Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, of Karmin, perform at Casio’s launch party for the new Privia digital piano line, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)
CASIO LAUNCHES NEW INNOVATIVE DIGITAL PIANOS
Casio launched four new models in its Privia digital piano line at an exclusive press gathering at New York’s Edison Ballroom—while three of its sponsored artists—Karmin, Tom Brislin and DJ Enferno—performed.
Key to the models is a new processor chip that, according to Casio VP Stephen Schmidt, is specifically geared for instruments—and offers three times the memory of the previous generation of processors. “The bigger chip offers a number of things,” says Schmidt. “The sound doesn’t decay—when you hit the string, it holds the string. And it’s so natural and rich, the realism is incredible. It really sounds like a piano!”
Indeed, the Privia’s flagship model PX-850 even offers grand piano lid simulation—lifting the top lid delivers a grand piano-like sound. The redesigned hammer action keyboard features simulated ebony and ivory textured keys to better approximate a real piano’s feel.
“I got to see some of these at summer NAMM,” said Brislin before his performance, “and now that they’re ready to market, I’m really excited. Casio has always been my keyboard since I was 3, and to see them go in this direction is really promising.”
Brislin has played with the likes of Yes, Meat Loaf and Deborah Harry while working on his own cinematic-pop projects. Karmin’s Nick Noonan and Amy Heidemann are awaiting their major label album debut via Epic in November, having hit earlier this year with their single “Brokenhearted.”
“As we were sound-checking, I heard what sounded like a sample of a hammer hitting a string—the first time I’ve heard that on an electric piano!” said Noonan. “They’re really trying to replicate an actual acoustic grand piano on an electronic setup: Even the keys feel like ivory and wood grain.”
–Jim Bessman
Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, right, of Karmin, perform at Casio’s launch party for the new Privia digital piano line, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)
Enferno uses Casio’s XW-G1 Synthesizer to celebrate Casio’s musical instrument line, including the Privia digital piano, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)
Musician Tom Brislin uses the Casio Privia digital piano during a performance at a launch party for the Privia piano line, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)
Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, left, of the pop duo Karmin, musician Tom Brislin, center, and acclaimed touring DJ Enferno help Casio celebrate their new line of Privia digital pianos, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio) qq
Casio CEO Shigenori Itoh, center right, and Stepehn Schmidt, center left, of Casio, join acclaimed touring DJ Enferno, from left, Amy Heidemann,of Karmin, Nick Noonan, of Karmin, and musician Tom Brislin to celebrate Casio’s new line of Privia digital pianos, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)
Casio CEO Shigenori Itoh, center, joins acclaimed touring DJ Enferno, from left, Amy Heideman and Nick Noonan, of Karmin, and musician Tom Brislin to celebrate Casio’s new line of Privia digital pianos, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)
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