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There must be something left for the MP12 or MP77.

You're right. I'm just a little bit irritated, that I bought "the latest greatest" and after just a few months it's no longer the truth and improved sound comes from the same manufacturer.

No fake: It's official
http://www.kawai.de/es8.htm
The stores were allowed to publish it from today on. It would arrive in the first week of september the dealer said: http://www.mmbs.de/Tasten/Stagepianos/Kawai/Kawai-Digital-Piano-ES-7.html So the announcement available within few days was an inadvertence.

Sound demos here : http://www.kawai.de/es8.htm
Manual also available: It has "User Voicing", that allows to modify sound (virtual technician) for each key.

But still no faders for mixing and adjusting parameters. Need to press the + - key very often to change parameters.

I hoped for a model with touchscreen but this is not included.

The big question for me is - will it fit inside my art deco piano surround?

Good morning chaps,

My apologies for the late response. I've been away visiting family in England for the past ten days or so. My return flight was delayed, but I'm back at the office this morning.

The ES8 was officially announced by Kawai Japan yesterday. The multi-language owner's manuals, brochures, and an English language product overview are now available from the Kawai-Global website.

I'll respond to the comments/queries raised so far in a separate post.

Kind regards,
James
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If you compare the lighting used for the ES7 and ES8 photographs you will see that they are actually separate images.



Please refer to this post from the CN35/CN25 announcement - the ES8 utilises the same 'Responsive Hammer III' keyboard action.



You are largely correct. The ES8 effectively features the same HI-XL sound engine and SK-EX/SK-5/EX piano sounds as the CA97/CA67. It also adds the K-60 upright piano sound previously only available on the MP11/MP7 and CAx7/CAx5 models, while bringing the rest of the sounds up to the quality of the CA97/CA67.

Regarding the finishes, I believe the glossiness is the same as the ES7, while the new Snow White finish is just as classy as the Ivory White it replaces.



Please bear in mind that the ES7 was already the most popular instrument in its class in Europe, despite the presence of newer models from our competitors. We believe the speaker system, panel interface, and design of the ES7 remains very strong, and therefore focussed on improving the instrument's keyboard action and piano sound. The result is the ES8, featuring Kawai's class-leading plastic key keyboard action and flagship piano sound technology.



Yes, exactly - piano sounds from the CA97/CA67 and the keyboard action from the CN35/CN25.



Connectivity remains the same as the ES7, with more powerful Virtual Technician functions, iPad control, improved Rhythm Section (Bass Inversion detection), and added MP3/WAV overdubbing from the MP11/MP7.



Correct. I believe this is due to the counterweights added to all 88 keys.



The ES8 shares the same HI-XL sound technology as the MP11/MP7. The difference being the new SK-EX and SK-5 sounds, that were introduced in the CA97/CA67 announced at NAMM in January - one year after the MP11 announcement.



Correct. The ES8 features the 88-key voicing, tuning, and volume adjustment Virtual Technician features of the CA97/CA67, along with other new paramaters.



If the dimensions are similar to your DGX, I'd say it's possible.


I hope this post addresses your queries. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Cheers,
James
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Thanks, James. That's it in a nutshell. Looks like a very nice board, sure to keep Kawai on everyone's must try before you buy list.

Is the speaker system same as in the ES7 or somehow improved? Thanks, H.
Also, the kawai.de site says "Volume and Tune of each key" while you also mention voicing per key - perhaps the info on the site should be updated...?

The ES8 speaker system is the same as the ES7 speaker system.



Thank you. May I ask which page you are referring to specifically please? I will inform my colleagues at Kawai Europe, who oversee the content of that website.

Kind regards,
James
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Thanks for the info.

For example this page: http://www.kawai.de/es8.htm (German) and http://www.kawai.co.uk/es8.htm (English) (quite possibly other translations as well), under the section "Features".

Could you elaborate on what a voicing adjustment is ?

I consider a voicing as a combination or arrangement of chord tones.

Darned good time to buy an ES7. . .our dealers got one in too. . .I wonder. .

Not a bad time for a lot of the previous models with some older ones still in stock around where I am too, Ca13/65/95 can all be got at reduced prices at times, there are 2 kawai dealers near me.

I was tempted to try a CA13 one day to see of I liked the keys, not because I need one at this stage, the casio is plenty good enough for me for now, but while the Casio I own would still have fairly decent return value I could get a VPC1 on the cheap. Then, I started thinking, hmm by the time I've bought the stand for a VPC1 the CA13 deal is not actually that much more and have the extra sounds to fall back on in case computer is busy. It is nice to have something in reserve without software for the odd occasion when it comes in handy.

Anyhow I abandoned the idea for now. 'till I try one for the fun of it if I am that part of town passing anyway, and fall in love with it, it may reignite that interest, however, I doubt at this stage. I suspect I'd find the rm3 on the heavy side ( how it is often described here by many ) When I have lessons at some points on a heavier action grand and if it helped me to switch between the real thing and digital at home, it may be worth thinking about something like that I guess.

For now I'll stick with the Casio until either it breaks, or I feel I have outgrown it for whatever reason in years to come.

I'm not easily impressed, but that is a convincing package, especially if it comes at the same price as the ES7.

Haven't found any drawbacks yet. Just one wish: Put the wide music stand (at least a plastic version of it) into the ES8 base package. That would make it perfect.

Hello Don,



Here is the 'Voicing' parameter explanation from the ES8 owner's manual:



I hope this helps.

Kind regards,
James
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It does ... and that shows you how long it has been since I have adjusted anything on my ES7. LOL ....

Thanks

Sounds like "voicing" means applying EQ to each sample before being added to the mix. Not much more you can do with samples. Probably just a high-pass filter.

Would be intriguing if DP manufacturers added intelligent parametric EQ that could alter the levels of individual harmonics in each note, hence truly alter the "character" rather than just the "tone". But that would probably take a lot of processing power.

Actually with current DSP technology you can do a lot with samples. The art of processing them is what differentiates a good DP from a bad one.

For someone who doesn't want to mess with monitors and wants an all in one package, but not a full console, the ES8 is sounding really good! Prior to this, my first choice if I were to buy now was the MP11. But the ES8 is a real attractive option.