Kurzweil ME-1 sounds

[minorguy]

Does anyone know if the harpsichord on the Kurzweil ME-1 Micro Ensemble is the same as the one on the PC88?

 

A couple years ago I bought a Yamaha S90 ES which pretty much replaced my Kurz PC88mx. To save space I'm thinking about getting rid of the PC88mx, but I still like some of the sounds in it. Particularly the harpsichord (Stereo Harpsichord), because the S90 ES doesn't have a decent one. So I thought I'd see if I can get an ME-1 for the sounds, but I have no idea if it's the same harpsichord. I also like Warm E Grand and Touch Strings in the PC88.

 

Thanks,

Jim.

[keyoctave]

I had an ME-1 some years ago. The sounds are based off the PC2 series, not the PC88 series. If there is any carryover of sounds from the PC88 to the PC2 series, then maybe it would be similar. I would think that the harpsicord would be in the least as good as the PC88 one.

[marino]

I have an ME-1, but I'm not familiar with the PC88 harpsichord sound, so I can't make comparisons.

 

OTOH, I can say something about the ME-1 harpsichord preset, because last year I had to play baroque music in a church with a flutist - so I checked how the harpsichord sounded on the ME-1, in case it would have be good enough... Well, no way. It sounded weak and inefficient, so I had to bring my K2600 with the "Synclavier Keyboards" CD-Rom.

 

I admit that it was a rather extreme requirement, so if you maybe need just harpsichord effects in a pop/rock context, the ME-1 could do the job. But for exposed situations, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

 

[minorguy]

Thanks! I guess it's not likely that people would have both a PC88 and ME-1 to compare, or would have paid much attention to the harpsichord. Often it happens that keyboards have the basic sounds like strings, brass, and clav covered but then the harpsichord sounds like a toy. I agree, though, that many people probably don't use it. I don't have any professional need for it. I just like to use it for playing Bach at home.