Topic by mabry

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Topic: There's 87 of them.

Of course there should be 88 but my dog Yuki (pictured) ran off with one during the de-fanging process. Maybe she was trying to replace the molar she lost week. She's just a puppy and her adult teeth are coming in.

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So yes, my keyboard has been de-(simulated)-escapement-ed.

I was going to just push the escapement rubbers out of the way like one other obsessed VPC1 owner here did but I was afraid they might work their way back into place over time so I just ripped those suckers out.

I like the feel of the keyboard just a bit better now. The change is not dramatic but the key travel is somewhat smoother and to me, feels more like an acoustic action than before. Well, except for the escapement bit.

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

mabry wrote:

Of course there should be 88 but my dog Yuki (pictured) ran off with one during the de-fanging process. Maybe she was trying to replace the molar she lost week. She's just a puppy and her adult teeth are coming in.

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mabry wrote:

So yes, my keyboard has been de-(simulated)-escapement-ed.

So you took the plunge Mabry!!!

mabry wrote:

I was going to just push the escapement rubbers out of the way like one other obsessed VPC1 owner here did but I was afraid they might work their way back into place over time so I just ripped those suckers out.

Braver than me!!! (what other obsesses VPC1 owner???    )

mabry wrote:

I like the feel of the keyboard just a bit better now. The change is not dramatic but the key travel is somewhat smoother and to me, feels more like an acoustic action than before. Well, except for the escapement bit.

There is more smoother and accurate response after removal of rubber/silicone escapement simulator arms isn't there?! Do you also find a more solid key bottoming also Mabry?

Incidentally, in-keeping with my obsessive streak, I have created a curve using 'Velocity Curve SM' which allows one to alter the curve without loss of curvature (if that makes sense???). It took a while to get the hang of the plugin but has yielded the best results I've managed to date.

May I just say something. I wish to be a little more descriptive of the pursuit of an even curve. I have long realised that the bespoke curve for PianoTeq supplied with the VPC1, though I'm sure satisfies most, was not as smooth and adapted to PianoTeq as I'd preferred (no disrespect to the engineers at Kawai). I have had many attempts to create the 'perfect curve' and anyone who has attempted this before knows the difficulties involved. Yes, I'll agree I have been more than a little obsessive, but so was Edison!!!

I shall post a link to the Velocity Curve SM file and an image of the curve soon.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Reply by mabry

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Re: There's 87 of them.

sigasa wrote:

There is more smoother and accurate response after removal of rubber/silicone escapement simulator arms isn't there?! Do you also find a more solid key bottoming also Mabry?

Yes, speaking of the key bottoming, I do. As I indicated earlier, it is not overly dramatic but it does improve things. I kind of wish the felt under the key where it strikes the key bottom was a bit firmer. Maybe that is my next project but I am not sure.

sigasa wrote:

I shall post a link to the Velocity Curve SM file and an image of the curve soon.

Do you feel these curves are valid for undefanged VPC1s?

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/drglfwyoegc28rs/EBONxwZ-pb

here is the 'Velocity Curve SM' file for the VPC1 and yes, it is customised for defanged VPC1's

Thank you Mabry

I'll post a link to the 'Velocity Curve SM' plugin shortly

Kindest Regards,

Chris

here's the pic. http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2748/ob5y.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

and here's the link to the velocity editing software (free) http://www.platinumears.com/velocitycurvesm.html

Last edited by sigasa (13-12-2013 12:20)

Reply by delt

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Damn, that would really suck if you lost a key of your VPC1.....

http://soundcloud.com/delt01
Pianoteq 5 STD+blüthner, Renoise 3 • Roland FP-4F + M-Audio Keystation 88es
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Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Mabry,

I just re-read your last post and realised you'd asked if the curves were valid for "undefanged" (fanged) VPC1's

To answer this question, I'd have to have my fangs in, I mean let-off simulation arms in!!!

I cannot say as to whether or not these curves are suitable for an unmodified VPC1 as I am creating them using my defanged/modified instrument.

Hope that is clearer?

Kindest Regards,

Chris

P.s. I have modified the curve slightly and an still testing it. I'll post the modified curve if anyone would likd it?

Reply by mabry

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Re: There's 87 of them.

sigasa wrote:

I have modified the curve slightly and an still testing it. I'll post the modified curve if anyone would likd it?:)

I would like to see it but can you explain the last image you posted in more detail?

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

mabry wrote:
sigasa wrote:

I have modified the curve slightly and an still testing it. I'll post the modified curve if anyone would likd it?:)

I would like to see it but can you explain the last image you posted in more detail?

The last image is the UI (User Interface) of the software "Velocity Curve SM". I have used one point (or node) to drag the curve into the position seen in the image. Unfortunately, this software plugin gives no positional indicator to the point/node, but it does have the option to save the curve as an .fxp file.

I hope I have explained clearly Mabry, but if you are still unclear of something, just say,

I have a modified and improved curve which I shall upload shortly with an accompanying image of this new contender,

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Here's my best file to date. more info shortly...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uqpw3cobiyrvw...20Init.fxp

(to be used in conjunction with Velocity Curve SM plugin)

Kindest Regards,

Chris

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9843/sual.jpg

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(image of curve linked to above)

Last edited by sigasa (18-12-2013 22:41)

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Info regarding curve in above post;

I had long been endeavouring to create a curve using the guidance of the PianoTeq curve calibrator results. However, I have recently been experimenting with trying to create a curve by ear rather than using any fixed constants. The curve linked to and pictured above is my latest offering using this method. It allows me to "dig in" all the way from PPP to FFF. The audio/physical relationship is much more convincing than with the previous curves created using my previous method.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Yet again I have modified the curve but need to test it more fully before posting the file.

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Reply by Gotacki

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Hi,

I would be interested to know if repetition is better with let-off out (defanged) ?

Reply by sigasa

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Gotacki wrote:

Hi,

I would be interested to know if repetition is better with let-off out (defanged) ?

I don't think so Gotacki, what do you think Mabry?

Kindest Regards,

Chris

Reply by tfishbein82

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Re: There's 87 of them.

Can you share how you did this? What do you unscrew? What pieces come out?

Thanks!

Reply by mabry

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Re: There's 87 of them.

tfishbein82 wrote:

Can you share how you did this? What do you unscrew? What pieces come out?

On the bottom, take out all screws except the ones circled nor the ones holding the rubber feet in place:

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On the back, the three screws shown here and the three on the other end:

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Then turn the keyboard upright again. I used my bed for this. Position it like you are going to play it and then gently raise the entire top assembly starting from the front side where the keys are at. There will be a set of wires connecting to top assemby to the electronics in the base assembly but if you are gentle, these will stay connected. Let the top assembly rest on the bed behind the base assembly.

The only thing I took out were the 88 letoff-simulation rubbers that you can see in the first picture in this thread. To see what they look like in the keyboard, go here:

http://www.kawaivpc.com/

Click the Features link, then scroll down and click Feature Closeup. Mouseover the image of the action and find the rubber pictured for that first key. I plucked these out with a tweezers using a gentle downward motion. My tweezers were kind of small and weak so they would slip sometimes; I would get a sturdy, long pair or maybe a good needlenose pliers.

Any questions, feel free to ask.