Upgrade to VPC1/MP11SE from my PHA-4

Tyr

I've tried a separate Midi Pedal Box, but it hasn't worked in any VST except Pianoteq. I'm sure there are ways to make it work but i like the idea to have all parts working in one solution instead of spreading functionality across various devices.

David B

Tyr Great comparative analysis. I'm familiar with the pedal unit on the VPC1 and it does stink. You can feel the gear mesh and it's sluggish. The optical sensor pedal on the MP11SE is soooo much better. I would also be interested in an upgraded VPC1 for the same reasons you mentioned.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano

RIP given that the VPC is a MIDI controller and that you would be utilizing a computer, couldn't you simply use a standalone MIDI pedal unit, fed into the computer

My thoughts exactly.

It's what I'm doing already with my FP-10 and separate pedals (which are, actually, those Kawai F-10Hs. Those are great.).

Very doable.

Cheers and happy pedaling,

PS On my journey of finding solutions, I also tested the Kawai F-350 pedal bar and opened it up to see what it's made of. It is an optical pedal set, which is good, but I found the travel to be short and stiff compared to the much more pleasant F-10H pedals. If GFP-3 basically is that same triple pedal unit, I'm not sure if I would like it. But perhaps they're different.

HZPiano

Tyr here are some pros and cons

Thank you, Tyr , for your down-to-earth and clear comparison!

Cheers and happy playing,

HZPiano

Hey @Jose EB5AGV Jose,

EB5AGV wrote
Hi Matt,

Perhaps you have already said it but, which VSTs do you use with the VPC1?. It really shines with some, as the VSL Synchron Pianos or the VI Labs Modern U, to give some examples.

Jose

As you'd imagine, your remark on VPC1 with Modern U intrigues me. Could you please elaborate more on the match, how you set it up (VPC1 settings as well as Modern U velocity and gain curves). Do those settings really approach a playing experience as on your real-life U3?

Greetings and Thanks!

Cheers,

Gamma1734

HZPiano Did you decide for a new instrument? It seems to me we are looking for a similar new instrument at this point. I'm thinking of buying the Yamaha P-515.

By the way, going through this thread I have to applaud the site and people for the civilised, informative and just nice atmosphere we have here.

HZPiano

Gamma1734 By the way, going through this thread I have to applaud the site and people for the civilised, informative and just nice atmosphere we have here.

What a wonderful remark!! Yes, that is what I love the 'Clack for too, and for a friendly community spirit where it almost feels as if we truly know eachother. Thanks to @CyberGene and @David B for initiating it and for "inviting some friends over here".

Gamma1734 It seems to me we are looking for a similar new instrument

Funny you should ask -- exactly today! I finally managed my long-really-long(!) wished-for excursion to a quality piano dealer here in The Netherlands this afternoon -- after a 6+ months Covid (and other factors) caused delay.

I was/am totally and utterly blown away by what this afternoon brought and taught me -- hours and hours and hours of forumming and youtubing down the drain in just a few keystrokes 😳.

Extremely and utterly useful.

Keep an eye on this forum -- I'll open a thread and share my afternoon -- once I get my brains and wits back together.

Cheers and the happiest playing,

(PS Hold off on the P-515 for a bit).

David B

HZPiano Keep an eye on this forum -- I'll open a thread and share my afternoon -- once I get my brains and wits back together.

Looking forward to it.

BTW, I didn't have anything to do with initiating the development of this forum. It was Gene's idea. I'm just along for the ride and happy to be part the experience. 😎

God Bless,
David

Ralphiano

HZPiano Keep an eye on this forum -- I'll open a thread and share my afternoon -- once I get my brains and wits back together.

Ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! A trustable review. I can't wait! (Well, I guess I'll have to, but, you know what I mean).

HZPiano

Ralphiano A trustable review. I can't wait!

Trustable? What an honor!

