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Anyone have their own view of what you might expect in the DP world at NAMM 2015 ?

I'll start with my own:

http://youtu.be/02yKPDdAJWY

Just about nails it. Physis is however out for a while here in Europe , but doesn't seem to be a hot seller (yet). More a niche product for a niche market. Availability is also an issue; not many shops carry it...

To sum it up for stage/ performance instruments:

Casio ; new Privia PX6S - with enhanced sound, half-damping support and expression pedal input

Roland; new RD400(?) with PHAIV standard keys to replace the aging RD300NX. Possible surprises: finally a new workstation-like instrument with 256 v polyphony and full Integra sound engine, perhaps enhanced with some synth technology of their new DJ series instruments. And at last perhaps an enhanced Integra ; 256 voices and much better suited for live performance (that would be very nice for many people).

Korg: SV2

Yamaha: new workstation ?? Probably not...and the CP4 will stay for a while.

Kurzweil: nothing new since Forte, just a repackaged PC3 (PC3A8). Could be they extend the Forte range with a Forte7

Clavia: Nord Stage 2 successor (Nord Stage 3 or under another name)

Kawai: nothing new in the stage line (VPC2 with GF highly unlikely , but who knows...). A surprise perhaps an RH3 based piano controller (VPC3?) for more portability and lower budget, but that's just guessing (or whishing).

Behringer (not really piano) : new synth prototype or info - no production ready device yet.

Physis: continuation of the K4/5 and H series.

If a Vpc2 is at the Namm,any idea how long it will be before it's available in England .I think it was months before a vpc1 was available .
I was going to purchase a Vpc1 tomorrow until this post appeared ,thanks Chuck your predictions might be spot on.

I think perhaps a new Roland - upgrades to current 300/700

Yamaha- perhaps a P115 but probably not until the fall.

-Yamaha another workstation

Korg- wishful thinking SP300. Some sport of DP with Krome Piano sounds and rhodes- essentially a trimmed down Krome 88 with speakers (wishful RP3)

I'm currently considering getting the Kawai ES7. Might an ES8 (or similar) be immanent? That would be annoying!

There is another big thread already on that topic.
Second, i bet for something new in pianos from kawai and roland.

Maybe the new CA series or rolands FP with PHAIV action

I would expect ES8 with the new RH3 action appear sooner or later. Maybe updated CA series. VPC1 is still highly demanded, no point to replace it now.

A standalone tri-pedal unit from Casio.

Greg.
p.s Not really.

My lips are sealed, but I'm loving all the prognostication.

Jay

If anybody remembers the "backward masking" when it was claimed that if you played certain records backward, the singer was saying something entirely different from what the song was when played forward...

We will discover that "Roland", when said backwards, sound like "Kawai" and they are really different parts of the same company. Since the letters involved are cleverly disguised to not match up accordingly, you have to listen very carefully to a recording of the company names being pronounced backwards. This discovery will be made public at NAMM by yet another company in an effort to interrupt any new product announcements by either company.

Of course, in the years to follow, there will be substantial proof provided to show that the whole thing was a hoax and it was just Paul walking across the street barefoot again.

Tony

Agree, not sure about VPC2 with GF. However a designer stand for VPC1 (a la ES7) would be a nice addition.

Also it would be great to see Kawai adding Shigeru EX samples on their DPs (alongside the regular EX). Something similar than what Yamaha did with the Bosie / CFX samples in their recent CLP line.

Finally I'd love to see a major DP manufacturer release a VST. This may be too far-fetched now given the marginal market for VST vs fully-packaged keyboards.

Cheers,
C

In other words, don't go out and buy like a RD300 NX for example, but wait a few weeks?

Not sure how valid this is???

I highly doubt the validity of that. This is the "official" Nord preview (below) for their new 2015 release (and while its purposely blurred, dark and hard to see, one thing for certain is that is has a large(er) LCD display now):

Why would they put both wheels and a joystick? I think one is photo shopped.

The Casio XW synths have been out for awhile now. I'm thinking they are due for an update.
The main question will be for me is "Will it have an expression pedal?.
I own an XW-P1 and its a glaring omission, especially for the draw bar organ.

In other words, my lips are sealed, but I'm loving all the prognostication.

Jay

If lips are sealed, then that must mean there's something to be spilled!
Spill the beans, dear Jay, for I dare not prognosticate!

Or there is nothing special from Roland.
But he is playing well.
Bravo Jay!

A kind of off-topic question here.

The Nord Lead A1 came around spring 2014, and it seems like there won't be a new Lead at NAMM. Anyone have any predictions for a Lead 5 or Lead A2 timing? I want to buy, but would hate to buy right before a new product being released.

