Startup brand Keybird is crowdfunding to support the launch of its new uber-portable, acoustic L1 piano.
This new model follows on from its predecessor, the Keybird X1, and is even more compact, making it one of the smallest acoustic pianos on the market. The brand is “dedicated to bringing the acoustic piano to broad audiences and to people who love the piano, but never imagined they could have one in their living space”.
Keybird’s L1 design makes the piano far more lightweight and accessible for both established and aspiring players. It takes up just a tad more space than an average acoustic guitar would in your home, and can be tuned with similar ease.
The L1 weighs just 39 kg and has dimensions of 70cm (Width) x 115cm (Height) x 55cm (Depth). Though some may argue that digital pianos and keyboards already offer a smaller alternative to traditional pianos, Keybird argues that nothing beats the feeling and touch of an acoustic classical piano, hence why its model fills a significant gap in the market.
Users can also install MIDI to its pianos, and even play them silently with the use of headphones and a foam bar that mutes the sound of the keys while playing. With a USB-C MIDI Out on the L1, you can connect to a computer and use your Keybird as a MIDI controller in DAWs such as Ableton, Logic, or Reaper.
Currently, Keybird has a funding goal of €59,400 ($67,551 USD), which covers essential production costs and confirms demand for the design. The model itself is priced at roughly $3,378 (not including taxes and shipping), and so far, over $45,000 has already been raised to support its launch.
You can find out more via the Keybird Kickstarter page, or head to the Keybird official website to shop its current products.
