Is there a target date when these new models will be officially presented to the public?

I'm sure the answer to that question is "yes."

Ok, I wouldnt have asked if I believed something else....

Haha, so true.

So who wishes to estimate the date that Kawai will release information on the two new stage pianos? Sweetwater has no MP5 or MP8 stock. Musician's Friend seems to indicate old stock, but advises a date of 9/3/2010. Might this suggest a release date for the new stage pianos?

I really hate the term "slabs". It sounds like a derogatory slur. You - - - slab.

What the heck is wrong with the term stage piano? Or keyboard? Or controller? Or workstation? Or synth?

Applied, as appropriate.

The English word "slab" is used to refer to something flat and rectangular. In the keyboard realm, most often, it's used to describe keyboards that are flat and not much bigger than the keybed itself. I actually think it's a bit of a stretch to call the Kawai MP models "slabs."

Yes, stage piano would describe them well, just a bit more of a mouthful. Keyboard is a bit generic, but still accurate. Controller isn't so good, even though they are good controllers... it's just that that word is more often reserved for units that don't have internal sounds. Workstation and synth aren't really applicable for these units. Best description might be "Stage PIano/Controller" or SPC, but still a bit of a mouthful.

Good grief, guys. I surely did not mean to offend by using a term I thought was in common use throughout these threads. I have replaced the offending term by one thought to be more appropriate.

Peace.

Or Digital Piano/Stage DPS?

Maybe we could take a cue from the Germans and call it
"Medium weight digital-electronic piano mit fully-weighted all-88-keys for purpose of stage-amplified use while-also-being great MIDI controller"

So MWDEPMFWAEEKfpoSAUWABGMC?

Works for me

You forget the 10 on the end...,

( so MWDEPMFWAEEKfpoSAUWABGMC-10 , since it's the successor of the MP8)

Much better than MP10 and it won't be confused when we reach the 10 with the MPEG association...

Actually the name MP-10 is already taken by the latest upcoming Kurzweil Home piano; I wonder if that has any effect on the final name of the Kawai MP. So why not simply MP9 & MP6 - sounds logical to me ?!

No, MP9 doesnt sell.
I would propose MP 2010 ;-)
Or MP 210 and the next model MP 214 (13 has to be avoided), MP220 and so on.

And MP 110, 114, 120 for the M5 successors

hpeterh, what's wrong with the name MP9?

Ah wait, nine = nein in German, yes?

Cheers,
James
x

No nothing cultural is wrong ;-)

This number is too small after such a long time period....
BTW, you speak German?

No, just English and Japanese.

Cheers,
James
x

respect you correctly stated that englisch "nine" and german "nein" ( = NO) have the same pronounciation. And german "neun" ( =9) has a very similar sound.
But the number 9 does not have a negative assoziation here.
It might, however, have an assoziation to 2009...
Number 13 has a meaning of bad luck, must be avoided.

Peter

I personally would skip the MP series naming altogether and give the products their own fancy new name. This whole numbering scheme is totally boring , industrial and 'cold hearted' ; original names like in the past : Moog Voyager, Alesis Andromeda, Nord Wave, Sequential Prophet, Access Virus or whatever other catchy name, are far more recognizable and flashy then all this PC2, PC3, MP4, MP5, HP207, LX10, PX3, etc. We're talking about instruments here and not computer spare parts...

I think , expect and hope that Kawai has dropped the MP numbering for this upcoming product, but you never know.

Not that I won't buy it if it's still MP-x, I'll just replace the text with my own catchy name ;-)

I've seen the cover page of the manual and it clearly states: KAWAI MP Stage Piano.

You're close - it actually states Professional Stage Piano



Cheers,
James
x

So I guess that won't be a problem with the Kurzweil MP10 , whenever that's available. It's not the same kind of piano (stage v.s. home), but still they are both in the same category.

That's were more creative name giving could be so handy; you can already find short product names with letters and numbers in so many dull products (transistors, computer parts, consumer electronics, parts in the automotive industry etc). Creative instruments for creative people, require inspiring names, but it could be just me who would appreciate that. As I said, I'll be happy anyway with the new stage, whatever name it gets - it would only be a nice bonus and it would stand out more from the competition ;-)

Companies have whole divisions that try to help them come up with product names while avoiding the minefield of false cognates... and they still come up against them. The car name 'Nova' (a Chevrolet, wasn't it) turned out to be unfortunate for the South American market where 'no va' means 'doesn't run' or 'doesn't work.'

The English word 'snow' is the Farsi word 'barf.'

America's 'happy family of four' is Japan's unlucky 'death number' four.

Germany's unlucky number 13 is a power number elsewhere, denoting the seventh prime.

"Danger, Will Robinson, danger, danger!"

Showing us the cover of the manual comes close to cruelty. I'm wanting to get a stage piano in the next few months, and I'm in the same bind as many others. The MP5 sounds very good to me. But knowing that another version is in the wings, with changes from a three-year old version, makes me hesitate.

Speakers? I want them, along with audio-in's for playing piano libraries and modules (I have an old GEM piano expander). But I doubt that the MP line will add these, since they would raise the price.

A new sample set? That could be good, but the samples in the MP5 are very good.

More pianos, in addition to the old ones? That would be the ideal thing for me. (But I would be fine if everything else was left out, except for some sine waves that could be manipulated as additive data.) Somehow, I feel\fear that Kawai will feel almost forced to use new samples. I just hope the choice is to keep the old ones and add new ones.

