Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Strange issue with Kawai ES7 is back....

Hello,

A few months ago I reported a strange issue with my Kawai ES7 HERE which caused some keys to be played at full sound, unfortunately today after upgrading to the lastest firmware v1.15, the issue is back.

After some test I decided to go back to the v1.13 and the issue is gone, worth say this issue is present in the v1.14 firmware too.

So I dont know if my unit is broken, or there is some troubles with firmware maybe just for some piano models, because as I said, if I use the v1.13 my DP works flawless.

I appreciate any help regarding this issue,
Regards

An upgrade should resolve issues, not create them. I don`t think my piano does upgrades. Rather glad about that. . .

Kromen, can you say categorically that the issue is caused by the software update?

A number of other ES7 owners on this forum applied the update successfully, and have yet to report a problem.

I wonder if the issue is hardware related (the sensors of certain keys are not registering the correct value), and that the recent software update is just a coincidence.

Either way, this is best handled by your Kawai dealer.

Kind regards,
James
x

I might go a step further and report this to the Kawai corporation. Things like this can be very useful to them. They will be able to pinpoint the differences between the various upgrades and it might give them some valuable insight into an ongoing issue.

Your description of the problem in the original thread strongly suggests that its original cause is some sort of intermittent hardware fault, especially this comment: "I tested it with same results, transposing the keyboard and with outside sounds using and iPad with iGrand, same loudness / muted key behavior."

It *might* be the case that some ES7 firmware versions handle unexpected sensor data more gracefully than others, but I believe you'll end up needing a technician to examine the piano if you want to find the root cause of the problem.

If downgrading back to v1.13 really and truly solves the problem, that's a decent workaround, provided you can live without the fairly modest fixes in the subsequent firmware versions.

Hello,

Thank you all for your answers.

Now regarding this issue, It started to show when I upgraded to 1.14 which I bypass downgrading to v1.13, but after I upgrade my unit to lastest firmware (1.15) the issue comeback. The only solution to it was use the firmware v1.13 which complete fix it.

Now as slowtraveler suggest it might be some sensor thing in my unit because both updates modify keys balance, or could be a firmware issue (who knows : /)

The simpler way to reproduce this issue (at least in my unit) using the firmware v1.15 is:

Press and hold the G4 and C5, now while holding both keys press the B4, this key should play at full sound.

This can also be produced using B4 and E5, and while pressing this keys play the flat E5 (again mid tone below) and this should be played at full sound with no sensitivity.

* Worth say it shows on any octave

Regards,
Kromen

To clarify, you're saying that if ES7 users select the 'Concert Grand' (or other sounds?), press and hold G4 and C5 (at any volume?), then play B5 with pianissimo, the B5 will atually be heard at full volume?

I will check this for myself on Tuesday, but in the meantime, perhaps other ES7 owners can try the same combination.

Kromen, it would be useful if you could post an audio recording of what you're experiencing for reference, and to ensure that we're playing the same G4/C5/B5 notes,

Kind regards,
James
x

I just tried this, using a fresh install of v1.15, factory default settings, and the Concert Grand voice. My ES7 definitely does *not* do what Kromen is describing. Both B4 and B5 (or, in his other example, the sharp D5) respond to input velocity in a completely normal manner when the other keys are depressed. The only unusual thing I noticed is that the string resonance function causes C5 to sound at a low volume when B4 is struck, but I assume this is an expected behavior.

For the record, the symptoms that Kromen is describing in this thread are not exactly the same as he described in the original thread on this subject. Regardless, this is clearly a hardware problem, guys.

Cheers,

Ben

Thanks for checking Ben.

Yes, I agree it's most likely a hardware-related problem, and should therefore be taken-up with the dealer.

Cheers,
James
x

Thank you guys for your time to try it.



Yes, Just a fix, it should be B4 (C5 flat) played with pianissimo while still holding G4 and C5. Also as I commented (in my unit) it happen on every octave and with any sound no just Concert Grand Piano.

It also happen using the same procedure but with B4 and E5, then play E5 flat.

UPDATE: I been re-flashing my unit with latest firmware v1.15 and after some tests my unit its working flawless WITH v1.15 so as you guys suggests it must be some hardware issue in my unit :(, the strange thing is that v1.13 no matter how many times I flash it, it just no present the issue in my unit.

Best Regards,
Kromen

These sorts of intermittent problems are so frustrating. It might end being something as simple as a loose connector on a board somewhere, but it's very tough to pin down.

Best of luck resolving this!

Indeed Ben. I will keep an eye on my unit the following days, hopefully the issue wont show again, in the meanwhile I will contact my dealer and try to set a revision.

Once again, thank you all for your help and best wishes

Regards,
Kromen