KURZWEIL K2500 - K2600 Q & A

[David]

Good evening!

I'm thinking about buying one of those Kurzweil in the near future.
I know that there's alot of Kurzweil-users in the Forum, and also people with great experience.
I've searched the forum for information, and I've found some.
But there's much about the K2xx that i don't know...

I understand that there's alot of programming to do, to get great sounds and setups, but that's one of those things that I want to learn more about, so it will hopefully not end up as a problem. :wink:

I'm thinking about getting either the K2500X(S) or the K2600X(S), since I want a keyboard with 88 fully-weighted keys.

I've got a bunch of questions, and I would love to hear your opinions and answers, if you got the time. I guess that there has been alot of questions about this instrument, so this topic could be a great resource and sort of a FAQ about the Kurzweil...


* What are the (big) differences between the K2500 and the K2600 model?
(apart from the fact that the K2600 is a newer and more expensive model)

* What differences are there between the K2xxX and the K2xxXS?
What does the sampling feature mean? Isn't it for example possible to load a .wav file in the K2500X, and use it live in songs (ex. 6:00)?

* How is the key-action? Is it near a real piano, or better than most keyboards?

* Are there good piano-sounds loaded in the K2xxX? Or do you have to buy a sound-library to get that?

* How does it work with Sound-Libraries and memory? How much memory is maximum? How many sounds (and samples) can be loaded?

* In what way does the connection between the Kurzweil and a PC work? Is it easy to transfer data from the PC to the Kurz?

* How do I play a minor chord?....................... (just kidding :lol: )

Can't think of more questions at the moment... if anyone would like to add something, please do so.

I hope everyone take some time to give their opinions/answers, as it will be very appreciated.


/David

[Luca_Capozzi]

1)the main difference between this two models stands for Triple Modular Algoritms in VAST engine prenset in the K2600 series.

2) You don't necessariely need the sampling options to load/edit samples. If you want to use Live Mode and/or capture samples from scratch with your kurzweil, you need sampling options.

3) dunno yet... just waiting for K2500X comes to my home ;)

4) Without additional roms, the sound piano is quite cheap... but you can program a good piano sound with base rom samples :) check out Progsounds boards for a sample.

5) In both platforms, you can add 128Mb of sample ram using 8bit SIMMS (same used on older 486/Pentium mobos). For program memory, there are the more expensive PRAM up to 1280Kb. btw, you can store about 1000 programs, 1000 setups and so on.

6) SCSI chain and midi. Read the manual for more info about that. You can find it on Kurz home page.

btw.. actually i own a K2500R without any optional Rom... i've been really impressed by the sounds you can get using only base rom sounds. it's engine is pretty impressive. Now i've bought a K2500X heavly expanded (AlbertoRS knows ;) ) and can't wait to get it.

see ya

[David]

Thank you very much AxiomBass!

I came up with a new one:

* What is KDFX, and how does it work? Is it installed from the beginning?


/David

[Enigma™]

KDFX:

In the 2500 it's an optional upgrade, in the 2600 it's standard.
It's an effects processor *very powerful* like for example a guitar distortion pedal - it's the same idea but it has everything from Sympathetic resonance for the piano to Distortions to reverbs to whatever you think you can mess up a sound with.
It IS an installable option in the 2500 series however it's something you have to get a Kurzweil rep to do. *not user installable*
Is it worth the money?? YES it is.

How does it work? It works the same way any effects processor does: Takes incoming signal and routes it to different outs on the keyboard, controlled by the GUI and manipulated by the user. It's purpose is to add effects to sounds programmed in the Kurzweil.

:-)

[David]

Thanks Enigma!

Sorry about the pointless thread in "General Chat"... :oops: :D


/David

[Lyngs]

KDFX = \m/

I will have KDFX installed in my K2500X as soon as I have finished my schoolexamens - can't wait! :)

[Enigma™]

Thanks Enigma!

Sorry about the pointless thread in "General Chat"... :oops: :D


/David


Meh - It's all good. I just hate picking up after others, but on the other hand it'd be pretty boring if there was nothing to do ;)

[John]

Go for the K2600XS.

Do you need the sampling option for kb3 mode?

I have a K2500XS.

