kurzweil k2700 In the Lab: Kurzweil K2700

[Jim Alfredson]

42 minutes ago, time4jazz said:

Thanks. I went back to your video and found that one of the shots showed the keyboard’s screen. The image was too blurred to make out. But knowing you were using one of David Weiser’s programs, which I also have on my PC4-7, I went through all of his B3 programs and think that the blurred image matches the ‘70s Drawbars3 program. 

 

That sounds right!

[icemonk]

hey looking to get a k2700 or a forte ( found one cheap locally for 1200 less than a new k2700).

 

do i miss out on any rom waveform with the forte ( i noticed a bunch of pipe organs on the k2700 factory list)?

can i load the factory bank of the k2700 to the Forte ( was really digging the demos of the k2700 i heard great sound design)

 

thanks alot .

[Jim Alfredson]

23 hours ago, icemonk said:

do i miss out on any rom waveform with the forte ( i noticed a bunch of pipe organs on the k2700 factory list)?

 

I think there are some new piano samples but I don't think any other new samples compared to the Forte. 

[icemonk]

thanks man!

[SET]

Anyone know if k2700 will be released as a 76 note keyboard, non weighted?

[Dave Bryce]

I believe Kurzweil typically goes weighted/semi-weighted in their 76 key units.

 

dB

[UnderGroundGr]

Any 61 synth keys model;

[Al Coda]

18 hours ago, Dave Bryce said:

I believe Kurzweil typically goes weighted/semi-weighted in their 76 key units.

 

Yes,- but since they released a Forte 7 w/ Fatar TP40L, they could do the same for K2700 (when they wanted).

 

 

A.C.

[Al Coda]

18 hours ago, SET said:

Anyone know if k2700 will be released as a 76 note keyboard, non weighted?

 

All Kurzweil 76-key waterfall- and 61-key divingboard type keyboard actions are semi-weighted !

See PC3, 361 and A6, 7, 8 and K6, 7, 8 w/ fatar TP8 and TP9S actions.

 

Forte 7 was the 1st one using a shorter TP-40L action.

 

 

A.C.

[Dave Bryce]

6 hours ago, Al Coda said:

 

All Kurzweil 76-key waterfall- and 61-key divingboard type keyboard actions are semi-weighted !

See PC3, 361 and A6, 7, 8 and K6, 7, 8 w/ fatar TP8 and TP9S actions.

 

Forte 7 was the 1st one using a shorter TP-40L action.

 

Unless I’m missing something, my Forte 7’s keybed is not non-weighted. 

 

SET inquired about a 76 key non-weighted keybed, so I’m not clear on what you’re trying to say here.  

 

Sorry for being dense.

 

dB

[Al Coda]

16 hours ago, Dave Bryce said:

... my Forte 7’s keybed is not non-weighted. 

 

 

That´s because I said Forte 7 was the 1st one using Fatar TP40L (which is fully weighted 76 keys and exactly the same than TP40L w/ 88 keys).

 

16 hours ago, Dave Bryce said:

SET inquired about a 76 key non-weighted keybed, so I’m not clear on what you’re trying to say here.

 

That´s why I mentioned ALL (except Forte 7) 76 key actions Kurzweil used since the release of PC3.

Because these were ALL semi-weighted,-  I doubt they will come w/ a non-weighted action ever.

 

 

A.C.

[Dave Bryce]

12 hours ago, Al Coda said:

 

That´s because I said Forte 7 was the 1st one using Fatar TP40L (which is fully weighted 76 keys and exactly the same than TP40L w/ 88 keys).\

 

Oh, I know it.  That’s one of the main reasons I got the Forte 7.  Brother Carlo’s dream come true - hammer action in a 76!

 

dB

[Al Coda]

On 12/24/2022 at 1:58 AM, Dave Bryce said:

Oh, I know it.  That’s one of the main reasons I got the Forte 7.  Brother Carlo’s dream come true - hammer action in a 76!

