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Kawai James

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Posts posted by Kawai James

    Stevie Wonder's Perfect Run

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    This appeared on YouTube's recommendations last night, while I was browsing for short clips to play on my iPad while doing the washing up.

     

    It's really nicely put together, and summarises the period very well. I appreciated the reference to the colour palette used for the album covers too! ;)

     

    Cheers,

    James

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    NEW FORUM: Bugs?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    It may take a minute until we get a handle on this. We would have loved to have been able to be more careful and thorough about the migration...but we HAD to be off the old server by last Friday as it was wiped and taken out of service, so we felt getting the forums to a safe space was the most important thing.

     

    No worries, take your time guys. ;)

     

    Once everything has stabilised, I would be interested to read more about the server migration.

     

    Cheers,

    James

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    NEW FORUM: Bugs?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I'm not sure if this is a bug or intended, however I'm seeing a horizontal scrollbar at the bottom of my browser window, which remains even after I expand the width of the window.

     

    Win7/Firefox:

    http://i63.tinypic.com/2d3sdh.png

     

    Win7/Chrome:

    http://i67.tinypic.com/1ghr9w.png

     

    Cheers,

    James

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    Yamaha CP88 and 73 - Deserve their own thread

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I also appreciate separating the sound types into three individual sections.

    A bit reminiscent of the Kawai MP11!

     

    Ah, that's where I've seen it before! ;)

     

    Actually, it was the MP10 that introduced this PIANO/E.PIANO/SUB approach (although the SUB section was on the right side of the display), and there were more knobs in each section than the MP11.

     

    Cheers,

    James

    x

    Donny Hathaway (Wurlie) Appreciation Thread

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Oh yes, what an album! One of my all time favourites from this period (alongside "Curtis Live" - also recorded at the Bitter End). Donny's chops and singing are impeccable, the band is on fire from beginning to end.

     

    If you dig the vibe of this album, I strongly recommend the "In Performance" disc also - it's only 6 tracks, but complements "Live" beautifully.

     

    [video:youtube]

     

    (note that the image in this video is for the "These Songs For You" live compilation, which includes tracks from both "Live" and "In Performance", plus some other unreleased recordings. Basically, pick them all up! You cannot go wrong!

     

    I recall there was a really beautifully packaged 4-CD boxset released a few years ago too. I haven't picked it up, but I really should, given my appreciation for his music.

     

    I'm currently listening to the live take of "A Song For You" - man, what a voice...sends shivers down my spine.

     

    Donny was an incredible talent...he left us far too young.

     

    James

    x

     

    EDIT: Donny's album with Roberta Flack is also superb. Here's a live video with some of the cuts from that album. Pretty horrendous sound quality, unfortunately (why are there no DVDs of Donny playing live?!), but the music is still fantastic.

     

    [video:youtube]

     

    Kawai CA98, CA78 and CA48

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Welcome back Mark, sounds like you had a lovely trip.

     

    Where did you visit, may I ask?

     

    Regarding Kawai availability, I'm less familiar with Portugal, however I believe Kawai's long-servicing Spain distributor does a very good job.

     

    Kind regards,

    James

    x

    Kawai CA98, CA78 and CA48

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Hello Mark,

     

    James, thanks so much for that chart.

     

    No problem, I already had the file on hand. ;)

     

    I think they had some CS-series models in stock, but under time pressure, I didn't check them out as I'm not familiar with that series.

     

    Assuming they are the CS11 and CS8, those models are essentially black polish versions of the previous generation CA97/CA67 instruments. The CS11 uses a real upright piano cabinet.

     

    I did briefly try one hybrid model that is roughly $7000.

     

    Was it a Kawai? That price seems a little low to be an NV10.

     

    Sorry about my misspelling of "Shigeru", which I did from memory (many months back) as it's simply labeled as SK-EX on the screen.

     

    No worries about the spelling.

     

    The CA98/CA78 and NV10 (the new hybrid) have two main sound mode: Pianist mode and Sound mode.

     

    The Pianist mode screen is activated by default (i.e. when the instrument is turned on), and utilises the new 'SK-EX Rendering' sound engine I mentioned above. Here's a screenshot:

     

    http://i67.tinypic.com/35c21ok.png

     

    The Sound mode screen is activated by tapping the 'Sound' button on the bottom bar, and utilises the older 'Harmonic Imaging XL' sound engine, which was used in the previous generation CA97/CA67, and also the current MP11SE, MP7SE, etc. Here's a screenshot.

