VPC1 Review (Page 2 of 2)

Dare I even attempt to suggest this???
Do I have such audacity???
Well, in short, yes!!!

A new velocity curve for the VPC1!!!

I anticipate a tirade of sorts, but am willing to run the gauntlet!!!

To the chase. Having had and enjoyed this 88 note wonder for a few months now, and having become more than a little inquisitive regarding the custom PianoTEQ curve, I decided to have a more serious look at the VPC1 Editing Software's Custom Velocity Curve Generator. After quite a number of attempts, I realised there was a simple basic shape that appeared to remain comstant with each try. And it is is so, so very simple that it only requires a single control point!!!

Shall I tell??? ; )

OK,

Velocity = [0, 75, 127; 0, 37, 127]

It can be used at keyboard or software stage and the simplest is just to paste...

Velocity = [0, 75, 127; 0, 37, 127]

...into the PianoTEQ velocity graph, or simply add a control point at 75; 37

Note: Whichever curve you wish to adjust (keyboard's or PianoTEQ's), make sure the other curve is set linear/normal. In other words, if you alter the keyboard's curve, set PianoTEQ's llinear, and vice versa.

Let me know what you think,

Kindest Regards,

Chris

sigasa is simply reporting what he has found, seemingly, and if it's indeed so it'll be of considerable interest to VPC1 owners, incumbent or intending.

But sigasa, you're a major devotee of the linear response. Is it possible over years you've trained your fingers to reliably-produce a quasi-linear input, and so get this consistent output pattern? Practice makes perfect they say (& I believe it, though practise is not my strong point).

ADDED: I should say my own VPC1 has turned up, apparently without mishap. And whether it's due to intervention by Sweetwater or to Kawai's thoughtfulness, the included power adapter appears to be consistent with both US and Australian Mains AC standards. Means I'm not left scratching on USB supply (1 Watt max draw) if I need to power the MIDI jacks (adapter draw is 3 Watts max), and I might.

Interestingly, according to the packaging it's manufactured in Indonesia.

I have been looking at a custom curve again today. It seems that a better result is a single control point at around about 84; 55

velocity = [0, 84, 127; 0, 55, 127]

I shall look further at this tomorrow. Comments very welcome.

I shall try and get an image sorted soon.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

http://www.filedropper.com/user001

Above, a link to the bin file with my latest touch curve. Just place the file in the VPC1 Editor folder and it will show up when you open the VPC1 Editor. Simply click on the curve and remember to use a linear curve in PianoTEQ.

Alternatively, paste this onto PianoTEQ's velocity curve pane

Velocity = [0, 71, 97, 110, 120; 0, 32, 64,  91, 127]

Make sure you use the 'Normal' (Linear) curve in the VPC1 if choosing to do the latter.

Hi all,

I've been working very hard on a custom velocity curve for a while now. Today's results are most definately, and markedly, the best so far - so much so that I wish to submit it as a serious alternative option to Kawai's supplied custom curve. The resulting touch/hearing relationship i(to me anyhow) is so much more convincing than when using the recommended curve. However, please don't think I am slating Kawai in any way - I love the VPC1, it's just that I had become increasingly unconvinced by the stock curve and was sure that Kawai's build qaulity and meticulous midi implementation were such that I should be getting better results in terms of realism of the playing experience. As it turned out, I was correct in my theory.

I have no way of being able to upload the .tcv file to PianoTEQ's site as the .tcv file is not an authorised file (as yet) so I shall shortly send a dropbox link to the .tcv file for those who wish to place it into their VPC1 Editor folder. I shall, however, write out the pastable co-ordinates text for those who wish to copy and paste it into PianoTEQ's velocity pane and write the co-ordinates for those who wish to mouse them into the VPC1 Editor instead.

I'd appreciate any feedback from interested person(s)  fortunate enough to have been able to actually obtain a VPC1!

I'm not sure if an audio demo would be of any use, but if anyone wants me to upload one, just let me know.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

here's the link to the .tcv file https://www.dropbox.com/s/noerpl5w0dpjwo3/User_000.tcv

the rest to follow later,

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Feline, would that be July 8th 2014 or later??? ;p

Hi all,

my apologies for brief absence. I'm still testing the custom curve. As it happens, it may be simpler than I thought!?

