NAMM 2026: Long boards

Thank goodness the actual NAMM 2026 exhibition begins tomorrow! New keyboard stuff has been flowing like a river.

Today’s additions are long boards for the stage.

Kurzweil SP8 Stage Keyboard

Kurzweil Music Systems are introducing the SP8 Stage Keyboard. The SP8 joins a long line of 88-key Kurzweil stage keyboards. Some of the basic specs:

  • 88-key fully weighted hammer-action keyboard
  • 2GBytes of factory sounds, 1000 factory programs, 200 Multis
  • 256 voice polyphony
  • German D and triple strike pianos with string resonance
  • 6-op FM synthesis
  • Vector synthesis waveforms and textures
  • Five zone MIDI controller

No price information yet. The comparable K2088 V.A.S.T. synthesizer streets for $3,000 USD.

Studiologic Numa X Piano GT SE

Put on your sunglasses. The Numa X Piano GT SE has a bright orange metallic finish and wooden sides. Aside from the AMC Gremlin orange paint job, Studiologic revised the sound engines (Studiologic TrS2). As usual, just the facts.

  • 88-key Fatar TP/400 wood hammer action keybed with escapement and aftertouch
  • 200 factory patches
  • 4GByte sample memory
  • Acoustic piano enhanced by physical modeling and new AP samples
  • Electric pianos graduate to Electric Modeling 2 (new tine sounds and amp simulation)
  • New virtual analog synth engine
  • 4 Zones assignable to internal sounds or external MIDI
  • Weight: 22,0 Kg / 48,5 pounds

No price information yet or availability. The plain old black non-SE model sells for $2,200 (MAP).

Roland Zenology GX for iPad

The core feature set of Roland Zenology GX is coming to Apple iPad. It is scheduled for “early 2026” release. [I guess Roland managament hasn’t learned to pin down its software developers.] You know it won’t be totally free, quoting Roland:

ZENOLOGY GX for iPad is scheduled for release as a free download with all features unlocked for a limited time. After the debut period ends, the instrument will be available through free and premium Roland Cloud memberships or a Lifetime Key purchase.

Copyright © 2026 Paul J. Drongowski