dewster, fear not...it will have MIDI.

Dewster:
a) For the large format scanner, if you can't get the PC repaired, have you tried advertising a "Wanted" ad to buy another PC from that era?

b) How much did that HP scanner cost for your father's PC? If it's expensive, can you just leave it attached to a PC running XP, and treat that XP PC as part of the scanner?

c) Can you install a PCI parallel port adaptor? If not, if why can't you use old PCs with that equipment, if that equipment is important to you? Why should old equipment have to support new computers?

d) Re: the Echo MIA, again - if it's that important, keep an old PC for it. I have an M-Audio Delta 66 (PCI based), and I doubt that it's supported any more either. It's a nice card, and it's still in an old white-box running XP.
CORRECTION: Yes, my Delta IS still supported up to Win7, although I doubt whether I'll be buying any more desktop PCs with a PCI interface - I don't even know whether desktops still have PCI.
EDIT: Hang on, the MIA is supported up to Win7, according to this: http://echoaudio.com/pages/windows-drivers Is that correct? If so, why are you worried about XP support? If you can't upgrade the OS because of your applications, why can't you keep using the apps you have on XP, with a version of the XP driver that works with those apps?

Greg.

Now hold on, aren't you violating some kind of NAMM secrecy act?

XP won't be patched for built-in MS security holes, etc. It's really not an option to run it at some point at a non-profit on a flaky PC after MS drops support. I do a bit of PC repair on the side and old PCs are the absolute worst and most expensive to maintain. Youngsters who use it kind of expect an update now and then.


Thanks for doing that research for me! It's been so long since they updated drivers I thought ECHO had gone out of business. Hmm, searching for "echo" at Sweetwater brings no hits for them which is weird. Three of their units at ZZounds, a couple more at B&H. Maybe not looking so good for support lasting longer than the hardware I own and paid $100 for (and it works really well). Anyway, there's tons of moldering but perfectly good HW in garbage dumps due to "improved" SW and orphaned products due to lack of driver support. I'm starting to really hate proprietary OSes and applications - too much churn on the user side and for what, profit? Don't get me wrong, I'm not an anti-advancement luddite.


Because it's networked. Next you'll be telling me to remove it from the network, which isn't really possible when thumb drives and such from other PCs which can be carrying viruses, malware, and other infections. MS products are a huge "kick me" sign for malware.

You're exactly right - I was indeed going to suggest removing the old PCs from the network, and to use thumb drives. (I'd still do it - I've never had a virus and I would take that risk. I agree that it's a bit much to ask of that non-profit organisation though)

Btw - I forgot to say initially - I do think it sux that the HP didn't release drivers for Win7. (especially if it's a high end scanner - less so if it's a cheap one)

Greg.

I actually bought the Society a smaller format HP at the same time for higher resolution picture scans (the Epson only does 600dpi) and for negatives, etc. The HP cost slightly less, but was always a total dog. HP could not make a good driver at the time and I'm afraid to try them now from recent multifunction installation horror stories. My original HP Deskjet was quite the printing champ though, and my ancient HP calculator is still working, though all of the newer ones have failed - how the mighty have fallen. Those guys used to literally own the engineering world.

I see that XP is still supported for security updates, and will be up until 18-Apr-2014: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?ln=en-gb&c2=1173

EDIT: Just saw your most recent reply. Ok. (nothing to add, but thanks for the info)

Greg.

Very true, and I'm really sorry if I gave anyone the impression otherwise. But the writing is on the wall and I'm feeling the pressure.

I have a very different opinion here. I've been around computers my whole life (edit: well, most of my working life), and I remember the days of extremely expensive mini-computers and mainframes. I am continually AMAZED at how cheap everything has become now, and of course the performance is just mind boggling. I think the home computing & internet revolution has been absolutely fantastic, and we've been absolutely spoilt rotten.

One thing you have to take into account is the price savings when you buy a peripheral for a general purpose PC, as opposed to buying a standalone item that has all the software, keyboard, and screen inbuilt. For example, just imagine how much your FPGA programmers would have cost if they were like that. Look on the bright side as well.

Greg.

Spammers!

Oh James, you're letting me curious about everything. LOL
But, you're right, you're letting us have a nice surprise. Well, at least, I'm waiting for a really nice surprise.

I have zoomed in on the Ivory II label and I am able to somehow recognize the word "Approved" in front of the "VPC 1", however there are some words beneath which are more difficult to see. Maybe Kawai something... KawaiGrand?

WAY OFF TOPIC, SORRY
So you are english and from Norwich!! Funny, my hometown team is fighting with yours about some spanish forward (Aspas) if I'm not wrong.

About brazilian music, that I love: browse Trattore Records, a company which holds many independent producers together. This is the most representative of current brazillian music of any genre. And looking for some soul/funk blended with bossa, samba or whatever root music, you'll find a lot there.
I've made a good spotify list if you'd like.
Names: Alexandre Grooves, The Sapotones, Bojo, Lenine, Osmar Milito, Maniva, Tania Maria...
Brazil is a world in itself. But that's just for music. Football is ours

mabraman, yep I'm from Norwich - pride of Anglia.
Your hometown club...Reading? So you're not a Spaniard then?
I just looked up Aspas - plays for Celta Vigo, right? Might be worth a punt.