I shall do further testing before submitting a substitute PianoTEQ custom curve, this too being a work in progress in that editions by VPC1 owners would be extremely welcome.

I hope also to post an audio demo via sound cloud.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

My favorite curve to date....

0, 0
67, 32
94, 64
122, 127
127, 127

please program into VPC1 Editor

Demo to follow.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Here is my FINAL offering and submission as alternative PianoTEQ Custom Velocity Curve;

velocity = [0, 64, 94, 125, 127; 0, 32, 64, 127, 127]

Please program into the VPC1 Editor and use the normal curve in PianoTEQ.

I shall post a midi demo in the other files section of the forum.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

a demo midi file here http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/uploads.p...t_2013.mid

Alternative to programming in the coordinates is a link to the .tcv file to be placed in the VPC1 Editor folder https://www.dropbox.com/s/noerpl5w0dpjwo3/User_000.tcv

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

In other words;

0, 0
64, 32
95, 64
125, 127
127, 127

Congratulations! i'm happy for you...

Countdown!!

Hello everyone,
I'll soon update my korg sp250 (+ Focusrite Scarlett 2i4) for a VPC-1.
Should I use the Usb output or the Midi output ? Is there a difference in latency ?
Thanks

I would presume that Kawai have engineered the MIDI outs on their VPC1 so that there's no difference in latency at that end...

...there may be differences at the receiving end, depending what you are plugging in to.
E.g. some very old (1980s) MIDI inputs may have UARTs that are a bit sloppy by today's standards...
...and conversely, some USB inputs on some computers may not have the best chipsets and drivers and latency ever (particularly if you also have other USB devices plugged in at the same time).

My suggestion would be: play armfuls of notes with your elbows, and listen to the difference in performance with either cable.
If one sounds better than the other to your ears, then use the better one.
If you can't tell any difference, then relax

This seems very odd to me! I wonder if perhaps there's some kind of crazy ground current flowing through your system, coming in from an external rooftop aerial or cable feed? I had a cable TV system here once where I got insane ground loops when I connected it to my audio gear (I measured a current of 1.5A flowing through the chassis at one point) before I finally got an engineer from the cable company who knew what I was talking about and fitted an isolator on the cable feed..

Anyways, I got my VPC1, finally!
I only had time last night to unwrap it, not plug it all in.
Stay tuned

The Kawai VPC3 is not a USB 3 device, though....

Well, I have my VPC1 set up and plugged in!
All I needed to do was run the installer for the 64bit windows USB driver, then plug in my USB cable and it worked fine - when I launched Pianoteq, the VPC was showing as a MIDI input.

I played away and it felt just as nice as it did a Musikmesse! It's a lovely controller (not the cheapest in the world, but I think it was worth saving up for!)

The way I prefer to use it is with good quality open-backed headphones connected to my computer (I have some by Sennheiser) and Pianoteq set to binaural output. That way, I get so much closer to the illusion that I'm sitting at a real piano. (Otherwise, as my speakers are on the other side of the room, I get the audio coming from behind my back as I play the keyboard, which is kinda wierd on anything but the electric rhody/wurly/clav instruments)

Basically I get a great playing experience and it's more realistic than ever. My only slight gripe is that I do still find that Pianoteq has a potential to produce digital clipping/distortion on its own output if the volume is too high. You can eliminate this by fiddling with its output levels, but I do think more attention should be paid my Modartt to stopping this happening. There is a limiter function but it doesn't seem to entirely prevent it.

congrats feline1!

I hope it was worth waiting for!

Cheers,
James
x

Now the question is, which touch curve does feline1 prefer?

The built-in Pianoteq curve, or sigasa's custom curve?

Answers on a postcard...

James
x

The default 'Normal' touch curve should play very well, yes.
However, if you're a Pianoteq user, it's recommended to select the Pianoteq touch curve (assigned to preset #3).

Cheers,
James
x