Kurzweil K2000 VP

... that makes the best soups. And this synth is no exception to the rule!

The K2000 has a 5-octave keyboard (61 keys) with a light touch type 'synth'. So if you want more, you should direct them to the big brothers: K2500 (76-key semi-weighted) or K2500X (88 weighted keys type 'Piano&#39.
It is sensitive to velocity and aftertouch (per channel) but not to release velocity or polyphonic aftertouch. on the other hand, in master keyboard, it can transmit simultaneously on three separate MIDI channels ... This is handy on stage!
Originally, it comes with 200 sounds (called programs). It can theoretically contain 999 but in reality it depends on the amount of 'program memory' (P-RAM). An extension of this memory was available at the time ... Anyway, even without an extension, the number of memorized sound is made to correct (especially for a machine of the time).
Question edition, this is the famous VAST synthesis so no worries: not only is editable, but it is significantly more than the competitors (and even the time of most current).
The connection is honorable: 3 stereo outputs (Mix + A + B), a MIDI trio, 3 pedal jacks (1 and 2 continues switches) and a SCSI connector for connecting CD-Rom, Zip, hard disks ...
For a machine of the 90's, it's really great!

UTILIZATION

The hierarchy is seemingly simple: there are sounds (programs). Then we can combine (with splits & layers) 3 of these programs in a "Setup". Since that "Setup" that the keyboard can transmit on three different MIDI channels.
That is simple.

on the other hand, as soon as you press the button "Edit", the all powerful VAST synthesis is revealed. And there is a vamp: the basic element is the sample. Several samples spread over the keyboard provide a KeyMap. A KeyMap associated with an algorithm (and associated DSP) gives a Layer. Layers 1 to 32 gives ... a program!
In short: Sample -> KeyMap -> Layer -> Program

You should know that an algorithm is a combination of several blocks, connected between them-permanently. After, according to the algorithm, for each block, we choose a DSP function (oscillator, filter, WaveShaper, parametric EQ, ...). Then, each parameter block. Finally, to move all that, one has complete 3 envelopes, 2 LFOs, 2 ASR, FUN 2, ... Not to mention any physical controller and / or MIDI ... And, of course, everything is modulated by all.
In short: the slap, I tell you!

In addition, the beast also do sample player: comes standard with 2MB of RAM to load samples, we can extend this up to 64 MB RAM! And, subject Samples, the K2000 can read WAV files and sample banks of Kurzweil, Akai, Roland and Ensoniq! Oh my! And with the optional card, the K2000 is also sampler.

The main black spot: the effects section, which itself dates many 90's. The K2500 has caught the blow with the option KDFX but for the K2000, one must be content with a Digitech chipset which, frankly, does not break the house down ...


SOUNDS

Sounds fully agree with my style of music ... and that!
Well, purely acoustic sounds were obviously a bit dated compared to the current competition, but as this is a true synth (not a ROMpler decorated with a wave filter to say that ...) The K2000 expects only one thing: you press the button 'Edit' to your sounds to you!
And there, whatever your music, you can concoct THE sound you need.
I particularly like what I call the sound "hybrid" synthetic textures obtained by deflecting acoustic samples.
KeyMap a folk guitar sent in a "HiFreq Stimulator", a small Sawtooth filtered it, a discreet envelope on the pitch as a function of velocity, a hint of vibrato with aftertouch ... A hint of chorus / reverb for fun and hop it off!
And, for the sounds 'analogue', agreeing with the algorithms of DSP based oscillators (modeling early, what), you can earn close to 9 oscilloscope on 3 layers! Not bad for a machine that has 20 years of age, right?


OVERALL OPINION

I bought it in 1998 (a Blue K2000 VP) from the start by putting 16 MB RAM for samples. Use the VAST synthesis of the samples 'personal' is a joy.
This synthesis is not the easiest to master, but: what power under the hood (besides, I do not control it ... I know enough to make me use my sounds, and it suits me very well !)!
I have a few machines in my setup, both analog and digital, and the finished tracks without using the K2000 can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Whether with the Wavestation, the 01R / W, JV880, the SuperNova or even Juno, use the K2000 in Layer is a real pleasure. He brings that little something extra that makes the difference.
Not only choice I would do it with eyes closed but I think despite his age, it remains (with its big brother K2500/K2600) a must have.

