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Oh, there's actually a whole new action. The lowest end models have "GrandTouch-S™ keyboard" whatever that means. But it's no more a GH or NW variant. (What comes to the naming convention. I haven't seen any photos or drawings of it.)
Grand Expression Modeling The interaction and interplay of the hammers, dampers, and strings inside a grand piano respond to the subtlest nuances of the pianist’s touch, creating a limitless range of tonal expression. Touch refers to the pianist’s control, not only of intensity (softness/loudness) in playing and releasing the keys, but also of the speed and depth with which the keys are pressed. The Grand Expression Modeling introduced in the CLP-700 Series translates the widely varied input from the pianist’s fingers into the same limitless tonal variation of a grand piano.
This makes it possible to vary the output by playing the keys to different depths and with different speeds, even when using techniques such as trills or legato or emphasizing the melody over the accompaniment. Grand Expression Modeling excels at faithfully reproducing the output expected of these techniques in many well-known songs. In Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” a loose touch creates the faint tone that makes the melody stand out more crisply. In Liszt’s “Un Sospiro,” the accompanying arpeggios accent the melody without overwhelming it, and varied expression of the melody gives it the same quality as vocals. In the last of the Chopin nocturnes, trills, legato, and other delicate techniques where fingers seem to float over the keys deliver the airy, smooth tonal expression required. Playing such pieces on a highly expressive piano helps the pianist learn various techniques and experience the same joy of expression as a painter, but through sound.
I'm trying to understand it. To me it sounds like they may have recreated the possibility of playing leggiero and similar other techniques. We've discussed how on acoustic pianos you can only slightly tap the keys without pressing them fully and that would still be able to throw the hammer to play against the strings. However on digital pianos the hammers are not easily thrown separately from the keys and even if they are, they need to overcome escapement notches first, then press mechanically the three sensors and that reduces their speed, thus lowering the desired velocity. On most typical digital pianos you simply can't play leggiero consistently. Furthermore, when playing leggiero without damper pedal, the hammer will strike the string that's still damped and that will create a very soft and damped sound and I've seen world famous pianists using this technique for an original effect. Wondering whether Yamaha tried to replicate behavior like this and other similar effects of acoustic pianos. Maybe they have the triple sensors more distanced than each other, or maybe they have other type of sensors, or maybe it's just some software modeling that tries to predict this? Maybe also special sampling to allow for various sound effects to be utilized (e.g. a dull faint notes when playing leggiero without the damper pedal?). Certainly sounds interesting.
To elaborate more on my previous post, Yamaha also mention trills when talking about the Grand Expression Modeling. I've commented how on digital piano actions trills tend to uncontrollably increase in volume due to the "punching bag" effect of the hammers not being stopped by a backcheck (as in acoustic piano actions) but simply rebounding between the cushioning and the key. Maybe Yamaha also introduced software modeling that would detect this behavior and just limit the velocities of the repeated notes to not reflect the actual hammer speed but follow more realistic and consistent velocity?
James, did I sense a bit of nervousness in you related to the new announcement by Yamaha? Did they beat you to an announcement you are gonna make soon too? A VPC-2 maybe?
James, did I sense a bit of nervousness in you related to the new announcement by Yamaha? Did they beat you to an announcement you are gonna make soon too? A VPC-2 maybe?
Kawai announced the Concert Artist CAx9 models earlier in the year, however we do have some other new instruments coming soon (that's not relevant to this thread though...).
Not that I think Kawai-winks are uninteresting, but should this thread not focus on the Yamaha 700 series ..?
Physical instruments: Roland FP-30, and E-28 Virtual instruments: "The Experience" piano collection, NI "The Maverick", Galaxy II Grand piano collection, Synthogy Ivory II Studio Grands, Production Voices Estate Grand, Garritan CFX Lite, Pianoteq 7.5.2 Focus: 1850±100 years
Touch sensor control panel (CLP-775 and CLP-785) "The touch panel only displays text when it is on — when the panel is off, it has the smooth finish of a keyblock".
Looks good. I wonder if this works while playing, or only when instrument is turned off. If the latter, then it makes little sense, since the keyboard is already closed by a lid. For me, the question is purely for the sake of interest, since anyway I'm looking at the CLP-745's price category. And I don't like upright designs (mainly for practical reasons).
Focus needs to be earned, and Yamaha has not earned it with all their vague gibberish!
They are vague, and it is gibberish. But isn't that what marketing is all about?
Physical instruments: Roland FP-30, and E-28 Virtual instruments: "The Experience" piano collection, NI "The Maverick", Galaxy II Grand piano collection, Synthogy Ivory II Studio Grands, Production Voices Estate Grand, Garritan CFX Lite, Pianoteq 7.5.2 Focus: 1850±100 years
Looks good. I wonder if this works while playing, or only when instrument is turned off.
Good question.
It appears that the CLP-700 models still use the same blue 128x64 pixel LCD as the previous generation. I don't know if it's possible for the backlight of these displays to be turned-off/on in software.
Such a tough competition between piano manufacturers over who will manage first to achieve this next frontier in cutting edge software and hardware integration of turning off the display backlight 🤣 James, I missed this but did Kawai win with the latest CA-series? The backlight can now be switched off, right?
Looks good. I wonder if this works while playing, or only when instrument is turned off.
Good question.
It appears that the CLP-700 models still use the same blue 128x64 pixel LCD as the previous generation. I don't know if it's possible for the backlight of these displays to be turned-off/on in software.
Originally Posted by Rhinegold Publishing
Control panel illumination turns off automatically after a few seconds, giving these models the classic appearance of an acoustic instrument.