New Yamaha NU1XA

HZPiano · 2023-09-13T18:31:49+00:00

Hello, A scoop by @ClothEaredNincompoop on PW: Press release: https://www.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2023/23091301/ Some short promo videos on YouTube (more might come): https://www.youtube.com/@yamahaglobal/videos "There's something new regarding the key/hammer sensors: Originally Posted by https://www.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2023/23091301/ Dual sensors detect key and hammer movement separately Yamaha's Articulation Sensor System is used to detect key and hammer movements, offering more accurate interpretation of subtle musical expression during performance. New hammer sensors have been added to more accurately detect timing and strength of hammers hitting the strings. Sensors under the keys accurately determine the stopping point of sounds and other nuances of performance, ensuring that even the most subtle musical expression is preserved."

David Lai

Pete14 Haha, pete, I think you are right. I was told from way back earlier in this very thread that Yamaha has hammer sensors in this new version. I think that's why I'm feeling this improvement. I feel particularly on the Garritan CFX, it's easier to voice the treble on the NU1XA, but on the NU1, it's very difficult to play out my right hand when connected to the library. Similarly, it's easy to both play soft and loud on the NU1XA, but on my NU1, I have to wack the keys very hard in order to get a loud sound.

I notice this difference even in the built-in sounds, which is also interesting.

Now, anyone want my used NU1? LOL.

Pete14

David Lai I notice this difference even in the built-in sounds, which is also interesting.

That was my next question: comparing the on-board sounds……thank you!

Now, for all it’s worth, I had frequent access to an N2 (heck, I’ll say it….I effing owned one!) and the only way I could make that thing work for me, was to “blend it” with Pianoteq, but then I tried the N1X (on-board CFX), and it was so much more responsive, and as you state about the NU1XA, it was effortless to get any dynamic from this instrument; to the point that I could easily live with it (sans VST). This is why I’ve been sabotaging the N2 ever since; because I truly believe it’s an overpriced relic. Now, if Yamaha updated the N2, it would be a different story…..

Personally, I’d like to see an “N1XA” with a few more speakers, but I’d still have to thoroughly check it against the N1X; which remains my favorite “digital” (aside from my beloved P-515, of course)! 😁

David Lai

Pete14 I can't get access to an N1X where I live, there's one about 45 minutes away by car, and my family doesn't own a car, sadly. But judging from what you say, it looks like that the N1X also may have a positive midi response.

I'm sorry you owned an N2. It was discontinued very quickly, from what I recall. It was on the market for probably the shortest time compared with other hybrid variants.

Well, maybe I should hold out hope for Yamaha to give us an N1XA? Basically the same as the NU1XA, but with a grand action. That would be my ultimate dream!

BTW, the A in the NU1XA stands for Advanced, according to a Youtube video I watched yesterday. I guess the main thing was the control panel change, right?

Whatever way you slice it, it is the smoothest upright action on a digital instrument I've ever experienced. Of course, I haven't yet tried the Kawai. I imagine that with the damper movements, it may be the better one -- but now I can only imagine, as I can't get access to one without going to places like Hong Kong.

Chris G

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I just bought a shiny new NU1XA. I did a lot of googling and forum reading before I made the decision to purchase, and this thread was by far my favorite and the most entertaining. So I figured I'd post this here.

The new piano was delivered 10 days ago, and as of today there are 3 malfunctioning keys.

The first key I noticed acting up was a low D. It would only play a sound with a firm press, not a light touch. The keys on either side of it were fine.

Then a few days later a high B key broke. After I played the key it went limp, almost as though the "hammer" was stuck in an upright position and hadn't fallen back. (I realize those are ~~probably~~ definitely not the right terms, apologies. I'm learning.)

And finally, yesterday I found a high G# was having the same issues as the low D, only moreso. It won't sound for anything other than a very firm press, almost a hit.

I contacted my Yamaha dealer after the B issue, and they're sending out a repair person on Monday to assess.

Maybe I got a lemon, maybe something happened in transit. TBD.

But seeing as I'll have an opportunity to pick the brain of someone who has experience with the insides of these pianos, I figured I'd check to see if anyone here has any burning questions about the NU1XA that they'd like me to ask the repair guy?

And if he's not forthcoming, hopefully I'll at least get to take some photos/videos of the inside of this thing in action.

Pete14

Interesting, how Yamaha has yet to “upgrade” the rest of the AvantGrand lineup, but I patiently await, I a’ wait!

And as most of you know, a little show called NAMM is coming, so it makes me wonder if Yamaha will set the record straight once and for all, because adding their new sensor tech to the entry-level (NU1XA), yet leaving the upper models in the dark seems odd to say the least; especially since they’ve made a big deal about “transitioning,” yet the N3/1X still haven’t undergone the procedure, and it makes me wonder, why, Yamaha, why?

For the record, I’m still on the fence about the “new” sensors; however, at the very least, releasing an N1XA will immediately drop the price of the N1X (now grossly overpriced) to something more affordable; akin to what happened with the NU1X (dropped around 2K upon the release of the NU1XA)……

I patiently a’ wait!