 

dB

 

 

Yes, I know you know that.

See my post as a summary for forumite SET,- last but not least because no one here knows if there will be any non-weighted action released by Kurzweil ever,- and it would have been so easy going over to the Kurzweil site, click on legacy products and see what has been released in the past and just to get a picture.

 

 

A.C.

[jazzpiano88]

On 12/27/2022 at 12:11 PM, Al Coda said:

 

 

Yes, I know you know that.

See my post as a summary for forumite SET,- last but not least because no one here knows if there will be any non-weighted action released by Kurzweil ever,- and it would have been so easy going over to the Kurzweil site, click on legacy products and see what has been released in the past and just to get a picture.

 

 

A.C.

“Of course I know that” 

 

 

[Daniel71]

On 5/30/2022 at 8:13 AM, Melodialworks said:

I've been in touch with Kurzweil about this. They have stated that they are "between distributors" in Canada at this point in time . . . 

I sent some emails to music stores in Quebec, Canada this month and none of them had any kurzweil.

On the kurzweil Facebook, I sent a message and they told me that they did not have any distributor.  Found that strange as all other brands do. They told me to try to buy from USA but I said that I wanted to buy from where I live in case I need help with repair, etc.

[bfields]

On 10/23/2022 at 6:39 AM, Al Coda said:

 

Well, when a zone is set to "MIDI" only w/ the local keyboard channel set to "none",- the zone is controlled by an external MIDI device only.

A to the Kurzweil connected expression pedal doesn´t work in the given (external) zone then.

Instead, the expression pedal has to be connected to the external MIDI controller and has to be activated in the given (external) zone´s parameter page for "pedals 1 and 2".

(the same rules for pedal-switches, wheels, ribbon and individually assignable buttons, sliders etc.)

 

 

Well, there is a trick: you can set up a second zone for the same MIDI channel that ignores keypresses and just handles the controllers.

 

So: under the "main" screen, both zones should have "Channel" set to the same number.  On one zone you set "Input Channel" to the midi channel of the external keyboard; that's the one that will handle note events from the external controller.  On the other you leave "Input Channel" set to "Off", then set "Notemap" to "Off", so that keys are ignored; that's the zone that will handle the expression pedal.  (Or instead of setting "Notemap" to off, you could set the keyboard range to be past end of your keyboard or something; anything to effectively filter out note on/off events for that zone.)

 

Thanks to Benqo on forums.godlike.com.au for passing along that trick.

[Delaware Dave]

On 1/30/2023 at 9:10 AM, bfields said:

 

Well, there is a trick: you can set up a second zone for the same MIDI channel that ignores keypresses and just handles the controllers.

 

So: under the "main" screen, both zones should have "Channel" set to the same number.  On one zone you set "Input Channel" to the midi channel of the external keyboard; that's the one that will handle note events from the external controller.  On the other you leave "Input Channel" set to "Off", then set "Notemap" to "Off", so that keys are ignored; that's the zone that will handle the expression pedal.  (Or instead of setting "Notemap" to off, you could set the keyboard range to be past end of your keyboard or something; anything to effectively filter out note on/off events for that zone.)

 

Thanks to Benqo on forums.godlike.com.au for passing along that trick.

when i created my dual/split manual KB3 upper and VAST lower organ i did just this.  2 zones on the same midi channel one just for controllers with notemap off.  Jean from Kurz Technical was the one that tipped me off to try it.  works great.

[GeneB]

Hey Jim,

 

Did you create the background rhythm/drum beat with the 2700? I’ve been trying to find a video online about the drum pads/riff generators, but can’t find one. I’m a keyboardist who would prefer not to “drum” rhythms on the 16 pads, but would love it if I could trigger rhythms whenever needed. 
 

Is this possible with the 2700? If so, I would love a video on the process, if you have time.

