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olivier.jalet
Published on 06/03/08 at 16:50
The main features that caught my attention are:
. The keyboard layout used heavy:
- The keyboard is quite nice with a rapid rebound (faster than the heavy keyboards yamaha)
- Apparently this mechanism Fatar (TP40L) would also be more resistant than previous generations used also in other keyboards with Kurzweil PC88 (known as fragile in terms of mechanics)
- The keyboard has aftertouch (unlike the new Roland keyboard RD700GX whose top other than that)
. The MIDI functions are highly developed including:
- 2 MIDI OUT,
- 5 footswitch inputs,
- A breath controller,
- 9 sliders.
- I think the possibility to program its own velocity curves
. The price is not cheap but not crazy either: between 2000 and 2300 €.
. Its weight is 25 kg (unlike the Yamaha Motif XS8 and Roland G8).
UTILIZATION
I am a pianist and often plays in duet with my singing with just a few sounds (acoustic piano, electric piano and pad sounds): directory soul / jazz.
Since I use a laptop with very good software pianos (acoustic and electric), I wanted above all a good controller keyboard 88-key hammer at a nice look and more advanced MIDI features and a weight not exceeding 25 kg.
Moreover, the possession of internal sounds is necessarily a plus.
This is very useful in case of computer crash (never happened) or an oversight of the power supply cable to my computer (... ever ...) or when you finally have really little time to install its stuff.
So if the internal sounds are good, is necessarily better.
Moreover, since I have, I play much more often than before because you turn and it works. It was not the case with my Yamaha KX88 which must always be connected to my laptop to get a sound ... In addition, its weight of 30 kg limit for becoming my back.
Finally, play with the PC3X becomes more spontaneous. I did not believe it but it's true in my case.
SOUNDS
The sound of acoustic piano is declined in several variants, but he comes from a single sampled piano (with 3 layers of different samples).
I have not been reversed even though it sounds good. I must say that I am demanding this level because I have home Synthogy Ivory (with 10 velocity layers: no equivalent in the world hardware).
In fact, these core samples are those used by Kurzweil since the 80's.
I think it is a Steinway. This is why we always find the same color "Kurzweil" even if these samples are best worked on PC3X PC2X compared to, for example. The feeling when the game is more enjoyable with the PC3X.
The sounds of electric pianos are most successful with much expression, I was pleasantly surprised. I have the CEP software www.scarbee.com home (the best sound sampled Rhodes in the world in my opinion) and it comes close in musicality. Thanks to the ability to stack up to 30 different velocity layers for a very good dynamic.
I play a little funk and also uses the following types of sounds:
The Hammond organ sounds but those of type PC3X are not to my taste, they sound a little synthetic. I much prefer the home www.native B4-instruments.com.
As against the Clavinet sounds are varied and can benefit from auto-wah pedal or a wah-wah: there, nothing to say, it sounds!
Conventional synthetic sounds (basses, leads, ground) are very successful especially those using the integrated module will imitate the warmth of analog sound.
Finally:
Sounds imitating real instruments are nice but not my thing.
I prefer a good brass analog rather than a sampled horn section that will inevitably be below the real instruments.
Ditto for the strings violin type ..
So I'd rather not go on, and at this level.
The multi effect appears powerful but I do not have plunged.
OVERALL OPINION
I hesitated before buying this keyboard for people looking for a midi keyboard to control quality with good piano sounds, there are also:
- The Roland RD700GX: with acoustic piano sounds nice but a bit "electric" for my taste. The electric pianos are cute but not transcendent. Again very good touch.
Too bad for the lack of aftertouch ... The price is right: about € 2000.
- The keyboard Nordstage 88:
+: Good sounds of acoustic and electric pianos,
By playing, you can feel the lack of velocity layers, but in terms of listening to the public, the sounds sound natural.
For this type of sound hardware version is the best current keyboard, there is no photo.
+: Warm organ sounds (the most successful PC3X)
+: Even touch reactive than Kurzweil PC3X also with aftertouch,
+: Ideal weight (18 kg), small footprint for a 88 notes.
- Its price (2600 € 2000 € TTC against the Belgian site PC3X www.prosl.com)
-: Polyphony piano sounds for approximately 40 notes ... given the price of the keyboard, I have a little trouble to myself,
-: The synthetic sounds are less developed than the PC3X.
