MikeNZ

The PC2 is superior in features to the PC1 but not in raw sound apart from the B3 mode. Kurweil did a great job with the PC1 giving us a cheaper synth but retaining the most needed features for live playing. If you dig a bit deeper into the PC1 presets you will find some weird and wacky synths and pads, and the setups (especially the Classic Keys ROM setups) have some really wierd ones, some making use of the arpeggiator. The KFM soundbank also has some neat synths and pads - Press Pad is my favourite of that set. Some only show their wackiness when you hit the correct controller. No, it is not a wavestation, but with some programming you could do pretty much what any of the other high end synths can do. Since the PC1 and PC2 are sold mainly as preset type keyboards there is not the large community of users developing new sounds like in the K2000 community. Michael

Just to be clear the KME61 has 256 sounds from the PC2, with less editability, control, and effects than the PC1 has (still has aftertouch though). Similar sounds, fewer features, much less money. Michael

You're welcome. The PC1 is a much deeper synth than you might think, but still easy to use. Michael

I also have a PC1X, which is identical to the PC161 except for the keys and action. The PC1 series has the same sound engine as the PC2 (minus the B3 mode), with the same factory sounds. In other words, they are very, very good, and as good or better than any other high end synth or stage piano. The PC1 really is a V.A.S.T synth, without the on-board sound editing capabilities of the PC2 or the sampling of the K2000 series. You CAN edit the sounds, using the PC2 manager program if you want to, and you can get true FM synthesis from the KFM sound bank from www.dlnsound.com. The Classic Keys ROM has a really good selection of Classic electro boards from the 60s and 70s if you are into classic rock you can get really close emulations of those classic sounds, down to recreations of sounds from famous songs. I think the PC161 has a metal case. The PC1X is built like a tank, and if the PC161 has a metal case it will be even more durable. I disagree with the previous comments on the synths. There are not a lot of stock synth sounds (although you can load up or edit them to your liking) but the ones that are there are very well done. The PC1 is NOT a simple sample and synthesis machine, but uses VAST processing so has really good digital filters that emulate analog synths very well indeed and many different signal processing paths. The synths are actually programmed as 1-3 oscillators (Sine, square, triangle and others) put through the same type of signal processing path as an analog synth, with LFO assignable in the same way. Add to that the control through after touch and knobs and wheels for filter cutoff and resonance (and other parameters too) and you can get some really good synth sounds. If you are into synth programming you can make your own to your liking. On the PC1X I really feel musically connected to the instrument, far more so than most synths I have played. The PC1 series are PLAYERS instruments. A lot of effort has been put into the sound and interface design to emulate the controls of the original instruments. For example, on some of the organs you get front panel control over 2nd and 3rd harmonic percussion, rotary speaker (fully editable), and chorus and vibrato, and some of them can mix organ layers to simulate adding drawbars. On synths you usually get control over filter and resonance, with buttons for octaves, layers etc. On organ and synth you also get the decay of the percussion/attack envelope, which doesnt retrigger until you lift all the keys most ROMPLERS dont do this. On EPs you get emulation of the original controls (particularly in the Classic Keys ROM), like the pickup switches on clavinets, with control over key thump and release thump. If you want cheaper the Kurzweil KME61 (~$600) has the same basic sounds as the PC1 but has cheaper construction and less sound and interface editing and MIDI capabilities. If you get the chance, play them side by side in a shop. The PC161 is better for sure, but the KME61 might do what you want, and give you excellent sounds very cheaply. Michael