Kurzweil

Explore Kurzweil vintage synthesizer equipment in the Vintage Technology Archive.

Effects

• KSP8 — A multi-channel effects processor from the 2000s featuring 249 DSP algorithms and flexible routing for professional audio applications.

Keyboards

• K1000 (1988) — Kurzweil K1000 (1988) — 76-note, 24-voice digital synth with K250-lineage sounds. The affordable way into the Kurzweil library.
• K2000RS — A rackmount digital sampler synthesizer from the 1990s with advanced preset capabilities and expandable storage. Covers detailed specs and production dates.
• K2000S — A 61-note synthesizer and sampler all-in-one with V.A.S.T. synthesis, built-in sampling, and 32-track sequencing. With full specifications.
• K2500R — A 3U rackmount digital sound module and sampler using V.A.S.T. synthesis, released in 1995 as the rack version of the K2500.
• K2500S — A 76-key sampling keyboard and music workstation with VAST synthesis modeling and integrated effects. Find the complete spec table and when it was made here.
• K2600 — A professional-grade synthesizer and workstation from Kurzweil Music Systems, as part of the K2xxx series. Find full specifications and production years here.
• K2700 — An 88-key synthesizer workstation with V.A.S.T. synthesis and extensive sample content. This page has full specifications and production years.
• PC2 — A 76-key MIDI keyboard controller with 64-voice polyphony and 24-bit digital output, part of Kurzweil's PC series of synthesizers.
• PC3 — A 76-key semi-weighted digital piano and synthesizer with Dynamic V.A.S.T. architecture, 128-note polyphony, and advanced KB3 Mode tonewheel organ
• PC88 — A performance controller keyboard with 88-note weighted action, designed for expressive MIDI control and onboard sound. Includes the complete spec table.
• PC88MX — A portable 88-key weighted digital piano and performance controller with built-in effects and aftertouch sensitivity. Find full specifications here.

Samplers

• 2000R (1994) — Kurzweil 2000R (1994): rackmount K2000-series synth/sampler, 133-page manual, floppy drive, RAM/ROM upgradable, £1699 in 1997.
• K2500RS — Kurzweil K2500RS rack sampler — 48 voices, 128 MB max RAM, dual SCSI, V.A.S.T. synthesis. The sampling-equipped K2500 rack.

Synthesizer

• K-2000 — Kurzweil K2000 synthesizer — 24-voice VAST engine, 8MB ROM, 31 algorithms, floppy drive, SCSI. The deep workstation that rewarded programmers.
• K-2500 — Kurzweil K-2500 — VAST synthesis workstation, 48 voices, 8MB ROM expandable to 28MB, 76-note or 88-key versions, free KB-3 organ mode via FTP.
• K2500XS — Kurzweil K2500XS — 88 weighted keys, 48-voice V.A.S.T. synth, onboard sampling, 128MB max, dual SCSI, 32-track sequencer. The flagship K2500.

Synthesizers

• K-2000R — Kurzweil K-2000R — the rackmount K2000 with V.A.S.T. synthesis and sampling. Watch the dimming EL display; £1699 in 1997.
• K-250 (1984) — The Kurzweil K-250 (1983–1989) — the first rompler, with an 88-key weighted hammer-action bed, 12-bit samples, a 42MB Steinway ROM, and an 8-track sequencer at $10,395.

Unknown

• 1000PX — Kurzweil 1000PX rack expander — 120 presets, 24-voice polyphony, 16-channel multi-timbral, 250-derived sounds.
• 250 — Sample 250, an obscure sampling keyboard from the mid-1980s. Multi-timbral, 12-voice polyphonic, 88 wooden keys, up to 87 ROM sounds. Little documented.

Workstations

• 250RMX — Kurzweil 250RMX — the rackmount version of the K250 flagship sampler, supported by RAM cartridges, Version 6.0 software, and a twelve-output option.
• K1200 — Kurzweil K1200 (1990) — 24-voice, 162-sound professional synth with 6 MB ROM, 16-part multitimbral operation, and a Pro I rack module sibling.
• K150 — Kurzweil K150 (1986) — 16-oscillator rack-mount MIDI sound module, $2,995 list, 14 resident voices, multi-timbral, no sampler.
• K2000VP — Kurzweil K2000VP — value-priced K2000-family synth, $1,995 MSRP, bundled 30-disk Analog Collection, 32-track sequencer.
• K2500X — Kurzweil K2500X — the 88-note fully weighted flagship of the K2500 Series, with 48-voice V.A.S.T. synthesis and 128 MB max sample RAM.
• PC3X — Kurzweil PC3X — 88-key weighted V.A.S.T. workstation unveiled at 2008 NAMM, 128-voice, 16-part multitimbral, 832 presets.

Other Models

• 1000 GX — Kurzweil 1000 GX guitar expander module: 20 voices, 16-bit floating-point samples from the K250 library, 2U rack, introduced June 1987.
• K-2000/2500 — Kurzweil K2000 and K2500 samplers — V.A.S.T. synthesis, the third-party sound-library economy, and the portamento clicks Sound on Sound flagged in 1997.
• PC2X — Kurzweil PC2X: 88-note fully weighted master keyboard, 64-voice sample engine, KB3 organ, digital out. The PC88's heavier successor.
• Pro 1 — Kurzweil Pro 1 digital piano — the sub-$2000 entry to Kurzweil's piano line, with up to 47 extra sounds and a reverb-off design philosophy.
• PRO-76 — Kurzweil PRO-76 (1990): 76-note weighted synth/controller with 24-voice, 16-part K250-derived engine, 162 presets, $2,595.