The use of new ideas that have come along in the past three years. Phase matched samples in the layers? Physical modelling or samples with additive data controlled by velocity?

The near holy grail, for me, would be the one thing that no stage piano by definition does--let the user add samples. But then it becomes a sampler...On the other hand, that is something I would like to see from Kawai--a sampler with excellent piano samples. Just an MP5 with a hard disk and flash ROM and...But that's another subject.

I suspect that Kawai will incorporate the digital piano technology (88-key sampling and Harmonic imaging) that is found on the latest CA93 and CA63 (Concert Artist series) If that is the case I think that the new MP's will be a force to reckon with, however they need to also step up to the vintage electric piano plate offerings as well. All three major companies: Roland, Yamaha and Korg have put a great deal of time and effort in recreating vintage electric pianos like Rhodes and Wurlitzer. I looked at Kawai James' avatar and noticed a drive/amp button on what is probably a glimpse of the new MP10 or whatever. I am very interested in finding out what Kawai comes up with because I have always preferred the key action and overall quality of the action assembly. I have been through 3 Roland RD's (currently an RD700GX) and the actions after time loose their tightness and wear because of the fact that the keys are essentially hollow plastic shells and require a more viscous lubricant buffer between themselves and the contact points of the assembly. Trust me I know what I am talking about because I have restored the action of my RD700GX after 2 years of heavy use with this technique. However, Kawai uses an action very close to that of an actual grand and incorporates solid wooden keys for both the white keys and black (unlike Yamaha's NW-Stage actions on the new CP1 and CP5, that uses a hollowed out wood key for the white keys and hollowed out plastic for the black keys). This attention to detail by Kawai makes me very interested in the new MP's. I only hope that they include more authentic vintage electric pianos in addition to their flagship piano technology found in the new CA93 and CA63. Kawai James I know you can't totally let the cat out of the bag, but will their be a new sound-set for the acoustic and vintage electric pianos like Rhodes on the new MP's? I'm definitely on the market for a new digital stage piano that will satisfy me for years to come.

No not really.

Nothing terribly like a grand piano other than the long wooden keys and the fact the action throws a hammer up and away as opposed to the fold-under structure of most of the others. I haven't played one recently but previously owned an MP9000 and it had a very nice action. But the use of wood in itself does not really mean anything other than the mental feel-good factor for some and I believe Kawai have had their share of issues with actions (uneven, loose MP8ii actions have been mentioned on more than one occasion - and this action is generally reputed to be inferior to the one it replaced on the MP8).

I agree they have loads of catching-up to do with vintage EPs. In the past and I'm not sure if it's still the case Kawai bought in their EP sounds from Wizoo. The Nord Electro and Korg SV-1 seem to be setting the pace followed by the new Yamaha CP series and the Supernatural EPs on the Roland RD. I'd really like to have a try of a Kawai CA-93 (or 63)...these instruments have been very well received so it would foolish to think that the new Kawai will be off the pace.

Cheers,

Steve

Rhodie, you're right - I'm afraid I'm not prepared to let the cat out of the bag.

However your post certainly hits home on a number of points, so let's just say that I'm pretty confident the next MPs will satisfy your needs.

Ah, welcome to the forum by the way.

Cheers,
James
x

EssBrace, you're right - Kawai's wooden-key keyboard action is not the same as a grand piano action. However, with the exception of the Avant Grand/Grand Touch action it is undoubtedly closer to the real thing than any other DP action.

Please take a look at this image of the current 'RM3 Grand' action, which features the following grand piano-like characteristics:

- long, solid wooden keys
- up/down see-saw motion
- centre pivot point for black and white keys (separate balance pins for each)
- guide pin at the front of the key
- action components at the back and above the key, moved by capstan screw
- grade weighted hammers
- counterweights at the front of the bass keys
- let-off simulation
- ivory touch key surfaces
- capable of being regulated by a piano technician

Folks often highlight the long wooden keys in Kawai digital pianos, and quite rightly so. But as you can see there's a great deal more to creating an authentic action than just the material of the keys. I've listed ten points there that demonstrate how close 'RM3 Grand' is to an acoustic grand action, and that's why Kawai actions are the best in the business.

Cheers,
James
x

Thanks for the warm welcome. I have read many posts on this forum and finally decided to get into the action!

I meant to correct my self about the Kawai's having an action similar to that of a grand piano. I meant, that out of the major digital piano manufacturers (Yamaha, Roland, Korg), Kawai (use of a long solid wood key for both the white and black keys, plus the center pivot pin for the counterbalancing) is the closest.
Anyway I am very interested in these new MP's!

Maybe... the MP10 will have an action that can scarcely be told, by feel, from that of a real piano. Now, that would be my idea of a real feature that would set it ahead of the pack of piano poseurs--- anyway, there's certainly a niche market for it. The conflict, of course, is that 'real' actions cost more weight.

Burlesque was gone before my time, but if you've seen the film version of the Sondheim-scored musical, "Gypsy," doesn't this revealing of a little look here and another there remind you of the classic old-time striptease? Pole dancing has done away with all that, of course... and the more generally immodest attire seen every day (even by ladies who have more to gain by covering their love handles from public examination). I've even heard that suburban housewives are taking pole dancing courses--- my, my.

Such a silver-tongued devil!