I've posted here and there inquiring about what direction to go in as far as upgrading. I'm quickly approaching the point where the key action on my M-audio controller is holding my playing back, so the search started for an upgrade. Whether to go acoustic 'now', or continue down the digital path was the question.

I looked at Yamaha CLP270's, and a floor model CLP175, which on my first visit did impress me... multiple visits however proved the keyboard not to really be to my liking, and it's assets (built in speakers), I simply had no use for. And the cost of it, seeing that I could get a decent upright for the same, was also detrimental.

The local guitar center had a used Kawai CA-X, which I played and really found the action to be to my liking.. a bit on the heavier side as far as DPs go, and reasonably quick key response. I read that these have the same action in them that the 8 does. So, between this, and what I've heard / read about the MP8 was enough to make me order one. It having a mod and pitch wheel means that I won't miss anything by selling / trading in my current keyboard.

Another issue which made me decide to stick with digital for the time being is the fact that any and every acoustic I've really been impressed with happened to be way out of my current price range. The day will come when I do get one... but now is not that time, for financial and space reasons.

Nothing wrong with long term goals .

I'm already plotting and scheming a DIY desk with built in 3 page sheet music rack... pics will be made available, well, when I get it.

So now, my key setup will be the MP8, using its own sounds and / or controlling Ivory, Atmosphere, Sonik Synth, Sampletank, Garritan Personal Orchestra, Dimension, and a truckload of freeware VSTs, through a set of Mackie HR824s. One could certainly do worse

Nice. I'm sure you'll "make do" with that junky thing. Just kidding. Good choice.

I'm still waiting for my ESX to get here from eBay. It won't do what the MP8 can, but I'm pretty good at pretending I'm cool like you guys. Hehehe.

OntheWeb

Wow, an MP8 with a pair of Mackie 824s! One could do worse. I love the sound with a pair of Behringer Truths, so I can imagine!

Once your setup is complete, make sure you send us a pic on this link:

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/6/3000.html

Bravo!
Claude

So after a few days with it, I can truly say I'm impressed. Granted, what I stepped up from is quite easy to surpass in the world of true DP's, but the feel of this piano is simply wonderful, and surpasses anything else I've tried out in the digital realm (including the clp175).

The most striking thing is how much more velocity sensitive it is than others I've played... you can play this thing very lightly, and its perfectly responsive... it also takes more emphasis to get the louder tones (or, max midi velocity) than I'm used to... which I actually like.

The stock piano sounds are pretty good... still not as good as Ivory in my opinion, but they do a reasonably good job. Some of the other stock tones are quite good as well.

This is a very well built unit, heavy, and seemingly quite rugged. If you're looking around in this price range, you really owe it to yourself to check one out.

Hey atropos,

so glad you're enjoying your DP. Your experience is very similar to mine. Except of course I wouldn't mind being hooked up to a pair of Mackies 824 as you are, but still...

You're quite right about the response/touch sensitivity, that is common to Kawai DPs. Check out the brass, sax and guitar sounds that come with the unit, they are really good, as well as the female scat...

Enjoy!

Claude