Front - back cover - controllers 9 / 10
-------------------------------------------------- ------
opportunities of Espression K2000 VP is a little more comprehensive than the majority of his friends. is a versatile keyboard. 61 notes with aftertouch, pressure sensitivity. faade on the front, it has a pitch wheel, a modulation, a controller noon.
behind it was (among others) 3 programmable footswitch, sustain, 3 Stereo audio outputs (including 2 dry), headphone etc..
what is good in the K2000 is the possibility to assign controllers filters, algorithms, etc. from noon. as I said, versatile, versatile.
there is still something of the faade Dranga before it buttons.
I had two K2000VP was the conclusion is the same, it does not work great. it's pretty boring on stage. you think you have supported ...

sounds and sampling: 9 / 10
----------------------------------
TOC sounds, it must be said that the K2000VP is quite excellent. it's a synth with 300 preset programs (all styles) but mostly this is great is that it is also a reader of samples! and yes, the K2000 comes with a VP and implmentation SCSI, which means you can connect a CD ROM drive, hard drive, a ZIP, a SyQuest, PC, MAC, and so on .
with a PC for example can TRANSFR sounds via SCSI to the K2000 (WaveLab, SoundForge, recycle ...). practice.
you can edit all parameters via MIDI program by publishers (SoundDiver, midiquest ...)
one small problem: the recognition of the SCSI device K2000 is "moderately well" installation, but it works anyway.

effects 8 / 10
----------------
the effects are good enough in my taste quality but fairly traditional (such as a delay is given in milliseconds, it would be the IAM as bpm): reverb, delay, chorus ... I find that the effect parameters are not numerous enough, the effects themselves are difficult to program. digitech it has a chipset dvelopp Designed and effect for the K2000. when we know the quality of the effects produced digitech, one wonders.

UTILIZATION

Hardware architecture 8 / 10
--------------------------------
let it be said, a need K2000VP that he spends time.
This is not a machine inne, but its hardware architecture is similar to that of an ordinary PC. files and sounds are stored in FAT16 (FAT ... it's not like the file system of Windows?)
the K2000VP is open to the extent that we can add a lot of options that can amliorer (RAM, SRAM, hard disk, sound ROMs etc.).
at this level is rather regret the policy kurzweil (Squid is similar to that of Alai by the way), only 2 MB of RAM of origin, and if you want to add it will also add a fan of beast (which costs very expensive option). not talking about the hard disk option that does not contain much.

edition books and 7 / 10
----------------------------
cot manual is quite complete but the "Classic" home "Chianti", a musician would expect something a little more fun with examples, sounds can be a disquetted'aide ... Men short manufacturers, when you understand that musicians are to play and not for the sinuses STUDY ... make us instruments and manuals LEISURE (mess
good on the other hand bin is full and you can do anything. once you understand how it works. (I have not yet fully understood ...)

SOUNDS

That's the Athniens s'atteignirent ...
we enter the heart of the matter, it's still an instrument sound, and it touches the point "G".
the sound can be measured curves and bruising after his science and then there are the ears.
For me, the K2000 possde an unusual dynamic, a quality of sound that MRIT respect.
the sound is clean and crystalline. there is energy, potato.
and that is why we choose a K2000, given that it is a sampler, you can imagine all you can do with it. I had an Akai S2000 (Akai DSOL sir, but you can store yer Bitonio) I had a Yamaha A3000 (hou hou ca ugly ugly !!!), I have not tried blowing EMU, in my opinion it should not be too bad (but where's the keyboard?).

OVERALL OPINION

4 years ago I bought a K2000VP and then the second one I have purchased them over nine!
what I love most: versatile and sound -
what I like least: the fucking buttons on the front of the bugs and effect processor
report quality price (ah ah ah) of OCCAZ yes - simply unbeatable.
well I just bought a second so you tell me?

The K2000VP, released in 1998, was the adaptation of dernire SERIES. Marketed until 2001, the life of a hard K2000 decade. We can not be said of its competitors. For a fter the ingnieurs have lchs, and DCID to dress the latest products in purple: - /. Longva comes mainly from his days rgulires put its OS.

