KAWAI
Technology
From the SK-EX Rendering engine to Harmonic Imaging — how Kawai faithfully reproduces the magnificence of a concert grand in digital form.
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.
Kawai has developed SK-EX Rendering – a brand new piano sound engine that blends multi-channel, 88-key sampling with the latest resonance modeling 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, damper, and various other parts of an acoustic piano, giving players the impression that they're sitting at a living, breathing instrument.
Developed in collaboration with Onkyo, one of Japan's leading premium audio equipment manufacturers, the CA98 and CA78 digital pianos are the first musical instruments to utilise specialist components designed for high-end audio reproduction. With cutting-edge technologies such as 1-bit DSD processing, dual DAC signal conversion, and Onkyo's exclusive DIRDC circuitry, the Concert Artist's optimized power amplifiers reproduce the Shigeru Kawai grand piano sound with stunning richness and clarity.
The CA98 features a considerably improved speaker system that pairs premium Onkyo driver units with Kawai's newly developed TwinDrive soundboard. This unique acoustic projection technology harnesses the latest Onkyo transducer components to channel sound energy onto a real wooden soundboard, resulting in a richer, more natural piano tone.
Kawai's highly acclaimed sound technology is called Harmonic Imaging™. Simply put, Harmonic Imaging is a blend of technology and techniques aimed at producing the most realistic recreation of a 9-foot concert grand piano possible.
Each key of a piano has its own unique tonal characteristics. Some have only one string, others two and still others three. There are also differences in hammer felt shape and density. By sampling and recreating each key individually (rather than “stretching” a smaller number of samples) the unique tonal character of each note is preserved.
Uses a larger tonal “database” than regular Harmonic Imaging to provide greater tonal details throughout the dynamic range.
Uses the largest tonal database, providing the greatest tonal detail possible.
Extends the length of the critical attack portion of the sound by up to 120%, articulating the characteristics of each note more clearly and organically.
A musician's preference for the sound of a piano is highly subjective. For this reason, most Kawai digital pianos offer more than one type of acoustic piano sound.
A well-rounded EX Concert Grand recorded in the standard fashion for classical and jazz music.
The original Harmonic Imaging Concert Grand sound with a very different character.
An EX Concert Piano recorded with methods used on many famous pop and rock piano recordings done in Los Angeles area studios.
A new upright piano sound, perfect for music that needs a more intimate piano sound.
Experience Kawai's sound technology in person at an authorized dealer near you.
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