Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Kawai ES7 v1.13 software update - now available

Good morning folks,

Kawai Japan has recently issued a software update for the ES7 portable digital piano.

This update (v1.13) adds a new 'F-20 Mode' setting that allows pedal functions to be reassigned, thus facilitating triple pedal functionality when combined with the included F-10H pedal. There are also improvements/fixes to the Rhythm Section that enhance chord detection and accompaniment volume.

The full changelog is listed below by category:

V1.13 (October 2012)

PEDAL
- Improved: Added ‘F-20 Mode’ parameter to ‘Basic Settings’ menu.

With the correct pedal mode selected, this feature allows the included F-10H and optional F-20 pedal units to be combined for triple pedal (Damper, Sostenuto, Soft) functionality. For more information, please refer to the updated ES7 owner's manual, available from the Kawai Japan website.

RHYTHM SECTION
- Improved: When changing styles, the style number is now displayed for 2 seconds.
- Improved: Increased overall volume of Rhythm Section.
- Fixed: Some irregular chord forms were not detected correctly.
- Fixed: When recording with the Rhythm Section, some ending patterns may have been truncated.

MISC
- Improved: Various operation details.


V1.11 (July 2012)

SOUND
- Improved: The damper pedal response curve is now closer to that of a real concert grand piano.

MIDI
- Fixed: The default (power on) MIDI receive mode was changed to Omni On.
- Fixed: The sostenuto pedal MIDI command when multi-timbral mode is enabled.

MISC
- Improved: Various operation details.


V1.10 (June 2012)

SOUND
- Fixed: When Layer Dynamics is set to OFF, the layer sound's touch response was not disabled.

RECORDER
- Fixed: Internal recorder was not able to delete a part individually.

RHYTHM SECTION
- Improved: Changed chord detection when using Full Keyboard ACC Mode (e.g. Adding OnBass Chord).
- Improved: Display now shows additional chord types (e.g. 9, M9, m9, mM9, 7(b9), 7(#9)).

MISC
- Improved: Various operation details.
- Improved: Display now shows message when turning off power.
- Improved: Increase in overall volume.


The software update and update instructions can be downloaded directly from Kawai Japan at the the following URL:

http://www.kawai.co.jp/worldwide/support/updates.html

Note that Kawai software updates are cumulative. I.e. the v1.13 update also includes the fixes and improvements of v1.11, v1.10 etc.

ES7 owners are encouraged to update their instruments to use this latest software version. Please feel free to post your feedback in this thread.

Cheers,
James
x

@James,

Wanted to know if Kawai had ever released any updates for the EP3, or, is this a model that updates do not apply to?

pv88, to my knowledge there have not been any software updates for the EP3.

Kind regards,
James
x

@James,

Okay, although it would hardly seem to matter, as I am finding the EP3 to be a very nice keyboard to play, and, enjoy it just as much as the CA95!

No issues of any kind to mention with the EP3 as it plays perfectly.

That's good to know, thanks.

James
x

Cool;

now you can use both pedal inputs (what a waste otherwise) and the Rhythms we're indeed a little to soft in relation to the playable sound you had selected. Could adjust that, but hey...they fixed it for all presets. Much easier !

Thanks Kawai.

James --- If I was to try out the ES7 in the store what buttons do you access to find out which software version is installed? There is no on-line manual yet for me to see how this is done. Thanks for any info.

This information is shown in the update instructions PDF:



Kind regards,
James
x

Thanks, James.

No problem.

It's perhaps worth noting that when Kawai Japan issues these updates, the software is also sent to the factory and used as the stock version - i.e. ES7s manufactured from November should come pre-loaded with the v1.13 software.

Kind regards,
James
x

Good to know that, thanks.

Does this also mean that one can "remap" the Soft and Sustain pedals of the F-20 double-pedal to, lets say, Sost and Sustain or whatever combination of two out of the three?

SixtyThousandCats, yes, sort of.

The new 'F-20 Mode' settings allows the following parameters:

Damper/Soft (default)
The right pedal will function as a Damper pedal, the left pedal will function as a Soft pedal.

Sostenuto/Soft
The right pedal will function as a Sostenuto pedal, the left pedal will function as a Soft pedal.
* This setting is recommended when connecting the included F-10H and optional F-20 pedals simultaneously.

Damper/Soste.
The right pedal will function as a Damper pedal, the left pedal will function as a Sostenuto pedal.
* When this setting is selected, pressing the left pedal will no longer change the speed of the rotary speaker effect.

Kind regards,
James
x

That's great, thank you. I looked into the manual at first but it seems it is not updated yet. At least not the one on the European website kawai.de.

SixtyThousandCats, thank you for your letting me know.

I will have to ask Kawai Europe to update their owner's manual links.

For the time being, the most up-to-date owner's manuals can always be found at the Kawai Japan link below:

http://www.kawai.co.jp/worldwide/support/manuals.html

Kind regards,
James
x

I have a query for users of the ES7 and the two or three pedal units.

Can anyone confirm how effective as a soft pedal the left hand pedal of the two-pedal unit is? I have the 1.13 software and can see the programming pages for the F-20 pedals.

However, on the three pedal unit I have, in piano setting, the left hand pedal does absolutely nothing! I've been told that it should mimic the hammers being moved forward a small amount, allowing you to play more softly, but is not like a "una corda" pedal.

I find that if I press the keys just slowly enough so that sometimes a note is produced and sometimes it isn't, then depress the left hand pedal - nothing changes. Some notes are there and some aren't. I suppose if you like your music with holes in it...... but it really doesn't help with softer passages.

Anyone any experience with the two-pedal unit?

Dave

Dave, I believe that the left pedal of the ES7's triple-pedal stand accessory will have the same functionality as the right pedal of the F-20 unit when connected and set to 'Soft Pedal' mode.

Kind regards,
James
x

I've never seen those pedals, but in a grand, the left pedal is "1C, una corda", moves the whole mechanism sideways so the hammers strike just one string in the higher register, so there is a change in sound...
The middle pedal (if present) is "sostenuto", useful to sustain notes already depressed, and right one is damper.
In a upright the left pedal moves the hammers towards the strings, so you get a softer sound, (the action feels lighter), the middle (if present) is to activate some kind of sordina, and right pedal is damper.
Going back to what you asked, perhaps playing pp you will not notice a difference, it's more noticeable when you play mf or f, the sound should be less bright.

Thanks James. That does raise the question again of how effective is that F-20 pedal. I have tried configuring the pedal using the F-20 setups, but I didn't see any change in functionality. (Probably not surprising.)

I honestly believe that this left hand pedal (Of the three pedal unit) has NO functionality in piano mode.

All it appears to be able to do is change the rotary speed when the ES7 is set to the organ type instruments.

I'll be removing the triple pedal unit from my ES7, and reverting to the original single pedal. (I never use the sostenuto pedal in the centre.)

Anybody have direct experience?

Dave_P

Thanks Marcos, I'll check that out later. (I was indeed hoping that the left pedal would be a "una corda" pedal.)

Dave_P

(edit)

Marcos, I think you're right. What a silly design! If I play very loudly, at f or ff, then depress the pedal, it gets a bit quieter and not so brilliant.

But I can get that sound by playing a bit quieter, with "normal" weight on the fingers.

I really don't understand this design.

Dave_P