In his beginners in 1991, Kurzweil has proposed a synthse of flexibility and power that only software synths surpass today, a compatibility tense all samplers of a march dynamic management of polyphony, 64MB of RAM Simm, compress 24 MB ROM (it must be seen against the background, the standard c'tait era), the SCSI standard ...

Some time later, a sampling option is available with version 2, with input and output numrique, edition rev growth of samples. Then a version 3 ammen a lot of new as squenceur / arranger of high-powered 32 tracks, one of the disk management compltes (with macros, Boot Loader, disk management tools, compatibility tense many peripherals). There is nothing new in today's world of workstations, except the update of some features (for scsi usb, ram). This is REALLY a compact and autonomous. All innovations are now in the K26XX. The K2000 is inflated EPROM block.

UTILIZATION

Flexibility is what the caractrise. One can for example edit mode squenceur in a program, then the keymap, then the sample as the machine does not blink.
Ditions of all pages are constructed in identical form, it cohrent trs. There are shortcuts, research tools handy for getting together. All parameters are expressed as values ​​natural resources (Herz, dB), not on a scale of 1 to 100 as Korg and Yamaha ... Using live is a rgal. The squenceur is intuitive, despite the relative smallness of the screen, everything is ditable with batch automatiss.
This keyboard breathing almost artisanal. We feel that it is designed by musicians for musicians.

SOUNDS

Prt nest is not to reach the end of synthse VAST. Since 1991, and with all the sounds available on the Internet, we can see the evolution of sound designer in the matrise K2000.

It may be a reader and end trsraliste samples (of 32 layers!), Can provide sound purely analog (96 oscillators!) Thanks some algorithms and some DSP (pr cursor of VA synths), the synthse additive, FM, granular, vector, wavetable and even, albeit with some limitations. Mathmatiques functions are available to make things worse, envelopes, LFOs, filters, warm, and an own identity due inhrent an aliasing, but not dplaisant.
And as a bonus, you can import sounds from the K2600. There is always discovering something new.
The library of samples available is huge (Akai, Roland, Ensoniq, WAV, AIF). Kurzweil CDRom worth the particulirement dtour thanks exemplary programming not found anywhere.

OVERALL OPINION

I gave him a long sought replaceable. And I just bought a K2600, I have not found better.
I import all I RALIS in the K2000. What a luxury! Kurzweil is a bit of the Steinway synthtiseurs. Too bad the importation into France is so difficult.

Notice to all users of K2000, V2, V3 and VP - The Calvin and Janis OS 3.87 is still valid. And thanks to this update and you have options ROM2 ROM1 Orchestral and Contemporary ROMs that add to 230 programs and 100 Extra Setups a quality sound samples of "high-end", new programs developed Vangelis him by themselves are available free of charge.
You can contact me at the address link.
Doctor Frog

UTILIZATION

signed since the last OS update 3.87, the K2000 contains many parameters of K2500. Whether the noise level or in terms of publishing.
Quality intruments is well again, and you know a lot of brand that offers after 11 years of marketing a product that has evolved with the times, 11 years later an update?
KURZWEIL only

SOUNDS

KURZWEIL The sounds are audible today in any type of production. Techno (Propelerhead) through the industrial and rock (Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Mr. Mason, Pink Floyd ,...) or pop (D. Bowie, Peter Gabriel Yared G., Neo ...), metal (Dream Theather - Rammstein-,...) or variety (too many references ....).... etc. No professional artist can commit to a production worthy of name without having at least one instrument Kurzweil. To you interpret this sentence as you like I personally use the

OVERALL OPINION

K2000VP since 1998 and since 1996 K2500 that I have change for a K2600. As with any machine, digging there is always something to say about anything and everything ... What amuses me most today, looking at the ads used musical instruments (samplers / synths / workstations / keyboards teachers) is that we do not find quasimment KURZWEIL instrument for sale . Why? do you .... Only users of K2500, which by necessity Hardware need to spend on K2600, sell their old music production / workstation. Curiously, it's like sports cars or luxury when you own a Kurzweil or already taken the time to work with a K2000/K2500/K2600, we can not turn back. Can possibly diversify the kinds with other products from other brands, but the heart of all your productions will remain a Kurzweil ...
Good use - Sincerely
Dr. Frog.