     

    http://i66.tinypic.com/etejyq.png

     

    Some of the CA98/CA78 and NV10 videos I've seen on YouTube only show the instrument being used in 'Sound mode'. The resulting piano sound is still great, but it's not as rich as the new 'Pianist' mode sound.

     

    It's easy to switch between 'Pianist' and 'Sound' mode from the touchscreen, so I encourage anyone who play-tests as CA98/CA78 or NV10 (they all use the same core sound technology), to give them both a try (along with the different 'Rendering Characteristics' in 'Pianist' mode) to hear the improvements - it's particularly noticeable when using good quality headphones.

     

    Kind regards,

    James

    x

    Kawai CA98, CA78 and CA48

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Hello Mark, thank you for sharing your thoughts on these instruments.

     

    I'll compare the specs too, as a reminder of what the MP-11SE upgrade brings to the game, but the VPC-1 is off the list for me if its action is about the same as the older MP-11.

     

    The MP11SE adds Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and SK-5 samples, includes a new (Kawai-made) triple-pedal unit, and a revised 'piano-like' side arm design. The keyboard action is identical to the original MP11.

     

    Here's a quick spec-table comparison taken from some product overview materials prepared for dealers (red cells show changes/improvements):

     

    http://i68.tinypic.com/2eml7w0.png

     

    The MP7SE adds the same Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and SK-5 samples, support for the new triple-pedal unit (sold as an accessory), and has the same revised 'piano-like' side arm design. In addition, the MP7SE includes the update 'Responsive Hammer III' keyboard action, which improves the key weighting and feeling of 'solid-ness' by embedding counterweights on all 88 keys.

     

    Here's the MP7SE spec-table comparison from the same dealer materials:

     

    http://i66.tinypic.com/amefsk.png

     

    I should perhaps add that the new Shigeru Kawai samples in the 'MPSE' models were introduced in the previous generation CA97/CA67 pianos. The latest CA98/CA78 and NV10 pianos includes those samples, but also add a brand new 'SK-EX Rendering' sound engine, which utilises multi-channel sampling and more advanced resonance algorithms. For more information about the new sound engine, please visit this page of the Kawai Global website.

     

    I hope this helps.

     

    Kind regards,

    James

    x

     

    EDIT: Ah, I just remembered that the 'MPSE' models also have an additional compatibility switch for expression pedals to select the RING or TIP connector wiring types (i.e. Yamaha vs Roland).

    Kawai CA98, CA78 and CA48

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Hello chaps,

     

    I'm sure you're aware of this already, however the Kawai America website has a dealer locator which should help in finding local Kawai dealers:

     

    http://www.kawaius.com/dealer_locator/locator_main.html

     

    For everything else, I'm a little biased, but I believe the Kawai-Global website (linked above) is the best source of information regarding Kawai instruments.

     

    I'm also happy to assist with queries (where possible) via the forum or PM.

     

    Kind regards,

    James

    x

    Herbie Hancock MasterClass

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Wow, this looks absolutely incredible!

     

    I think even if you're just a fan of his, it would be worth it just for his stories and playing.

     

    I wholeheartedly agree! Worth watching even when not sat at the keys! ;)

     

    Cheers,

    James

    x

     

    ps. Are some of those YouTube commenters serious?!

    OT Bikes

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I went up there this morning. The trail head gate is 1.7 miles from my driveway. Kicked my butt as always. 52 minute climb. :cry: Started at 6:30 AM . It's perfect before the heat and sun get too intense. So lucky to live in an area like this. :)

     

    Wow, those views are breathtaking Dave!

    New Viscount Physis K4 & K5 MIDI controllers

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Thank you Jerry.

     

    The sounds are fully modelled, is that correct (i.e. there are no samples being loaded into memory)?

     

    10+ seconds does seem like a rather long time to load and execute programme code, however I obviously have no knowledge of the amount of data required to create the sound.

     

    Are the loading times still there when switching between the same type of sound (e.g. two acoustic pianos, which I assume use similar algorithms)?

     

    Cheers,

    James

    x

    Organ fans, I give you The Peddlers

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Some info from my Dad - a great player and a key influence throughout my musical life:

     

    The pedlars, they were great. The Lowrey Berkshire (1st clip) did have a built in wah wah pedal effect. The second clip was a Hammond A 100 series ( similar to the B3 & C3) but with internal amps & speakers. Looks like his had been moded with thumb pistons fitted to the front rail -never seen that done before. Looks awful!

     

    The A100 series had NO pedal sustain so it was just a thump when you pressed a pedal. I think you could get a mod whereby you got pedal sustain & I bet the organist had that fitted.

     

    Cheers,

    James

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