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HisKidd,



Macs (and most Windows PCs) do not require a special driver to function with USB MIDI as one is included with the OS. I believe this is true of all Kawai instruments that feature a USB MIDI port, including the VPC1. It should just be a case of connecting the VPC1 to your Mac using a standard USB A-B cable (included), waiting a few seconds for Mac OS X to install its built-in USB-MIDI driver, then starting your VI/DAW software.

However, thank you for raising this point, as I realise now that this part of the Q&A needs to be clarified further.



I believe this is explained in the owner's manual, and will be covered in a later section of the Q&A once the VPC website goes live. Essentially, pressing and holding the power button, then pressing one of the five lowermost black keys selects the preset memory. By default, these are assigned to the different 'approved touch curves' that ship with the instrument, but these can also store key velocity offset information, and settings related to MIDI channels and routing.



Yes, if you're using the VPC1 to control virtual piano software running on a PC, it's likely that the computer will be close by. However, there may be a situation whereby the computer is located elsewhere, but you still need to access different preset memories to select alternative MIDI routings etc.

Alternatively, if you're using a Mac and wish to change from the 'Default' touch curve to one of the built-in 'approved' touch curves, it will be necessary to use the button+keyboard procedure mentioned above. Note that you would only need to do this once as the previously selected memory is recalled each time the VPC1 is turned on.

Finally, while the VPC1 is intended primarily for use with virtual piano software, there may be scenarios where you use the board to control an external sound module or semi-weighted instrument such as a Nord or Korg etc. Perhaps you've set up different touch curves, velocity offsets, or MIDI channel/routing settings for a variety of devices - in this case, the button+keyboard combination allows the five memories to be selected without the need for a computer.



Again, the VPC1 will function perfectly with a Mac using either standard MIDI IN/OUT cables or a USB cable using OS X's built-in USB-MIDI driver. Not being able to use the VPC Editor should not affect Logic or GarageBand etc.

I hope this clarifies things for you.

Kind regards,
James
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Great stuff, thanks for posting the link!

The interviewer (Stephen Fortner, editor of Keyboard Magazine) certainly sounded impressed by the action+sound connection.

Cheers,
James
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You're absolutely right, however for the time being, the VPC Editor software is Windows only.

It could perhaps be argued that Windows users by their nature are more inclined to 'tweaking' than Mac users, and that the inclusion of 'approved touch curves' built into the VPC1 should negate the need for such adjustments.

However, the fact remains that Mac users make up a sizeable proportion of virtual piano players, so we need to find a way to make the VPC Editor available for OS X.

Kind regards,
James
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Doesn't apply to this Mac user, and will 'approved touch curves' cover our little red ones? Sure I'd like to tweak!

I'm not sure I follow you.

James
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Good point. The default 'Normal' touch curve should work absolutely fine with the Nord Piano Library (it's what I've bee using on the MP8II to control my Electro), but a properly prepared touch curve would certainly be the icing on the cake.

Cheers,
James
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Okay, time to call it a night. It's been a busy day of fielding queries across multiple forums, responding to PMs, and supporting the press coverage.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

Cheers,
James
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Hi James,

Thanks for the respons:

1) I understand from your remarks that the curve of the VPC is so little that is a non-issue. Good to know ! Padding most people can provide for themselves. A nice fitting Kawai laptop pad would be welcome, but I fully understand that it's beyond the scope of Kawai making DP's and not all kind of (3rd party) accessories .

2) Mac editor. We'll see what comes out in the future. At least the controller works out of the box as it should with both Mac and pc and for touch control die hards you could use e.g. parallels or boot camp in the meantime.

3) Music Rest. Point taken. It's just that when you compare the extra translucent rest of the ES7 to the basic steel or iron rest of the mp6/ VPC , with a little bit more effort a rest could have been made for the VPC that at least looks a bit better and fits well to the otherwise classy design. Perhaps when the VPC becomes a big selling hit, it will be profitable enough to provide something like that as an extra accessoiry...

Anyway - I think Kawai succeeded in filling a gap in the DP/controller market where until now only products like Numa Nero resided. No secret that not everyone particularly liked these boards. Well done, few small side notes / suggestions (as always).

James, thank you for your most helpful answers to so many questions. I appeciate your taking the time to render excellent service. I am a Kawai devotee, and have always found Kawai to be be customer friendly. Perhaps this is the result of being a family business. As a prospective buyer of the VPC, your insights and explanations are invaluable. I'll stay tuned for all we learn in the coming days about the VPC1.
Regards!
H.K.

+1 to that HisKidd! Thanks KJ for your insight and support!

+1

Reading about the Kawai VPC, I recognised quite some smart minimalist Apple-like design choices (lack of Mac-software editor support not being one of them).

The VPC will be a real winner i.m.h.o. (given the price is right)!

James, don't you think ALL stage pianos score bad on this? The main issue I think is all the cables (pedal, midi, speaker, power,...). Below is Gatsbee13's picture from NAMM. What is the WAF score on this set-up?

I rather think the clean and shiny design of the VPC is true to Kawai's DNA of being an excellent acoustic piano maker. I love the looks of the VPC as I think it looks very elegant. Well done Kawai!!!

