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The keyboard is one of the most important components of any piano. It’s where the player literally connects with an instrument to express their feelings, and where the magic really happens. Ask any stage performer, be they a concert pianist, a touring artist, or a weekend warrior – if the keys don’t feel right, it’s impossible to enjoy the music and put on a great show.
This is why Kawai has selected the flagship keyboard action for the MP11SE. Not a vague, cut-down ‘almost but not quite’ version, but exactly the same Grand Feel action found in our award winning Concert Artist instruments. This means long, 100% real wooden keys that respond like an acoustic, and deliver the most authentic playing experience available in a stage piano.
The reason why the MP11SE’s Grand Feelaction is considered the most authentic is because it adopts many of the character-istics of a grand piano keyboard.
One of these characteristics is the familiar ‘seesaw’ movement of the key, whereby pressing down on the front of a key raises the back, which in turn moves a hammer to play the note.
Another acoustic-like characteristic of the Grand Feel action is the material chosen for the keys. As with an acoustic piano, all eighty-eight of the MP11SE’s black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood. This ensures the weight of each key is distributed evenly throughout the length of the keystick, and guarantees an efficient transfer of movement energy when the note is struck.
In addition to having the longest keys of any stage piano, the MP11SE’s Grand Feel keyboard action also boasts the longest key pivot length – matching that of a Kawai grand piano. This provides a more evenly balanced key touch weight from front to rear, which is beneficial when playing complicated chords with fingers positioned towards the back of the keyboard.
The MP11SE’s Grand Feel keyboard action also features Kawai’s accurate triple-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism.
The added third sensor improves responsiveness when playing the same key repeatedly, and unlike conventional two sensor keyboard actions found in most stage pianos, allows the sound of a single note to be gradually ‘layered’ without the previous tone being lost.
In addition, Kawai’s action technology also monitors the speed at which each key is lifted. These unique subtleties influence the release character of piano sounds, providing a greater range of expressive detail between staccato and legato playing.
The MP11SE's additional third sensor improves responsiveness when repeatedly striking the same key, resulting in a fluid sound that allows trills and legato passages to be played more naturally.
Moreover, lifting a key slowly will result in a different ‘release’ character for the note than that of a key lifted at a normal speed.
While other stage pianos may apply strips of wood to plastic keys for decoration, the MP11SE utilises wood throughout the entire key. The structural differences are obvious, but why is wood considered to be desirable in a digital instrument?
Wood has been the preferred material for acoustic piano keys for centuries, and was first introduced in Kawai digital pianos over 25 years ago. Yet despite the many improvements to acoustic and digital piano action technologies in recent years, engineers still recognise that wood remains the best material for the keyboard.
Unlike plastics and most other man-made substances, wood possesses unique characteristics that allow it to absorb a degree of movement energy and flex slightly when compressed. This means that when pressing one of the MP11SE's wooden keys it reaches the cushioned felt keybed with a natural, reassuring stop, rather than a jarring, noisy halt.
Finally, wooden keys are inherently special. The look, feel, and even the smell of wooden keys furnish the MP11SE with an organic quality that helps the player to feel an even closer connection with their favourite stage piano.
The MP11SE’s Grand Feel action features the same Ivory Touch key surfaces as Kawai’s highly respected digital pianos, with a natural matte finish that is smooth but not slippery, and feels great beneath the fingertips.
This finely textured material also absorbs surface moisture and oils to assist playing control, ensuring the performer’s fingers remain firmly on the keys throughout even the fastest, most blistering passages.
In addition to the features highlighted above, there are a number of other subtle characteristics integrated within the MP11S’s Grand Feel keyboard action. These individual points draw upon over 85 years of acoustic piano craftsmanship, and combine to deliver the most authentic playing experience.
EAN | 4962864311790 |
---|---|
Condition | new |
Manufacturer | Kawai |
Series | Kawai MP-series |
Type Piano | Pro Stagepiano |
Bluetooth | No |
Built-in Speakers? | Without speakers |
Polyphony | 256 |
Mechanism | Grand Feel action with 3 sensors each key and Let-Off simulation, 88 wooden keys with IvoryTouch surface |
Sound Source | Harmonic Imaging® XL |
Internal Sounds | Concert Grand, Studio Grand, Mellow Grand, Pop Piano, Bright Pop Piano, Mellow Pop Piano, Jazz Grand 1, Jazz Grand 2, Standard Grand, Upright Piano, Mono Pop Piano, Mono Concert, Tine EP 1, Tine EP 2, Tine EP 3, Reed EP 1, Reed EP 2, Reed EP 3, Modern EP |
Demo Songs | - |
Recorder | Yes |
Effects | 129 types (23 categories), Up to 10 parameters, depending on effect type, Virtual Technician, EQ, Metronome, etc. |
Connectivity | 1/4” LINE OUT (L/MONO, R), XLR OUT (L, R) with ground lift switch, Headphones, 1/4” LINE IN, MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, MIDI THRU, USB to Host, USB to Device, DAMPER/SOSTENUTO/SOFT (GFP-3), FSW, EXP with EXP TYPE switch, AC IN |
Pedals | GFP-3 triple pedal unit (with half-damper support) |
Weight | 34 kg |
Size Box 1 | 153x59x29 cm |
Weight Box 1 | 45 kg |
Width | 138 cm |
Depth | 45 cm |
Height | 19 cm |
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