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