THE VARIETY OF A DIGITAL PIANO
Complementing the instruments’ excellent Grand Feel Compact keyboard action and impressive Progressive Harmonic Imaging piano sound, the CA59 also offers a strong selection of digital piano features that further enhance one’s musical enjoyment. Wireless Bluetooth® AUDIO and MIDI connectivity, USB audio record/playback, Dual, Split, and Four Hands keyboard modes, and a rich assortment of instrumental voices add greater variety to players’ performances, while the convenient metronome function and integrated lessons ensure that regular practise is both productive and engaging for aspiring pianists.
THE TOUCH OF A GRAND PIANO
The CA59 digital piano utilises Kawai’s latest Grand Feel Compact keyboard action, which draws upon 90 years of acoustic piano craftsmanship to provide an exceptionally realistic playing experience. All 88 black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, with finely textured Ivory Touch key surfaces applied to assist playing control. As with an acoustic grand piano action, the keys rest on a metal balance pin and move with a smooth seesaw-like motion, while the extended pivot length ensures a consistent, evenly-balanced touch weight – even when playing towards the back of the key. The Grand Feel Compact action also incorporates grade-weighted hammers, bass region counterweights, and let-off simulation for added authenticity, while its accurate triple-sensor key detection system allows rapidly repeated notes such as trills to be performed smoothly, without unnatural breaks in sound.
THE SOUND OF A GRAND PIANO
The CA59 digital piano captures the magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano. 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 exceptional tonal clarity. In addition, the CA59 also features the distinctive sound of Kawai’s highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has frequently been selected by professional pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, beside the famous Shigeru Kawai SK-5.
Those instruments have been carefully recorded, meticulously analysed, and faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using Harmonic Imaging™ 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.
STRONG SELECTION OF ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENT SOUNDS
Supplementing the realistic acoustic piano voices, the CA59 digital piano also features an excellent selection of instrument sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar and church organs, to strings, human choirs, and even atmospheric synth-style pads, 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.
VIRTUAL TECHNICIAN ADJUSTMENTS TO PERSONALISE THE INSTRUMENT’S CHARACTER
The CA59 digital piano’s Virtual Technician feature allows various characteristics of the selected acoustic piano, electric piano, or harpsichord sound to be shaped at the touch of a button, with settings to adjust voicing and regulation, string, damper, and cabinet resonances, and subtle hammer, damper, and key release noises. It is even possible to adjust the precise tuning and volume of individual notes, before storing one’s personalised instrument configuration to memory.
BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY
In addition to standard USB and MIDI ports, the new CA59 also boasts integrated Bluetooth MIDI technology, allowing the digital piano to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly.
Once paired with a phone, tablet, or laptop, CA59 owners can easily expand the instruments’ functionality with a wide range of education, performance, and scoring apps.
The integrated Bluetooth Audio feature with aptX compatibility lets you connect your mobile devices to listen to your music library and play along with it.
USB TO DEVICE FUNCTIONALITY, WITH MP3/WAV FILE RECORDING AND PLAYBACK
The CA59 digital piano is equipped with USB connectors that not only allow this 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 instrument settings or recorded songs 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 record performances as MP3 or WAV files for emailing to friends and family, listening to on the move, or for further editing using an audio workstation.
POWERFUL EFFECTS & REVERB
The CA59’s powerful digital effects engine enhances the instruments’ superior core sounds, applying additional layers of detail and realism that bring performances to life. Studio-quality reverb allows pianists to position themselves within one of six acoustic environments, ranging from a small practise room to an inspirational grand cathedral.
PREMIUM ONKYO AUDIO TECHNOLOGY
Unrivalled in its price range, the CA59 features an impressive 4-way system in combination with ONKYO designed audio circuits to reproduce the harmonic spectrum of an acoustic piano. Lower range frequencies are delivered through the underside of the instrument, while mid and high frequencies are projected outward via top-mounted speakers, closely mirroring the sound projection of a grand piano.
GREAT HEADPHONE EXPERIENCE
The CA59’s Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS) technology enhances the depth and realism of the instrument’s various sounds when using headphones or earphones, while also helping to reduce auditory fatigue when listening for extended periods of time.
INSPIRATIONAL PLAYING MODES
The CA59’s built-in lesson function allows aspiring pianists to learn piano with classical Czerny, Burgmüller, Chopin, and Beyer etudes, or a collection of songs from the popular Alfred course books.
In addition, the instruments’ Dual, Split, and Four Hands playing modes allow two different sounds to be layered together, or for the entire keyboard to be split into two separate sections for duet performances.
ADJUSTABLE MUSIC REST
As with a grand piano, the viewing angle of the CA59’s music rest can be adjusted to suit the performer’s playing position, or laid flat for convenience when notating scores.
AUTHENTIC PEDAL RESPONSE
Reinforcing the CA59’s reputation as the most realistic digital pianos in its price range is Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal System. This development accurately replicates the position and individual weighting of the damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals of a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano to further enhance playing authenticity.