It's action is fairly nice but different than a really nice piano. But my Kurz has a lot nicer action than my Kimball console piano that I have in the same room. Sometimes I don't notice the difference until I switch to my Kurz after practicing on the console piano for a while. Then I wonder I wasn't just playing on the Kurz the entire time.

My KDFX option is setting on a shelf at my house & is scheduled to be installed this month. YES! :D

[John]

If piano sounds are important to you, there is an optional (for the K2500, might be standard on the K2600) daughter board that comes with some really nice piano patches.

[John]

The way I share stuff between my board & my pc is with zip drives. I have a zip drive on my computer & one connected to my Kurz. I also have a 2gig Jazz Drive for my kurz. I hardly ever use the Jazz Drive because I've found the 100meg zips to be sufficient so far.

[David]

Thank you John! :D

Well, I've learned alot more now from you guys!


/David

[Georges]

1)the main difference between this two models stands for Triple Modular Algoritms in VAST engine prenset in the K2600 series.

Plus:

- better sound quality
- stronger filters (48dB)
- 4 ROMs installable
- more P-RAM installable
- more likely to have system updates
- KDFX (if not already installed as an option in K2500), very powerful argument
- better knobs
etc.

[David]

Hi again!

I was thinking about a few more questions regarding the K2500X model.

1* Which ways can you connect the PC to the Kurzweil? And what will you need (cables, adapters)? What's the best way?

2* How long time will it take to transfer files to the Kurzweil, with the different methods? For example .K25- or a .wav- file.

I haven't quite understood how the different memory-types work...
3* What sort of memory-types are there? Sample, Program? And what do they do? How much is maximum, and how many samples, programs, setups etc, can you have in the Kurzweil?

And about Samples...
4* Since the K2500X model has no Sampling-option... I can still transfer samples from the computer to the Kurz, right?
Can I then use those samples to sound when I, for example, strike a specific key? And then use those samples live, for example?

5* Is the sampling-option only useful if you want to record something directly to the Kurzweil? Or what else do the sampling-option do? Examples?

I'm thinking about buying a Kurzweil K2500X, so any help is appreciated. :wink:


/David

[Over The Edge]

Hi again!

I was thinking about a few more questions regarding the K2500X model.

1* Which ways can you connect the PC to the Kurzweil? And what will you need (cables, adapters)? What's the best way?


I have not been able to interface my Kurz in the past except for midi to
Nuendo. A standalone SCSI Iomega hard drive is the only computer
hardware that been connected for accessing CD-Roms

2* How long time will it take to transfer files to the Kurzweil, with the different methods? For example .K25- or a .wav- file.

A 32 meg drum sample, for instance, takes about 3 min. with my drive.
Perhaps even faster with an Orb drive by Castlegate.

I haven't quite understood how the different memory-types work...
3* What sort of memory-types are there? Sample, Program? And what do they do? How much is maximum, and how many samples, programs, setups etc, can you have in the Kurzweil?

On the 2500X maxed out, you can have 8 meg of standard rom, 8 meg of orch rom, 8 meg of contemporary rom and a 4 meg piano rom.
The maximum number of onboard rom that you have at one time is
increased with the addition of P-Ram. Programs run from 1-999, so do
setups which I find to be quite huge.

And about Samples...
4* Since the K2500X model has no Sampling-option... I can still transfer samples from the computer to the Kurz, right?
Can I then use those samples to sound when I, for example, strike a specific key? And then use those samples live, for example?

Nope. You can transfer samples from a standalone hard drive as
I had mentioned. You can assign samples anywhere you want them
mapped on the keyboard, even have up to 32 layers of samples in
setup mode.

5* Is the sampling-option only useful if you want to record something directly to the Kurzweil? Or what else do the sampling-option do? Examples?

I've used the sampling option to expand my sonic library by
playing other companies'/musicians' samples. For instance,
my Ultimate Guitars Collection from Sweetwater Sound allows
me to incorporate awesome guitar samples (much better than
what is onboard the K2500X) with the onboard sounds.
You can also sample drum loops and incoporate them into sequences.
You can also take sequences created on the K2500X and resample
and assign to a single key and thus freeing up your polyphony.



FL
www.franklucas.net
[/quote]

[David]

Thank you Frank!

About the sample part....

If I want to use samples live, can I do it at all with the K2500X? Can I do it if I have a standalone hard drive? What ways are there to use samples, for example live, on the K2500X model?

