Author: Paolo

Categories
Sound Chip

Kurzweil Contemporary ROM Soundblock

 Kurzweil K2000 sound expansion chip with pop/rock/new age/jazz/fusion etc. samples

(image from kurzweilmusicsystems.com )

The Kurzweil K2000 Contemporary ROM Soundblock is a ROM chip containing many new samples and patches for the K2000.

It features 100 new programs (typically loaded in the “800” Program directory) and 50 new Setups (also typically loaded in the “800” Setup directory), but of course it’s possible to use this chip as the base for custom sounds. Since this expansion is ROM, there is nothing to load, and the programs and setups are readily available as soon as the synthesizer boots up.

The quality of this board is outstanding – Quite a few years have passed since its original release, but even today, these are some really high-quality samples and programs, and a superb addition to a K2000 series synth.

The electric guitars, Clavinet, percussion, and brass in particular are incredibly realistic… but all the other sounds are very good as well.

One thing I noticed early on, is how well all these new sounds “gel” together when they are recorded in the same mix. The Kurzweil engineers have done a great job of meticulously sampling all the nuances and tonal character of each instrument, and present them in a way that is extremely playable, recordable, and ultimately, very enjoyable for a musician/keyboard player.

Check out some of the sounds from this expansion chip.

Kurzweil Contemporary ROM Soundblock audio demos

Programs

Setups

The Contemporary ROM Soundblock came with an additional diskette that offered many more programs.  Many of these extra programs are standouts, especially the tone wheel organs!  Check out audio demos from this diskette:

Contemporary ROM Programs and Demos diskette

Kurzweil K2000 Contemporary ROM Soundblock links

kurzweil.com

Categories
Patch Library

Best of Analog – Andrew Schlesinger / New Age

 K2000 format program diskette

The Kurzweil K2000 “Best of Analog” diskette was programmed by Andrew Schlesinger and offers a directory for Analog and one for New Age.

The “Analog” offering is particularly strong, with outstanding emulations of classic synthesizers.

The “New Age” folder is also quite charming, offering, among others, the classic Korg M1 “Lore” sample as the base of several well-crafted patches.

Kurzweil K2000 “Best of Analog” audio demos

ANALOG dir.

NEWAGES dir.

Kurzweil K2000 “Best of Analog” specs

Year of release:1990s
Disk type:Floppy disk
Directories:Two

Kurzweil K2000 “Best of Analog” links

kurzweil.com

Categories
Sound Expansion Card

Alesis Z2 EuroDance

Sound Expansion card

The second offering from Alesis in the Q series of expansion PCMCIA cards for their 1990s synths.

The EuroDance is surely one of the best in the series, providing excellent, big, well-produced quality sounds for the electronic and dance genres.  However, this card offers many other great patches for other types of musical genres- the pads in particular are very spacious and beautiful.

New waveforms include classic House organs and pianos, analog synth waves, additive/bell waveforms, TB-303, Fairlight, ambient, many loops, and some absolutely slamming drum kits, with all usual suspects such as TR-909 and TR-808, but also CR-78, classic Drum ‘n’ Bass drums (Amen breakbeat) and much more. Check out the way it sounds here below.

Alesis Z2 EuroDance audio demos

Factory Demo Songs

Patch Demos:

Alesis Z2 EuroDance manual

euro_qcardDownload

Alesis Z2 EuroDance links

www.alesis.com

Categories
Sample CD

Gs Chinese Percussion

Audio Sample CD

Gs Chinese Percussion audio demo

Gs Chinese Percussion specs

Year of release2000s
CD typeAudio
Partitionsn/a
Categories
Sample CD

Best Service Dance Mega Synth

Sample CD

Best Service Dance Mega Synth audio demo

Best Service Dance Mega Synth specs

Year of release:1990s
CD type:Audio / AKAI / E-mu
Partitions:

Best Service Dance Mega Synth links

www.bestservice.com

Categories
Effect Rack Filter Processor

Electrix Filter Factory

Filter effect processor

Electrix Filter Factory audio demo

Here’s an audio example of the FilterFactory in action.  Note the incredibly powerful resonance –

WARNING:  WATCH YOUR TWEETERS!

