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Welcome to the Concert Artist
Feature Highlights
Grand Feel II wooden-key action with Ebony & Ivory Touch key surfaces, counterweights, and ‘Let-O
ff’ mechanism
The CA98 and CA78 digital pianos utilise Kawai’s latest
Grand Feel II
wooden-key keyboard action, which draws upon 90 years
of acoustic piano craftsmanship to provide an exceptionally realistic playing experience.
As with a grand piano, all eighty-eight black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, pivoting on a
central balance pin in a smooth, seesaw-like motion. The
Grand Feel II
keys are longer than any other digital piano keyboard
action, with the pivot point distance matching that of a Kawai grand piano. When the front of a key is pressed down, the rear
rises, throwing a hammer which plays the note. These metal hammers have been micro-engineered to optmise their centre
of gravity, and are graded in size and weight to replicate the heavier bass and lighter treble notes of an acoustic grand piano.
The forward and backward movements of each hammer are precisely measured using triple-sensor technology, providing
faster key repetition, improved responsiveness, and enhanced playing realism.
In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the
Grand Feel II
action also features counterweights placed within each key. As
with an acoustic piano
, these finely balanced weights help to lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages,
while adding a feel of greater substance when playing with force. The
Grand Feel II
keyboard action even reproduces the
subtle
let-off
sensation felt when playing the keys of a grand piano very softly, satisfying the expectations of even the most
discerning pianists.
Finally, the
Grand Feel II
keyboard action features Kawai’s
Ebony & Ivory Touch
key surfaces. These finely textured materials
gently absorb moisture to assist playing control, and possess a natural, matte finish that is smooth, but not slippery.
Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano reproduced with latest SK-EX Rendering sound technology
The magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai
SK-EX
full concert grand piano is at the heart of the CA98 and CA78
digital pianos. Widely regarded as the ‘premier pianos of Japan’, Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls
and musical institutions throughout the world, and are prized for their tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range.
In order to faithfully reproduce the stunning sound of a Shigeru digitally, Kawai has developed
SK-EX Rendering
– a brand
new piano sound engine that blends multi-channel, 88-key sampling with the latest resonance modelling technology. Multi-
channel sampling captures the sound from different points of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano, allowing a broader
range of tonal characteristics to be reproduced, and providing a more lively, authentic response to changes in dynamics.
This naturally expressive sound is further enriched by newly developed resonance algorithms, which physically model the
complex tonal interactions produced by the strings, pedals, and various other parts of an acoustic piano, giving players the
impression that they’re sitting at a living, breathing instrument.
Alternative acoustic piano sounds and a strong selection of additional instrument voices
In addition to the latest
SK-EX Rendering
piano sound engine, the CA98 and CA78 digital pianos also incorporate Kawai’s
highly regarded
Harmonic Imaging XL
technology, showcasing a variety of alternative acoustic pianos sounds and a strong
selection of additional instrument voices. The Kawai EX full concert grand piano has frequently been selected by professional
pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, while the
Shigeru Kawai SK-5 chamber grand and Kawai K-60 upright, allow performers to enjoy the contrasting tonal characteristics
of various different piano sizes and voicing configurations.
Supplementing these realistic acoustic piano voices, the CA98 & CA78 digital pianos also feature an excellent selection of
additional instrument sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar and church organs, to strings, human choirs, and
even atmospheric synth-style pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances. Furthermore, the
Dual
playing mode also allows two different sounds, such as grand piano and strings, to be layered together, while the
Split
and
4Hands
playing modes divide the keyboard into two independent sections.
Virtual Technician adjustments to personalise the instrument’s character
The CA98 & CA78 digital pianos’
Virtual Technician
feature allows various characteristics of the selected acoustic piano,
electric piano, or harpsichord sound to be shaped from the instruments’ touchscreen display, with settings to adjust voicing
and regulation, string, damper, and cabinet resonances, and subtle hammer, damper, and key release noises. It is even
possible to adjust the precise tuning and volume of individual notes, before storing one’s favorite instrument configuration
to memory.
