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Kurzweil Music Systems is a company thatproduces electronic musicalinstruments for professionals and home users. Founded in 1982by RaymondKurzweil, a developer of reading machines for theblind, the company madeuse of many of the technologies originally designed for readingmachines and adapted them to musical purposes. They released their firstinstrument, the K250 in 1983, and have continuedproducing new instruments ever since. The company was acquired byYoung Chang in 1990.Hyundai acquired Young Changin 2006 and in January 2007 has appointed Raymond Kurzweil as ChiefStrategy Officer of Kurzweil Music Systems[1].
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pink Floyd Patch Kurzweil K2500xs
4 Kurzweil keyboards graced the stage when Pink Floydâs Roger Waters brought The Wall Tour to the Boston Garden. In this quick video, see what it is like to look at out at the arena from the keyboard riser of Pink Floyd's The Wall stage. Kurzweil Zone Kurzweil release the. Patch that simulates Pink Floyd's 'On The Run' synth patch. Versions available for the K2000, K2000VP/K2VX and K2500. 0PF Whistle Fx. Shine Minimoog. Astronomy Echorc. Take LFOPink Bass. Perc Days PFMoney Wha/Delay. Machine Moog. Sorrow Pad IDivision Pad. The Synthi A was introduced in 1971, so it was a brand new tool when Pink Floyd was using it. Dark Side Of The Moon was released in 1973 and went on to sell 50 million copies. Unfortunately for synthesists, the Synthi A is one of the rarest production synths ever made. Kurzweil Kurzweil Pc3 / Pc3k / Pc3a - PF Cover Pack MKII libreria suoni patches. Kurzweil K2600 series - Kustom Set libreria suoni patches samples. This soundpack has been created with the aim to provide you professional patches to play cover songs inspired by bands Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Queen etc: pianos.
ProductsK250synthesizerPink Floyd Patch Kurzweil K2500x
The company launched the K250 synthesizer/sampler in 1984: whilelimited by today's standards and quite expensive, it was consideredto be the first really successful attempt to emulate the complexsound of a grand piano. This instrument was inspired by a betbetween Ray Kurzweil and musician Stevie Wonder over whether asynthesizer could sound like a real piano.
K1xxxsynthesizers
The K1000 and K1200 (and their rack-mounted variants) weredesigned to deliver the samples developed for the K250 to a wideraudience. Unlike the K250, these instruments could not sample newsounds directly; but their programming architecture and operatingsystem were evolutionary steps that would culminate in the K2xxxseries.
K2xxxsynthesizers
The company's flagship line of synthesizer workstations, theK2xxx series, began to make real headway with the K2000, whichintroduced the company's acclaimed VAST (Variable ArchitectureSynthesis Technology) engine. Throughout the 1990s, updates andupgrades to the K2000 (and eventually its successors, the K2500 andK2600) ensured that the K2x series was regarded as one of the mostpowerful and best-sounding synthesizers/samplers available.Although initially very expensive, Kurzweil instruments werepopular in top recording studios and for use with music productionfor film because of their high-quality sounds.
The K2000was released in 1990 and was initially available in four versions,the K2000, K2000S, K2000R, and K2000RS. The S versions contain thehardware required for sampling, while the Rversions are rack-mountable; the versions without an R feature 61pressure-sensitive keys. The K2000 is capable of 24 voice polyphony, which is somewhatlimited, although up to 4 oscillators per voice can be used and anintelligent voice stealing algorithm retires the playing noteswhich are estimated to be least audible rather than simply theoldest. Each voice of the K2000 is able to play a separate program,allowing for smooth transitions during live performance, thissimple feature took Kurzweil's competitors more than a decade tomatch. The keyboard came with 2mb RAM but could be equipped with upto 64 megabytes of RAM for user loaded samples. Later modelsincluded the K2000VP (keyboard), K2000VPR (rack), K2VX (keyboard w/optional ROMs), and K2VXS (keyboard w/ optional ROMs + Sampling)which were based on the same hardware as the K2000 series but hadthe K2500 sound set loaded.
