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Thanks everyone. I’m looking forward to playing the SK2. The VPC1 is up and running and it’s exactly the instrument I was hoping it would be. I could see it being the perfect practice instrument when I’m away from home. The action is somewhat lighter than my Rx2 or the Shigeru I am in the process of purchasing though not as precise obviously as the millennium 3 action in both of those. Able to play with good velocity whether in the keys or towards the edge. What I have to get used to is the texture of the black keys which is grippier than I am used to and I could almost swear the black keys feel slimmer than on a normal acoustic but this could just be my imagination. Both Ravenscroft software and Pianoteq are great on this controller but I have yet to fully figure out proper touch curve settings for the Ravenscroft. I like the fact that the power button changes color to let you know which touch setting you currently are on. Nice touch (no pun intended). Just as before the pianoteq has a slight edge in phrasing and expressiveness and the Ravenscroft produces a better sound. I can use both programs depending on what kind of classical music I am playing. The Ravenscroft does well with the Bach Busoni I am working on and the pianoteq on Chopin G minor Ballade. Bach has that more digital and inner voicing kind of music and the romantic literature of Chopin has a more singing melody line. Of course Bach’s music is very expressive but maybe in a different way instrument wise. I like the substantial feel of the action in the VPC-1. You need to put some effort into it so you get a great finger workout which will help as I go back between the digital and the acoustic. When I went back to the RX2 after playing the non -weighted 49 key controller it took time to get used to the heavy action on my RX2. I don’t see this being a problem with the VPC1’s nice meaty action. That’s it thus far in regards to my review. I would say the VPC1 is perfectly fine to learn the piano if this was your first piano no major negatives that I found.

Velocity touch settings for Ravenscroft is similar to Pianoteq in Kawai editor but sent email to Vilabs and they will sent you proper velocity curve especially for Ravenscroft. Till then use Pianoteq velocity. When I bought my VPC1 5 years ago for me the only logical way after that digital piano is acoustic piano. I still love it very much. Congratulations for SK2.

Wow, Jethro! A once in a lifetime story. I did that once with a house in St. Augustine. Expect the unexpected! I just feel sorry for your VPC1. It probably feels like the neglected sibling.

Congrats on the awesome acoustic.
Looking forward to hearing how you get along with the VPC1 - close to pulling the trigger on one myself.

Just read the conversation about possibilities for piano sounds ... I bought the V3 grand piano sound expander 2 weeks ago. Just plug in and play. I often don´t want to turn on my computer and software to play some piano (at night) or to compose and working out just some ideas. here: http://www.v3sound.com/de/d-produkt-grandpiano-xxl.html

I have a small $160 mini-PC dedicated to my DP (and running Pianoteq) and it is left on all the time so I don't have to turn on anything or start any software when I sit down at the keyboard in the wee hours of the morning. It does add something to the cost, but not really that much and it is very small.

I have a high-end rig which happens to be used as DAW, too .
I wouldn't go so far to buy a second device, as of now.

Hey Tyrone!

Is that mini-PC you're using something along the lines of the Intel Compute / Quantum Access sticks? If so, is it more than enough to handle the load of those memory-intensive (possibly compute intensive) VST's?

Anthony

The V3 Grand Piano XXL module makes no noise at all and does not need a display or anything else. I can turn it on and off in a second.
Yes I know its not cheap, but I dont want to miss it ....

My gaming rig runs whenever I am awake anyway, which is probably why the startup time (and the fact that the program does not recognize the VPC if it is turned on after starting the program) bothers me so much.

Pianoteq is just instantly ready for action.

Funny you should mention that. I always leave my DP (FP30) on with my "piano PC" so that's "almost" never an issue. However, when Window10 forces an update "down my throat", and my piano PC reboots by itself, for some reason I don't quite understand, my FP30 powers off.

I assume it has to do with some MIDI command being sent from PC to DP during the stealthy shutdown. So sometimes (once in 2 weeks or so when these annoying Win10 updates happen), I will come to my piano and find it shut off and the PC rebooted, and then when I turn the DP on, it has the issues you describe with connecting to Pianoteq.

This is annoying since I am purposely trying to create a transparent environment for piano, and even once in two weeks is too much and no longer fully transparent.

However, I understand that with the next Win10 service pack release, Microsoft is finally backing off the forced updates thing, and I will be very happy and definitely turn this mis-feature (of forced updates) off.

Congrats Jethro! Looks like you went in for the $1 DVD bundle advertised and walked out with a whole set of furniture, lol! Sounds like you're set for life though, good for you, glad it all worked out!

You are right, in a sense, however the power button LED colour actually represents the selected preset memory. It just happens that - out of the box - the 1st preset memory uses the "Normal" touch curve, the 2nd preset memory uses the "Ivory" touch curve etc. however these touch curves can be moved around/adjusted as desired using the VPC Editor software.

Kind regards,
James
x

Kawai James, is it my imagination or are the black keys on the VPC1 ever so slightly less wide than on an acoustic piano? If they aren't I would have to say if feels that way to me. Maybe it's the rough texture on the key top that's throwing me off.