Kawai MP10

Description

Discontinued, replaced by MP11

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Description

From the moment you sit down at the Kawai MP10 you realise it’s something different, something special. Perhaps it’s the sight of your own hands reflecting in the tall fallboard, or the authority of a family name that has been building exceptional pianos for eight decades. Either way, this is clearly a cultured instrument that demands to be taken seriously.

Keyboard Action

Take a little time to play the keyboard – gently at first, then really dig into it. It’s all there, everything you’d expect from a master piano builder: the quality of the IvoryTouch key surfaces beneath your fingertips, the smooth, consistent movement of the long wooden keys, and the reassuring grade-weighted touch that feels just like the real thing. Kawai actions are renowned for being the best in the business, and the RM3 Grand action in this new MP is definitely no exception.

MP10

All eighty-eight black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, pivoting smoothly on a central balance pin, to replicate the familiar ‘seesaw’ motion of an acoustic piano action. When pressed, the back of each key triggers a grade-weighted hammer to play the note, while additional counter-weights are also placed at the front of the bass keys, helping to lighten their heavier touch during pianissimo passages and the let-off simulation recreates the subtle ‘notch’ sensation felt when softly playing the keys of a grand piano.

Click on the RM3 picture to enlarge.

Sound

However a great action counts for nothing if the sounds aren’t up to scratch, and today’s working pianist needs sufficient variety in their board’s main patches if they’re going to cover everything on the setlist. Fortunately this is another area where the Kawai MP10 really shines – we’ve quadrupled the amount of sample memory and focused our attention on nailing the sounds that really matter. Brand new acoustic pianos, individually miked and recorded for classical, pop, and jazz, with three distinct variations of each. Recording each of the 88 keys individually in this way – as opposed to stretching the same tone over several different notes – ensures that the rich harmonic character of the original grand piano is preserved including damper and mechanic noises and many other aspects of the sound.

Complementing their impressive variety of acoustic piano sounds, the MP10 also feature a selection of brand new electric pianos. Classic tines, reeds, and clavs – each one lovingly sampled from original vintage instruments to ensure their distinctive characteristics (and occasional imperfections) are richly preserved. The MP10 offers an AMP simulator with a selection of six different amp types ranging from the crispclean Tweed Deluxe and tender Jazz Combo, to the crunchier growl of a British Blues or UK Class A with direct access to the drive, level and EQ of that amp. Simply select your favourite EP sound, crank up the amp drive, and dig-into vintage keyboard playing heaven.
And finally a selection of lush strings, pads, and subsidiary voices for those occasions that require additional layers blended into the mix.

Operation

Straightforward, hassle-free operation is another hallmark of a winning stage piano, because when the lights are down and you’re halfway through a set, you really don’t want to be guessing buttons, or thumbing through the owner’s manual. The MP10’s control panel is clearly laid-out, with everything where you’d expect to find it. Each sound section features its own volume fader and dedicated effects, reverb, and parameter controls, while the four freely-assignable centre knobs allow you to tweak multiple characteristics in realtime, without getting lost in pages of menus. In addition a 3-band EQ with parametric mids is onboard.

Click on the MP10 panel picture to enlarge.

USB / AUDIO

The MP10 is equipped with USB ports that not only allow the instruments to be connected to a Mac or PC for MIDI use, but also to load and save data directly to USB memory devices. This ‘USB to Device’ functionality allows customised sounds, SETUP memories, and recorder songs stored in internal memory to be saved to USB for future gigs, or even exchanged with other MP owners online. USB memory devices can also be used to play back MP3 or WAV audio files, and SMF song data, allowing performing musicians to play along with professional backing tracks, or simply learn the chords or melody for a new piece.

Kawai MP10

It is even possible to record and save performances directly as MP3/WAV audio, or SMF song files for emailing to band members, casual listening away from the keyboard, or further editing using an audio workstation. Furthermore, the MP10 also supports recording from external audio sources such as other keyboards or vocals using the instrument’s convenient LINE IN jacks. Adjust the input level from a dedicated panel fader, select the preferred audio format, then press record – the MP takes care of the rest. Produce crystal-clear digital recordings of all your performances, without ever having to leave the keyboard.