The K2500, released in 1996, was a substantial improvement tothe K2000 which increased polyphony to 48 voices and increasedonboard RAM capacity to 128mb. The K2500 and later K2600 models canhave a single patch running 192 virtual oscillators. There werealso a number of other minor improvements as well as soundexpansion options (daughterboard + 8mb piano expansion, 8mborchestral expansion ROM, 8mb contemporary instruments ROM). K2500 photograph
The K2500 was available in 7 versions: K2500 - 76 notesemi-weighted keyboard; K2500X - 88 note weighted action keyboard;K2500S - 76 note semi-weighted keyboard with Sampling; K2500XS - 88note weighted action keyboard with Sampling; K2500AES - Audio EliteSystem, Limited Release (6 Units) 88 note weighted action keyboardwith Sampling, KDFX, all available upgrade options, and anextensive sample library (retail cost, $20,000.00). K2500R -rack-mounted version (no keyboard); K2500RS - rack-mounted versionwith Sampling. The keyboard models included a ribboncontroller and an input for a breath controller, making themthe most expressive electronic instruments available at the time.Additionally one could add digital I/O to connect SPDIF or ADATinputs and a PRAM expansion for loading larger soundsets or MIDIsongs into memory. If one had purchased a model without onboardsampling, one could add the sampling option, PRAM, and reinstalltheir operating system to have the upgraded model.
The K2600, released in 1999, improved on the K2500 with theaddition of a new effects engine called KDFX and an enhancement tothe VAST engine called triple-mode. KDFX was also offered as anupgrade for the K2500 and later made available as a standaloneproduct in the KSP8. KDFX drastically improved the quality ofeffects over the K2000 and K2500's built-in effects units, andadded more flexibility such as using the Kurzweil as a vocoder. Butthe most impressive feature of the K2600 was Kurzweil's 'TripleStrike Piano', which is one of the most realistic-sounding sampledpianos available at the time. Patches for the K2500 were completelyredesigned to incorporate the KDFX and triple strike capability.The K2600 uses different type sound expansion ROMs than the K2500(although they contain the same samples), and could have a classickeys and general midi soundset added.
The Kurzweil K2661, released in 2004, is basically afull-featured K2600 with a 61-key keyboard, flash memory storage,and a redesigned soundset that includes the expansion sets that hadbeen produced for the K2000, K2500, and K2600.
In 2008, all K26xx series synthesizers were discontinued byKurzweil Music Systems, although inventory still remains (as ofAugust 2008). This leaves the PC3 and PC3X (which have no samplingcapability; see below) as Kurzweil's current flagship synthesizersfor the time being.
PCxSeries
In the mid 90s, they introduced the PC88 keyboard which wasadvertised more as a MIDIcontroller. Itwas good for this purpose because it had 88 fully weighted keys andthe ability to set four zones for controlling differentinstruments. It was also a bit smaller so it was more portable thanthe K series instruments. The instrument itself had over 300internal sound patches and the ability to combine them togetherwith different effects. It was common for performers to use thisinstrument in combination with a rack mount K series synth. ThePC88MX included a General MIDI soundboard with additionalhigh-quality sounds taken from the K2xxx series. Unlike the K2xxxseries, the PCx series did not include floppy disk nor SCSI expansion, although sounds could be editedand new sounds created. Another distinguishing feature of the PCxseries was the lack of an onboard sequencer. In the late 90s,Kurzweil introduced the PC2 Series of keyboards which contained thefamed Triple Strike Piano and used a VAST synthesis engine similarto the K2xxx series, and later introduced the PC1 Series, which wasa slightly cut down version of the PC2, losing only the KB3 organmode, and some inputs and outputs. In Spring 2008, Kurzweillaunched the PC3 Performance Controller, which has next generationVAST synthesis technology derived from the K2xxx series but vastlyimproved with new features, new algorithms, virtual analogsynthesis, sequencer, powerful effects processor based on KurzweilKSP8 unit, and overall better sounds than previous Kurzweilsynths.
SP Series
The initial Kurzweil SP Series are Stage Pianos based on thepopular Kurzweil Micro Piano half-rack module of the mid-90's. Itprovides 32 sounds including pianos, electric pianos, organs,strings and synths. The board is also a fairly capable midicontroller, and features two ribbon controllers. In Summer of 2007,Kurzweil launched the SP2.
Midiboard
The Kurzweil Midiboard, a dedicated MIDI controller, wasconceived of and specified by Jeff Tripp, then president of KeyConcepts. It was perhaps the first of the pure keyboardcontrollers, brought to market to complement Kurzweil's rackmounted synthesizers. 'Midiboard' was, in fact, a Key Conceptstrademark, transferred to Kurzweil Music Systems as part of alicensing agreement.
Its novel sensing system, invented and patented by Tripp and KeyConcepts co-founder, John Allen, provided velocity, individual aftertouch pressure, and release velocityinformation from a single sensor per key. Each sensor was shaped asan arch of conductive rubber which served as one plate of acapacitor and was designed to deform (change shape under pressure)in a scaled way . The sensors were nicknamed 'sushi sensors'because the first prototype was conductive rubber sheet (think'nori') held in a barrel shape by a center of white silicone RTV(think 'the rice'). Released in 1988, the Midiboard's software andelectronics were designed under contract to Key Concepts by HalChamberlin, then of Micro Technology Unlimited.