Thank you for the music recommendations too - wow lots more names to check out, however right now I'm supposed to be planning a Breakestra-style funk/soul mash-up ahead of a band practise tomorrow morning.

Cheers,
James
x

Uuups, then it's Reading and not Norwich who wants Aspas. Sorry. And yes, I'm a spaniard (hard to be proud of, these times). End of my off-topic here.
By the way, that VPC looks terrific!
I want one of those when I'm grown

@Dewster:

WIFI ?? No dongles required. It proofed downward compatible so far (a,b,g,n,...)

OFF TOPIC...

I disagree... there's a lot of good things on football... really nice ones. And our food is really really nice. Like Japanese too, but prefer Brazilian. Did you came here?
And in music, you have a point... good musicians too. Do you listen to Maria Rita, Elis Regina, Torquato Neto & Zimbo Trio, Guilherme Arantes, Ivan Lins? They're really good too. I really love love love Ivan Lins's music...

(sorry - more spamming, but...)

Despite the fact that I feel good how home computing has evolved, my eyebrows are definitely in the "raised" position regarding DPs, and I think what Dewster has been saying all along has a lot of substance.

I also am not saying that everything is perfect in home computing either - Microsoft & Apple execs could probably price stuff lower and drive around in Boxters instead of 911's no doubt. ;^) However, I do think things are pretty fantastic nevertheless.

Greg.

This may be the "proving ground." Having seen where Korg (and maybe Yamaha - we'll know this week) is going, Kawai may be testing out new high-end software, prior to building it into future DPs. It presumably takes a lot of effort to produce a stable and well-integrated multi-gigabyte DP, and possibly, at this stage, this was the only way to produce something competitive. It could well be a question of "watch this space."

High-end controller (in terms of keybed) and the sample set in all its glory ported over to a third party licensed software bundle (Ivory in this case, others did it with Kontakt player). Nice job.

Think this will be where it's going anyway in the future, build in stuff will eventually stay too far behind, be too slow to continuously update and to expensive to develop. I think Korg Kronos and such may even be the last efforts in that all-in-one direction and after perhaps a few more updated models be phased out in favor of the 'separate hardware / software ' approach . If cleverly done of course and there is still a lot of progress to be made in terms of user experience, ease of use and setup, reliability etc. If Kawai brings out a hard- software package as complete solution, they jump ahead and skip the temporary approach some others have chosen with rewritable flash rom.

We'll see...

Computing costs are way down these days, particularly in the embedded spaced, so that really isn't much of an issue anymore.

There's no practical reason I can think of that keeps Kawai and Ivory from getting together and making a fabulous DP. Plenty of boneheaded management reasons I can think of though.

+1

K.

I've been waiting for something like this for a long time, having tried all the usual suspects that claim to have a "piano like" action! I tried an MP10 last year and was blown away by it. I was about to order one when I read Kawai James hint in another thread about controllers that we should "wait". So I have been ever since... roll on NAMM I say!

Ooops. Did I say that?

Now I can see a Pianoteq Icon next to Ivory II on the teaser.

Is it new, then we should see some more to come probably ...

Galaxy? Kawai EX?

What a nice puzzle game we all let ourselves infected with...

So, how soon before we can get the announcements? Do they tend to do press releases a day before NAMM opens or right on the first morning of the conference? Or do they trickle it throughout the event?

Temperament, I'm glad you're enjoying the teasers. ;p

But it makes a refreshing change compared to Kawai's usual silence, wouldn't you say?

Acca, the official announcement is planned for NAMM. I'm not entirely sure exactly what time/date this will happen, but I hope to have the website up and running in time for the show opening. Press releases have already been sent out to various different news outlets, although with so many new products being released from a number of companies, there's no guarantee that the information will be selected for coverage.

In the meantime, I set up a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kawaivpc , and intend to post NAMM-related updates as and when they happen.

Cheers,
James
x

Regardless what the precise outcome will be in terms of

1) embedded software (build-in mini PC),
2) included software,
3) included sample sets (Kawai EX?)
4) or merely extended integrated support for the popular software Piano's around

I applaud the direction Kawai is taking with this approach. It is long due and it seems one company finally decided to listen (instead of ignore) the many pleads around for a more modern implementation of the idea of a digital piano. Fixed build-in (tiny) rompler configurations should really become a blast from the past and a more open highly flexible software based approach is sooo much more 2013, be it embedded or in terms of carefully designed software packages and/or third party support. Piano companies can still sell many units of the core of its products where they are the best; good hardware (keys, cabinet, speaker/soundboard system).

Anyway, I'm repeating myself. Just am happy something interesting comes up...

Yes, Kawai is clearly listening to customers. People have been begging here for a good MIDI controller for years and no one has provided it. Hopefully this will be the answer.

Hey I registered just to ask a question in this thread

I have a rather silly concern regarding controllers of any kind. The wires.

So my question would be if the controller is "standard" in that regard, i.e it's a controller that is interfaced via midi to a PC running some sort of DAW software or if it is a little bit more clever.

The reason is that I really don't like the mess of wires the traditional setup causes.

You have midi from the controller to the PC. You have two power bricks or power leads, you have to route the sound from the PC back to where the controller is so you need a sound interface or preamp etc.

This usually discourages me from using a controller + module or controller + DAW on PC setup because I'd rather use it all in one board than clutter my living space with all of that wiring.

Can you tell me anything regarding that aspect?