K2000 V3
Variable Architecture
Synthesis Technology synthesizer/sampler
workstation
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The amazingly powerful, groundbreaking Kurzweil K2000. This one in particular is the Version 3 (with OS release 3.18 Janis) , the latest version of the K2000, if we don't count the K2VX version, which was still based on the K2000 and included an "analog collection" of samples on diskettes. |
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The K2000 was one of the classic digital synthesizers of the 1990s, and still holds strong after many years. It was followed by the K2500, and the K2600. The sample ROM on the K series is famously of very high quality, and the synthesis power offered by V.A.S.T. (Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology) is immense. Furthermore, the K2000 could be expanded via "sound blocks", RAM, sampling option, scsi hard disc and lots more. Its Operating System was regularly updated by Kurzweil, and by V3, adding a very capable sequencer, and many sounds. And the K2000 is also an absolute joy to use as master controller. The keyboard is very expressive and the aftertouch is easy and linear to engage. The MIDI controls are comprehensive and it's easy to use as MIDI master keyboard. |
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Programs
| Program name with audio demo | My comments |
| Fantastic, wave-sequence style patch, with a morphing percussion loop, and ominous male choirs | |
| Beautiful, realistic grand piano sound. If I remember correctly, this was called "The Frankensteinway" at the Kurzweil factory, because they sampled notes from different Steinway pianos and combined the best parts together to create this patch. | |
| Realistic, full orchestral sound, with dynamic percussion and cymbals in the lower register. | |
| Classic, clean bass guitar. Velocity-switched slapping action. | |
| Charming voxy pad, reminiscent of the classic Fairlight sounds. | |
| Beautiful, pensive, vector-like pad | |
| FAT emulation of a classic analog unit, the Prophet-5 | |
| Whitney Houston in a box... the classic 1980s electric piano, with special sparkle and beauty! | |
| Very realistic acoustic guitar | |
| Superb female and male choir, realistic and expressive. | |
| Nice, full-bodied jazz trumpet | |
| Classic digi sounds of the '90s | |
| Gorgeous, gorgeous emulation of an analog polysynth of the 1980s (like a Jupiter-8) | |
| Gorgeous Fairlight style patch... reminds of the '80s | |
| The beautiful, famous Kurzweil strings... still realistic after many years | |
| Nice drum set | |
| Aggressive, Fusion like | |
| Standard fretless bass, very expressive | |
| Another great digital vox pad | |
| Fun delays | |
| Nice emulation of the classic, first patch on the Roland D-50. | |
| The Kurzweil team really recorded these drums in a castle... I remember reading or seeing that somewhere. | |
| Typical Moog style bass | |
| Expressive and happy tenor saxophone | |
| Outstanding emulation of the classic Prophet-5 osc-sync patch | |
| Jamaican steel drums | |
| Beautiful, ever-evolving wave sequence patch | |
| Yep | |
| Realistic guitar | |
| The great K2000 filters... superb quality | |
| New Age affair | |
| 1990s nostalgia | |
| Beautiful, expressive Rhodes patch, with characteristic "bell" on top. | |
| Beautiful chorused guitar - much in vein of famous '80s band "the Cocteau Twins" | |
| Atmospheres are a specialty on the K2000 | |
| Very nice. | |
| Warm and powerful at the same time | |
| Super digital beauty | |
| Happy organ!!! The CS slider adds percussion, the modulation wheel changes the Leslie's speed. | |
| It's real! | |
| Realistic set of drums | |
| '90s sampler staple sound | |
| Realistic jazz brass ensemble, very nice!! | |
| S u p e r b emulation of the classic Moog patch used by Keith Emerson in ELP's famous song "Lucky Man" - check out the K2000's fabulous filters | |
| Nice congas | |
| India love | |
| More excellent atmospheres | |
| Yes | |
| Classic patch that spawned a few imitators, I think | |
| Digi synth | |
| Beautiful bells | |
| Professional-sounding is one adjective that can be used for the K2000! | |
| Nice.. | |
| Classic analog drum machines, a la Roland CR-series | |
| M E G A synth bass... of the best analog tradition | |
| Nice split patch: drums & fretless on the left, jazz guitar and (CS slider activated) saxophone. | |
| Incredible emulation of a modular synthesizer!!! Amazing!!! | |
| Beautiful.... just beautiful. | |
| Another great feat of the K2000's powerful synthesis engine and expressivity, this is a nice church organ. | |
| The classic trick of using the pitch envelope to simulate the characteristic attack of an Asian flute | |
| Is this synth digital, or a n a l o g ?? | |
| More fantastic, moving synths | |
| Perfectly sampled | |
| Famous patch, found on other synths as well | |
| Classic pitch bending | |
| Superb piece of programming!!! | |
| More filter action... phenomenal | |
| Great moving vectors type pad | |
| Cinematic delay pad | |
| Quintessential Oberheim OB series | |
| Cute French accordion | |
| The classic Emerson sample & hold lead sound | |
| Amazing moving pad, very K2000 | |
| Realistic harpsichord patch | |
| Amazing rendition of the classic "Africa" synth brass patch | |
| Very realistic, analog sounding synth brass | |
| Very good atmosphere pad with mechanical noises | |
| Solid strings | |
| Very beautiful, calm, liquid pad | |
