Looking for a bit of advice here.

I have seen lots of mention of Kurzweil boards on this forum and would like a few more views /opinions on why they are rated so highly.

For the record I play regularly in a classic Rock covers band doing Purple / Doors / Kansas / Who / Small Faces / Floyd amongst others. My current rig is a Hammond XK1 and a Roland Juno Stage - its the Roland that I am thinking of replacing primarily because of the keyboard action which I am finding a bit too lightweight although in terms of sounds it gives me everything that I need for our current live set.

If I go Kurzweil I would be looking at a PC3K7 but my problem is that I cant seem to find any dealers in my part of the world (I live in the hills of East Lancashire - nearest decent music dealers are in Manchester and Morecambe) who deal with Kurzweil making it almost impossible to try before I buy.

If any of you can convince me why I should go for Kurzweil please feel free to offer your opinions.

Thanks

Because somehow, despite the tiny amount of sample memory, they manage to come out with more playable sounds than anyone else.

It's like asking why buy Apple instead of Dell? Both will give usable results, but once you have gone for a quality machine, it's hard to go back. The sounds don't 'sparkle' or sound 'huge', but do sound good and just seem to fit brilliantly. I couldn't have a synth with sampled organs either after playing with the KB3 mode (organ sim). In fact, I used to gig with a modern organ (OB32)and ditched it for another Kurzweil. Much better.

I just did a gig where the headline band used a JV1080 and I'd forgotten just how GM it sounded. OTOH, I rocked (even if I do say so myself). VAST is pretty much the canine testes when it comes to a synthesis architecture - the PC3 series especially so.

It's one of those things - if it broke / got stolen , would you buy another to replace it? The answer in my case was a definite 'yes' which is how I've ended up with 2 PC3s and a K2661 (and a couple of K2500s but I don't count them).

Or, going back to the original analogy, they 'just work' ...

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Veni, Vidi, Aesculi
(I came, I saw, I conkered)

They are a 'buy once, use forever' keyboard. I can't imagine life without a K-series synth in my rig. There are no sounds at which it can't have a stab (assuming familiarity with VAST) and many sounds which are just 'right' in a way that other synths just don't get. When all else fails I just load a sample in there.

For classic rock you're going to have no trouble getting all the sounds you need with a K.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Because Ray Kurzweil is from the future.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictions_made_by_Ray_Kurzweil

He is also very talented and has some unusual ideas on maintaining his health.

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http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

Quote Dave B:

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It's like asking why buy Apple instead of Dell? Both will give usable results, but once you have gone for a quality machine, it's hard to go back. The sounds don't 'sparkle' or sound 'huge', but do sound good and just seem to fit brilliantly. I couldn't have a synth with sampled organs either after playing with the KB3 mode (organ sim). In fact, I used to gig with a modern organ (OB32)and ditched it for another Kurzweil. Much better.

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Actually, Kurzweils are average in build quality. I get broken switches etc. as often as with any other make, they buy in the same Fatar keybeds as everyone else...pretty much a Dell workhorse as far as hardware goes! It's all in the software.

Great feedback chaps! Many thanks.

I am definitely interested although VAST sounds a but scary to me - I will need to try and find somewhere where I can demo a Kurzweil just to be sure but your comments have certainly been useful in helping me decide. In fact Dave has got me thinking about whether or not I need the XK1 if the organ sim on a K is that good. I do love my XK1 though and it plays a pivotal role in the live set so maybe thats a step too far.

Thanks all.

ps anyone want to buy a Juno Stage? (1 careful owner)

I recently bought a PC3. For the money, it knocks spots off anything else I have ever used. So much so, I am thinking of getting another. Probably a PC3X (or PC3k8 if funds allow). Everything sounds so good. The presets are not smothered in effect and just a single voice sounds wonderful.

Don't discount the PC3 because it isn't weighted. It has a lovely action. If you need 88 notes, then obviously the PC3X/PC3k8 are the way to go.

You could pick up a PC3 for around £900 s/h (I think there are a couple in the readers ads). You won't regret it.

Kurzweil's website is worth a look. There are some great tutorials on there to give you a taste of what their keyboards can do.

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And Bagpuss, once he was asleep, was just a saggy old cloth cat.

Quote eggsy65:

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In fact Dave has got me thinking about whether or not I need the XK1 if the organ sim on a K is that good.

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Yes, KB3 *is* that good - I think you'll be happy to move the XK1 on. I have a real Hammond sitting in the studio with me and the K does a very decent job of emulation in direct comparison.

As for VAST - it's a very deep well of potential, and it can be daunting at first, but if you're methodical, spend some time getting to know it, and are prepared to RTFM(!), then it's not so difficult to get your head around. There are some very clever programming shortcuts.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Quote Richie Royale:

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Because Ray Kurzweil is from the future.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictions_made_by_Ray_Kurzweil

He is also very talented and has some unusual ideas on maintaining his health.

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He's a total woo-meister, (e.g. see http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil ) and it's still a bit of an embarrassment that Sound on Sound gave him a platform for his wooing. Who'll be getting a column next, David Icke??

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~~~ A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with! www.feline1.co.uk ~~~

Hi, following this with passing interest, due to the cost of Kurzweil products being beyond my 'enthusiast' level, but thought this extract from Wikipedia was (historically) interesting:

Kurzweil's next business venture was in the realm of electronic music technology. After a 1982 meeting with Stevie Wonder, in which the latter lamented the divide in capabilities and qualities between electronic synthesizers and traditional musical instruments, Kurzweil was inspired to create a new generation of music synthesizers capable of accurately duplicating the sounds of real instruments. Kurzweil Music Systems was founded in the same year, and in 1984, the Kurzweil K250 was unveiled. The machine was capable of imitating a number of instruments, and in tests musicians were unable to discern the difference between the Kurzweil K250 on piano mode from a normal grand piano. The recording and mixing abilities of the machine, coupled with its abilities to imitate different instruments made it possible for a single user to compose and play an entire orchestral piece.

Kurzweil Music Systems was sold to Korean musical instrument manufacturer Young Chang in 1990. As with Xerox, Kurzweil remained as a consultant for several years. Hyundai acquired Young Chang in 2006 and in January 2007 has appointed Raymond Kurzweil as Chief Strategy Officer of Kurzweil Music Systems.

>its the Roland that I am thinking of replacing primarily because of the keyboard action which I am finding a bit too lightweight although in terms of sounds it gives me everything that I need for our current live set.

If the problem is not the sounds but the action, then there's no reason in advance why Kurzweil is going to be right for you. Keyboard actions are very subjective -- if you are fussy then you must try one out before you buy.

Is it a piano-style action you want? (In that case, you'll need to buy something with 88-keys). Or do you just want a heavier synth/organ-style action?

Quote Scramble:

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Is it a piano-style action you want? (In that case, you'll need to buy something with 88-keys).

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More than happy with my Nord Stage 2 with 76 keys (weighted)...

Kurzweil tempts me for other sounds definitely, but really not sure I want to go back to that kind of interface ... I love the hands on straightforward approach of my board. But I do covet the Kurzweil's orchestral sounds for one, but like others, the lack of a decent local outlet is frustrating in terms of casual investigation.

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cheers, Rob

If you fancy a trip to Sheffield I'm happy to let you fool around with my K2600, if that might help?

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

>More than happy with my Nord Stage 2 with 76 keys (weighted)...

Well, yeah, there are a small number of weighted 76-key boards out there, but not many. (I was mainly trying to avoid mentioning the Kronos 73-key weighted action lest we get into another Kronos debate!)