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Is the ES110 Compact action the same pivot length as the GF Compact?
Last edited by rintincop; 01/19/2003:11 AM.
Find 660 of Harry's solo piano arrangements for educational purposes and jazz tutorials at https://www.patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book."
Pretty cool to see the evolution of the GF action. Taking something good and finding new ways to improve on it every time is a great way to come to a great result.
I wonder exactly what they mean for: "improved SK-EX Rendering multi-channel sound engine features enhanced acoustic piano samples".
I would also like to get more specifics. The description for this_video says: "The improved Shigeru rendering multi-channel sound engine provides vastly enhanced piano samples that are among the best in the industry". And again, only general phrases, it is not clear what exactly has improved.
The same with this (from the same description): "The industry-leading LCD color touch screen has been improved and optimized for pianists". Again, what has been improved and optimized for pianists? Why are only general abstract phrases applied everywhere? For me, for example, one of the important optimizations would be the obvious ability to completely (with backlight) turn off the screen during practice. Is this still impossible?
The only thing for the moment that is specifically known in terms of improvements is the new Grand Feel III action, the details of which are shared by Kawai James on first page of this thread. But here's a quote from that_message:
Originally Posted by Kawai James
- More authentic key width and edge camber for black keys (based on SK-EX specification)
And this is exactly a copy of the sentence from the five years ago message, which described just released Grand Feel II action…
And since talking about black keys, I wonder if the texture of the black keys has changed (not everyone liked the excessive "Ebony" texture of the GF2 action).
- 88-key "User" Virtual Technician adjustments will be possible. - The CA99/CA79 are not available in grand piano-shaped cabinets. - The internal song recorder functions the same for SK-EX Rendering and Harmonic Imaging XL sounds. - Transpose/Tuning is now possible with SK-EX Rendering sounds. - The new system software and touchscreen OS is unfortunately not compatible with existing instruments. - The speaker diffuser panels are exclusive to the CA99/CA79. - The touchscreen backlight can turn off. - All Kawai instruments use samples stored in ROM.
I would also like to get more specifics. The description for this_video says: "The improved Shigeru rendering multi-channel sound engine provides vastly enhanced piano samples that are among the best in the industry". And again, only general phrases, it is not clear what exactly has improved.
The same with this (from the same description): "The industry-leading LCD color touch screen has been improved and optimized for pianists". Again, what has been improved and optimized for pianists?
I didn't write that description text, however I believe "improved and optimised for pianists" refers to the fact that all acoustic piano sounds are now grouped together on the same screen - regardless of which sound engine (SK-EX Rendering or Harmonic Imaging XL) is used, making it easier for players to select and adjust their preferred piano sounds.
- More authentic key width and edge camber for black keys (based on SK-EX specification)
And this is exactly a copy of the sentence from the five years ago message, which described just released Grand Feel II action…
Sorry, that last line was accidentally left-over from a previous post that I referenced, and not related to the GFIII improvements.
Originally Posted by 9190
And since talking about black keys, I wonder if the texture of the black keys has changed (not everyone liked the excessive "Ebony" texture of the GF2 action).
I don't believe there is a significant change in this area.
on the NAMM 2020 Bonners music is reviewing the CA 99 quickly and plays on it (sounds really good, too!) I was wondering if anybody knows the name of the first piece he plays at 2:17
Thank you for your help! here is the video with the review of the CA 99
To me, the CA79/99 generation looks like an incremental upgrade to the CA78/98, but incremental in all the right places, which is laudable!
Pending the verdict after actually testing the new models, all the user complaints from the previous generation seem to have been addressed in these incremental changes (UI behavior, favorite management, touchscreen backlight, GFII slip tape, GFII key cushion). It is very good to see how Kawai actually took the user feedback from the previous generation on board (plus a few other incremental changes that are nice to have). This might be self-delusion, but I can't shake the feeling that this forum, and James presence here, has played a large role in that.
If I had a CA78/98, I wouldn't lose any sleep over not having the latest generation.
