Players - Downbeat

PIANO/KEYBOARD
Stage Line
Kurzweil debuted the latest addition to its SP family
of stage pianos, the SP3X. The SP3X builds on the
design of the Kurzweil’s successful SP2X stage piano
with an expanded sound set of 512 programs. The
SP3X also offers MIDI controller capabilities, velocity
and aftertouch sensitive piano-weighted keyboard action,
and a variety of wind, voice, synth, brass, bass, guitar and
ensemble sounds. MSRP: $1,895. More info: kurzweilmusicsystems.com
‘V’ Piano
The latest addition to its V-series of instruments, Roland’s V-Piano
reproduces the complex resonances of acoustic pianos through an
advanced modeling technology, unlike the loop-based sampling of
previous digital pianos. New keyboard sensors not only support high
repetition, but also reproduce the tonal fluctuations caused by differences
in stroke acceleration patterns. The V-Piano produces
vintage and vanguard sounds. The vintage tones reproduce
the style of contemporary pianos and famous
vintage pianos, while vanguard tones allow
users to create new sounds, going beyond
previous physical restrictions of acoustic
pianos related to the type and number of
strings. More info: rolandus.com
Real Feeling
Yamaha’s digital Avant Grand uses sound
reproduction and sampling technology to
capture the sound, touch, action and physical
resonance of an acoustic grand piano in
a 4-foot cabinet without the tuning or cost
of a comparable stringed instrument. The
Yamaha
Avant
Grand
Avant Grand’s tactile response system transmits string-like
vibrations through the keys to a player’s hands. Yamaha also
created a new, specialized grand piano pedal for the Avant Grand
that duplicates the spring, friction and inertia of traditional pedals.
The instrument also contains a four-channel, three-way spatial
acoustic speaker system that mimics the points where the
original grand piano samples were taken. More info: yamaha.com
Micro Expands
Korg has expanded its micro line of portable synthesizers
with the microKORG XL synth with vocoder. The 37-note
velocity-sensitive microKORG XL offers Korg’s analog
modeling, along with an ergonomic interface, in a lightweight
and portable keyboard. MKXL employs full eightvoice,
multimodeling technology, a 16-band vocoder,
on-the-fly parameter editing and USB MIDI connectivity,
packaged with Korg’s new natural touch keyboard action.
The microKORG XL uses Korg’s Radias engine to offer
an analog sound with 128 sounds out of the box.
MSRP: $750. More info: korg.com
B-3 Enhanced
Musicians couldn’t seem to keep away from Hammond’s new B-3 mk2
at NAMM. The B-3 mk2 is an enhanced version of the company’s first
digital B-3 organ from 2002, which was designed to be an exact duplication
of Hammond’s original B-3. This year’s model celebrates the
company’s 75th anniversary and includes features like a new sound
engine that more faithfully reproduces the sound of the Classic B-3. A
12AU7 vacuum tube is now used in the pre-amp circuit and a 12AX7 in
the overdrive. The model also includes a digital Leslie simulator.
MSRP: $26,995. More info: hammondorganco.com
Roland
V-Piano
Korg microKORG XL
Kurzweil
SP3X
Hammond
B-3 mk2
Kawai EP3
Powerful Performer
Kawai’s new EP3 professional digital piano features the company’s
harmonic imaging technology to reproduce the broad range of Kawai
concert grands. The EP3 is also equipped with features to aid practice
and performance, like a built-in metronome with an additional 30
drum rhythms, USB drive for quick computer connectivity and an
audio input for connecting an MP3 player or other audio device to its
six-speaker sound system. More info: kawaius.com DB
Reporting by Aaron Cohen, Jennifer Domine, Jason Koransky, Zach Phillips and
Mary Wilcop.
April 2009 DOWNBEAT 85