Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Thoughts on the Kawai VPC1, RM3 II and Grand Feel action

I wouldn't be so quick in dismissing a good set of wheels on a VPC2.

Imagine riding into your next gig on a new, shiny, VPC2; that would be very cool! (Alloy wheels optional).

I personally like the fact that the VPC1 is clean and minimal, and doesn't distract me when playing piano. I've always been annoyed by controllers with displays, buttons, sliders, so much that when composing on my digital piano/master keyboard, I keep a piece of felt on the control panel to cover them.

Apart for hardware controllers, you can add to the VPC1 some of the programmable controllers running on an iPad. I use sometimes Logic Remote, that is a great help when working with Logic. Other controller apps exist, even if I don't use them. Why limiting your possibilities to just two wheels, when you can easily create any control surface?

Paolo

They're both great. I kind of prefer a heavier action, so the VPC1 was great. and the heaviness is really only felt when playing more toward the top of the keys.

For those that want the VPC1 to be more of a MIDI controller with wheels, well, there's the MP11 for that.

Very little to complain about with my MP11. I do love it. I kind of wish it had all the sounds features of the MP7, as it is a little sparse. As a master controller, it works very well, though since I do a lot of non-piano scoring, I use a non-weighted 88 key controller on my desk with full sliders and transport control.

VPC2, no bells and whistles but clean and minimalistic like VPC1 for those of us playing only piano, with the best action possible, and with an optional stand with integrated pedals (stable and same style as the digital pianos) and it will be my purchase next time

Edit: And a sheet music stand should be an original accessory or included!

Any word on a VPC2 yet?

There are no plans to introduce a successor to the VPC1 at this time.

Kind regards,
James
x

Are there any plans to introduce a successor to the VPC1 at this time?

Ok, how about now?

Try tomorrow again, we live in turbulent age

If the Many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics is correct, then it is certain that the VPC2 will in fact be announced today -- somewhere.

Shipping's a bitch though...

KJ has already already answered this in the last couple of days on a couple of other threads, no. Probably summer NAMM then!

Hold on, let me check...

...nope, still nothing.

I haven't read the entire thread but I just wanted to weigh in. Please don't add anything to the VPC1. I love the simplicity of the design. It's just perfect the way it is.

Personally, I agree.

Who thinks 97 keys would be an improvement?
Any software piano Bosendorfer fans in the VPC customer demographic?


Given a choice, would you buy a VPC2-88 or a VPC2-97 if both new models were introduced with same Grand Feel II action, and same minimalist clean design, etc.?
Would you pay $100 extra for 97 key version?

Now maybe if you played an 88 note Steinway sample and weren't using those extra keys, the clever Kawai software could allow you to assign MIDI CC# functions to those extra keys, giving you 9 spare velocity sensitive "buttons" to customise, for useful things, without any visible spoiling of pure VPC appearance.

At very least you could have 9 user presets / edits / mod wheel values etc. stored which you could instantly recall while playing, or use for handy stuff like lid up, full stick, half stick, closed, or transpose +/- semitone, or panic all notes off, or Restart engine, or tap key repeatedly to inc / dec a certain parameter value in 127 steps, to delicately fine tune your sounds by ear while listening and playing, instead of stretching over to reach computer's mouse.

Also...
It occurs to me that other than adding a Roland A-01 controller for pitch / mod wheels, you could make a simple app that ran on touchscreen phone or tablet, connected via USB. If the VPC2 had an extra USB socket in the back, nobody would object, and you could connect your tablet or phone and Kawai app for touchscreen sliders, pitch mod wheels, transpose buttons, and editing touch curves, etc.

I agree with original poster here about right angle Neutrik jacks for pedals. I have replaced mine.

no, please don't make 97 keys.

if you want extra nobs or other dj stuff, just buy a controller

this is piano.

propianist, I appreciate your suggestions, but I'm with euphoria on this one.

Also, I expect a 97-key VPC1 would cost rather more than $100 extra.

Kind regards,
James
x

108 keys, if for no other reason than to out_Stuart the Stuart.

The remaining questions being
in WHICH universe is it NOW available ?
how do I get it HERE ?
and NOW ?