Ahh... a poker player! You must have something in that hand that you're betting on...

V-Piano 2? Hot/cold?

V-piano2 in the console cabinet

Somebody is peeking!?!

Not even a hint.

NAMM is always fun because of the speculation that every manufacturer is SUPPOSED to be producing and releasing the EXACT instrument that they have been pleading for in Internet Forums since the LAST release in that series.

Then once NAMM comes around,there's the inevitable wanking about what brand x did and didn't do, and how brand XX KNEW that brand X was releasing this, and why didn't they respond? And how Brand X REALLY missed the mark with such and such a feature set and how NO ONE will buy any of this stuff....

Meanwhile, I'm staying busy selling lots of this stuff to happy customers....

A.K.A. "Just another NAMM Show"

Jay

Don't forget brand XXX; that one really sucks!

Really? I thought most healthy adults like XXX

OMG!

Pun intended?

My main NAMM prediction:

1. I'm going to hear about much great new gear that I want.
2. My wife is going to again tell me "no", that I can't have any of it.

Exactly that !

Don't feel bad, Pete. You're not alone!

The secret is you'll have to convince her you will fund your quest for the latest and greatest by selling off your PX-3 and RD800.

@PianoManChuck - how many of the boards in your stable do you keep at any one time?

No VPC2 at NAMM.

I got told by a high profile Kawai employer.

And now he will do seppuku, and you will be killed by a ninja whom will never be found

But what if I am the ninja?

Oh man, you haven't figured out how to pay for and get gear into the house without the Mrs noticing? I really need to write my guide..

It's really not that tough...

Does it involve selling blood to get the funds off book?

OK, so the big winter show is almost over, and so those of us not in the know what to know -- how well did your predictions work out? Anyone guess right on the money? And more importantly, were there any striking or revolutionary announcements made during this winter NAMM?

Some nice news and products in the synthesis area, but not much going on with digital pianos, the consoles in particular. However, Kawai has refreshed the CA95 and 65 to CA97 and 67. They were nice to begin with and now have the GF2 action.

Slab pianos, nothing new with the exception of the Nord Electro 5 which adds different range of keyboard, low E, a better screen, sympathetic resonance in the Piano section and more Piano sample memory.

Otherwise largely a dud year for us.

No complains about NAMM15 here.

There's enough pianos out there as is.

Though I would like to see Kawai compete in the £5-6k market.

I spotted some videos featuring the new Casio range PX 60 and Celviano AP-60 console series, but I get the impression it is some smaller changes/updates, nothing that would make me feel worthy of a upgrade anyway ( for me personally ).

Main things when comparing the AP-450 versus AP-460, as for the smaller cabinet versions PX-850 versus PX-860

Hall simulator with added reverb effects such as church cathedral, versus the 4 basic settings on the older models.

Improved other sounds, strings and so on.

An accompaniment/lesson feature where you can play along with recordings of an orchestra.

As far as I can tell from the vids and specs ( what to me are the important bits ) the sound system, action and piano samples are the same as before.

Myself, I was hoping for the successor to the Roland RD-300NX stage piano as I have friends who are interested in this, but alas, it was not to be this time around.

Not NAMM specific, but Keyboard Mag did a nice review of the Yamaha U1TA.
Keyboard Mag U1TA Review

They've been chatting on it in the acoustic piano forum, but this of course crosses borders.

These predictions were on the money.





...and even an SK-5!

Cheers,
James
x

At NAMM Arturia is showing their new AudioFuse 24/192 audio interface and their new Beatstep pro controller/sequencer along with all software products and the Keylab series controllers. If you have a chance to check out the AudioFuse do it as its a really innovative product in this segment.

Exciting things so far on the board front include the DSI (now back to Sequential Circuts) Prophet 6 and the amazing Modulus Synth (best board since the JP-80).

ProTools 12 is previewed also.

Yep, check out this video: Kawai CA67 Demo. Wow! I want!

I'm not sure if everyone feels the same way, but to me it seems that the only company that is moving the DP industry forward right now is Kawai. Every other company just appear to not care much for it. For example Yamaha only introduced very minor upgrades (only polyphony upgrade) to the new P115. It can hardly be called a step forward. Kawai on the other hand has a CA67 with Grand Feel 2. IMO Kawai just looks for ways to introduce enough enhancements in short periods of time to make customers notice them.

At NAMM this year maybe, but you are overlooking the other major music trade shows that occur later in the year, and also not all new products are announced and released at trade shows anyway. Take Casio, Roland and Yamaha timeline on new announcements over the last couple of years as a rebuttal.