“Beautiful from all angles”: Kurzweil and Axel Hartmann channel mid-century modern design with the KaP1 digital piano
Use it in the home, on stage or at the studio
Following the lead set by Donner and Casio, Kurzweil has released a digital piano with a “mid century modern aesthetic” that’s said to be “beautiful from all angles”. With a look dreamt up by renowned synth designer Axel Hartmann, the KaP1 is actually billed as a stage piano, but could easily fit with the decor of a contemporary home or vibey studio.
It’s not all about the visuals, though: thanks to the inclusion of the Kore 2.0GB sound library, the KaP1 shares its 9-foot German grand piano samples with Kurzweil’s flagship K2700 workstation and SP7 Grand. There are string, electric piano and organ tones in here, too.
The H1 Ivory Hammer-Action Keyboard, meanwhile, is designed to replicate the touch and feel of a real piano. The KaP1 also features a 4-speaker stereo sound system that’s powered by dual 15W digital amplifiers, and has Bluetooth audio and MIDI connectivity.
Other player-friendly features include splitting and layering, pre-programmed backing rhythms, a metronome and a MIDI song recorder. The stand options are a traditional looking 3-pedal rig, the ST-4, or the more hipster ST-C1, which gives you those mid-century thin metal legs (and looks significantly better, in our opinion).
The KaP1 is being launched into the US with Artesia Pro, and you can find out more on the Kurzweil website. The price and release date are TBC, but we can tell you that it'll be available in blue, white and black colour options.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.
MusicRadar deals of the week: The pre-Black Friday sales are rolling in – save hundreds off a new Yamaha piano, a Fender Strat and more
"When it comes to performance and playability, Casio goes to great lengths to recreate the grand piano experience, achieving impressive results": Casio AP-S200 digital piano review