-: Control functions, but below the twelve o'clock interesting PC3X.
If the proposed Norstage 88 was about € 2000 I can be cracked for this keyboard because of its weight.
- Last possible configuration:
Fatar keyboard type VMK 188 plus (mechanical TP40H): about 600 € (I like the look but not too good for the price, do not do the difficult) coupled to an ordinary type Macbook with 4 gigs of RAM ) € 1200 or so, a good sound card: at least € 300 and finally a good fast external hard drive (at least € 200). Ivory Price: about € 250. Total: € 2500 TTC a good that is to say, about the same price as 88 Clavia Norstage not given but with a piano sound really top but with a lot of cables to connect ...
I finally cracked the PC3X because:
- Engineer Dave Weiser of Kurzweil is frankly very nice and easily reachable. We feel that they are passionate about who designed the instrument.
- The synthetic sounds are warm and have character which makes a good complement to my sound software (Ivory Steinway at home and Scarbee Rhodes). In addition, this type of machine with a large capacity for synthesis keeps a good rating as opposed to machines used mostly with classic sounds sampled (including type piano), the quality quickly becomes obsolete in the face of sampled sounds software.
Some regrets (but you can not have everything):
- The lack of audio input to make a voice of multi-effects processor,
- The memory card reader that uses the xD format that is not the most common and is not compatible yet with the format of 1 or 2 GB are almost the only ones available on the new online stores . The must have been a SD card reader (much more common) or a USB connection but this solution seemed much more expensive to install on the PC3X according to Kurzweil.
FYI, I bought this keyboard on a Belgian site because you can not find a French importer: www.prosl.com.
They do not all brands but the prices are for guns and Kurzweil Keyboard.
In addition, the dealer shall pay the cost of return for some large items that PC3X if a problem occurs during the warranty is 2 years.
In addition, the site offers German www.thomann.de with a price slightly higher but with a 3 year warranty. But I'm not sure they support the cost of return if a problem occurs during the warranty period.
I hope my opinion will enlighten you.
Olivier.
Nancy, France.
. The keyboard layout used heavy:
- The keyboard is quite nice with a rapid rebound (faster than the heavy keyboards yamaha)
- Apparently this mechanism Fatar (TP40L) would also be more resistant than previous generations used also in other keyboards with Kurzweil PC88 (known as fragile in terms of mechanics)
- The keyboard has aftertouch (unlike the new Roland keyboard RD700GX whose top other than that)
. The MIDI functions are highly developed including:
- 2 MIDI OUT,
- 5 footswitch inputs,
- A breath controller,
- 9 sliders.
- I think the possibility to program its own velocity curves
. The price is not cheap but not crazy either: between 2000 and 2300 €.
. Its weight is 25 kg (unlike the Yamaha Motif XS8 and Roland G8).
UTILIZATION
I am a pianist and often plays in duet with my singing with just a few sounds (acoustic piano, electric piano and pad sounds): directory soul / jazz.
Since I use a laptop with very good software pianos (acoustic and electric), I wanted above all a good controller keyboard 88-key hammer at a nice look and more advanced MIDI features and a weight not exceeding 25 kg.
Moreover, the possession of internal sounds is necessarily a plus.
This is very useful in case of computer crash (never happened) or an oversight of the power supply cable to my computer (... ever ...) or when you finally have really little time to install its stuff.
So if the internal sounds are good, is necessarily better.
Moreover, since I have, I play much more often than before because you turn and it works. It was not the case with my Yamaha KX88 which must always be connected to my laptop to get a sound ... In addition, its weight of 30 kg limit for becoming my back.
Finally, play with the PC3X becomes more spontaneous. I did not believe it but it's true in my case.
SOUNDS
The sound of acoustic piano is declined in several variants, but he comes from a single sampled piano (with 3 layers of different samples).
I have not been reversed even though it sounds good. I must say that I am demanding this level because I have home Synthogy Ivory (with 10 velocity layers: no equivalent in the world hardware).
In fact, these core samples are those used by Kurzweil since the 80's.