| Warm organ sound with Leslie | |
| Moog power | |
| Serene | |
| Yep | |
| Vibrating analog pad | |
| Digital awesomeness | |
| Analog might | |
| Deep in the ocean | |
| Fun patch that combines drums, distorted guitar, rock organ | |
| Realistic | |
| Another exquisite work of programming!!! | |
| Yep | |
| Analog and Progressive sounding | |
| Cool forest sounds | |
| Nice delayed effect | |
| Nice special fx | |
| Yep | |
| Very realistic | |
| Super analog - reminds of certain sounds used by Spandau Ballet in the 1980s | |
| Excellent wind fx | |
| Great fx | |
| Quintessential K2000 patch!!! Beautiful LFOs and programming | |
| Yep | |
| Blade Runner type sound FX |
Setups
| Setup name with audio demo | My comments |
| Orchestral combo, powerful | |
| Beautiful setup with beautiful synth textures | |
| Yep | |
| Realistic orchestra setup | |
| Mega Emerson setup! | |
| Classic Asian feel | |
| Expressive jazz combo - contrabass & ride cymbal on the left, brass & trumpet (via CS slider) on the right | |
| Sublime setup, perfect for classical, but also pop and soundtrack genres | |
| Classic Jaco Pastorius style fretless bass on the left, and bell tree on the right | |
| Late 1980s | |
| A spaceship passing through a sea of asteroids | |
| Well... | |
| Solid church organ | |
| Lots of delay | |
| Classic French combo, with realistic accordion | |
| Beautiful, charming pad | |
| yep | |
| At mass | |
| Digi keys | |
| Piano on the left, cello on the right | |
| Groovy Hammond organ double-manual setup | |
| 1970s easy listening style | |
| Groovy and realistic jazz brass section | |
| Tropical jazz | |
| Yep | |
| Cool, different | |
| Typical swirly K2000 sounds |
<The original Kurzweil K2000 "Factory Programs & Demos" came with the K2000 V3 and contained new demos/sounds, and all the patches from the previous K2000 versions
Here are a few demos from this diskette:
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MIXDEMOS dir. |
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| a classic Keith Emerson / late ELP style number, with possent synth brass, mega portamento synth lead, and rock organ | |
| beautiful, classy New Age / Pop arrangement, showcasing the new sounds on Ver.3 | |
| nice Eastern themes | |
| well-arranged orchestral piece | |
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ORCHDEMO dir. |
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| beautiful pianos and strings | |
| purely 1990s! | |
| powerful, beautiful, classy... the sound of the K2000 | |
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STYLDEMO dir. |
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| classical realism | |
The original K2000 was a TEC 1993 award winner:
The K2000 also came with a Video Training Manual, in VHS tape format.
Version 3 added one manual to the standard, original one:
| Kurzweil K2000 V3 | |
| Year of release: | 1996 |
| Polyphony: | True 24-note |
| Sound generation method: | sample |
| Preset memories | 10 banks of 100s each |
| MIDI: | in, out, thru |
| Sound expansion capabilities: | yes, sound blocks, sampling |
| Sequencer | yes |
| Arpeggiator | no |
| Effects | yes |
| Velocity | yes |
| Aftertouch | yes |
Resources:
available at
| SITE | Type of resource | DESCRIPTION |
| Manufacturer site | home page | |
Kurzweil K2000 V3 review with audio demo - January 25, 2009
K2000 V3
Synthesizer Workstation
| 001 3rd World Order | An incredible, Wavestation-like patch... |
| 007 Fair Breath | Classic, Fairlight-inspired synth vox pad |
| 010 Timershift | Superb vector patch, glassy and mysterious. |
| 011 Neo-Prophet | Shows off the fantastic resonant filters on this machine. |
| 019 Bella Voce | Typical Roland-style bell-vox pad |
| 020 Big Jupiter | A n a l o g!!!!!!! |
| 021 Passion Source | More Fairlight beauty... |
| 027 Low World Vox | Nice and realistic, breathy choir |
| 030 Fun Delay Square | Cool square wave synth + delays |
| 031 Fantasia | The K2000's take on Roland D-50's most famous preset ;-) |
| 041 Auto Wavesession | Is it a Korg WS? No, a Kurzweil!! :-) |
| 050 2000 Odyssey | Charming atmospheric pad! |
| 057 Wind Vox | Nice evolving, rhythmical pad |
| 059 Vectoring | More vector action |
| 060 Stereo Sweeps | Quintessential K2000 sounds |
| 061 Glasswaves | Hyper-digital and great for soundtracks |
| 067 Digital Choir | Typical 90s patch |
| 070 Lucky Lead | I have not heard a better emulation of the classic Emerson patch on a digital synth. |
| 081 Flatliners | Who says the onboard Digitech multi-effect sounds bad?! |
| 087 DeathToTheVoices | Characteristic "VAST" programming |
| 089 Velveteen | Warm and nice :-) |
| 101 Ethereal Strings | The K2000's MEGA filters. |
| 129 PressForThunder! | This was used by Italian DJ Robert Miles on "Children" ;-) |
| 130 Hi Res Sweeper | Digital yet warm... |
| 131 Deep Atmospheres | More great soundtrack sounds |
| 141 Multi-Texture | Beautiful K2000 sounds |
| 149 The Night Shift | Yep |
| 150 7th World String | Clean string samples, quality patch |
| 151 Tranquility | Superb ambient patch! |
| 159 In The Well | Yes |
| 161 Shimmerling | Moving LFOs... |
| 164 Glassy Eyes | Typical digital GOODNESS |
| 168 AM Square Synth | Nice warm pad, very Roland Jupiter |
| 169 Through The Blue | Divine programming |
| 176 Talk Talk | Vocal emulation via V.A.S.T. ;-) |
| 191 Ethereal Echoes | One of the most famous patches on the K2000, heard in many TV and radio commercials |