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Any GAS inducing updates from these guys?
New sound sets? More memory? New colours?

Korg is going to, or perhaps already is I left behind in the stage piano world. RH3 is junk, their fit and finish is junk, their piano samples are out dated, etc. Pretty sad when the mildly updated NP2 is the most exciting new stage piano this year. I think the NU1 is an interesting development though, and surprising. Yamaha is setting themselves up to clean house in that part of the market. Serious pianist all over the world now have 3 really nice options that are in the affordable to somewhat affordable price range- NU1, N1, and N2. Kawai's impressive CS9 has some stiff competition in the NU1.

All in all, a very boring year from NAMM. The only good news is I don't feel the urge to get in line for a new DP. The NP1 is still top dog for my purposes.

This may be too soon, but does anyone know how the HP 505/507 stands against the Kawai CA63 or 93?

I wanted to buy a Kawai Ca63, but should I wait? Is the price point even the same?

(I don't know much about the piano world, but my guess is that the yamaha NU1 will be more expensive than the above mentioned?)

DP wise Namm is pretty much the NP2 , HP500, LX-15, F120, The Yamaha console thing and the NU1

Software wise its Ivory 2's American Steinway .....

That's about it ...

but if your into Synths well its a bit brighter .... Waldof has the Pulse 2 , Arturia the minibrute ....

That's interesting. I notice they sampled a 1951 model. I wonder if they are trying to get in on the Vintage thing that Galaxy kind of has cornered at the moment.

Yeah, a new Steinway from Ivory, that must be something!

I really love their Steinway and planned on buying the version 2, however it comes in a pack with Bosendorfer and Yamaha which I hate and I don't want to give $400 for all of them to use just the Steinway. Hopefully the new American Steinway will be a separately sold instrument like the Italian and if it's no more than $150-200, I'll be the first to buy it.

The CA93 will hold its own and then some against the HP500 series. The CA93 has as good or better IMHO action, a real sound board, and also Kawai's top of the line UPHI sound technology. Price point wise they are all competive model to model.

As far as the Yamaha NU1, it will indeed likely be quite a bit more expensive. I would guess priced around the AvantGrand N1.

Dr Popper was just saying he expected it to be several thousand of dollars less than the N1, and he appears to have at least some inside info. I don't see how "several" could be more than 2 or so, but we can hope.

Personally I expect that it would indeed have to be very noticeably cheaper than the N1 or everyone would opt for the grand action in the N1.

The Synthogy site states that MSRP will be $199.

Curt

Plus the dreaded ilok.

It really isn't that bad. I wasn't too keen on the idea at first either, but just put the iLok in a port and forget about it. You're giving up a great piano...

Curt

I would think that using a dongle is a sign that you're stuck in the software dark ages, not that you have a great product. I remember using a dongle for the Atari Notator software in 1990 or so...

There are plenty of modern software applications that use dongles. They have been increasing rather than decreasing.

That's weird, I've can't remember any other apps than music apps that use dongles. I remember hearing about other kinds of apps, but that's a while ago. I mean, Photohop doesn't require a dongle, and most installs of that are bound to be pirated copies.

Chaps, let's try to keep the discussion on topic, please.

Nord Piano 2 demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCl9HNoJY_c

Nord C2D demo (mostly talking...):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwrCp3SWCI8

Cheers,
James
x

What, I'm not allowed to make a 2 line reply to something that needed correcting anymore?

You can't keep forums on totally on topic all the time. If brief asides are pounced upon it becomes very restrictive and less fun - and EVERYBODY does it sometimes. Yes, even you, James! A discussion about NAMM is bound to veer off course into various products/technologies.

Roland HP 507 demos (using various APs) -- with no voiceover!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-U83mBAtyc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxht-TN_yOE&feature=related

Is demo 2 a new SN model of this: http://www.toypiano.com/product_information.asp?html_model_number=3005P ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOXiomm3_RQ&feature=related

My guess is it's a fortepiano:

"In addition to the selection of onboard grand-piano sounds, the HP-507 features a newly added Early Piano category containing four fortepiano variations and two harpsichord variations."

I would also guess that it isn't SN, otherwise Roland would likely say so. Perhaps these samples come from their C-30 digital harpsichord? This could be a sign that they are preparing to either upgrade or phase out the C-30 (I'm hoping upgrade with SN).

Thank you, Roland! It is so refreshing to be able to hear the piano, unadulterated. If you're reading, Roland, please do the same for the LX-15.

I've only had a chance to listen on a netbook (no headphones) so far. At first hearing there doesn't seem too much difference between the tonal quality of the HP507 and the FP-7F. The 507 seems to be a very capable DP.