Technically possible but who wants to do that for free?
And then release updates for all this bug reports and complains over the sound that would result?

How to get adaequate monetary return for all the work?
How to do the copy protection? How to distribute over internet in a secure way? And finally there is the competition of softwarepianos and those already have solved this problems....
Maybe Yamaha one day comes up with an idea. IDC (Internet Direct connection) is in all their instruments.......

All I ask for is that the DP manufacturers give us the best that they currently have in their sound-engine store. Don't tell those of us who can't cope with a 60-80lb stage behemoth that we are therefore only deserving of a lower-quality (and consequently less expressive) engine.

Kawai used to have the right approach - they put the same sound engine in both the MP5 and MP8II, but offered different actions and features, allowing users to choose whether they preferred a wooden action or a lighter package. No one wants a cheaper-sounding instrument, so Kawai's current policy of (relatively) dumbing down the more portable instrument, means that they are no longer offering people like me what they want from their stage piano.

Yes, I would like DP manufacturers to advance more quickly towards the benchmark set by software programs, but I'm more interested in them not trying to manipulate or second-guess their customers.

Nord is pretty much doing all of that already.

[edit]All they need now is a 500 MB single sample set (more would be better of course but that is the internal limit) and to perhaps move away from Fatar actions.

Maybe the "O-Piano" (or "PianO" for the geeks), an open sourced DP system with schematics and everything available for free under some forbidden-to-sell agreement. A little community of enthusiasts to keep it running and offer donation type funding. One could always dream.

Good idea, but I'd call it P-inix (or Plinix)

Hi! Does anyone know if MP6/MP10 have realistic instruments like the superarticulation instruments in Yamaha CVP line?

Has someone REALLY tried the MP10 ?

How its keyboard action compare with say a V-Piano or... a real AP Grand ?

thanks

Now that I have spent some hours with the MP10 I think it's time to share some thoughts...

It has a very intuitive user interface, I haven't even opened the manual yet

I can't fault the AP sound on anything except that I can occasionally hear a hint of looping, but I already knew that from the demos that Kawai released. I've really fallen in love with the sound character of this DP and the key-sound connection is perfect. It's not possible to layer two (or more) AP voices like in the CA63/93 but there's a bunch of AP parameters to play around with. I haven't spent so much time here so I cannot really tell how good/useful this is. But I can tell you that the parameters Attack/Decay/Sustain/Release/Cutoff/Resonance is here on all sounds, including EP's and Sub.

The EP's sound very good to me, but I have to put the touch parameter to Light to make it feel right. There's also a Light+ and if that's not light enough, a user setting. The raw sound of the 3 Tines and 3 Reeds are just awesome to get lost in when one should actually be practicing instead =) There's also two effects slots and an amp simulation in the EP section so the possibilities here are huge.

The Sub section contains some really good strings and pads. The Bell and Sweep sounds, which is added as an extra layer on the string or pad, could be better but I usually turn them down really low or off. In this section there's also the Vibraphone, Harpsichord and Choir.

The keys are just wonderful, extremely good response/bounce back feeling. It feels heavier than the PHAIII and after playing for a while I can feel it in my hands. I get a feeling that this is a good thing since it's much easier to go from heavy to light action than the other way around.

Other than that all the expected features are there and working as expected, it seems to me that the MP10 does not contain any hidden disappointments or deamons.

Thanks for that encouraging review, tinybox. It sounds like the MP10 is a really accomplished board.

Now, hopefully, someone will post a comparison with the MP6, so that we can get an impression of how much gets lost in "translation" of the APs, and particularly the EPs.

Boy, it would be great if one could try out one of these boards. I bought the original RD700 over a Kawai MP9000 because I couldn't audition the latter. Now I'm looking at a RD700NX, and hoping to try out the MP10 so that I don't just end up with the Roland by default.... (frustration)

10fingers, may I ask where in CA you are based?

Cheers,
James
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Thanks to tinybox (thanks!) the MP10 just ran the DPBSD gauntlet! Link.

Slightly OT:

Finding the latest kawai digital pianos is a problem here in California.
I live in OC and the best I could find in Santa Ana was the Kawai CA51. I contacted the kind Kawai customer service and after some emails they gave me a phone number of an LA shop but they hadn't the latest Kawai digital pianos at that time.

Anyway, there's the NAMM in Anaheim next month so, hopefully, I'll be able to try the MP10, the only stage piano that will keep me from buying the 700NX in the future.

Hi James,

I'm in the Sacramento area,

Many thanks,
Jonathan

Has someone being able to compare (hand's on) the MP10 ?with the CP1 yam and the V-piano ?

I had bought a used Roland RD500 (I think), but I didn't like the action. I stumbled on an MP9000 in a store, and traded up to it. It appears that it must have been my lucky day. ;^)

Greg.

