Kurzweil PC161 - does anyone own this keyboard?

[quietcove]

If anyone out there owns this keyboard, could you please write a short review of it? There's not much in the way of owner's feedback on this particular Kurzweil product on the internet. I'm looking for a budget keyboard that has quality piano and elec. piano sounds but can handle some brass and synth sounds as well, plus it needs to be road-worthy. The Yamaha mo6 seems to fit this bill nicely but the key action is a little light perhaps...

[Keywizz]

the PC161 is the small brother of the 88 key PC1X which I own. under the hood both are identicall. You will find plenty pianos and electric pianos. The kurzweil pianos are a matter of taste but sound really great to me. Especially in a band environment. Brasses are fine too and sound realistic. There are a few synthsounds in it but those are not really fantastic. But it depends on what you want?

[MikeNZ]

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

 

 

 

[ITGITC]

 

 

Very informative post, Michael.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

[MikeNZ]

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

 

Michael

[MikeNZ]

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

[quietcove]

Thanks for the posts MikeNZ. The information in them is exactly what I was looking for.

[Keywizz]

It sure is a matter of taste concerning the Synthsounds. I like the leadsynths (like Elan LEAD) A LOT. I find them very expressive and a lot better than in most competitors. What I meant was that the PC1 is not filled with the weirdest wacko synthsounds like you will find in Korgs, Rolands etc. Everything is playable and that counts.

Like MikeNZ clearifies it is a players instrument. It is my perspective too. Just turn it on and play!

 

I have installed the DLN soundset which give you even more wonderful FM sounds and more synthsolo sounds.

[David Loving]

My pc1x is so player friendly that it seems to play the tunes itself - I am just helping.

[Keywizz]

Great that there is a bit talk about the Pc1 series in here. I always thought they were ignored a bit in the Synthcommunity because of its bigger brother the PC2. Because I needed a players-instrument I had no reason to buy the Pc2x for twice the money

[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

[HRobert]

First off I'd like to say that I do own the PC161 and it in itself is a great keyboard. I used to own a PC2X and the 161 has all of the same great sounds. I sold the PC2X because it was heavy and kind of ungainly to haul around in my car. I now have a Yamaha MX88 as my main keyboard, but I midi it to the PC161 and have all the great 2X sounds.

 

The PC161 has a nice keyboard action, and it's easy to select sounds. Layering seems to be OK.

 

The only negative i would have about the PC 1 series and 2X series, are the pianos. The acoustic pianos were fantastic when the keyboards first came out, but the sounds are a bit dated. ( my MX88, being a newer keyboard, has better pianos.). This also goes for some of the electric pianos as well. The solo instruments - trumpets, saxes, flutes, and other horns are more useful for orchestra sounds rather than solo lead instrument. But then again, where the PC161 and it's kin shine are the variety of orchestra sounds, strings, and voices.

 

I've been a Kurzweil player for a long time. I much prefer the variety of orchestra and string sounds of the older Kurzweils ( PC1X, PC2X, PC2 ( and 2R) and the 161 over any other brands. The selection of the aforementioned sound are more numerous than the newer Kurz keyboards.

 

If you can find one in good condition, it would be well worth the money and would be a great addition to any keyboard set up.

 

[Stokely]

Edit - argh I wrote a whole bunch of stuff about the PC361.  Never mind!