Kurzweil PC1X

Full 88 key weighted keyboard.

Typical no-frills stereo analog outputs, midi-in, out, through, 2 ports for damper and volume pedal.

Nice, diverse bank of effects which are easily edited or disabled when necessary. 4 rotary controls which perform a variety of functions-octave shift, reverb density, 3 band EQ control, and 2 assignable switches which will do just about anything you need them to do.

Acoustic piano sounds are my first priority and the ones on the PC1X don't disappoint. I wouldn't rate them as the best out there, but they do a fine job of cutting through a less-than-perfect stage mix and crowd noise. Like all stereo acoustic piano samples, they won't satisfy unless they are played in stereo. But, I can always find one that matches the room I am playing in well. Rhodes and Wurly sounds are decent--not the best but decent. Strings are a mixed bag. My personal favorite is the "Intense Strings" patch which is rich and full, with plenty of attack, yet offering excellent dynamics. You can set up your favorite programs from the 6 available preset banks and 2 user banks so that you can access them on-the-fly from their assigned buttons. The PC1X is also very easy to do splits on, as well as layering up to 4 sounds. One of the songs I perform with one of my artist gigs requires 10 program changes within the same song and the Kurzweil gets it done effortlessly.

UTILIZATION

The action sold the PC1X to me. It is lighter than a Yamaha, Korg or Roland, and even significantly lighter than it's more developed sister, the PC2x. I could have bought either,but opted for the PC1X because I flat-out loved the performance of the keyboard. I'm 52 and have been playing all my life. I can play just about as fast as anyone, but the Kurzweil's keyboard keeps up with me no matter what I throw at it, yet it is extremely dynamic. To me, it is the single most inspiring aspect of the instrument. If I am doing session work and the producer or engineer wants a piano sound that the PC1X is not capable of, I still use its keyboard to play their sample of choice. I can outrun any Yamaha or Roland, so I hope Kurzweil never lets go of this action. However, if you are a classically trained Steinway fan, you might not appreciate the lighter action as much as I do.

The manual is big and complete, although not always easy for this technophobe to understand.

SOUNDS

I think the horns and organs leave a lot to be desired. The strings are deceptive. Many of the string settings don't sound that good by themselves, but most of them sound surprisingly fine in a mix. I've often been amazed by how well some of them lay in a recording mix when I listen to the playback. This makes me believe that there are--or at least were--some brilliant sound designers under the employ of Kurzweil.

The Rhodes samples are kind of funny. It really seems that the PC1X's action sucks as badly as an old Fender Rhodes suitcase piano when using any of the Rhodes patches. I find that the Rhodes and Wurlitzer samples have about a 3 octave limit in the center of the keyboard. If you go beyond that zone in either direction, the sound is both unconvincing and unplayable.

OVERALL OPINION

I still manage to glean a lot of inspiration from this board after over 3 years of owning it.

There are several things you should be aware of, however.

1. There is a tiny screen contrast knob on the back of the board, which is very necessary, especially if you are going to be using it outdoors. If you try taking this keyboard to a gig in a soft case or with no case, I promise you that you will eventually break that knob off of the circuit board that it is soldered to. It will get pushed back in to the body and the screen will be rendered unreadable. After the 2nd time this happened to me, I glued a large rubber grommet around the knob to prevent this from happening. I'm not the most mechanically inclined guy to come down the pike, but this girl was a bear to get inside of to solder that control knob back on to the circuit board. It took 3 of us wrestling with it to get the job done. This was a terrible engineering oversight.

2. Another completely idiotic afterthought is the fact that you have to scroll down through 16 pages of the global menu to find the transposer. Fortunately, I can make all the setups I need prior to a performance so that I can just keep the screen set on page 16 of the global settings. For someone who plays with the same band all the time, this might not be a problem, but I have as many as a half dozen different gigs, many times having some of the same songs in different keys. A transpose button is a Godsend in those instances. What were they thinking??

3. You have to periodically go around the keyboard and tighten all the screws. It seems that they come loose rather easily.

4. While I haven't broken any yet, the 4 multi-task rotary knobs I mentioned earlier are very spindly and I know quite a few guys who have broken them off, so that is another thing which requires a little TLC.

Well, nothing's perfect. But, overall it is a great board. Mine is over 3 years old and I will likely buy a new one soon and keep this old girl around for a spare. I ride 'em hard and have put 'em away wet more than once and this one has yet to let me down. Kurzweil has had some hurdles in its transitions between companies, and hopefully they have been able to maintain the integrity. Those questions aside, it's a fine tool.

88 keys with hammer mquanique, many sounds effects, Controller, etc..