But if I still had my CA97 from one generation further back, I fear that I would now get some serious upgrade jitters.
(Luckily for me, I inoculated myself against that sickness with the NV10...)
To me, the CA79/99 generation looks like an incremental upgrade to the CA78/98, but incremental in all the right places, which is laudable!
Pending the verdict after actually testing the new models, all the user complaints from the previous generation seem to have been addressed in these incremental changes (UI behavior, favorite management, touchscreen backlight, GFII slip tape, GFII key cushion). It is very good to see how Kawai actually took the user feedback from the previous generation on board (plus a few other incremental changes that are nice to have). This might be self-delusion, but I can't shake the feeling that this forum, and James presence here, has played a large role in that.
If I had a CA78/98, I wouldn't lose any sleep over not having the latest generation.
But if I still had my CA97 from one generation further back, I fear that I would now get some serious upgrade jitters.
(Luckily for me, I inoculated myself against that sickness with the NV10...)
There's some fairly major changes here though:
1. The 360 degrees sound dispersion thing. 2. The SK-EX has apparently been resampled.
It appears that KawaiPiano.fr's unmistakable claims that the SK-EX was being resampled turned out to be true. It's just that they were missing the context that this was for a new release.
This might be self-delusion, but I can't shake the feeling that this forum, and James presence here, has played a large role in that.
I also have the same feeling. Someone recently brought a wish list thread I created some time ago and I see even some of my wishes from back then were fulfilled: new harpsichord sound and big choice of velocity curves. All the introduced changes are too suspiciously matching all that has been requested by the users on PW. That’s what I used to like in Kawai: that they listen to users. But a little too late for me. And there’s still no binaural patch which ultimately is one of the most important features of my Yamaha.
The SK-EX has not been resampled. However, the SK-EX samples used by the CA99/CA79 have been changed/improved.
Originally Posted by navindra
It appears that KawaiPiano.fr's unmistakable claims that the SK-EX was being resampled turned out to be true. It's just that they were missing the context that this was for a new release.
- 88-key "User" Virtual Technician adjustments will be possible. - The CA99/CA79 are not available in grand piano-shaped cabinets. - The internal song recorder functions the same for SK-EX Rendering and Harmonic Imaging XL sounds. - Transpose/Tuning is now possible with SK-EX Rendering sounds. - The new system software and touchscreen OS is unfortunately not compatible with existing instruments. - The speaker diffuser panels are exclusive to the CA99/CA79. - The touchscreen backlight can turn off. - All Kawai instruments use samples stored in ROM.
I hope this helps.
Cheers, James x
Dear James,
thank you very much for this great answer. Especially "-88-key "User" Virtual Technician adjustments will be possible." Does this mean that the manual gets updated? Or will it just be an addendum for future software releases? Because in the manual on the german website there was no mention of an individual key adjustment (I suppose volume and voicing per key).
Best wishes from Germany Daniel
Last edited by danielp11; 01/20/2007:45 AM.
KAWAI CS11 (sold KAWAI CA 97), KAWAI GX2 acoustic grand piano (sold SCHIMMEL acoustic upright)
And there’s still no binaural patch which ultimately is one of the most important features of my Yamaha.
+1! Although as recently mentioned recently, there are some differences in the samples, which might make the non-binaural CFX more appropriate for certain pieces on the N1X.
across the stone, deathless piano performances
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The improvements to the action would certainly seem to vindicate the criticisms on this forum about the GFII action.
Makes me wonder if Pianoworld.com gets payed by Kawai (amongst others) for it's expertise in dp testing and providing professional feedback.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the most knowledgeable people about digital pianos (and acoustic pianos) besides manufacturers themselves are the people on PW. The extent to which the tiniest details are “dissected” here is stunning and I don’t think there are other people on the Internet who have discussed digital pianos in even half the details and the pickiness that’s prevalent here.
Although as recently mentioned recently, there are some differences in the samples, which might make the non-binaural CFX more appropriate for certain pieces on the N1X.![[Linked Image]](https://forum.pianoworld.com//gallery/42/medium/12282.png)