I think it is a Steinway. This is why we always find the same color "Kurzweil" even if these samples are best worked on PC3X PC2X compared to, for example. The feeling when the game is more enjoyable with the PC3X.
The sounds of electric pianos are most successful with much expression, I was pleasantly surprised. I have the CEP software www.scarbee.com home (the best sound sampled Rhodes in the world in my opinion) and it comes close in musicality. Thanks to the ability to stack up to 30 different velocity layers for a very good dynamic.
I play a little funk and also uses the following types of sounds:
The Hammond organ sounds but those of type PC3X are not to my taste, they sound a little synthetic. I much prefer the home www.native B4-instruments.com.
As against the Clavinet sounds are varied and can benefit from auto-wah pedal or a wah-wah: there, nothing to say, it sounds!
Conventional synthetic sounds (basses, leads, ground) are very successful especially those using the integrated module will imitate the warmth of analog sound.
Finally:
Sounds imitating real instruments are nice but not my thing.
I prefer a good brass analog rather than a sampled horn section that will inevitably be below the real instruments.
Ditto for the strings violin type ..
So I'd rather not go on, and at this level.
The multi effect appears powerful but I do not have plunged.
OVERALL OPINION
I hesitated before buying this keyboard for people looking for a midi keyboard to control quality with good piano sounds, there are also:
- The Roland RD700GX: with acoustic piano sounds nice but a bit "electric" for my taste. The electric pianos are cute but not transcendent. Again very good touch.
Too bad for the lack of aftertouch ... The price is right: about € 2000.
- The keyboard Nordstage 88:
+: Good sounds of acoustic and electric pianos,
By playing, you can feel the lack of velocity layers, but in terms of listening to the public, the sounds sound natural.
For this type of sound hardware version is the best current keyboard, there is no photo.
+: Warm organ sounds (the most successful PC3X)
+: Even touch reactive than Kurzweil PC3X also with aftertouch,
+: Ideal weight (18 kg), small footprint for a 88 notes.
- Its price (2600 € 2000 € TTC against the Belgian site PC3X www.prosl.com)
-: Polyphony piano sounds for approximately 40 notes ... given the price of the keyboard, I have a little trouble to myself,
-: The synthetic sounds are less developed than the PC3X.
-: Control functions, but below the twelve o'clock interesting PC3X.
If the proposed Norstage 88 was about € 2000 I can be cracked for this keyboard because of its weight.
- Last possible configuration:
Fatar keyboard type VMK 188 plus (mechanical TP40H): about 600 € (I like the look but not too good for the price, do not do the difficult) coupled to an ordinary type Macbook with 4 gigs of RAM ) € 1200 or so, a good sound card: at least € 300 and finally a good fast external hard drive (at least € 200). Ivory Price: about € 250. Total: € 2500 TTC a good that is to say, about the same price as 88 Clavia Norstage not given but with a piano sound really top but with a lot of cables to connect ...
I finally cracked the PC3X because:
- Engineer Dave Weiser of Kurzweil is frankly very nice and easily reachable. We feel that they are passionate about who designed the instrument.
- The synthetic sounds are warm and have character which makes a good complement to my sound software (Ivory Steinway at home and Scarbee Rhodes). In addition, this type of machine with a large capacity for synthesis keeps a good rating as opposed to machines used mostly with classic sounds sampled (including type piano), the quality quickly becomes obsolete in the face of sampled sounds software.
Some regrets (but you can not have everything):
- The lack of audio input to make a voice of multi-effects processor,
- The memory card reader that uses the xD format that is not the most common and is not compatible yet with the format of 1 or 2 GB are almost the only ones available on the new online stores . The must have been a SD card reader (much more common) or a USB connection but this solution seemed much more expensive to install on the PC3X according to Kurzweil.
FYI, I bought this keyboard on a Belgian site because you can not find a French importer: www.prosl.com.
They do not all brands but the prices are for guns and Kurzweil Keyboard.
In addition, the dealer shall pay the cost of return for some large items that PC3X if a problem occurs during the warranty is 2 years.
In addition, the site offers German www.thomann.de with a price slightly higher but with a 3 year warranty. But I'm not sure they support the cost of return if a problem occurs during the warranty period.
I hope my opinion will enlighten you.
Olivier.
Nancy, France.