Although the VPC looks a lovely product and I am sure the piano action will be superb, I feel that the combination of weight (rather heavy), price (pretty expensive) and lack of modulation/pitch wheels will make it a slow seller. I have an MP10 which is great and I also have all the VST piano software as flagged up as optimised for the VPC. I can say that the basic default settings on the MP10 seem to be absolutely fine with all this piano software and I never had the need to tweak anything. Maybe I have not understood the subtlety of the whole thing but I think that may be the same for many other people too. The VPC will not be suitable as the sole studio keyboard and obviously will not suit any player wanting to gig without a computer. For the player wanting to gig with computer set up then they have to be happy to carry a heavy piece of gear around.

The new Casio PX-5s on the other hand looks ideal for gigging, is very light to carry and is much cheaper. It also has built-in sounds and lots of keyboard controller features. Undoubtedly the Kawai will have a better key action but the new Privia action is already winning praise and is likely to be good enough for many gigging/studio players.

Kawai's decision to omit modulation wheel/pitch bend and the overall weight of the product will I think lose many customers. I am also very surprised to hear about the lack of Apple OS compatibility.

Overall I am surprised about these shortcomings and feel uncertain about the likely commercial success therefore.

Yes, I also cringed a little upon seeing that picture! Not the tidiest of setups - looks like the plastic shipping caps are still on the pedals too. However there appear to be three sets of headphones being used (?), which isn't a typical setup, and I expect most of the cabling could be tidied/pinned to improve the appearance.

The point I was trying to make is that the VPC1 is more classically styled and 'piano-like' than other controllers, especially without all the knobs, faders, and button etc.

Cheers,
James
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Hi funkycornwall,



I appreciate the point you're making. I also don't really believe this board will be flying off the shelves (it's too heavy for one...), however I'm hopeful that it will become something of a 'slow burner'. The number of players gravitating towards virtual piano software will surely continue to grow in future. And with its superior keyboard action and approval from the major developers, the VPC1 is well positioned to become the 'go to' board for such applications. A niche market, certainly, but one that is expanding.



Yes, the MP10's 'Normal' touch curve is already very well suited to a number of the popular virtual piano packages. This is perhaps because some developers utilise a Kawai MP to create their software. However, as I mentioned earlier, the approved touch curves are the extra layer of icing on what is already a pretty delcious cake. During testing for the VPC1, many players had the chance to play both the 'Normal' touch curve and the 'approved' touch curve for each package, with the majority preferring the connection of the 'approved' touch. This was obviously true for the developers too, who had access to VPC1 prototypes during the development of the board.



I believe this depends on the musician, and obviously the kind of music they're recording/composing. If the lack of controls does transpire to be an issue, an inexpensive MIDI surface or synth can be added very easily.



Again, I believe this depends on the individual. The VPC1 obviously isn't as portable as a Nord, however if the performer really demands the best keyboard action, I'm sure the'll find a way to accommodate the extra weight. The MP8/MP10 are also heavy boards, but it's not uncommon to see such instruments as part of a professional player's live setup...and the VPC1 is lighter than both.



I agree, the new Casio PX-5S offers a very impressive package (although I'm personally not crazy about the two-tone looks...) at a great price and weight. However beyond the number of keys, I don't really see any relationship to the VPC1. The two boards occupy quite different segments of the market in my opinion.



Yes, the lack of pitchbend/modulation wheel is undoubtedly a controversial decision. It's a deal-breaker for some, but of little concern for others.



Yes, this is a disappointment. But not being able to use the VPC Editor software on OS X shouldn't prevent Mac-owning virtual piano players from enjoying the VPC1 with the board's built-in approved touch curves.



Well, this remains to be seen. The response so far has been mixed, but judging from the amount of discussion online, there's little doubting that the VPC1 is quite an interesting product. Despite your somewhat negative tone, I do appreciate reading your comments, especially as I know you're an experienced musician. It just remains for me to say keep on enjoying your MP10.

Cheers,
James
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James,

I think it has to do with this:

Played the VPC this afternoon. It feels similiar to the MP10...nice. It was hooked up to Ivory in the Kawai booth and monitored through phones (not very good ones btw). Again both nice sound and action although I was getting quite a bit of latency with the sound to action connection. Much more so then just a regular DP. I don't know if that can be adjusted or what...that's above my pay grade.

That new CS-10 was very nice ! Aside from the 9' Shigeru, my favorite keyboard in the room.

Hi Dave, thank you for your post.

I'm not sure why you experienced latency with the VPC and laptop. As far as I'm aware it was a brand new computer with a good quality audio interface and fresh installations of the four piano packages. But I'll certainly pass on your comments to my colleagues working at the booth.

Good to hear your thoughts about the CS10 too. This is a new, improved version of the CS9, featuring the latest sound/action technology from the CA95. As other American forum regulars may know, the CS9 was not marketed in the US, so the appearance of the CS10 at NAMM should be warmly received.

Somewhat further off topic, but did you try the new GX grands? This is a new models that will succeed the RX range, and feature a number of the improvements introduced with the new Shigeru instruments last year.

Cheers,
James
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Ah, I see. Thanks.

James
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For some time now, I have been daydreaming and breamstorming with my dad, an inventor aged 72, about building a unique audiophile-grade digital Grand (which does not exist to the present day, that is also taking the N3 and V-grand into account). I imagine the VPC could be a great starting point for this project...