 

Best,

Eugene
 

 

[analogholic]

On 11/3/2022 at 8:09 AM, Jim Alfredson said:

If anyone has any further questions about the K2700, don't hesitate to ask. I have one and I'm in the process of making videos. Here's the first.
 

 

How do the Flash sounds in the 2700 (AP, EP, Clav etc) compare to the Forte...soundwise and how they feel as they are "compressed" from 16 GB to 4,5 GB? Also, will there be a K2700 version like the Forte 7? with 76-note hammer action?

[Jim Alfredson]

On 6/28/2023 at 2:46 PM, analogholic said:

How do the Flash sounds in the 2700 (AP, EP, Clav etc) compare to the Forte...soundwise and how they feel as they are "compressed" from 16 GB to 4,5 GB? Also, will there be a K2700 version like the Forte 7? with 76-note hammer action?

Honestly, they did a great job squeezing the samples into a smaller space. I don't hear any compromise. 

I don't know of Kurzweil's production plans. I wouldn't be surprised if a 76 key model is release but I don't know if it for sure will.

[analogholic]

Thanks man for your answer!

[Mighty Motif Max]

On 6/28/2023 at 1:46 PM, analogholic said:

How do the Flash sounds in the 2700 (AP, EP, Clav etc) compare to the Forte...soundwise and how they feel as they are "compressed" from 16 GB to 4,5 GB? Also, will there be a K2700 version like the Forte 7? with 76-note hammer action?

I would expect them to be partway between the PC4 and the Forte - I notice a difference in the acoustic pianos on my PC4 for sure unfortunately; mainly where the sample stretch points go a bit too far for my taste. It's made the difference to where I plan on switching brands to a Nord Stage 4 as my piano board since the Forte is no longer made. The K2700 should be a bit better but not enough of an improvement for me personally. The AP's are the only area where I notice an audible change.

[Matanporat]

Hello, sorry for my novice question! I seriously want to buy the K2700, but want to know first if it is possible to fully use it also as a DAW controller (Logic), using all the sliders and knobs as a midi controller. Is it easily possible? I couldn't find an answer anywhere. Thank you for your help!

[UnderGroundGr]

Of course you can but I do not not know if it has auto mapping like Roland Fantom...

[YashN]

On 1/12/2023 at 7:35 AM, Daniel71 said:

I sent some emails to music stores in Quebec, Canada this month and none of them had any kurzweil.

On the kurzweil Facebook, I sent a message and they told me that they did not have any distributor.  Found that strange as all other brands do. They told me to try to buy from USA but I said that I wanted to buy from where I live in case I need help with repair, etc.

How is the Canadian Distribution looking in 2024?

 

What's the alternative if there's still no distribution? Sweetwater? Thomann?

[Finale]

Sweetwater might accept to deliver to Canada, but you will be charged transport accordingly and as anything going USA to Canada your item will go through customs and it is always possible to end up with extra fees - sometimes very expensive. I personally had a very bad experience about 10 years ago and promised myself to never import again from the USA unless the seller confirms on paper he pays for all possible customs and duties extra fees.

 

Buying Kurzweil products in Canada has always been complicated. In the 1990s a few stores in the province kept a couple of them, but if you wanted something they didn't have you had to order sight unseen and wait months to get your purchase. That is how I bought my MIDIboard, K1200 and finally, around 2000, a PC2X. I hated the Fatar action on the PC2X from day one and swore to never buy a keyboard sight unseen ever again.

[YashN]

On 3/4/2022 at 12:09 AM, Stephen Fortner said:

To VAST or Not To VAST: K2700 Sound Architecture

Kurzweil does things a bit differently in the service of flexibility, and it can be a head-scratcher at first. Before we even get to Multis, a single Program can have up to 32 layers. By default, these are VAST layers with all those algorithms and modules in them, and they draw from the sample ROM as their main source ... except when they don’t.

 

The KVA oscillators live inside VAST as an alternate sound source. Keymaps refer only to sample-based stuff, so to construct a KVA layer, you punch up “999 Silence” in Edit mode on the Keymap page, then go to the Algorithm page.

