Categories
Rack Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer Rack Sampler Sampler Synthesizer

Kurzweil K2500RS

Rackmount digital synthesizer / sampler

The rack version of the classic Kurzweil K2500 digital synthesizer / sampler

Kurzweil K2500RS audio demos

Kurzweil K2500RS photos

Kurzweil K2500RS manuals

Kurzweil K2500RS specs

Year of release: 1996
Polyphony:48 voices
Sound generation method: PCM
ROM8 Megabytes of 16-bit sample ROM, including acoustic instrumental sounds, waveforms,
and noise
Preset memories199 factory preset programs, and 100 factory preset setups
Display240 x 64-pixel backlit fluorescent graphic display with adjustable contrast (backlit blue)
MIDI:in, out, thru
Sound expansion capabilities:Diskette, Hard Disk, CD-ROM
Sequenceryes
Arpeggiatorno
Effectsyes
Velocityyes
Aftertouchyes
AccessoriesSampler board, disks, SIMMS, output board
Dimensions16.9 in.* 43 cm. width
13.9 in. 35.4 cm. depth
5.1 in. 13 cm. height
Weight24.65 lb. 11.2 kg.

Kurzweil K2500RS links

https://kurzweil.com

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