Vox, I did exactly what you have done a few years back with a Roland RD-600. Had one, sold it to get a Korg SG-Pro-X, immediately felt a pang of remorse and bought another RD just a few months later. A costly experience. And if you were to see the long list of boards I've had since I don't think you'd come to the conclusion I really learned from it!

Still, you can't take the money with you! This has become my mantra in life to try and stave off the worst of the guilt.

MP6 has a really great key action and I don't think you could better it in something so easily portable so enjoy it a second time around!

Cheers,

Steve

I'm inclined to agree, however how do you explain the 92mb download?

Cheers,
James
x

ps. Congrats vox...again!

Well, this is the weird thing. When you update the Numa, you do the DSP firmware first, which takes a few seconds. Then you do the sounds, which is the big file that takes about an hour to update - way slower than swapping out a Nord XL sample. However, it does much the same as the Nord, erasing the flash memory as part of the process. Lastly, you update the control panel firmware - again a very quick operation. Now, I'm no technical expert, but that is a much more involved process than just updating the envelopes etc. And the end result is acoustic pianos that seem to have quite a different character from the original. I wouldn't stick my neck out and say that it's definitely loading new samples, but it sure does seem like it.

Yes, if you see my reply above, you'll see that the process is very similar to updating a Nord, albeit using a less refined interface.

They don't tell you the brand of piano or the individual sample sizes, but the unzipped update pack is around the 120mb mark. Since the EPs don't seem to have changed much between packs, I'd say that the biggest portion of the 120mb is going towards the APs. Surely that is more than just tweaking?

Sloppy programming? ;-)

Thanks, Steve! As for not taking it with you (money or keyboards), as long as they've sorted out their samples and modeling in the next world, I'll be happy.

I fear we might all have to wait that long!

Thanks, James! Now, no introducing the MP7 at this year's Musikmesse...

Or the MP11! (I wouldn't even forgive MP10ii either).

Interesting. Well, I'm certainly not in a position to say it's impossible, I would just find it surprising.


Based on that link I pasted above, there were no changes at all to the EPs. They only talked about changes to the Piano, Clav, and Pad... and in the case of Clav and Pad, it really sounds like they are talking about envelopes and other processing. So I would say that *if* there are new samples in the update, they are only in the piano.

Even for the piano, they don't actually claim to be loading new samples. Here's what they say:
---
Improved and extended total dynamic range; optimized sound and envelopes modeling for a greater expressiveness and overall timbre definition of a concert grand piano from the “pianissimo” subtle nuances to the brighter powerful “fortissimo”.
---
Could it involve new samples? I guess so, but it doesn't sounds like it from their description.

Nope, not yet. Musikmesse will most likely be about other product ranges.
However, there may be something for MP fans later in the year.

Cheers,
James
x

Whoa!! Hang on...do you mean something for MP fans - or something for MP owners? Come on James, reveal just another wee hint....

Yes, but since the marketing department guys can't seem to agree among themselves how much the Numa weighs, I'd very much doubt that they'd get everything right about the internal workings of the thing.

The Numa Piano is actually quite a bit more sophisticated than perhaps we give the designers credit for - it's all the other stuff: non-existent support/communication; sloppy bug-fixing; poor screen-printing; lackadaisical marketing, that lets the side down.

What?! Am i going to have sell the damn thing again?!!! Well, maybe I should be grateful that Kawai's perhaps listening to us all. I've long believed that they could produce THE killer stage piano if they wanted to (and not one that takes a steroidal gorilla or the entire bar staff to set up ).

Sorry chaps, no more hints about new products.

However the 'listening to its customers' part is spot on.

James
x

I played a gig with FP-4 + NE3 setting, and it's great connection for me, both lightweight

As previously posted, you may use MP6 + NE3 combination. Switching may not be problem, using volume on your MP6 and midi switching it may last about 2 seconds. Only disadvantage is that in piano+organ pieces you have another piano timbre (from MP6), but I suspect in those pieces the sound of the band is more powerfull and MP6 sound may even sound better in that setting, and subtle sound effects aren't important. So if you can ignore timbre changing issue, 2 second switching is low price for having top piano, organ and EP sounds plus great action.

Kiedysktos, that's a pretty good combination. Before I sold my Electro 3, I did a few shows with the FP-4 and NE3, but never used MIDI to drive the NE3's pianos. If I can avoid using MIDI for anything other than a synth module, I will, as I'd prefer to have no external connections for my main sounds. Even two seconds is too long for many of my switches between piano and organ.

James, perhaps there is the long awaited ES7 coming?? With the RH action couple with PHI sound technology and its built in speakers? That'd be a killer little DP.

Indeed it would.

James
x

That's the one I'm waiting for!

It would seem your wait may soon be over....

The sound of an MP10 in a much more portable box, with speakers, would be great... though I doubt they will make anything light enough for me!

Yeah, I've never seen a really portable wood-action Kawai. I wonder to what degree such a thing would even be possible.

It's going to get a little confusing after the MP7.
Marketing dept will need to meet to sort that one out over a long lunch.

Don't feel too bad I've been guilty of letting things go when I shouldn't have and having to re buy them. My CP-80M comes to mind immediately and it was only in the last 12 months I got another decent one.

Hello, Voxpops. I have been reading this thread with interest as the MP6 is one piano we are considering in our search for a good home piano that has lots of the digital features (extra voices, etc) typically found in a stage- type piano. We are also considering the Roland Fp-7f. Since you have(had)both, how would you compare the two for home use? How would you compare the actions, especially for a young teen who is still taking lessons and needs a good action for practice, but also wants to have fun getting creative with all the different voices, layers, etc. Thanks!

Both the Roland and Kawai pianos have very good actions that will work well for serious practice. The Roland, with its three sensors, is perhaps capable of faster repetition, which will be useful for advanced study, but the Kawai action feels great.

The extras on each of these pianos are quite different. The Kawai, being a stage piano, is designed to make it easy to control other external devices and give easy access to the hundreds of built-in sounds. The Roland has a vocal harmonizer and quite sophisticated accompaniment features (neither of which I use). Both can layer sounds effectively, although the Kawai can layer and control four sounds with ease.

Personally, I would select the FP-7F for home use and learning. It has a great player/sound connection - very expressive and controllable. That said, my previous MP6 was sold to a couple with a young daughter who believed it would be a great instrument for the family to learn on. Personal preference, as always, plays the biggest part in such decisions.

If you can wait, there may be a new Kawai ES7 available later this year, which will be a direct competitor to the FP-7F and will have internal speakers.

That was such a great instrument, Doc. I still don't think any of the CP-70/80 emulations really do it justice.

The CP1 is supposed to be pretty damn close though...

James
x

It is close but like anything it ain't the same ...me want same thing not close thing
It's like CS-80 and Jupiter 8 software emulations ... it's close but ... NO REAL KNOBS !!!!!
Me wants losta knobs