Finally…
The Search
Is Over.

Answering the prayers of virtual piano musicians everywhere, the VPC1 packages Kawai's superb RM3 Grand II wooden-key keyboard action into a professional MIDI controller.

As acoustic piano makers, we understand the importance of first-class touch, so kept things as uncomplicated as possible – a superb action, some USB and MIDI connectors, and a beautifully designed, well-built cabinet.

There are no knobs to snap-off or faders getting in the way of your mouse – just a power switch, 88 real wooden keys, and an incredible concert grand playing experience.

Superb Action

Superb Action

Great sound means nothing without control.

The keyboard action is the most important part of a controller.

It doesn't matter how many gigabytes have been sampled, or how advanced the modelled resonances are – if the controller's action is sub-par, the virtual piano just won't feel satisfying to play.

Fortunately, the VPC1 is equipped with Kawai's latest RM3 Grand II action, featuring our trademark wooden keys and smooth, consistent movement. Unlike other controllers, the VPC1 incorporates additional grand piano keyboard characteristics, such as graded hammer weighting, ivory-like key surfaces, let-off simulation, and bass note counterweights.

These premium features combine to recreate the exceptional touch of a fine concert grand, allowing your favourite virtual pianos to finally feel as good as they sound.

Superb Action Details

Seesaw Movement

The VPC1’s RM3 Grand II action adopts many of the characteristics of a grand piano keyboard action.
Perhaps the most distinctive of these characteristics is the familiar ‘seesaw’ movement of the key.

Click the front of the key to see the RM3 Grand II action in motion.

RM3 Grand II

Feature Close-up

Roll the mouse over the hotspots below to see the various features of the VPC1's RM3 Grand II keyboard action, then click the mouse button to read about each point in greater detail.

RM3 Grand II

Let-off Simulation

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Let-off simulation recreates the subtle 'notch' sensation felt when playing the keys of a grand piano very gently. Experienced pianists use this slight resistance to aid their control during pianissimo passages.

Grade-weighted Hammers

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Weights attached to the action’s hammers are graded in size and weight from bass to treble. This feature replicates the characteristics of an acoustic piano action, whereby larger (heavier) hammers are used for bass notes and smaller (lighter) hammers are used for treble notes.

Triple-sensor Detection

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Unlike most other MIDI controllers, the VPC1's keyboard action features triple-sensor key detection. This allows for greater repetition speed and smoother expression when playing legato passages.

Capstan Screw

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The capstan screw transfers the rising and falling movements of the rear of the key to the action parts situated above.

As with a grand piano action, this screw allows the height and position of each hammer jack to be precisely regulated.

Staggered Balance Pins

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The balance pins act as pivot points for each key, allowing the familiar ‘seesaw’ movement associated with an acoustic piano keyboard action.

As with an acoustic piano, the black key balance pins are offset slightly to ensure their weighting is consistent with that of the white keys.

Real Wooden Keys

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All eighty-eight of the VPC1’s black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood – the same material that acoustic piano keys have used for centuries.

Ivory Touch Key Surfaces

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The VPC1's luxurious key surfaces possess a natural, matte finish that is smooth but not slippery. This is thanks to Ivory Touch - a finely textured material that intelligently absorbs fingertip perspiration and oils to assist playing control.

Counterweights

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Complementing the grade-weighted hammers, additional counterweights are placed at the front of the bass keys to lighten their heavier touch during pianissimo passages.

This is another characteristic borrowed from the venerable acoustic piano keyboard action.

Guide Pin

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As the name suggests, this brass pin ‘guides’ the front of the key when pressed, allowing a smooth up and down movement.

The guide hole at the front of each key is lined with red felt, helping to restrict side-to-side wobble while also reducing vibration noise.

Cushioned Keybed

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The cushioned keybed helps to dampen action noise, and ensures that the VPC1’s wooden keys come to a reassuring stop, rather than a jarring halt.

This distinctively coloured green cushioning is the same material as that found in Kawai’s grand pianos.

Triple-sensor Key Detection

The VPC1’s RM3 Grand II keyboard action features Kawai’s new triple-sensor key detection system,
allowing your favourite virtual piano to be played with even greater expression and realism.

  • 2-Sensor
  • 3-Sensor

Conventional 2-sensor MIDI controllers often suffer from limited key respon-siveness, making trills and legato passages difficult to play naturally.

The VPC1's third sensor improves responsiveness when repeatedly striking the same key, allowing trills and legato passages to be played more naturally.