😀

H💤

HZPiano

Hello All,

The conundrum I started this thread for still puzzles me, so over Sunday morning coffee I am now rereading this whole thread (again) to help me (again) in sorting out my thoughts.

Last Tuesday I finally got to try the 'suspects' out in a specialized piano store. From that experience, I want to mention (again) how truly spot-on your shares and responses in this thread are.

A huge 👍 !!

So, synopsis:

Indeed, none(!) of the internal sound engines would suffice for having a turn-on-and-play piano instead of VSTi setup. I had hopes for Kawai's piano samples, but even those didn't cut it, not even close(!).
The VPC1 is nice! To my surprise I liked that action quite a bit better than the MP11SE's. The VPC1's pedal unit feels weird indeed. I wouldn't be using it.
Before visiting the digital (slab) department, I played on seven different grand pianos first. The beforementioned visceral(!) connection washed over me in huge succulent intense waves with some of them, one even managed to move me to (withheld 😲) tears. After that, everything in the digital (slab) department felt and sounded like empty, dusty, dried-out cardboard. Oops!
After lovely, intense experiences, I was exhausted so I skipped the Grand Feel III, Casio GP, and hybrid pianos. I will give those attention on a next 'excursion'.

Cheers and happy visceral connections,

Ralphiano

I've been recently lusting after a Yamaha P515, and would benefit from your observations of how that piano stacks up against the competition. How dry and dusty did it sound in comparison to the others? And, in comparison to the VSTs you know?

HZPiano

Ralphiano lusting after a Yamaha P515

I can only comment briefly. If you haven't already, it is essential to thoroughly give it several reality checks to find out if it lives up to any expectations you may have built up over time while researching it.

I felt the action, thought "hey this feels more substantial than many of the others, that is interesting". Then switched it on and set a proper volume, played on its own speakers. Liked the default CFX for a bit at first ear; then switched to the default Bösendorfer -- was totally underwhelmed; then switched back to the CFX. A minute later I lost interest in sound as well as action, and switched it off.

That is rather blunt as a review but at the same time an exact and honest account of how I experienced it last Tuesday.

No idea if this is of help, yet here it is.

Cheers and happy explorations,

DPPianoPhil

HZPiano hen switched to the default Bösendorfer -- was totally underwhelmed;

Yes, out of the box the Bosendorfer is very muffled and I am not sure why Yamaha left it that way. It needs to have its brightness punched out and its velocity curve pushed up a bit (in the Voice Edit menu). Then, it's a really nice tone, on the speakers or through the headphones, but I still prefer the CFX. It just sounds really good to me, so no, I am not lusting for any VST, even though they could potentially open my mind and my ears! 🙂

Jose EB5AGV

HZPiano The VPC1 is nice! To my surprise I liked that action quite a bit better than the MP11SE's. The VPC1's pedal unit feels weird indeed. I wouldn't be using it

🤩 I am happy you liked it. What I don't share is the hate for the pedal unit. Mine works just fine, without being as smooth as the U3 real ones. Perhaps I have been lucky or my comparison standard is lower than yours 🤔

Jose

HZPiano

Jose EB5AGV Perhaps I have been lucky or my comparison standard is lower than yours 🤔

Hey, good to 'see' you again!

Some lucky spark got me to try out the Kawai F10-H pedal and since then I've got a set of those and absolutely love them. Maybe I'm spoiled 😋!

Cheers and happy pedaling,

Jose EB5AGV

HZPiano definitely I should get a F10-H to compare. Now you have forced me to spend more cash! 🤣

BTW I am just back from Switzerland, visiting one of my daughters. A lovely country but, for Spaniards at least, quite expensive 😅

Jose

HZPiano

Jose EB5AGV Switzerland

Great trip, I'd say!

Jose EB5AGV definitely I should get a F10-H

You should! And in my mind they're super friendly priced for what they offer.

Cheers and the happiest playing,

PS I see now that they've gone up in price, as everything these months. But still…

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