 

 

In V.A.S.T., be it the original V.A.S.T. or the newer vaster V.A.S.T. with Cascade and Dynamic, there are several ways you can use internal DSP sources with Samples:

 

1. Samples only

2. Internal DSP Oscillators only without any Sample

3. Samples mixed with internal DSP Oscillators

 

In the new V.A.S.T., you can certainly use a multi-sampled Keymap, alongside an internal anti-aliased DSP Osc, e.g. a 2-block SINE+ for a single Layer, or even an aliased one like the old SAW+.

 

For larger AA DSP Oscs, e.g. the 4-block SAW, you'd need to use Cascade Mode, a passthrough signal and a Mixer ALG.

 

So these aren't mutually exclusive. Instead, what the manual seems to indicate is that if you want to do a traditional analogue subtractive synth, then you'd rather not use a Keymap, which makes sense since analogue subtractive synths don't use them at all.

 

You can  still use a Keymap's sample Envelope if it is set to Natural, even if the Sample itself isn't sounding via the Layer, say, if you have simply a 4-block AA DSP SAW. That SAW block effectively cuts off any of the Sample signal. However, as the AMPENV mode is set to Natural, it is the factory AMPENV for that multi-Sampled Keymap that is applied to the Layer.

 

The Natural envelopes have more details than can be produced with a User AMPENV.

 

The thing that happens with setting the Keymap to Silence is that it sets each key's amplitude to the same maximum amplitude. Maybe that's what you need in a certain program, but sometimes, if you are doing an emulative program, you could be better off actually referencing the emulation's Keymaps Sample although the latter isn't heard, with the corresponding Natural Envelope, or of course, you could just go into User Mode and make your own envelope.

 

Hope this helps.

[Corehan]

On 1/30/2023 at 4:10 PM, bfields said:

 

Well, there is a trick: you can set up a second zone for the same MIDI channel that ignores keypresses and just handles the controllers.

 

So: under the "main" screen, both zones should have "Channel" set to the same number.  On one zone you set "Input Channel" to the midi channel of the external keyboard; that's the one that will handle note events from the external controller.  On the other you leave "Input Channel" set to "Off", then set "Notemap" to "Off", so that keys are ignored; that's the zone that will handle the expression pedal.  (Or instead of setting "Notemap" to off, you could set the keyboard range to be past end of your keyboard or something; anything to effectively filter out note on/off events for that zone.)

 

Thanks to Benqo on forums.godlike.com.au for passing along that trick.

 

Hi bfields!

 

Sorry for off top, but can be Notemap -> Invert to be applied to any zone?

For example, I want to create a zone A0-A7 and invert notes in it, eventually obtaining a mirrored keyboard for left-handed people.

Or to select a zone C1-C4, assign to it notes E4-E7, invert notes in it, thus obtaining a mirrored at D4 keyboard.

Is it possible to be done through Note Map -> Invert?

And will the changes be audible through headphones connected directly to the workstation?

[Dave Bryce]

On 9/11/2024 at 3:53 AM, Corehan said:

 

Hi bfields!

 

Sorry for off top, but can be Notemap -> Invert to be applied to any zone?

For example, I want to create a zone A0-A7 and invert notes in it, eventually obtaining a mirrored keyboard for left-handed people.

Or to select a zone C1-C4, assign to it notes E4-E7, invert notes in it, thus obtaining a mirrored at D4 keyboard.

Is it possible to be done through Note Map -> Invert?

And will the changes be audible through headphones connected directly to the workstation?

This seems like a fairly complex question.

 

Have you contacted Kurzweil technical support?

 

dB

[Corehan]

6 hours ago, Dave Bryce said:

This seems like a fairly complex question.

 

Have you contacted Kurzweil technical support?

 

dB

 

Yep, but they just ignored both my letters... (((