Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Kawai 'Virtual Technician' iPad app now available

Good afternoon chaps,

A new 'Virtual Technician' iPad app is now freely available from the Appstore, allowing Kawai CN25/CN35 and CP1/CP2/CP3 owners to adjust their instrument's Virtual Technician parameters from an attractive touch interface.

https://itunes.apple.com/app/virtual-technician/id948579667

If you're an owner of one of the supported models, please give the app a try and feel free to leave your comments below.

Kind regards,
James
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Cool!

I like to have the app for my android tablet and MP7/11 compatible. :-)

Might be handy for CN25 owners since they don't have any sort of built in display, but unless it allows you to do anything you can't already do through the DP's UI, I don't see how this would be worth the hassle of plugging in an iPad.

Give the app the ability to precisely create your own touch curve graphically like you can in Pianoteq, and the ability to store, name, and easily recall presets, and you might have something useful.

Looks interesting, but why such a limited range of models? Surely all the CA models deserve such an app? Is this a test run before rolling out apps for other models? I definitely agree that this should be available on Android. The days of Apple monopoly on tablets are long gone. Everybody should develop apps for several platforms (at least the 2 leading ones), or it becomes an alliance that discourages competition. I don't like that.

It looks like Kawai is analyzing their market. It's time consuming and expensive to invest in Software development on multiple platforms, Mac OS, Win, iOS, Android. So they'll see if there is any interest in the application based on how often it's downloaded and feedback from its users. If they find it's a desirable feature or what they call an "added value" and increases Sales of their digital pianos, they'll expand models and platforms. If it doesn't have these desired effects they'll drop it or limit it to one or two operating systems their data says most of their customers use. Generally speaking, the data currently shows that iOS users are desirable customers, they buy products, upgrade, and are willing to pay for good Software or features.

I would certainly hope this app will soon support the MP11 (and MP7). Although it might not technically be needed, why shouldn't we get to enjoy the "attractive touch interface"? (And it does look very nice...)

Hi James, first I'd like to give a big thank you to you and the other members of the Kawai family that made the MP11 possible. I absolutely love it and find it compares quite well to my teacher's Steinway and Baldwin pianos.

I'd like to echo the request for MP11 support. One of the main reasons I purchased an iPad was the community of audio application developers for it and that extra audio input + fader on the MP11 for a total of 4 layers. Having this app would be so much nicer than navigating the LCD screen. Don't get me wrong, the interface of the MP11 is well thought out but a touchable UI with instructions and diagrams really helps understand how the changes affect the overall sound. Even if it's only initial support for the Piano layer I'd be happy with that, it's the main reason I purchased the MP11 after all.

I have a few nascent projects with Lemur to attempt what is already done here by Kawai and I'm sure they know their SysEx codes much more comprehensively than ever could. I'd eventually like to be able to switch settings for layers and also do midi playback (piano player style) from the iPad.

The idea to save/load technician profiles is a good one and I think would encourage community support of emulating sound/styles of various other keybeds/instruments.

The ability to set the velocity curve for User 1/User 2 with a touchable curve, much like the adjustments you can do in software like Pianoteq would be wonderful:


Thanks for listening and I hope to someday use this app and provide even more meaningful feedback.

-Brian

Thank you for the suggestions Brian.

Kind regards,
James
x

+1

Why would anyone want to have yet another piece of hardware (ie: iPad / iPhone) to do what you can do on the MP11 / MP7 already? Touch screen capability or not, it just seems quite redundant to me.

I had the same thoughts before reading this post. Agree. Especially MP7/MP11 have easy user-friendly interface and control. I understand if it is for young musicians that have digital pianos in traditional cabinets with tiny screens. But young musicians hardly have MP11 or MP7.

And of course I much prefer real knobs, sliders in MP7/MP11 to any touch screen especially in separate device.

Also would love an Android app for the MP11, or even a Windows app for tweaking it via USB would be even better. Korg's got one for their SV-1.

The iPad and other devices already play a big part in music production/recording/playing, and many of these DP's have MIDI controls so it is inevitable that people are going to be using tablets. Obviously you don't have to use the app but people who will be using their iPad a lot anyway will probably like the idea.

My guess is that Kawai is trying out a new product on a select few models, to nail down the basics and make sure things are working right. I would bet heavily that these apps will be available for the MP series DPs in the future.

But this is just my opinion, which is worth as much as anyone paid for it.

Joe -

Your guess is as good as mine (probably better!) as to what Kawai's business thinking is here ... candidly, if an MP7/11 app were now available that was oriented toward changing "virtual technician" settings, I'd not likely bother to download it. Just one more thing to keep track of, while the ability to change settings right from the MP itself is convenient enough (straightforward and self-contained).

Now ... if it could serve as a "library" to save/store custom SOUNDS and SETUPS and move them around the various button assignments (A, B, C ... 1, 2, 3, etc.) then THAT would be a great timesaver and superb backup support tool.

But for me, to be able to mess with the virtual tech settings on an iPad or Android device - even with pretty graphics - creates an extra step (= less productivity, not more).

My US$0.02 - OneWatt

A quick bump to inform everyone that the Virtual Technician app has been updated to support the new CA97/CA67 models.



Kind regards,
James
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Does anyone have experience with Kawai Virtual Technician on an iPad simulator? Is it possible to control Kawai pianos from the PC that way?

Not for CA95/CA65 models too? Why not? I don't own an iPad so this doesn't really affect me anyway, but it does feel rather like existing owners have been abandoned... didn't the CA95/CA65 come out in late 2012, so only just over 2 years ago? It seems like the CA95/CA65 could actually benefit from this app more than the new models, particular with regard to user presets.

No, I'm afraid not.



I don't believe the CA95/CA65 allow settings to be adjusted externally.



Okay.



I appreciate your point, however 'abandoned' is perhaps a little harsh. I believe you're still able to enjoy your CA95, just as you always have done - today's announcement does not reduce its existing functionality in any way.

Kind regards,
James
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Sweet! Good to see you guys so actively pushing the ability of Digital Pianos.

Any word on when CA97s are going to make it through the Long Beach port? I want mine!