Kawai ES8 Digital Piano in White Metallic
What We Think
Another brilliant piano from Kawai this time their mid rang portable stage piano with speaker. What can often detract from a stage piano is that the sound is lost as the piano has no backboard or isn’t usually placed near a wall, this can make the piano sound thin, not with this model. The Kawai ES8 sounds every bit as good as its cabinet style counter part. The keyboard and hammer feel is sturdy yet smooth, 34 sounds and the ability to record and playback in live audio makes this a very attractive instrument, what’s more its 30 watt speaker system and the added bonus of a white version (perfect for weddings) make the Kawai ES8 a perfect step up piano from the entry level models.
The Kawai Es 8 is in a different league to many entry level stage type digital pianos. Immediately the look is of quality and something a bit more special. The sound is fantastic , it really draws you in to play. On this model you have 3 of Kawais finest piano samples to choose from , the Shigeru SK and EX models and the SK-5 model as well . These are all incredibly sampled and reproduced using Kawais Harmonic Imaging XL Technolgy. And believe you me , you would be very hard pushed to find better piano sounds in another piano of this style.
The action is the RHiii, which is a spring less design and is very responsive to play , very well balanced up and down the keyboard . There are 3 sensors per key again giving you the player very articulate response to your playing, and to add to the experience the key tops are Ivorite, absorbing any fingertip moisture and they really do feel great to play. On this model Kawai have built in the Virtual Technician which allows you to subtly alter many of the characteristics of the piano sounds ,so that you can taylor them to your particular room setting , all down at the touch of a button! You can also adjust the string and damper resonance feature, giving you total control over the sound of the instrument.
There are a total of 34 sounds on this model and with a Polphony of 256 even a experienced player who plays larger classical pieces , the sound would never be compromised when using the pedals. The built in effects are very extensive on this model, including Stereo delay , Triple delay ,Phase and Rotary to name a few of the more unusual ones found on a digital piano. To add to the playing enjoyment there are 100 backing styles with chord recognition that you can play along to. Again another nice feature I found very useful was the 28 Registration Memories , allowing to save any settings that I change on the piano so I can instantly recall them at the touch ofa button. The piano has Usb recording and playback and has a powerful 2x 15 watts of output. The Es8 is a really superb quality mid to higher range stage piano packed with a lot a great features but mainly a superb piano sound.
Southport Store
The kawai ES8 is a phenomenal piano, it has 88 weighted keys which means that it feels like a real piano and has fantastic sounds. The piano sounds are breathtaking with realistic reverbs for you to choose from which give the piano a depth like no other piano I’ve ever played. I would recommend this to anyone looking at getting an 88 weighted portable piano, it is perfect for gigging, practising or for your studio, you will love this product
The Kawai ES8 is a new upgraded version of the popular ES7.
‘Responsive Hammer III’ weighted-key action, with Ivory Touch key surfaces and Let-off simulation
The new Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) action recreates the distinctive touch of an acoustic grand piano, with its realistic movement and accurate 3-sensor technology providing a smooth, natural, and highly responsive piano playing experience. The weight of the keyboard is appropriately graded to mirror the heavier bass hammers and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, while structural reinforcements within the action assembly ensure greater stability during fortissimo and staccato passages. The ES8 digital piano also features Kawai’s Ivory Touch key surfaces that gently absorb finger moisture to assist the player’s performance, while, let-off simulation recreates the subtle ‘notch’ sensation felt when softly playing the keys of a grand piano, satisfying the expectations of the most discerning pianists.
Shigeru Kawai SK-EX, SK-5, and Kawai EX instruments reproduced with Harmonic Imaging XL sound technology
The ES8 digital piano captures the rich, expressive sound of the Kawai SK-EX, SK-5, and EX grand pianos, with all 88 keys of these exceptional instruments meticulously recorded, analysed and faithfully reproduced using Harmonic Imaging™ XL sound technology. This unique process accurately recreates the broad dynamic range of the original grand pianos, affording pianists an extraordinary level of expressiveness ranging from the softest pianissimo to the strongest, boldest fortissimo. The instrument’s built-in Virtual Technician feature allows various characteristics of these acoustic piano sounds to be shaped at the touch of a button, with settings to adjust string and damper resonance, in addition to subtle hammer, damper, and key release noises. This personalised piano sound is further enhanced with atmospheric reverberation effects, delivering a rich, vibrant piano tone with breathtaking realism and authenticity.
Strong selection of additional instrument sounds
Supplementing the realistic acoustic piano voices, the ES8 digital piano also features a strong selection of additional instrument sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar and church organs, to string, choir, and mallet instruments, 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 Four Hands modes divide the keyboard into two independent sections. The volume balances for each playing mode can also be adjusted quickly and easily using the real-time panel controls.
Professional accompaniment styles
Featuring a variety of styles ranging from pop and rock ballads, to jazz-funk, dance, and latin flavours, the Rhythm Section function of the ES8 digital piano provides solo performers with professionally arranged backing accompaniment at the touch of a button. In addition, the 100 preset chord progressions and One Finger Ad-lib™ solo phrases allow musicians to breathe life into their repertoire, while maintaining control over each performance.
USB to Device functionality, with MP3/WAV file recording and playback
The ES8 digital piano is equipped with USB connectors that not only allow the instrument to be connected to a computer for MIDI use, but also to load and save data to USB memory devices directly. This USB to Device feature allows registration memories and songs recorded and stored in internal memory to be saved to USB for posterity, or standard MIDI files (SMF) downloaded from the internet to be conveniently played back without additional hardware. USB memory devices can also be used to play back MP3 or WAV audio files, allowing musicians to learn the chords or melody for a new piece, or to simply play along with their favourite songs. It is even possible to save performances as MP3 or WAV files for emailing to friends and family, listening to on a smartphone, or for further editing using an audio workstation.
Wide range of connectivity options
The ES8 digital piano features a variety of standard connectivity options, with Line-level output jacks that allow the instrument to be enjoyed in larger settings such as churches and schools. Standard MIDI and USB to Host connectors ensure flexibility when using computers and other electronic instruments, while the Line-in stereo jack provides a convenient method of mixing in audio from a laptop, tablet, or other digital device.
Optional Accessories
The beautiful HM-4 Design Kit makes the ES7 a stylish digital piano. It contains the stand and the acrylic music rack.
In addition this set can be expanded by the 3 pedal unit F-301.
Specs
This product has not been reviewed yet.
