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THE CLASS-LEADING KEYBOARD

The keyboard is one of the most important components of any piano. It’s where the player literally connects with an instrument to express their feelings, and where the magic really happens. Ask any stage performer, be they a concert pianist, a touring artist, or a weekend warrior – if the keys don’t feel right, it’s impossible to enjoy the music and put on a great show.

This is why Kawai has selected the class-leading Responsive Hammer III keyboard action for the MP7SE. This advanced mechanism recreates the supreme touch of an acoustic grand, with grade-weighted hammers, Ivory-like key surfaces, and a well-cushioned, springless design. The result is a smooth, natural piano playing experience that feels like the real thing.

REALISTIC HAMMER
WEIGHT & MOVEMENT

The MP7SE’s Responsive Hammer III action adopts many of the characteristics of a grand piano keyboard, including hammers that are graded in size and weight to mirror the heavier bass and lighter treble notes of an acoustic. Even the shape of each hammer is specifically designed to optimise its centre of gravity.

Pushing down on a key causes the corresponding hammer to rise at a rotation angle similar to that of a grand piano hammer, while releasing the key allows the hammer to fall naturally with gravity, and for the key to therefore return to its original position without the use of springs.

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TRIPLE-SENSOR
KEY DETECTION

The MP7SE’s Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also features Kawai’s accurate triple-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism.

The added third sensor improves responsiveness when playing the same key repeatedly, and unlike conventional two sensor keyboard actions found in most stage pianos, allows the sound of a single note to be gradually ‘layered’ without the previous tone being lost.

In addition, Kawai’s action technology also monitors the speed at which each key is lifted. These unique subtleties influence the release character of piano sounds, providing a greater range of expressive detail between staccato and legato playing.

KAWAI 3-SENSOR SYSTEM

KAWAI 3-SENSOR SYSTEM

The MP7SE's additional third sensor improves responsiveness when repeatedly striking the same key, resulting in a fluid sound that allows trills and legato passages to be played more naturally.

Moreover, lifting a key slowly will result in a different ‘release’ character for the note than that of a key lifted at a normal speed.

CONVENTIONAL 2-SENSOR SYSTEM

KAWAI 2-SENSOR SYSTEM

By contrast, conventional stage pianos with 2-sensor keyboard actions often suffer from limited key responsiveness, making trills and legato passages difficult to play naturally, or with feeling.

And due to hardware limitations, lifting a key slowly does not influence the release character of the note.

IVORY TOUCH KEY SURFACES

PREMIUM FINISH, SUPERIOR CONTROL

The MP7SE’s Responsive Hammer III action features the same Ivory Touch key surfaces as Kawai’s highly respected digital pianos, with a natural matte finish that is smooth but not slippery, and feels great beneath the fingertips.

This finely textured material also absorbs surface moisture and oils to assist playing control, ensuring the performer’s fingers remain firmly on the keys throughout even the fastest, most blistering passages.

IVORY TOUCH KEY SURFACESIVORY TOUCH KEY SURFACES

88-KEY COUNTERWEIGHTS

In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also features counterweights embedded within each black and white key.

As with an acoustic piano, these finely balanced weights help to lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while adding a feel of greater substance when playing with force.

88-KEY COUNTERWEIGHTS

FEATURE
CLOSE-UP

In addition to the features highlighted above, there are a number of other subtle characteristics integrated within the MP7SE’s Responsive Hammer III keyboard action. These individual points draw upon over 90 years of acoustic piano craftsmanship, and combine to deliver the most authentic playing experience.

FEATURE CLOSE-UP

FEATURE CLOSE-UP
Hover over or touch the highlighted points below to learn more about each feature.
LET-OFF SIMULATION
LET-OFF SIMULATION
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
GRADE-WEIGHTED HAMMERS
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 KEY DETECTION
TRIPLE-SENSOR KEY DETECTION
Unlike most other stage pianos, the MP7SE's keyboard action features triple-sensor key detection. This allows for greater repetition speed and smoother expression when playing legato passages, and for the key-off velocity to influence the release characteristics of each note.
IVORY TOUCH KEY SURFACES
IVORY TOUCH KEY SURFACES
The MP7SE’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.
CUSHIONED KEYBED
CUSHIONED KEYBED
The cushioned keybed helps to dampen action noise, and ensures that the MP7SE’s keys come to a reassuring stop, rather than a jarring halt when pressed and released. The cushion is produced from felt and other materials selected for their sound and movement energy absorbing properties.
RISING HAMMER CUSHION
RISING HAMMER CUSHION
This cushion absorbs the sound and movement energy of the rising hammer, reducing action noise and softening the ‘bottoming-out’ feeling.
FALLING HAMMER CUSHION
FALLING HAMMER CUSHION
This cushion absorbs the sound and movement energy of the falling hammer, reducing action noise and vibrations when the key is released.
CHASSIS REINFORCEMENT
CHASSIS REINFORCEMENT
This large, rigid cross-section enhances structural stability throughout the action. This helps to minimise the side-to-side movement of keys, and ensures that the entire keybed remains firm and true when playing large, powerful chords.
CHASSIS REINFORCEMENT
88-KEY COUNTERWEIGHTS
Additional weights embedded within each black and white key. These help to lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while adding a feel of greater substance when playing with force.

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