Detailed Description
The True Acoustic Piano Experience
The Novus NV5S is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. A stunning hybrid instrument that combines a full acoustic piano keyboard action and damper mechanism, with the latest digital sound and amplification technologies.
Designed for and tested by professional pianists, the NV5S provides the unmistakable feeling of playing a premium quality acoustic instrument, with all the practicality and convenience of a modern digital.
Introducing the Novus NV5S – a hybrid instrument that delivers the true acoustic piano experience.
The Touch Of An Acoustic Piano
The Millennium III Hybrid action represents the latest milestone in Kawai’s rich legacy of piano innovation, and serves as the centrepiece of the Novus NV5S. It comprises over 6,000 individual parts, each playing a crucial role in allowing the performer’s fingertips to express feeling and emotion through music.
The Future Of The Piano
Based on the ‘K’ series’ proven action design, Millennium III Hybrid retains the composite parts and extended key sticks of its acoustic cousin, while replacing the traditional felt hammers with individually-weighted ABS equivalents.
As a hybrid piano, there are no metal strings inside the Novus for these hammers to physically strike when the keys are played, therefore their precise movements are instead captured using high-resolution optical sensors mounted over the action.
Millennium III Hybrid delivers all of the benefits of a premium Kawai upright piano action within a digital instrument. This feat of engineering allows pianists to enjoy the unmatched feeling of playing an acoustic piano, regardless of the time of day, or the size of their home.
ABS Hybrid Hammers
The Novus NV5S’ precision-engineered ABS hammers have been designed for structural stability and optimum keyboard touch-response.
Each individual hammer is grade-weighted to mirror the heavier bass and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, ensuring that the NV5S’ key touch-weight feels the same as a well-regulated acoustic instrument.
Optical Hammer Sensors
The precise movements of each hammer are measured using high-resolution optical sensors, providing greater accuracy than conventional key-based sensor systems.
This more advanced approach closely reproduces the mechanical flow of an acoustic piano, and allows rapid pianissimo passages with mordents or trills to be performed with greater fluency.
The Feel Of An Acoustic Piano
The Novus NV5S’ beautiful chrome plated pedals are sourced from the same ‘K’ series instruments as the premium Millennium III keyboard action. Moreover, in addition to featuring a full acoustic piano action, the NV5S also incorporates a real acoustic piano damper mechanism.
There are no metal strings inside the Novus to require physical damping, as the instrument’s sound is produced digitally.
However, in order to reproduce every aspect of playing an acoustic piano, the NV5S retains the damper mechanism behind the keyboard action, replicating the extra load of traditional wood and felt parts, as the keys and pedal are pressed.
This innovation allows pianists to not only hear how the damper pedal affects the Novus’ generated sound, but also feel the various mechanical interactions through their hands and feet.
Such attention to detail is unprecedented in a digital instrument, and further reinforces the NV5S’ objective of delivering a true acoustic piano playing experience that is indistinguishable from the real thing.
The Sound Of An Acoustic Piano
The spirit of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano is at the heart of the Novus NV5S. Each world-class instrument is hand-crafted by Master Piano Artisans (MPAs), utilising the finest available materials to ensure optimum touch, tone, and artistic expression.
Naturally Expressive Sound
In order to reproduce the stunning tonal qualities of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano digitally, the Novus NV5S incorporates Kawai’s latest SK-EX Rendering technology.
This advanced piano sound engine combines the well-established process of sampling with the modern approach of physical modelling, to produce a piano sound that is both rich in natural acoustic character, and dynamically responsive to the player’s musical desires.
The Features Of A Digital Piano
While the Novus NV5S’ core features are unquestionably derived from an acoustic piano, the instrument neatly incorporates various additional technologies that provide the modern conveniences of a premium digital piano.
These features are primarily controlled through the NV5S’ touchscreen LCD, which is discretely embedded within the instrument’s left cheekblock. This high resolution touchscreen allows sounds and settings to be adjusted from an attractive user interface simply by tapping or swiping the display with a finger.
For piano purists, the screen can be set to fade out automatically while playing, thus preserving the Novus’ classic appearance, and minimising any visual distraction to the performer.
Unlike an acoustic piano, the Novus NV5S provides a variety of options for connecting to other devices. Headphone and audio jacks allow the instrument to be played in silence, or for the sound to be amplified for halls and other large settings, and USB and MIDI ports for transferring music data to and from a computer.
The NV5S even supports Bluetooth® MIDI and audio functionality, providing an effortless way to connect and enjoy smart devices wirelessly.
PianoRemote App
The NV5S’ redesigned communication standard allows the user-friendly touchscreen interface to also be accessed via the dedicated PianoRemote app for iOS and supported Android devices. The app connects to the piano wirelessly via the Novus’ integrated Bluetooth, providing an effortless way to change sounds, or enjoy the vast array of built-in music content from the comfort of an armchair.
Generous Part Exchanges Available
Get in touch with us if you have an existing digital or acoustic piano that you’d like to part exchange with us, and we’d be happy to let you know how much it could be worth.
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