Yikes, Greg, that was fortunate! If only Kawai's distribution was more widespread we'd really have more competition in this segment of the market (and better DP's as a result).

I just found a dealer locator for Kawai in the U.S and Canada:

http://kawaius.findlocation.com/

I hope that helps folks who are as frustrated at I am!

I just heard from my local Kawai dealer that he will have the MP6 in stock by the time of January and the MP10 not at all. Any hints where to testdrive both?

Perhaps we should set-up our own Kawai dealership for The Netherlands; since there's so little Kawai to find - I would be in for it; perhaps Kawai James could help ? Anyway, I don't want to buy my MP10 at a German Internet shop , because I regard it as a premium instrument , so I want premium after sales support AND I want to be able to test-drive the machine myself before purchase. And what to do if you have problems with your Kawai, or if it is not to your liking (you never know when you have not been able to see it for real). Send it back to Germany for hundreds of euro's in transport costs ?! Forget it. So let's set up shop ;-)

J

Kawai James. Any chance this is you? I can't play my Shigeru quite like that:

TADutchman, JFP, the Kawai Europe website is currently being redeveloped and, when complete, will feature a new dealer locator.

However, until the new site is online, may I suggest you contact Kawai Europe, informing them of your current location, and asking about the closest store that will be stocking the MP10.

Kind regards,
James
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Hideki Matsui, unfortunately not.

That's Tempei Nakamura, an excellent young pianist who can really make that Shigeru sing!

There's more information about Tempei on the SK News pages (in Japanese):

http://www.kawai.co.jp/piano/grand/sk/news/
(third link on the right, below 'Topics')

Cheers,
James
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I cannot find an MP6 or MP10 to try either, as I was considering RD700NX or Kawai's new offerings. As of last week, my GC didn't have the RD-700NX either.

My nearest Kawai dealer is 120 miles away, but that dealer doesn't know when he will get the MP6 or MP10. He says he will call when either board arrives for showroom, but he doubts it will be before Christmas.

I would not surprise me if 60 percent of Americans who purchase a digital stage piano do so in December -- for Christmas. I wonder if Roland or Kawai made a strong effort to get their new boards into retail inventories/showroom floors before the holiday season.

Thank you for the info. I'm always hunting for Shigeru videos/audio and reallly enjoyed his video. The Youtube videos of him playing on his Casio in Europe are a funny contrast, but the Casio actually seemed to hold its own quite well. He definitely deserves to be playing his music on fine acoustics. Even with the limitations of Youtube, you can hear the dynamics and resonance of the Shigeru. I'm sure he's enjoying it.

I'm back in the market for the MP10. The CA93 action really impressed me and the EX sound is a no-brainer for me. The MP10 has just enough more versatitlity than the CP1, while maintaining a more focused design than most DPs. Wonder if any dealer would do a straight swap? I'll have to check with my Shigeru dealer but I doubt they would need a CP1 sitting in their piano showroom.

Hideki Matsui, yes, I've seen the clip of him setting-up his Privia in a busy European street and diving into that incredible piece. I was a little surprised by the nonchalance of the passers by, some appeared to completely ignore his fantastic playing - "Oh, there's another Japanese chap playing some modern classical piano...".

Anyway, I was interested to read your thoughts about the CA93's keyboard action. As you're no doubt aware, the MP10 utilises exactly the same keyboard technology, although the sound engine is more flexible. Did you ask if/when the dealer (where you played the CA93) would be receiving an MP10?

Cheers,
James
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In case of the MP6 this may be more so than in case of the MP10, but I'm not drawing any conclusions yet, as this is exactly what I'd like to find out in practice anytime soon...

Out of pure randomness I litterally stumbled upon a piano dealer not 15 minutes walk from where I live and lo and behold he had all the kawai's you'd ever wish for. The guy even offered to order an mp10 so I could try it out in the store.

It was dark and I was hurrying into town just check out a microphone before everything closed for the day. I decided to take a shortcut, took a wrong turn somewhere, and got completely lost. Ran around for a while to find some familiar landmark but it was cold and snowing intently -couldn't see a thing. Turned a corner and almost missed the words "Music" on an old yellow neon sign in the distance through the snow. I had no idea where I was.

Probably wont find my way back there anytime soon. I bet even kawai didn't know that store existed.


Could be a good idea to take another look around town for those odd, back-alley stores. They could be full of Kawai's ready for playing.

Fred

I was filled with trepidation, reading this - and glad that it turned out to have a happy ending:)

Interesting story Fred.

May I ask if you used the Dealer Locator on the Kawai US site?

http://www.kawaius.com/nav_links/dealer_locator2010.html

Simply tap-in your zipcode and it should find the closest dealer in your area.

Cheers,
James
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