If you get the chance to check out our expanded YouStar Studios located in Alkek One, you’ll find some unique campus treasures like our Silent Piano! The Yamaha Silent Piano isn’t just a keyboard, it is a professional, high-quality acoustic instrument that feels just like a real piano, because it is one! What’s special about the Silent Piano is that once the silent function is activated, the hammers of the piano will no longer hit the strings. Instead, by using highly sophisticated sensor technology, the piano captures all the movements of the keys and converts them into a digital tone directly into your headphones!
With the click of a button you can capture a high-quality recording of your music and save it to your USB drive. The Silent Piano comes with a huge variety of different pre-installed sound options, so you can switch on the fly and create other instruments sounds.
Thanks to the generous contributions of donors to the 2018 Step Up for State campaign, the Alkek Library was able to add this treasured piece to the new YouStar Production Studio. Located in Alkek 107C (behind the ITAC Service Desk), students, faculty and staff can access the piano and other great sound equipment in this new space by swiping their badge at the door during the library’s open hours. Currently, only two people can be in the room at a time.
The next time you are in the Alkek Library, check out this and other great technology in Alkek One!
This article was contributed by Carin Carlin, University Libraries Social Media Student Assistant.
