voxpops

Thanks for reminding me about that. I went hunting and found the parameters. That said, I have just now loaded the old PC3 programs, and there are no EQ issues with those triple-strike pianos. It's something that Kurzweil might want to address. One bug that I've found is that on-screen drawbar settings are reversed and that 0=8 and 8=0. I can't understand how that got missed! Nice to be able to load all the old PC3 stuff, which expands the potential hugely, but there's still a lot of OS work to do on the basic SP6 stuff. It feels like it's been rushed through. I was very tempted by the concept of the SP1 - simple and with dedicated volume knobs and line-ins - but having listened to the initial videos, it sounded VERY entry level, and with no workaround for poorly programmed sounds. The SP6 is basically a PC3-lite/light with "benefits." Looking forward to updates form Kurz. Meanwhile, I'll be slogging through all the PC3 material to begin cherry picking.

That's exactly how I "fixed" it, Scott! I think you need to support the board to the outside of the sculpted portion, to allow for better rear support. Key return is fairly fast. Trills and note repetitions are fine. It's really not a bad action at all, although only dual-sensor. So yes, although fairly heavy, it's not sluggish. That is what I am currently missing the most about the SV. The SP6 is OK, but I know I'm playing a computer at the moment. But it's early days, and I need to see what this board can do. It's quite a comprehensive package for not too much cash - just wish it had onboard EQ. Thanks Scott, it certainly has been a while! After moving back across the pond, I got bogged down in all sorts of non-musical things, so stepped away from the forums. Hope to be throwing my two cents in from time to time.

The board is about 52.5" by 15" - not huge for an 88, but fairly chunky in terms of the width from keys to rear.

From memory, it's the 18880, which has the concertina spreader. The noise from the keys sounded as if they were striking the case - or at least some part of the internal housing. You can actually feel the base flex slightly if you place your hands underneath and pick it up off the stand.

So, just this afternoon I took delivery of a new SP6. It replaces a Korg SV-1. It was a real wrench letting that board go, but I wanted a little more sonic variety in my main keyboard. I was also a little tired of the Korg's quirky response at low velocities. I've only spent a few minutes with the SP6, so these are really only initial thoughts and subject to revision. Right from the start I noticed that I was getting a loud key "clacking" sound from an octave and a bit in the lower register. I remembered that someone had pointed out that the board does flex a little, so I took it off my K&M stand and rested it on its ends - sure enough the clacking disappeared. This is indicative of poor design. It's a lightweight board, but large, and the frame or base should be strong enough to support the rest of the unit without flexing. Action is reminiscent of the Privia series, but a little heavier. Someone on the other thread described the feel pretty accurately, IMO, when comparing it to the MP11. Knobs and buttons feel fairly sturdy and up to the task. Screen is clear. Power adapter cable is thin and may need to be supplemented with a spare. (My A/C adapter came with a Euro plug - come on guys, the UK uses completely different plugs!) Piano sound through my EV ZX-A1s is fairly good, but not exceptional. I can confirm that the lower end is a little thin (as others have noted from the videos). EPs are good, maybe with not quite the SV-1's vibe, but they should work fine for what I do, and you can clearly hear the randomized mechanical noises, which add a little extra authenticity. Strings/pads - difficult to find something that isn't slathered in FX and with very slow attack. I'll need to work on these. KB3 - great! Synths - there are some very useful lead patches, and they sound great. That's as far as I've got with it, but I'll try to add some more comprehensive thoughts in a few days time. EDIT: Just updated the system, and that seems to have improved the piano response significantly and there also seems to be a marginal improvement to EQ.

From the quick start guide: FlashPlay technology with support for 2GB of Sound ROM High Definition Japanese Grand Piano and High Definition Electric Piano ROM sounds included from Kurzweils acclaimed PC3 series, KORE64 expansion, and German D Grand EXP Grand Piano expansion New Piano String Resonance Simulation Full KB3 organ simulations with 9 sliders as drawbars 8 Zone MIDI Controller Space for 1024 Factory and 1024 User Programs and Multis (16 Categories of Programs) Arpeggiator with dedicated On/Off button (1 per Program, up to 8 in Multi Mode) MP3 player audio input jack Full 128 voices of polyphony Hundreds of Effects Chains So, one hi-def piano, and (presumably) one hi-def EP, plus the 128MB German D from the Artis. Not bad, IMO.

I've had a couple of Numa pianos and the Numa Organ (v1) - and I live in the States. Studiologic doesn't command a large portion of the keyboard market, but they do have a presence and distribution (AMS, I believe). The main problem with wider acceptance seems to have been the lack of response from the Italian parent when it comes to questions about issues, particularly relating to software.

Yep, whacked pitch bend for about a second-and-a-half at first use after nearly every startup on mine, too. Just have to remember to flick the paddle before launching into that raging solo that starts up a quarter tone. I have one from early production (low serial number) and thought perhaps it was just a quirk of the first run units, but now perhaps it is simply another quirk of the model. Same for me - and it can really mess things up if I forget to waggle it after startup. Seems like another bug that needs fixing. As for the need to flick the paddle twice for Leslie speed, I suspect that's more likely to do with the relative MIDI vs software settings. I often have to push a controller button twice when using software, so as to align their positions.