The Midiboard had its virtues and its drawbacks. It wasreasonable to manufacture and relatively inexpensive for the rangeof input forces, both presses and impulse inputs, it couldtransduce. One of its drawbacks was that it was not well damped invery light playing, making touch uncertain. At some point, workingfor Kurzweil, Hal Chamberlin debounced this burble. A hardware fixwas possible - splitting the sensors.
It contained a number of interesting innovations, some of whichremain fairly uncommon. For example, most midi controllers provideaftertouch data, but the midiboard is capable of polyphonicaftertouch, a feature found on few other keyboards. The midiboardalso provides comprehensive signal routing, layering, andtransposition control. These advanced features are not withouttheir cost: the Midiboard weighs approximately 100 lb and is fairlydifficult to use.
CompetitionKurzweilUsers
References
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ProductsK250synthesizer
The company launched the K250 synthesizer/sampler in 1984: whilelimited by today's standards and quite expensive, it was consideredto be the first really successful attempt to emulate the complexsound of a grand piano. This instrument was inspired by a betbetween Ray Kurzweil and musician Stevie Wonder over whether asynthesizer could sound like a real piano.
K1xxxsynthesizers
The K1000 and K1200 (and their rack-mounted variants) weredesigned to deliver the samples developed for the K250 to a wideraudience. Unlike the K250, these instruments could not sample newsounds directly; but their programming architecture and operatingsystem were evolutionary steps that would culminate in the K2xxxseries.
K2xxxsynthesizers
The company's flagship line of synthesizer workstations, theK2xxx series, began to make real headway with the K2000, whichintroduced the company's acclaimed VAST (Variable ArchitectureSynthesis Technology) engine. Throughout the 1990s, updates andupgrades to the K2000 (and eventually its successors, the K2500 andK2600) ensured that the K2x series was regarded as one of the mostpowerful and best-sounding synthesizers/samplers available.Although initially very expensive, Kurzweil instruments werepopular in top recording studios and for use with music productionfor film because of their high-quality sounds.
The K2000was released in 1990 and was initially available in four versions,the K2000, K2000S, K2000R, and K2000RS. The S versions contain thehardware required for sampling, while the Rversions are rack-mountable; the versions without an R feature 61pressure-sensitive keys. The K2000 is capable of 24 voice polyphony, which is somewhatlimited, although up to 4 oscillators per voice can be used and anintelligent voice stealing algorithm retires the playing noteswhich are estimated to be least audible rather than simply theoldest. Each voice of the K2000 is able to play a separate program,allowing for smooth transitions during live performance, thissimple feature took Kurzweil's competitors more than a decade tomatch. The keyboard came with 2mb RAM but could be equipped with upto 64 megabytes of RAM for user loaded samples. Later modelsincluded the K2000VP (keyboard), K2000VPR (rack), K2VX (keyboard w/optional ROMs), and K2VXS (keyboard w/ optional ROMs + Sampling)which were based on the same hardware as the K2000 series but hadthe K2500 sound set loaded.
The K2500, released in 1996, was a substantial improvement tothe K2000 which increased polyphony to 48 voices and increasedonboard RAM capacity to 128mb. The K2500 and later K2600 models canhave a single patch running 192 virtual oscillators. There werealso a number of other minor improvements as well as soundexpansion options (daughterboard + 8mb piano expansion, 8mborchestral expansion ROM, 8mb contemporary instruments ROM). K2500 photograph
The K2500 was available in 7 versions: K2500 - 76 notesemi-weighted keyboard; K2500X - 88 note weighted action keyboard;K2500S - 76 note semi-weighted keyboard with Sampling; K2500XS - 88note weighted action keyboard with Sampling; K2500AES - Audio EliteSystem, Limited Release (6 Units) 88 note weighted action keyboardwith Sampling, KDFX, all available upgrade options, and anextensive sample library (retail cost, $20,000.00). K2500R -rack-mounted version (no keyboard); K2500RS - rack-mounted versionwith Sampling. The keyboard models included a ribboncontroller and an input for a breath controller, making themthe most expressive electronic instruments available at the time.Additionally one could add digital I/O to connect SPDIF or ADATinputs and a PRAM expansion for loading larger soundsets or MIDIsongs into memory. If one had purchased a model without onboardsampling, one could add the sampling option, PRAM, and reinstalltheir operating system to have the upgraded model.