Electrix Filter Factory manual

Electrix Filter Factory manualDownload

Electrix Filter Factory specs

Year of release1998
Format2U rackmount
MIDIIn, Out, Thru
Channelsstereo ins and outs (1/4″ TRS and RCA)
Number of programs80 ROM + 20 RAM
Controllersfoot pedal, cv/gate
Power consumption30 watts
Categories
Sample CD

Universal Sound Bank Church Organs

Sample CD-ROM library in Akai format

This is an AKAI CD-ROM consisting mainly of a large number of samples from the pipe organ in the cathedral “Saint Alain De Lavaur” in France, made in the year 1523 – plus two bonus organs from the 18th and the 20th centuries.

The accompanying booklet presents a story of the organ and its numerous fixes during the last four centuries.

The programming of this CD-ROM is extensive, there are hundreds of samples of the many configurations of the organ.  There are “Lavaur Sets” that have been especially designed to be used in two keyboard configuration + pedal keyboard, or 3 keyboards, or split and mix versions.

There are several AKAI partitions, and the patches include samples from “Tutti”, “Fonds”, “Bourdon”, “Clarinette”, “Gambe”, “Trompette”, and even some church noises are added for good measure…

Check out the following demos of individual patches from this CD-ROM.

Universal Sound Bank Church Organs audio demo

All examples were played from Propellerhead Reason 3’s NN-XT sampler, going through the RV7000 reverb (running programs matched to the nature of the samples) – then through the default Mastering Suite.

Universal Sound Bank Church Organs specs

Year of release:1995
CD type:AKAI
Partitions:
Categories
Half-Rack Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer Synthesizer

KORG 05R/W

Here we have the oldie but goodie Korg 05R/W, a half-rack digital synthesizer module based on Korg’s 01W series AI2 synthesis.

The 05R/W contains 340 multi-sampled waveforms, providing all one basically needs for modern music production – especially pop/rock/dance.  It is 8-part multi-timbral (there is – as usual with Korg instruments – a COMBI section where you can store your combinations) and thus can be very effectively used in a MIDI setup.

There are also 164 drum sounds, and many of these are already superbly “produced” (compressed, equalized, enhanced) and ready to be the basis of your drum tracks “from the box”.  The drum sounds are also fully editable.

GM (General MIDI) is also present, as a bank in the PROG section.  The sounds starting with the letter “G” follow the GM protocol and can be used with thousands of available MIDI files.

There is also a great sounding multi-effect processor on board, capable of providing up to four effects simultaneously.  There are the usual suspects (reverb, delay) but also more esoteric offerings such as equalizer, exciter, enhancer, and rotary speaker.

A fantastic supplement to this synthesizer is the inclusion of alternative tuning scales! Several scale types are provided besides the standard equal-tempered, including Arabic, Werkmeister III, and Indonesian scales. You can also create and store your own.

This synth also features a serial port in its rear, allowing the user to connect directly to a Mac or PC without the need of a separate interface.

Korg 05R/W factory demo song

Korg 05R/W Factory Demo Song  a solid multi-genre demo.  Incredibly well programmed, typical ’90s.

Korg 05R/W audio demos

COMBI

PROG

Korg 05R/W Specs

Year of release1993
Oscillators2
Polyphony32-voice
Presets236 Programs, 100 Combinations
Responds to velocityYes
Responds to aftertouchYes
Sound generation methodAI²
Sound expansion capabilitiesn/a
EffectsYes
Sequencern/a
MIDIIn, Out, Thru
OutputStereo pair
DisplayYes, LCD 16×2 backlit green
Dimensions8.6″ (W) x 9.5″ (D) x 1.8 (H)
Weight1.1 kg (2.4 lbs.)
Rack mount kitRA-01
ROM6 Mbits, 340 waveforms

Reset the Korg 05R/W to factory (initialize):

  • Press GLOBAL MULTI;
  • Using the BANK/PAGE+ button, scroll to page 05A PRESET DATA;
  • Press the +1 button.  It will prompt “Are You Sure OK?”;
  • Press the +1 button again.  It will show “Completed”.  The unit is now reset to factory specs.