Yes, and I've tracked it down. Nothing to do with the DP-10 (which works perfectly either in switch or continuous [half-pedal] mode), nor the OS update. It's the way I have some of my registrations set up. I'm not quite sure why, but it seems as if certain of my registrations are set as if they are the lower part of a split, and others are the upper (even though none are actually split). Further correction: it's simply how I have the pedal assigned! These are synth and organ voices that I normally don't use damper on (and I usually have the damper set to control the rotary speed, so have not previously noticed the anomaly). If, with damper set to control sustain, I hit a registration where the damper is not currently active, when I change the voice (say from organ to piano), the damper remains inactive. This threw me. So there's nothing wrong with the board - just the operator! What I do wish is that the damper selection was similar to the Nord Electro, where you can have it as standard damper (sustain) on piano voices, and rotary when organ is selected.

My Roland DP10 damper pedal has become intermittent since installing the upgrade. When it quits working I have to restart the VR to get it functioning again. I haven't tested it with another keyboard yet, but it has never given me any trouble before, and it seems unlikely that it's the pedal that's faulty if it starts working after a reboot of the board. Hmmmm... As to the pitch thing, I think brenner may be right about tines tending to pitch up on damping (I vaguely recall that with my Wurli, although it could be false memory syndrome), but it was certainly the case with the Electro 2's Wurli - and it got kind of annoying after a while. However, IMO it's risky having those faders sitting there waiting to be jogged and unwittingly shifting the pitch on release.

No.

Yes. The semitone rise occurs on all new EP patches except the SA stack when increasing the release. Bizarrely, the Wurly rises by a whole tone!

If any of you can find the Nord GBG2X gig bag (for the Nord G2X), it's the perfect bag for the VR-09, fits it like a glove, and offers all the thick padding and protection that Nord bags are renowned for. It's also perfect for the Axiom 61.

I'm still struggling a little with the VR-09's keyboard. However, I needed the synth engine in my second tier board, as well as a drawbar organ, and there's little out there that does that at a sensible price in a lightweight package. So I would agree that if only organ is required (or possibly organ plus piano), there are definitely better actions available in other boards.

Easily solved in a Nord Electro, for example, by setting the sustain pedal to operate as rotary switch for organ and damper for piano. In the VR-09 the OS omission is that the pedal is either a rotary switch or a damper (or something else) but cannot switch in parallel with the sound type. I'd much rather hear overuse of the rotary speed control than sustain on an organ patch while the user gets used to organ technique.

If mine hadn't crapped out on me, I'd still be gigging with a PRP800. I loved playing that thing, which I bought after using the RPX module for a while. In fact, I don't think I've had a DP that I liked as much in terms of sound.

+1

According to Yamaha, the CP40 action is "88-key Graded Hammer (GH) keyboard." This is the same action as the CP50, P-155 and CP33, IIRC.

Specs are there on the individual product pages. CP4

I think the fact that it was *only* 55 lbs and basically replaced the 72 lb. CP300, it looked like a lightweight in comparison. In addition, we were all 5 years younger too. Yes, I thought about the change in weight from the CP300, but then I also thought about the change from the (similarly speakerless) sub-40lbs CP33!

What I want to know is, how do you get on the list of folk to be interviewed? ;-) I have quite a few suggestions I'd love to make to the designers of the MOX! Really, it's a great board, and I'm looking forward to replacing it with a MOXF, but there are a number of things about it that I think were, let's say, questionable design decisions... things I think could have been substantially improved, mostly things that are interface related and wouldn't require any change to the hardware at all, but would make a big difference in ease and usability. I think that the "focus group" base must be pretty small for most manufacturers, otherwise the decisions they make would probably be somewhat different. I can see what Athan's talking about with regard to the changes made for the CP4, but then that brings up the question of why the CP5 was designed the way it was in the first place: who wanted a convoluted interface, for example, or to haul 55lbs? But of course it's not just Yamaha that makes head-scratching decisions sometimes, so I agree that it would be nice if they all trawled their net a little wider when searching for input.

Okay, thank you for the clarification. Having experienced some other boards with "based on" claims that appear to be just fixed samples or "snapshots" of the parent technology, the CP4 sounds better and better with every new revelation.

1) Far lighter 2) No built-in speakers 3) Because there are other sounds drawn from the Motif series, there's probably going to be more quality and breadth in its "extra sounds" Basically, they're not that comparable. The ES7 is more suited to a "mixed" use, as it has a home stand and pedal unit available to match, whereas the CP4 is aimed at stage use. This is largely correct, however I believe the ES7 is still an excellent choice for piano-oriented players that require a portable instrument - regardless of the fact that it features built-in speakers. It's a little heavier than the CP4, certainly, but only by 3kg or so. Cheers, James x Nice try, James, but the CP4 is NEW! (You'll have to wait until that newness wears off a bit before expecting a sober comparison.)

Great news! I think this board is now becoming extremely competitive with those costing much more. Thanks to Roland, and apologies for doubting their commitment. We are really starting to witness listening and responding from major manufacturers (PX-5S, CP-4 (hopefully), VPC-1, VR-09). A two-way dialog was definitely what was needed.

It's theoretically possible that they could be out in good time for Christmas.