.

-- 100 Setups: 60 user, 20 card, 20 factory. Setups configure the 16 MIDI channels: sound, volume, MIDI routing, Zones, velocity curve, pan, transpose and effects.

Library Card
Memory device and spacer for Scanner Bar Setup.

Dimensions: 1 in. x 1 1/2 in. x 1/4 in.

Weight: 2 oz.

Features:
-- Stores up to 20 Setups.

-- Used as a spacer to quickly set the correct height of the Scanner Bar.

Carrying Case
Dimensions: 52 1/4 in. x 16 1/2 in. x 4 in.

Weight (including PianoBar components): 16 lbs.

Features: rugged molded case for easy transport of Moog PianoBar components.