Korg 05R/W manuals

05RW_Owners_ManualDownload
05RW_Voice_Name_ListDownload
05RW_Quick_GuideDownload

Korg 05R/W factory sysex

sysexDownload

Korg 05R/W photos

Categories
Rack Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer Synthesizer

Roland D-110

Multi Timbral Sound Module

image source: eBay#7422594884

The rack version of the popular D-10. Useful because of the separate outputs. As I remember, the D-110 was a very popular module at the time it came out. One of the main reasons was the fact that it was multi-timbral.

This 1-U rack synthesizer is based on the proven L.A. (Linear Arithmetic) synthesis employed in the classic D-50, although the synthesis structure is not as complete and versatile as its big brother. It is much more similar to the D-10, D-5 and D-20, and even sports a front slot for a memory card, like those keyboards also had.

It is not the easiest module to use, in comparison with other modules from the day (the E-mu Proteus comes to mind), because there is a small two-line display, and an intricate system of button-pushing and sub-menus to edit it. Even then, if you are a bit familiar with Roland’s “partial” structure, this follows the same lines.

One thing that it takes from its cousin MT-32 and I’m puzzled about: the unit, when reset to factory settings (by loading the sysex presets), sets its eight channels starting from MIDI channel 2, not 1. This could lead to frustration (hey, this thing doesn’t play!) when all you need to do is call up the parts, and renumber the MIDI channels according to each part: 1 to 1, 2 to 2 and so forth.

The sounds on the D-110 are typical L.A. synthesis, and there are a lot of those “usual suspects” heard in other instruments that belong to this line.

Roland D-110 audio demos

Roland D-110 factory demo songs

Roland D-110 factory patch audio demos

Roland D-110 rhythm set audio demo

Roland D-110 factory patches in .mid and sysex

D110 ORIGDownload
D10 facDownload

Roland D-110 manual

D-110_OMDownload

Roland D-110 specs

Year of release:1990
Polyphony:32 partials
Sound generation method:Linear Arithmetic (LA)
Preset memories2 banks of 64 patches; tones; partials.
MIDI:in, out, thru
Sound expansion capabilities:cards
Sequencerno
Arpeggiatorno
EffectsReverb, Chorus
Velocityyes
Aftertouch 

Roland D-110 photos

Roland D-110 links

www.roland.com

Categories
Sample CD

Sonic Reality American Heartland

Sample CD-ROM library in Akai Universal format

American Heartland is another fine offering from the Sonic Reality team, this time focusing on traditional, classic instruments of North America.

Here’s the introduction on the CD-ROM’s booklet:

“American Heartland is a respectful nod to America’s past.  Its guitars, harmonicas, dusty keyboards and beefy drums help us recall the beginnings of what would eventually become popular Rock, Blues, Country and Folk styles.  These soulful instruments have a way of grounding us and helping us relate musically.  Regardless of what kind of music you do, they will add a touch of authenticity to your work, and give you a well-laid path to follow your muse.”

The sound quality on this CD-ROM is really good.  They used some top notch recording equipment, and it shows.

The instruments presented in this collection include beautiful acoustic guitars (Taylor and Martin), dobro, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and other classic American instruments.  They are all very expressive and with a bit of sequencer work, you could make them sound very, very authentic.

Check out the following demos of individual patches from American Heartland:

Sonic Reality American Heartland audio demos

All examples were played from Propellerhead Reason 3’s NN-XT sampler, going through the RV7000 reverb (running programs matched to the nature of the samples), then the default Mastering Suite.

Sonic Reality American Heartland specs

Year of release:1995
CD type:AKAI
Partitions:Eight (A – H)

Sonic Reality American Heartland links

sonicreality.com