CyberGene

Hope dies last.

QuasiUnaFantasia

CyberGene Well, even I believe that Yamaha will introduce as mind-blowing improvements over the next 20 years, as they have been doing over the past couple of years.
😎

CyberGene

Yamaha must be some really pervert sadists though. There are literally millions of people waiting desperately for Yamaha to equalize sensor tech across the AvantGrand line, but no! They’d rather go into bankruptcy instead of giving the customers what they want 🤬

HZPiano

Pete14

Might the convention center in Anaheim have a parking spot left for your humble van, so you can spy on Yamaha's progress first-hand? (Probably best to hose it off from river mud and crud first, that'd give you a little more stealth advantage).

In any case, NAMM is approaching so we'll see…

Kawai claims to announce (at NAMM) to the world (We are the World, We are the Children…) two (yes 2!) major breakthroughs "that are pivotal to Kawai's future". It would be nicest if they were pivotal to our future (in a good way), that would show more customer-orientedness. But hey, that's just me again.

As marketing goes these days, all of this may actually conceal something really interesting, or just mean a change in felt color on two of their entry level grands. If ye all catch my drift.

Cheers and… happy anticipation,

Pete14

HZPiano Might the convention center in Anaheim have a parking spot left for your humble van, so you can spy on Yamaha's progress first-hand? (Probably best to hose it off from river mud and crud first, that'd give you a little more stealth advantage).

I’m listening…….

But now, I’m no longer young and stealthy, so you see, I’d need a young stud to assist me in infiltrating Yamaha; you know, something like a Robin to my aging Batman; who’s up for it?

BTW, the spandex is mandatory (for ease of movement); however, the Robin to my Batman shall wear no cape, because that is tacky and can get caught in the air blades leading to the air ducts leading to Yamaha!

P.S.

I’ll neither infiltrate nor penetrate Yamaha, for you see, I’m old, and I can no longer fit into my Batman suit, but rest assured that my brain remains strong enough to assist Robin on the planning/executing of this risky mission.

I shall remain in the van, but communication between me and “my Robin” will be maintained at all times, I say!

RIP

HZPiano just mean a change in felt color on two of their entry level grands.

Are you suggesting that the felt color is insignificant!!? How dare! 😃

David B

Pete14 I’m old, and I can no longer fit into my Batman suit,

What? You mean we won't get a glimpse of Pete's Ph. D?

Pete14

David B What? You mean we won't get a glimpse of Pete's Ph. D?

That’s the thing, David, the elephant in the room, my dangling perspective(s); and yes, there’s TWO perspectives, and gravity hasn’t been kind to them dangling perspectives (if you know what I’m saying). 😊

HZPiano

QuasiUnaFantasia

😳

😄

HZPiano

RIP

😀

johndoe

Pete14 Hey Pete, Let me first introduce myself, I'm a Berklee Alumnus and instrumentalist and composer. I purchased the NU1XA with my fiancee because we wanted a real piano in the house. I thought the purchase could have been a good idea because the NU1XA was marketed as a piano with which musicians can make professional recordings. Also the piano action was something which impressed me from the advertisements.

When we received the piano I played multiple pieces and preparations for a new release. Nevertheless I immediately noticed something was not right with the instrument. The sound was much worse than advertised, and although I'm also a sound designer every attempt at improving the sound was met with a short success and then subsequent degradation of the sound.

I have only a general idea of what could be wrong with the NU1XA sample engine. But definitely the sample rate and internal floating point calculations of the NU1XA are not state of the art. On top of this, there appears to be a persistent layer not only for Grand Expression Modeling or Resonance Modeling but some other form of playing classification engine. There is not an easy way to disable this (Artificial Intelligence or otherwise) layer. This layer seems to be some type of "harmonizer" or otherwise, similar to the Grand Expression Modeling, resonance Modeling or Tone Loudness Optimizer or -Modeler.

My take on this is that it is either a common audio sampler fault, because it is full of "shepard mapping errors" and "sample phase errors" or a type of "engine optimization". However, I'm familiar with ROMPLERS already since the 90's and any sound design can make them sound acceptable even for professional recordings.

Thus, my conclusion is, a lot of sample editing, sound design and external sound modeling is required to make the NU1XA sound better; and with the current state of the engine I'm sorry to say but the NU1XA as it is now is not production ready at all and the NU1XA sampler would require at least a 64bit co-processor and an ability to completely disable all "layers" and apparent "optimizations" to get a clean and transparent (Yamaha) piano sound.

It is a pity that a company like Yamaha, which stands for transparency of sound, has let the NU1XA into the wild and it is my sincere hope that they come up with a solution for the horrible software design.

CyberGene

johndoe frankly speaking, a lot of what you’ve written doesn’t make sense and somehow reminds me of AI generated text.

dikrek

johndoe do you have it far enough from a wall? Maybe a rug on the floor?

how does it sound with headphones? (And which ones?)

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