My PC361 (the 61 note PC3) has just hopped out of its box at my house.

I've just dived into making sounds with this thing.

Looking at it, it looks great - I only wish they didn't go with the weeny PC361 and the skinny Kurzweil label on the front... Plenty of space to have made the KURZWEIL logo larger and the PC361 logo that golden color they had been using...and larger.

Led buttons - blue, red, orange... uhhh... I wanna see them all blink. Mental note - program a Xmas PROGRAM to make all the lights blink.

I'll be providing some feedback on this thing - I'm extremely happy with the purchase of it. There is no smiley big enough for it.
Okay - I have to go, I can hear a PROGRAM calling me..

Nice!!! I'm really interested in one of those. I can't really decide between the 61 and the 76, sometimes even my 88 feels too small...

Hmmmm, I was told by a Kurzweil rep that the 61-key model wasn't shipping until January.

Not sure Synthoid. All the info I was told was that it was a December release.

Kurzweil Australia got some this week and made sure I got one. Maybe the release times are different. Usually Oz gets them months after the States.

Hi Marino,

There are some pictures here of the PC361:
Mastering VAST PC361 pictures

If you want/need more shots, let me know.

Cheers
Cowzar

That looks like something I need....

Heh - you want the logos to be BIGGER.

Wow, that's remarkable, to already own a board that isn't for sale yet :-).

This must be one of those rare occasions where the Aussies beat us out. Usually they're complaining about how long they have to wait for new gear to arrive on their shores.

This is soooooo correct Mark.

My eardrums copped a serve late last night ... Cowzar's PC3. (page 2)

Gonna bang out tutorials on making sounds with the PC361 shortly. So if you have a K2 and are looking to buy, or your an existing PC3 user looking to learn, or your waiting for these hot cakes to arrive - then the tutorials will be for you. (The manual is useless and out of date ) The PC3 series has a capability to take snap shots of its LCD onto an xD card - I believe its bugged and not working at the moment. Doesn't matter anyway as I don't have a xD card for it yet. But anywho, wheels are in motion...

Back to making some pppppppaaaaaaaaaddddddssssssss.....

Cheers and Ho Ho Ho
Cowzar

Hmmm...so was I...



Can't wait to see one - we haven't been told that units hit the US office yet, although I could sure use one in the next couple of weeks for small gigs!

Agreed, although I know R&D folks are working on even more vids to post on YouTube and other places with feature supplements, tips and tricks, and possibly even another cameo from a forum member...although I can't promise anything in writing... ;-)

Oh, and let me add...the manual is useless to you...there are plenty of folks out there who aren't dedicated Kurzvangelists like yourself

Hi C.J.

Merry Xmas (or Happy Holidays as you guys say...)

Not to dampen any enthusiasim here - but the PC3 has been released for ummm..like 12 months now. There are now 3 versions of this machine. The "Getting Started Guide" that shipped (i my rare as it seems PC361) is dated February 13th 2008 and tells me the file must be in KRZ format to load into the machine. Okay - you and I and other Kurzweil users will know the difference. But what about some of those people who have never owned a Kurzweil and or do not frequent public forums like this...?

There is no excuse why a manual that has been update 3 times since is as old as the one I got.

I don't mean to come off in a nasty way here, and I hope its not seen that way. I'd like to see it fixed so PC361 (and other PC3 owners) are getting shipped THE latest manuals (There is more then 1). Videos and the like are jam... make sure they get the bread also.

Cheers
Cowzar

Cowzar - looking forward to your PC3 tutorials. I'd just like to program some tasty analog sounds with the VA1 stuff without having to get my brain around FUN's and other Kurzweilian mind-twisters!

So how does the PC3 sound when all 16 arps are running simultaneously?

You did download the new (and still being revised) online manual yes? You do know that they will print this up as soon as they stop revising it so much? And that they'll send you a free copy when it's finally printed up?

Stephen

I figure this one will replace the electro 2 I have and will have a usable piano. I like to gig with sub 30 lbs 61 key boards.

One thing the picture doesn't portray well is the PC361 color - it is a deep blue color. Its not black.

The LCD color is not the blue in the picture. Its more purple then blue.

The keys are exposed on the ends like the 76 key model. I personally like it this way, though I know a few have expressed there concerns when the 76 key appeared. I can run my fingers down and not get the stuck on that last note. My technique is pretty sloppy and I have tendency to dig the finger in and get stuck at that very last note ... now I can get the guitarist in the head if he gets to close.

I'm cleaning the Xmas greasy finger marks from it at this very moment. DOH !!!!!!!!!

Use some Pledge or other spray furniture polish on the keys. Works for glisses, smears, all kinds of stuff.

The EP:s will do the job, the B3 won't.

Tom - you might find Visual FUN might be able to help with Kurzweils FUN's. We have a FUN's library on the site also.

The VA engine has a few tricks in it. The AMPENV can catch you out if you cascade layers... say have a SUPERSAW algorithm into a 4 POLE LOWPASS. On a K2 if you set the KEYMAP to silence the sound will just sustain forever (ORGAN type attack/sustain/release). The PC3 it blips - so you have to make it sustain. Not a big problem - but a difference from a K2. So even if you set that AMPENV - I've had to go and change the AMPENV on the 2nd layer. Drop the volume (AMP) to -96dB on the first layer, and then tell layer 2 to take its input from layer 1.

Yes - its a mouthful. But if you can get your head around that - then the VA is way within reach.

One other thing with the PC3 that renders it different to the K2 series - is that if you go and program a dsp in the algorithm - then decide to change the dsp to another, and back again, you loose the settings. A K2 does not. I've scuttled a few sounds like this already... doh!

Synthoid - I haven't had all 16 arps going at once yet.

I was just curious how complex of a rhythm you could get with mega arps running.

I'm still waiting on photographic proof!

Let's see some bona fide photos of this new beast. Thanks!

I had to accept your challenge Eric.



The shots are a little blurry - I'm a better programmer then photographer...( one would hope !!!)

I've put the rest of the shots in this thread : PC361 pictures

Will see how shots in daylight turn out.

Nice photos - PC361 is a cool looking beast.

How does the keyboard action feel?

Thanks,
Eric

Eric,

I've never been a fan of Kurzweils choice in 61 keyboard actions. The keys always feel springer then they should be. Its all personal choice in the end.

I'm always glad they never change things like the rotary dial wheel. I've had mine from Yamaha & Korg collapse. The Kurzweils just keep on going and going.

Would have been nice if all the dsps from the K2 series made it across. Thats a disappointment with me. So I gained new dsps, and lost some favorites. So I have mixed feelings with the dsps. There seems to be some bugs still in a few of them. I'll see what Kurzweil R&D say about it. (Hopefully they have a PC361 to work with now).

Apart from that, hopefully you guys will get to audition this new addition to the Kurzweil family sometime in the near future.

One of the members on our forum (thanks Plisken!) has just informed us that Kurzweil has the web page now up for the PC361.

Kurzweils website for the PC361

When you all get a PC3 and your looking at getting some free sounds (plenty of free K2 sounds btw) , then drop on past our forum.

GAS attacks!

I just noticed that even the PC3661 has an internal power supply vs. an AC adaptor! Awesome!

As I recall, this one uses a cheaper synth action than the semi-weighted high-end Fatar action in the PC3?

Thats correct Mark, no wall wart with the PC361.
The only thing I don't like physically with my PC361 is the licorice feet.. stick on rubber feet. I hope the "Spring" arrival in the US is really wrong and they start to appear over there wayyy beforehand.

The PC3 Editor has been updated to version 1.0.3 also !!