Wooden Keys

The Significance of Wooden Keys

Wood has been the preferred material for acoustic piano keys for centuries, and was first introduced in Kawai digital pianos over 25 years ago. Yet despite the countless improvements to acoustic and digital piano action technologies in recent years, engineers still recognise that wood remains the best material for the keyboard.

Unlike plastics and most other man-made substances, wood possesses unique characteristics that allow it to absorb a degree of movement energy and flex slightly when compressed. This means that when pressing one of the VPC1's wooden keys it reaches the cushioned felt keybed with a natural, reassuring stop, rather than a jarring, noisy halt.

Finally, wooden keys are inherently special. The look, feel, and even the smell of wooden keys furnish the VPC1 with an organic quality that helps the player to feel an even closer connection with their favourite virtual piano.

Ivory Touch

Premium Finish,
Superior Control

The VPC1’s RM3 Grand II action features the same Ivory Touch key surfaces as Kawai’s highly respected digital pianos, with a natural matte finish that looks and feels just like the real thing.

This finely textured material also absorbs surface moisture and oils to assist playing control, ensuring your fingers remain firmly on the keys throughout even the most blistering runs.

USB + MIDI

USB + MIDI

Flexible connectivity:
USB + MIDI

Connecting the VPC1 to your PC or Mac requires just a single USB cable – that's all. The VPC1 can draw power from the computer's USB bus, reducing cable clutter by doing away with the need for an external AC adaptor.

While the VPC1 has been developed primarily for controlling software pianos, standard MIDI jacks are also provided for connecting to hardware sound sources.

Perhaps there's an old synth or expander module that you just can't part with, or a semi-weighted board that sounds fantastic, but is let down by a flimsy action – the VPC1 can breathe new life into your existing setup.

It's even possible to control separate sound sources simultane-ously, adjusting IN/OUT routing for USB and standard MIDI with the VPC Editor software.

Grand Piano Pedals

Grand Piano Pedals

Take Control:
Grand Piano
Pedals

Take full advantage of your virtual piano's unlooped sustain and stunning modelled resonances with the VPC1's included grand piano pedal controller.

This sturdily-built unit supports half-damping, and is pre-configured to send the correct CC messages for damper, soft, and sostenuto events.

No more mix-and-match sizes or polarity problems – just one solid unit, three reassuringly-weighted pedals, and a great piano playing experience.

Approved Touch Curves

Approved Touch Curves

The Perfect
Connection:
Professional
Touch Curves

Experienced virtual piano players appreciate the value of a well balanced touch curve.
This plotted graph defines how key velocity corresponds to the instrument's volume and tonal character, influencing the player's connection with their piano.

The VPC1 features the same responsive touch curve from our highly respected MP10 stage piano, ensuring a superb playing experience – regardless of the application. However, for the ultimate piano connection, the VPC1 also includes preset touch curves for a selection of popular virtual piano packages. These curves have been lovingly prepared by Kawai's renowned keyboard engineering team and approved by the software developers themselves, ensuring your favourite virtual piano responds just like the real thing.

The VPC1 ships with five touch curves stored in memory, with additional presets accessible using the VPC editor software.

VPC Editor

VPC Editor

VPC Editor: Customise, Adjust, Tweak

The VPC1 is designed to play perfectly right out of the box. However, we appreciate that many virtual piano enthusiasts also love to customise, adjust, and tweak every aspect of their setup.

This is where the VPC Editor software comes in – a dedicated application to create and edit touch curves, adjust individual key velocities, and manage MIDI routing. All changes are stored directly to one of the VPC1's five onboard memories, allowing configurations to be recalled without software, or – if controlling standalone MIDI devices – even without a computer.

View the screenshots below, or download the VPC Editor to play with the software in demo mode.

VPC Editor Screenshots

Grand Design

Grand Design

Clutter-free,
Classic Grand Design.

With its raised fall-board and curved wooden side arms, the VPC1 adopts a classic, grand piano-like appearance that inspires you to sit down and play.

The design is simple, unobtrusive, yet smart and professional. There are no wheels, knobs, or faders bidding for your attention – this is not a multi-purpose 'do everything' controller. The VPC1 has been developed for one thing and one thing only: to deliver the finest virtual piano playing experience.

Premium build-quality is widely considered a Kawai hallmark, with our popular MP stage pianos earning a reputation for their sturdy construction. Likewise, the VPC1's chassis is engineered from aluminium, with a reinforced keyboard base providing extra stability when laying down the big chords.

And because the VPC1's wide top surface is completely clutter-free, it makes an excellent platform for your laptop, mouse, or favourite semi-weighted board.