Kurzweil K2500 Patches
The K2600, released in 1999, improved on the K2500 with theaddition of a new effects engine called KDFX and an enhancement tothe VAST engine called triple-mode. KDFX was also offered as anupgrade for the K2500 and later made available as a standaloneproduct in the KSP8. KDFX drastically improved the quality ofeffects over the K2000 and K2500's built-in effects units, andadded more flexibility such as using the Kurzweil as a vocoder. Butthe most impressive feature of the K2600 was Kurzweil's 'TripleStrike Piano', which is one of the most realistic-sounding sampledpianos available at the time. Patches for the K2500 were completelyredesigned to incorporate the KDFX and triple strike capability.The K2600 uses different type sound expansion ROMs than the K2500(although they contain the same samples), and could have a classickeys and general midi soundset added.
The Kurzweil K2661, released in 2004, is basically afull-featured K2600 with a 61-key keyboard, flash memory storage,and a redesigned soundset that includes the expansion sets that hadbeen produced for the K2000, K2500, and K2600.
In 2008, all K26xx series synthesizers were discontinued byKurzweil Music Systems, although inventory still remains (as ofAugust 2008). This leaves the PC3 and PC3X (which have no samplingcapability; see below) as Kurzweil's current flagship synthesizersfor the time being.
PCxSeries
In the mid 90s, they introduced the PC88 keyboard which wasadvertised more as a MIDIcontroller. Itwas good for this purpose because it had 88 fully weighted keys andthe ability to set four zones for controlling differentinstruments. It was also a bit smaller so it was more portable thanthe K series instruments. The instrument itself had over 300internal sound patches and the ability to combine them togetherwith different effects. It was common for performers to use thisinstrument in combination with a rack mount K series synth. ThePC88MX included a General MIDI soundboard with additionalhigh-quality sounds taken from the K2xxx series. Unlike the K2xxxseries, the PCx series did not include floppy disk nor SCSI expansion, although sounds could be editedand new sounds created. Another distinguishing feature of the PCxseries was the lack of an onboard sequencer. In the late 90s,Kurzweil introduced the PC2 Series of keyboards which contained thefamed Triple Strike Piano and used a VAST synthesis engine similarto the K2xxx series, and later introduced the PC1 Series, which wasa slightly cut down version of the PC2, losing only the KB3 organmode, and some inputs and outputs. In Spring 2008, Kurzweillaunched the PC3 Performance Controller, which has next generationVAST synthesis technology derived from the K2xxx series but vastlyimproved with new features, new algorithms, virtual analogsynthesis, sequencer, powerful effects processor based on KurzweilKSP8 unit, and overall better sounds than previous Kurzweilsynths.
SP Series
The initial Kurzweil SP Series are Stage Pianos based on thepopular Kurzweil Micro Piano half-rack module of the mid-90's. Itprovides 32 sounds including pianos, electric pianos, organs,strings and synths. The board is also a fairly capable midicontroller, and features two ribbon controllers. In Summer of 2007,Kurzweil launched the SP2.
Midiboard
The Kurzweil Midiboard, a dedicated MIDI controller, wasconceived of and specified by Jeff Tripp, then president of KeyConcepts. It was perhaps the first of the pure keyboardcontrollers, brought to market to complement Kurzweil's rackmounted synthesizers. 'Midiboard' was, in fact, a Key Conceptstrademark, transferred to Kurzweil Music Systems as part of alicensing agreement.
Its novel sensing system, invented and patented by Tripp and KeyConcepts co-founder, John Allen, provided velocity, individual aftertouch pressure, and release velocityinformation from a single sensor per key. Each sensor was shaped asan arch of conductive rubber which served as one plate of acapacitor and was designed to deform (change shape under pressure)in a scaled way . The sensors were nicknamed 'sushi sensors'because the first prototype was conductive rubber sheet (think'nori') held in a barrel shape by a center of white silicone RTV(think 'the rice'). Released in 1988, the Midiboard's software andelectronics were designed under contract to Key Concepts by HalChamberlin, then of Micro Technology Unlimited.
The Midiboard had its virtues and its drawbacks. It wasreasonable to manufacture and relatively inexpensive for the rangeof input forces, both presses and impulse inputs, it couldtransduce. One of its drawbacks was that it was not well damped invery light playing, making touch uncertain. At some point, workingfor Kurzweil, Hal Chamberlin debounced this burble. A hardware fixwas possible - splitting the sensors.
It contained a number of interesting innovations, some of whichremain fairly uncommon. Kpg 49d 4 20 download free download. For example, most midi controllers provideaftertouch data, but the midiboard is capable of polyphonicaftertouch, a feature found on few other keyboards. The midiboardalso provides comprehensive signal routing, layering, andtransposition control. These advanced features are not withouttheir cost: the Midiboard weighs approximately 100 lb and is fairlydifficult to use.
CompetitionKurzweilUsers
Kurzweil K2500 For SaleReferencesKurzweil K2500 Sounds
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