What is a standalone hard drive? Is it just a regular hard drive, as those you have in your computer? What can one of these cost?

And I was thinking about the disk-drive on the K2500X. Are those disks like the one in a computer? Can I use regular computer-disks to copy over files to the Kurz?

Thanks again....

/David

[ImaX]

- the disk drive read DOS-formatted disks, like thos in a computer

- the K2500 has SCSI-connections, so you can use every (computer-)drive that has SCSI (Zip-drive, harddisk, cd-rom...). For example you can get an SCSI-tower (a case just for drives) with a cd-rom and harddisk and connect it to store data.

- what to do live with samples... well, the Kurzweil is a sample-based synth, so every time you press a key a wave-file is started (basically), which runs through the VAST-engine and the effects. If you use own samples you can do the same, or just set all parameters to "0" and just hear the sample - not a good explanation, but perhaps you got the point :-)

Just some examples of what I do:
- use sampled sounds and play them like a normal sound (using effect, VAST...)
- for the beginning of a song I start a sample containg a drumloop. It just plays, but to make it more interesting I run it through some filters to get a radio-like sound
- I recorded an intro for our band that is just played. It's easier to start those things from the keyboard than giving a CD to the mixer.

[John]

It's my understanding that if you don't have the sampling option, that only means you can't use the board to take samples. You can still load and play samples the same way as if you had the sample option. I once heard that the KB3 mode had something to do with sampling option, but don't know if that's true or not.

The board has SCSI ports on the back. I use a SCSI 2gig Jazz Drive & a SCSI 100meg Zip. I don't use the Jazz Drive that often. I believe you can hook the keyboard up to your computer using the SCSI ports (I just recently MIDIed my keyboard & computer together). Here's a link to some SCSI info (and lots of other hardware info, page down a little more than half-way for the SCSI info):

http://www.k2users.org/k2/k_hardw.htm

[David]

Thanks John, and ImaX!

About the sampling option...
Would be nice if someone who knows could explain how it works.
What can you not do, if you have a K2500X? Can you still load samples into your Kurzweil, and then save them there?
If the K2500X has got 128 mb of sample ram, what does that mean then...?


/David

[ImaX]

I would also say that you don't need the sampling option just to play samples... does anyone own a board without sampling option??

I also use a Zip100 - it's easy to transport, you can put it on your rack live, and it has a faster connection than a cd-rom drive :-)

[David]

In what way does a zip-drive work? Do you connect it to the computer, and transfer files on to it. And then hook it up to the Kurzweil and use it as a harddrive?

/David

[John]

Since zip drives are not all that expensive ($50 USD for a new 100meg one, or $15 off e-bay), my computer & Kurz each have their own zip drive. I store samples, patches, sequences, etc on a zip disk and back them up to my computer's hard drive.

The sampling option is like a nice recorder. The keyboard is like the player.

If you don't have the sampling option, that means you can't RECORD sounds with your keyboard. You can record a sound using a microphone connected to your computer and then save that to a disk. Insert the disk in the Kurz and load/play the sample on your Kurz. Now that said, the quality probably won't be as good. You'd have to try it and see if the quality of your computers recording ability is adequate for the intended application.

I'm currently working on an elementary school project where I recorded, using a microphone connected to my sound card's Mic-In, children "rapping" their own rap about their families. I do it on the computer because it's easier to break the one large file into individaul samples of single words & short phrases. Then I'm going to make a patch of each kid with the various words & phrases assigned to keys on the keyboard. Then I'll sequence a drum, bass, & maybe a few other tracks and then add the kids in with near perfect rythm.

There are plenty of things a K2500 won't do. For example: It won't mow your grass or wash your car . . . but I hear they're working on it.

If you can, get a K2600. Although a K2500 is nice also. I'm currently having a lot of fun with mine (K2500XS).

[David]

Cool project, with the kids! Hope it goes well!

I've also heard about the new Car-wash feature in the K3000... didn't think anyone esle knew about it, though...
Hope that no one will find out about it, it would be a nice surprise!

Imagine Jordan, on stage, playing... and all the sudden... a big river of water floates out from the Kurzweil.... and all the people in the audience drowns....

My god... that would be terrible! Maybe we have to let people know....


/David

[Kurzweilfreak]

Much of this thread and the ones like it could have been considerably slimmed down with a simple visit to www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com and a little poking around there. :roll: