Kurzweil Music Systems
The company Kurzweil Music Systems produces synthesizer stage piano and effects processors. The keyboards of the company were largely developed by Raymond Kurzweil. Kurzweil Music Systems was about 1990 by Young Chang Akki Co. Ltd.. Incheon / Korea adopted. In YCRDC in Waltham (USA ) the instruments have been developed
Kurzweil K250
This synthesizer was launched in 1984 and was one of the first digital synthesizer sample-based. The basic equipment consisted of 2 MB ROM, 12 votes and a weighted 88- note keyboard. The arithmetic unit formed a Motorola 68000 processor with 10 bit Mhz/32. MIDI was also on board. In addition, a rack version was available. All the electronics was placed on a drawer-like motherboard. The K250 was the first fully electronic tone generator that could reproduce a wing convincing. The K250 was an exclusive device of immense size, which formed the basis of many sound setups in the 80s.
Kurzweil K2XXX series
V.A.S.T. synthesis
The basic idea of the sound generation of the keyboards of K2XXX series on samples, but the models of the series can also calculate standard waveforms. Two; Up to 62 samples are first assigned to the keyboard ( " keymap " ), then go through various sound shaping algorithms ( keymap algorithms = " Layer" ), pass an effects processor and end up as a " program " on one of the four output pairs ( rack version couple in K2000 keyboard) or the " mix Out ". A " program " may be, composed of up to three " layers ". The Kurzweil keyboard manages three zones, each zone must a "program" to be assigned, which then simply called " Setup". By default, the non-volatile RAM of the Kurzweil perceived differently, many programs, depending on their complexity and device-type.
The special feature was that the path from the sample to the output is not fixed. Rather, the user can select 31 algorithms, in which (, " stimulator ", envelope etc. EC such as filters ) are shown in different configurations various DSP " blocks". The wiring of these modules is fixed, but it is possible the behavior of the individual building blocks set (eg Hipass, lowpass, etc.). For example, although the K -2000 is a maximum of 24 voices, he still has more oscillators, as it allow some DSP modules to generate additional waveforms. Thus, for example, lead sounds with three sawtooth program, although only one of the three "real" votes is consumed while playing. For this purpose, also joined by 50 so-called " FUN's ", the function generators. They can be used by mathematical formulas, such as: cos (a b ), the control voltages of two modules set off to a new one.
Kurzweil K2000
With the model K2000, which was prepared as a 61-key version and as a rack unit ( K2000R ), the company brought a full-blown workstation Kurzweil 1991 on the market. With a ROM of 8 MB, which was expanded by the addition of boards "Contemporary" and " Orchestral " to 24 MB, nature sounds could be produced, which sounded very realistic, especially in the strings and acoustic guitar range. In addition, the K2000 able analog pads and lead sounds was to produce very good quality.
Equipped with an optional sampling option could up to 64 MB RAM are filled with their own recordings ( K2000S or RS). The peculiarity of the synthesizer is the possibility of these samples exactly how to edit the ROM samples with the VAST synthesis.
Kurzweil K2000VP
In the VP series, which was first introduced in the late summer of 1998, the improved ROM setup of the larger K2500er series was already integrated. The units were delivered in black (1998) and by the end of 1999, in blue (Techno- series). Who the ROM set "Contemporary" and "orchestra" ordered within that period, also 200 new programs and 100 setups was added for free. This the first time the memory banks were 600 to 700 is because it was an integral part of the new ROM chips.
Kurzweil K2500
This model came on the market in 1996, has over the K2000 via a new ROM with 8 MB of memory. The program memory (P- RAM) has been increased slightly. The biggest innovation was the double vote count of 48 votes and 192 oscillators.
For this, the keyboard version of the K2500 has a large ribbon controller above the keyboard and fader for use as digital drawbars ( Drawbars ) get donated. The keyboard versions are available as K2500 with 76 semi-weighted as well as K2500X with 88 weighted keys. The sampling RAM can be expanded to 128 MB here. With the built- sampling option, the synthesizer are called K2500S or K2500XS. The K2500 can in addition to the extensions that are also available for the K2000, be extended by a 4 MB big stereo piano and the KDFX function. The KDFX extension replaces the previous Digitech effects processor through a technology developed by Kurzweil himself five times the stereo effect group as well as digital outputs. Benefits are the improved noise performance because the signal must be converted only once, and the larger number of simultaneously active effects.
Kurzweil K2600
The flagship of the Kurzweil series was supplemented by the built-in options KDFX and stereo piano. In addition, can be used more flexibly the VAST synthesis here. Also, the K2600 is a 76 - and 88-key versions. The program RAM is factory twice as large as in the K2500, so 480 KB. Can be Upgraded the K2600 with the known extra -ROMs as well as new ROMs for electric piano and the P- RAM.
Kurzweil K2661
The youngest offspring of the K- Series is a K2600, including the Contemporary and Orchestral ROM as well as the factory installed P -RAM option and a 8MB General MIDI ROM. However, this keyboard only 61 plastic buttons, no ribbon controller and no floppy drive. There is now an SM slot. Can be Upgraded the K2661 with an optional ribbon controller and the sampling option and the new ROM boards for electric piano, church organ and stereo piano.