KawaiVPC1 Virtual Piano Controller

I purchased my Kawai VPC-1 in 2016 and it has been a joy to play from day one. The keyboard is very much like an acoustic piano, on a scale of 1 to 10, light to firm, I would rate this as a 6, just a bit on the heavy side. I doubt you'll find a more realistic MIDI controller in terms of touch and feel. When paired with any of a number of great piano softwares (I use Pianoteq 8) and quality monitors or headphones, the VPC-1 is amazing. Check out the numerous online videos and do your due diligence. It's pricey but in my case I am still a happy customer.

Wow. After spending the last year trying out every midi keyboard and digital piano I could get my hands on, the moment I felt this one, I fell in love.My main piano is a midrange full size upright, so I wanted something digital that could capture that feel and physical nuances of a real piano. While the VPC1 action is a little bit lighter than the rather heavy keys on my piano, they are equally as expressive, and just feel right. They don't feel like an imitation of piano, but rather feel like a different piano.The touch curve mapping software that comes with the keyboard is also a really great addition. I'm still working at tweaking the settings to get exactly what I want, but thankfully it comes with multiple settings for the main sound libraries.Another great side to the VPC1 is the surprisingly quiet action (although the pedal might need a little greasing). One of the main reasons for seeking out a keyboard like this was I wanted the ability to play and practice at any time without disturbing the neighbors who live below me, and this is perfect for that.Onto the cons. The wooden top is slightly rounded. Its not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be, but its annoying enough that I had to work out a different solution for putting my laptop on top. Also, the keyboard comes with a little music stand that attaches to two small holes on the back. I appreciate the thought, but this thing is so far back that it makes reading music rather difficult. I ended up buying a magazine stand and putting it on top.Lastly, not a con, but its worth noting that your midi controller is only as good as your sample library. If you do get such an amazing keyboard, make sure you get a good sample library. $200 will get you any of the top of the line ones (Synthogy Ivory II being my favorite), and they all come with stand alone players, so you don't have to buy something like Cubase if all you want is to play piano.

Don't buy this. Lots of dead keys.

The keys feel great compared to the other options I was considering in 2014. They still feel great and I enjoy working with this keyboard. However, I've owned this for only two years of smoke-free, light studio-use, and now all the black paint is peeling off. It's silver underneath so it's really obvious. The sustain pedal died shortly after warranty expiration. This has been my experience with all brands of sustain pedals no matter the price. They all seem to die after a while, so I don't fault Kawai especially. They're just typical of the industry. I reassigned the left pedal to sustain using the somewhat clunky Kawai software. Anyway, I've been playing this way for over a year and now it feels normal. I bought this new in the $1500-neighborhood and I still don't see anything, such as the Doepfer line, at that price I'd prefer. But if I had to do it over, I might wait, save my pennies and get a Nord Stage. I told myself I didn't need any of those sounds. And maybe that's so, but I want them anyway! It's just got "that" sound. The VPC1 has no sound, which of course, I knew getting into this. Even so, that's why I'm giving it 4 stars. That and the insufficient paint-job. I think for what it is, the action is really great. They should house it in a better, flatter enclosure with a better powder-coat paint job. I use a NanoPad2 for pitch/mod-wheel which is ok but I'd prefer traditional Korg/Roland-style wheels in a breakout box. If Kawai made one I'd buy it.

Finally, a midi controller without a gazillion distracting knobs and buttons on the top! Some people may prefer having everything integrated on a digital piano or workstation but personally I like the flexibility that comes from decoupling the actual keyboard from my computer and speakers/headphones. The key action is great. The keyboard is a bit heavy, but I was still able to set it up myself. It arrived with a little dent on the front left side but it's hardly noticeable and the keys all work fine. My only real complaint is the slightly curved top, if it were flat you could just set things on it but as it is I had to put towels under my laptop and synth to prevent scratching.

I love this piano! Thank you Kraft-Music for an easy transaction

If you're looking for a damn good midi controller, you can't find a better one. I would buy this thing a hundred times over. I can't think of a negative.

Arrived in perfect condition. It is a joy to play.It is pricey, but worth it.