Kawai VPC1

Great, great, great stuff

I suspect that this will be my keyboard for many years to come, because I have difficulty imagining what more to ask for. Super piano action, slightly on the heavier side, gorgeous finish and workmanship all over. This is a keeper.

Tip: I got the combo with the Roadworks Z stand. I fitted small wheels under the legs and can now move the piano out of the way, when it is not in use. It is not difficult to do and makes all the difference. Also, the Z stand is very sturdy, no wobbling whatsoever.

Quality keyboard with slightly heavy keys

Having had a Roland RD-700 for about 20 years, I decided it was time to buy a new keyboard. After much research I opted for the VPC1. Having played around with Pianoteq using my Roland, I decided I didn't need onboard sound and all the other bells and whistles. For me, touch was the main criteria.

Having had the keyboard a couple of months now, I like the touch, although it does feel quite heavy in comparison to my old Roland. I'm sure I'll get used to it. Overall, I'm pleased with the VPC1. The build quality is good and I like the minimalistic look.

Probably the best midi keyboard that reflects dynamics, action and feeling of an acoustic instrument. In this price range you won’t find anything better that immitate the experience of playing grand piano.

Good Keyboard

The keyboard build quality is very good. Keys are quiet. They are a little heavy so don't expect to be playing very fast pieces.

The only negative is that playing higher up in the keys is not easy and you will suffer with certain arpeggios as the keys become increasing heavy the higher you play.

VPC1 CONTROLLER KEYBOARD

really good feel/feedback to the weighted action of this controller keyboard. 88-note range bigger than most will need, but definitely a realistic experience. i've played on countless pianos (including a Challen upright at home) and while the action is on the heavier side, that's not unusual and you get used to it. great MIDI/dynamic response with velocity curve presets.

DEFINITELY get as strong a stand as you can; it's heavy (approx. 30 kilos)

and X-stands just won't cut it.

thumbs-up all round.

Top notch.

First of all, it feels and weighs like a tank. It was a nightmare to get it up to my apartment.

The MIDI connectivity via the provided USB connection is great, with no perceived latency at around 6 ms. It is USB powered, so it consumes very little power.

The action of the keys is fantastic and pretty much the best you can get for the price, and even beats keyboards that cost twice its price in that regard. You're literally buying the action. Great product!

The excellence

Excellent product and excellent price for a great quality keyboard. I use it exclusively for composition, and sometimes for playing classical tunes just for fun.

its greatest quality is its touch, and the different nuances it allows to give to performance, as well as its manufacturing quality.

I have it since one year now, i produced several piano tracks for MusicScreen (royalty free music library), and some soundtracks for 3 short films. Most of the time, when i want a classical piano style, i use it with the ivory VST, specially with the Steinway D or the Bosendorfer. For jazz work i use the VPC with the Ravenscroft 275.

Inspiration is the most crucial element when it comes to composing and producing music, and after 20 years of making music, i realized how much the action of the piano keyboard can influence our creative process, and can help us capture inspiration when it's there.

This keyboard is really really very inspiring. when i unpacked it, i used the velocity curve provided for the ivory VST, and I was directly seduced.

I used few keyboards in the past: Korg ProX, Roland JV 90.. and the VPC1 is far above in terms of quality and fun.

very good

The keyboard is very good, keys are well weighted, nice action. I don't have regular access to a concert grand but I suspect that the response in an instrument with an authentic double escapement costing 30 times the price of this may be a little faster for playing the repeated notes in Ravel's Alborada. The Kawai certainly plays well enough for the likes of Chopin etudes, Bach 48, etc., standard reperoire, and with a good virtual piano software it's an excellent combination for recording and daily practice. If you're taking it on the road you'll need two people to move it, carefully; it would be a shame to mess up the nice black powder coat.

Keys for pianists

I bought the VPC1 for one specific reason only: the touch. As a classical pianist (hobbyist) I really need something that is close enough to a real piano that you can actually play the instrument the same way. Hammering a plastic synth probably just harms your technique. I've been happy playing and practicing classical piano for two years now with my VPC1.

Pros:

- The touch. Probably the best you can get (until Kawai comes up with improved version) and probably one of the only keyboards that comes even close to being helpful for practicing serious piano repertoire.

- price-feature-ratio. No "fancy extra features". Though somewhat expensive, you're only paying for the keys and with this product that's what you should be looking for anyway.

Cons:

- Weight. It weights a lot and a isn't really an option if you have to bring your own intrument to gigs.

- Lack of (midi) features. There's only the power button and since you have to connect it with a computer and a software instrument anyway, I would have expected even some buttons to control the software instruments (why settle for imitating regular piano experience when you could have more?). Some subtle buttons wouldn't even have harmed the "classical look".

- The curved top surface. This really annoys me since I like hoard sheet music and other stuff on grand pianos etc. and the curved surface really prevents this. Now you just have to find another solution for your laptop and extra stuff.

Conclusion: For pianists who really care for the touch only. You can get a cheap synth for the other stuff anyway.

Feels like a real thing

This keyboard is great. I can play fast and complex piano lines without any problems.