UTILIZATION

The keyboard seems to have a shorter stroke than the Fatar, but is comparable numriques all pianos I've tried so far. Thanks to SETTING THE sensitivity can quickly adjust the keyboard rponse his style of play, which is especially apprciable many sounds and ragissent the VLOC / or have several layers.

on the other hand, select the accommodation requires a sound long enough: to choose a bank, three buttons light up red or green for three banks and two times for these same sounds, it's square ment of hell: you must choose one of the sixteen groups with eight buttons red / green, then among the sounds of the group with, in addition, a green LED indicating the prsence sound in deuxime layer (Power key are green). As difficult to explain that understanding ... Anyway, after three weeks, I start getting used to.

The manual is full trs, except there is no list of patches and setups. There is a list Retailer, but half a score of pages, then it would have t practice having a rcapitulatif classs of all the sounds in each bank and for CATEGORY to choose a look.

SOUNDS

The big highlight of the keyboard sounds! I had bought at dpart for acoustic piano sounds, but what a surprise by browsing through the banks ... The pianos are fabulous (albeit a little too like as presets, which would be fewer p), the electric pianos, and all acoustic instruments trs well reproduced with a standard dynamic (even in compared with Wavestation and my JD-990). But what really is skotch analog sounds and drumkits simply standards!

The part s'avre plutt powerful effects, and even voluntarily limit edition by the manufacturer, leaving Access in paramtres essential.

In edition of setup, programming Controller is impressive, and I rve edition of the K2600 ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use this keyboard for a month, and I am satisfied for now compltement. I only regret not having enough time to explore the possibility of shipping setup and go once more sound banks ...
My set includes several Japanese machines and I must admit that the PC1x sounds better than the whole. Obviously the pianos are beautiful but it is mostly the rest of the sounds that surprised me and I would recommend this keyboard plutt another piano numrique all those who still hsitent between DIFFERENT MODELS.

Features:

It is a 88-note keyboard with one developed in partnership with Steinway. For those unfamiliar with this brand of pianos in concert I think it is fair to say that Steinway & Sons is among the three most prestigious brands. Obviously I'm not saying that the keyboard is duPC1X copy of a Steinway. However, it is by far the best keyboard digital piano to reach the market.
I m that was a referral to a Roland RD700 ..... fortunately that I have crossed the path of ALEXIS CALANDRY backline and pianos!!

Sound side it has 380 tones (including a very interesting bank GM). We can add an expansion card for additional sounds. The effects are worthy of the greatest racks as LEXICON, TC electronics etc ... In short: the ultimate.

The connector is identical to what can be found in the Competition (the PC2X him is at a level above). A sustain pedal is supplied in addition to the device (which n is not seen anything that you pretty much have to make the purchase when it is provided in competition).

UTILIZATION

Touch is excellent. the ultimate. Truly unique compared to the roland, korg or yamaha's. It is this that we can find better. C is really the key of superlatives (according to an EX graduated from the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris).

The config is simple and uneventful. easy to use.
The manual is clear and thin (very well done)

SOUNDS

What about sound ....??? THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL !!!!! The work of goldsmith.
The still nothing compares to the competition. The samples were mostly keyboards and pianos most notable market (even that is done in VST plug does not come close to the height!). Every note is reproduced with a quality concerns pushed to the extreme.
We believed from the first notes on the keyboard of the greatest concert grand pianos.

Little extra for me is a pleasant surprise: there are voice samples of the most beautiful effect (sample CD TAKE SIX ..... that is the best CD).
All sounds are usable! Here c is the not ready to play at home or some brands only a few sounds can be used.

OVERALL OPINION

I do not use the the last few days but the first notes I was seduced j. The keyboard is one of unquestionable quality and without comparison to other brands on the market (j've spent months trying everything that was done in digital pianos so J had time to get an idea).
Myself being a pianist I have to say that the quality of samples is stirring. Person at the moment n is able to provide, both in yamaha korg roland or a quality keyboard and piano sounds as good (and more is at stake ... The pcx costs only 1490 euros) .
I want to thank before concluding this brief comment BACKLINE the store and Piano and particularly Mr Alex CALANDRY who knew me learn, listen and answer as accurately as I expected the most advanced. I was skeptical that (buy an instrument without trying) I do not regret my purchase and I would say that if c had to be rebuilt .... j buy a second!

Thank you BACKLINE & Piano

PS: many will say that n is KURZWEIL available in France. No it is not! if you go to the website of www.KURZWEIL.DK you will see that the brand is distributed in France and is represented by Alexi CALANDRY ... so ..... no soucy!!