Further Information:

Action RM3 Grand with Let-Off
Keyboard 88 wooden keys with IvoryTouch key surfaces
Polyphony max. 192 notes
Sound Source Ultra Progressive Harmonic Imaging® (UPHI)
PIANO Section Concert Grand, Studio Grand, Mellow Grand, Pop Piano, Bright Pop Piano, Mellow Pop Piano, Jazz Grand 1, Jazz Grand 2, Standard Grand
E.PIANO Section Tine EP 1, Tine EP2, Tine EP3, Reed EP 1, Reed EP 2, Reed EP 3, Modern EP, Clavi 1, Clavi 2
SUB Section Hybrid Strings, Hybrid Ensemble, Beautiful Strings, Pad 1, Pad 2, String Pad, Vibraphone, Harpsichord, Choir
MIDI Section Channel, Local On/Off, Volume, MMC Transport, Split, 2×4 Controller, PRG, Bank, etc…
Setup Memory 156 (A-Z x 6)
AMP Simulator 6 amp types, each with Drive, Level and 3-Band EQ (E.Piano Section only)
Effects 25 types, each with Dry/Wet, Speed, Depth, Rate
Reverb 7 types, each with Time, PreDelay and Depth
EQ 3-Band EQ (Lo, Mid, Mid-Freq, Hi), plus Master EQ
Recorder MIDI internal 10 songs, 90.000 notes, MIDI-to-Audio conversion
Recorder AUDIO direct to USB memory; Recording: MP3/WAV with Overdub, Line IN is recorded as well; Playback: MP3/WAV with A-B Loop
Metronome 10 beats, 100 Drum Pattern, Tempo, Level
Display 128 x 64 Pixel LCD back-lighted
Jacks XLR Outs with Ground Lift, Line Out 6,3mm (L/Mono,R oder 2xMono), Line In 6,3mm (L/Mono,R), Headphones, Damper/Soft Pedal, Foot Switch (assignable), Expression (assignable), MIDI In / Out / Thru, USB-to-host, USB-to-device, AC IN, Powerswitch On/Off
Weight in kg 31,8
Dimensions 1380 x 428 x 185 (mm)
Accessories F-20 Double Pedal with Half-Damper function, Music Rack, AC cord and owners manual included

Delivery

Free delivery to UK, Ireland and most European Countries.

Kawai MP10 Reviews

“Too heavy to move about, but has a superb action”

I was looking for a piano with or without speakers with the best action I could find in a non-furniture instrument  – I ended up buying a used Kawai MP10, at an exceptional price.

It’s too heavy to move about much, at about 70lbs/32kg, but with wooden keys and a superb action, it is doing a beautiful job of driving my computer-based VST piano, the $69 Native-Instruments / Kontakt “New York” Grand”, which is better sounding than the 9 very good grands on the MP10.

On the MP3 I like the EPs just ok (but there are lots of mods you can do to them that I haven’t fooled with) and it’s great to have a few very nice string and pad sounds too to layer with pianos. I like having metronome/percussion to practice to, and am already using the MIDI and WAV/MP3 recorder to make tracks to practice against – saving either to internal memory or a USB stick.

You can add reverbs, effects and amps to sounds and everything is pretty intuitive and easily at hand. This is just the right fit for me.

Review by Jim Wright (15/03/2013)

Read more reviews of the Kawai MP10

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Questions and Comments (Email your questions to grahamhoward@ukpianos.co.uk)

Graham

Can you tell me – at this stage of the decision process – I am leaning towards the kawai mp10!

Any reasons why I should steer away from this model?

Any other suggestion if so?

And what price range would you deem acceptable for a kawai mp10?
Regards
Dean

Reply/ Hi Dean

I like the functionality of the Kawai MP10, but
really prefer the key touch of Roland stage pianos.

I find the MP10 a little too soft at the bottom
of the key’s downstroke.

The Roland feels firmer. Also more responsive.

If you would consider the Roland pianos then
I recommend the RD700NX. This is the best
stage piano I’ve played around the £2,000
price point.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard