[jonkull]

"The PC3 has 128-note polyphony, a 16-track sequencer, 4 independent arpeggiators and more effects processing power than Kurzweil's standalone KSP8 processor"

Well, the last point, the effects processing power, lets me listen up :-) I'd really like to see a bigger image of the PC3. It seems there is no space for a ribbon :-/

Well all my previous K3000 whining aside I'm just glad to see them putting out new products.

[execlass2]

I wonder if the sequencer on the PC3 will read what I created on the K2661 ... specially that work done with the Orchestral ROM.

Ricardo Pimentel

[Don C]

I wonder if the sequencer on the PC3 will read what I created on the K2661 ... specially that work done with the Orchestral ROM.

We will have to see it when it is released by Kurzweil. There has not been anything on the Kurz web site for this product yet. I think anything now is purely speculation. It sounds like an improved PC2 so I'm waiting to see the "improved" K2600 (from Kurzweil, not a magazine) before I get excited about anything.

I certainly don't want "hardwired" controls on the next version of anything Kurzweil. The great part of VAST is the ability to assign any control source to any parameter. I agree with Puppeteer, you can make your own control assignments in a default control setup if that is what you want; I want the flexability of VAST so I can change the controllers to what I want. If you want hardwired knobs then there are lots of other products out there that provide just that. I don't want to go that way, I like the complexity and flexability of the Kurz.

So many algorithms, so little time.... TMP alone has had me goingg for about 1 1/2 years and I can still say that I have only scratched the surface. Assigning controllers alone has been a nightmare/wet dream. I absolutely love all of the possibilities that it provides.

If you want a rompler with hard wired knobs and controllers then that is what you should buy, lots of choices there. If you want complexity and real flexability then consider the Kurz.

[Stubbsonic]

I've been thinking the next kurzweil line could continue the K2xxx concept and take it further.

I think that a more powerful processor has the potential to make things more simple.

If all channels are drum channels, they can eliminate the need for that complication.

If polyphony and PAU's are plentiful, there will be more ease with a great many things.

I think having a very clear routing matrix that allows people to have more than one type of signal path would be cool.

Have some number of stereo buses, have some hefty number of VAST/KDFX inserts and aux sends.

Allow samples to be routed & panned to a specific output.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, each sample should have at least one envelope, and 3 static control values that can be used to control things for each sample (like pan, cut-off, pitch, etc.)

Allow keymaps to over-ride the samples' pan/output assignments.

(Continue to allow a channel to over-ride a program's output assignment.)

This new rig could have a K2 mode to accommodate "legacy" objects. It can have a Mixer Paradigm mode so that all DSP, and contollers could go through a pretty logical mixer matrix. Or some other macro mode that makes sense.

Then, finally, there could be kind of an open-source-type community to develop very friendly work-spaces/work-sets for all kinds of players. It could literally be a plug & play rig for some, and an all-around-freak box for others (just as the K26xx is now).

[ivorycj]

I wonder if the sequencer on the PC3 will read what I created on the K2661 ... specially that work done with the Orchestral ROM.

Ricardo Pimentel

Ricardo, we'll probably have to ask the engineers to make sure, but I believe that it will. Don't quote me on this (even though there's a button down there that does that exact thing) - I'll find out from them and post it as soon as I know.

[mulletchuck]

My biggest complaint with the kurzweil is not knowing what I've assigned a slider to. I remember seeing an article in Popular Science about a keyboard for a PC which had little screens on each key. Whenever you ran an application, the shortcuts for that application would show up on the keyboard screens, allowing you to see what each button did. Same goes for if you used it on a mac. Instead of having a key that says ALT or Start, it had a picture of that, and when you used it on a mac, it would say OPTION or the Command symbol.

Actually, it was kind of like this: except it was a fullsize keyboard

PopSci page

Perhaps if there were some way to increase the size of the display so that you can see what the sliders are controlling in the program? I think that would be awesome. VASTProgrammer kind of does this in the latest version, but not really. It tells you what midiCC number is controlling what function, but doesn't tell you what physical controller is assigned to that midi CC...

Oh, and as a final request, I like to attempt to duplicate sounds I find in Logic's synths on the kurz. As it stands, I have to essentially record a passage in Logic, and then loop it so I can hear what the synth sounds like, and then build the sound on the kurz. I would much rather like to hit a button that switches from LOCAL to MIDI so I can play a phrase on the kurz, and then in the Logic synth, but as it stands, you can't do that while in EditProgram mode. You're stuck in Local mode. And watch out for when you play your sequence while in EditProgram mode!!!

...Maybe I shouldn't be trying to emulate other synths on the kurz, though. Maybe I should be trying to build my own sounds... Nah, I look at it as a way to prove how awesome the kurz is by being able to do what everything else can do.

So, yeah. Something that displays what the sliders are assigned to when you load a program, and a button that controls what Midi Control mode you're in (local, both, MIDI)

peace!

chuck

[ivorycj]

My biggest complaint with the kurzweil is not knowing what I've assigned a slider to.

It's almost like we read your mind...

There's a new feature on the PC3 that allows the user to hit the 'Cancel' button and move / touch any controller or button, and the screen will display an explanation of it's function.

Also, there will be an info button for each program sound that displays, well...information about that program. You may even hear some of the thoughts behind the programmer's genius (or insanity, depending...)

Happy Happy!

[Cologne]

It's almost like we read your mind...

There's a new feature on the PC3 that allows the user to hit the 'Cancel' button and move / touch any controller or button, and the screen will display an explanation of it's function.

Also, there will be an info button for each program sound that displays, well...information about that program. You may even hear some of the thoughts behind the programmer's genius (or insanity, depending...)

Happy Happy!

Can we have a software update for the K2500/2600 with those PC3 features like mentioned here?

[clif marsiglio]

Can we have a software update for the K2500/2600 with those PC3 features like mentioned here?

There is absolutely no room in the OS to add more features. I was actually told to pass this information along by an engineer who said he wanted it said before anyone tried to say it was possible when its absolutely not possible

I get one or two of these emails a week...almost the exact wording, just different quote above it...

[Milftronic]

There is absolutely no room in the OS to add more features. I was actually told to pass this information along by an engineer who said he wanted it said before anyone tried to say it was possible when its absolutely not possible

I get one or two of these emails a week...almost the exact wording, just different quote above it...

You know, it sort of reminds me what went on for a long time at the company I work for... We have these legacy handheld systems that run off this old 16 bit EPOCH OS, using a vb3 offshoot called OPAL as the dev enviroment (which, according to oldskool peeps in the business, was the absolute suck), and the project was re-worked by multiple different people at multiple different times for about a good 8+ years or so. I was the last person to be dealt the project, and just had to put my foot down. You either move forward or waste alot of time supporting an old platform, getting piss-poor results, horrible maintainability, crappy scalability, no illusion of future proofing, and just an all-around inefficient use of time.

I imagine on the scale of something as sophisticated as the kurzweil, it's a MUCH MUCH MUCH tougher issue to be dealt with.

I look forward to the new and refreshing design! There is a time to leave behind an old design, and kurzweil has done a stellar job maintaining the OS over the years. Now, instead of maintaining that old system, I want to see these guys push the boundaries with a clean slate, a fresh start, cause I imagine with that level of experience over the years, they will kick some serious ass bringing forth the next generation of OMFGs and big fat <G>s.

[Don C]

Kurzweil finally posted some pictures and specs on their web site.

http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/products.html?Id=1863

Looks like a nice board....

[ClayMan]

Kurzweil finally posted some pictures and specs on their web site.

http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/products.html?Id=1863

Looks like a nice board....

While I agree partly with Milftronic above, I would shudder to think of completely abolishing all of the foundational features of the previous K2XX platforms; especially the realtime performance capabilities which still seem to supersede most of the other big players (i.e. Roland, Yamaha, Alesis, and to a lesser degree, Korg) out there. The biggest need in the K2XX series for upgrading is revamping the OS to a more user-friendly platform and maintaining along with augmenting the features which are already there.


Cheers,

ClayMan

[YIR]

I just saw they added some high-resolution pictures. I really hope this is just a prototype. Is it me or that is a smart media card port . Correct me please, but this is like the floppy in the K series, by now is obsolete technology.

YIR

[Barbenzinc]

I just saw they added some high-resolution pictures. I really hope this is just a prototype. Is it me or that is a smart media card port . Correct me please, but this is like the floppy in the K series, by now is obsolete technology.

YIR

What do you want then ?
Correct me if i'm wrong but the PC3 is not a workstation but a performance controller.
You can't load samples in it so you don't need to transfer huge amount of Megabytes.
USB+Smartmedia is enough for the PC3 i think.
And you can find easily smartcards and PC cardreaders

Having a floppy in the K2600 maybe obsolete (it wasn't in 1999, when the 2600 was released) but it's quite practical, you don't need to plug the 2600 to anything (scsi, midi) when you want to save song / patch datas.
And you even don't need to wake up your internal HD.....!

But you're right, for the next workstation, it would be nice to have something else...LOL !

[YIR]

What do you want then ?

Something more easy to find!, may be a flash drive or xd, sd, etc... cards

Correct me if i'm wrong but the PC3 is not a workstation but a performance controller.
You can't load samples in it so you don't need to transfer huge amount of Megabytes.

true!

USB+Smartmedia is enough for the PC3 i think.
And you can find easily smartcards and PC cardreaders

I'm not sure about this, smart media cards are getting harder to find this days. I have a yamaha QY100 which uses this cards and trying to find them in local stores is almost impossible, they don't bother to carry them anymore.

Having a floppy in the K2600 maybe obsolete (it wasn't in 1999, when the 2600 was released) but it's quite practical, you don't need to plug the 2600 to anything (scsi, midi) when you want to save song / patch datas.
And you even don't need to wake up your internal HD.....!

I totally agree!. But imagine that in the next 1 or 2 years SM cards are extinct (speculating here!) the only option will be to have a near by computer to load and save data


But you're right, for the next workstation, it would be nice to have something else...LOL !

I do agree that there is not a lot of data to save, is just that one expects that a new instrument should at least have a current media format. Korg discontinued the Triton Le for the TR series just to upgrade the SM port among other things. I don't know, is simply a small detail to think about. I guess if these are the cards for sure, one will have to buy at least a 10 pak of them just in case and hope they don't die on you.

YIR

[arra]

Please, Please tell me this board is going to be more editable than the PC2X. At least give us the software to edit the internal sounds. And for the love of God, will you please hurry and release this board soon.

[Dave Weiser]

Hello from Boston,

Everyone here is thrilled to see the PC3 on the front page of Sonik! Huge thanks to the folks at Sonikmatter and to all the musicians out there who have been rooting for us.

First thing - the PC3 will use flash memory cards, NOT smart media. Yes the prototype in the picture has SM.

Editing capabilities will be very close to what is found on a K26 - completely forget about the PC2 interface. The PC3 will feature an updated, improved version of VAST. Lots of algs, including 4pole filters, and all the familiar pages - common, layer, keymap, FX mods, FUNs, etc. You'll have 32 layers per program. We're trying to make things a bit more friendly, with embedded help messages which can be accessed at the touch of a button - everything from the editor to the sequencer to the programs themselves will have these messages.

One misconception floating around out there is that the PC3 is a stage piano. Not true! The new SP2 is a fine stage piano - triple strike grand, Classic Keys Rhodes and Wurlies, Take 6 vocals, etc. The PC3 is more of a hydrid - think of it as an 88-note workstation with a killer piano (much more detailed piano programs than a PC2), killer organ simulator, great vintage keys with superb effects and a 16 track sequencer.

Our soundware team has been taking a lot of time to revoice the basic sounds. The presets are going to be slammin' right out of the box. (We hope you all will agree.)

Of course, for those who wish to edit, tweak or create their own sounds, the process will be easier, and all of the same VAST tools (plus a few new ones) will be there.

For the sounds I've been working on, I've taken the same approach to the new PC3 presets as I took with K26 ROM4 and PC2 ROM2.

Example - for electric basses I've got ones which imitate Flea, Stax/Motown, Tony Levin, Beasties, Jaco, NIN, Chris Squire, Eberhard Weber, Larry Graham, Les Claypool and of course, Bootsy. (Synth bass will have its own category!)

We've really brought the sound set up to date (funny that many of the current sounds out there are actually vintage!), and tried to thin out the cheezy stuff like pan flutes.

And while I'm talking about soundware.... we have two superstars - one old and one new- in the soundware department who deserve being mentioned...
John Richmond, a long time Kurz veteran, is back, managing the soundware department. He oversaw both the PC2 ROM2 and K26 ROM4 projects back in the day. Best guy ever. I stole him back from our friends over at Synthogy.

And we also have Adam Steinberg, a well known session player and producer who has worked in the industry with the likes of the Dixie Chicks, Patti Griffin, and Amy Fairchild. He's also won several Clio awards, and most recently won the Billboard songwriting contest in the folk/americana category. Killer guitarist with 24k gold ears.

Both of these guys are brilliant - expect great things from them! It really feels satisfying to see the staff growing here at R&D, especially after all the hard times!

Of course I'd love to hire Cliff too, for our software department, if only I could get him to move out here to the east coast, where it's civilized.

I'll try my best to keep answering questions here on the forum. And feel free to post any soundware requests. I'll do my best to include them if not in the PC3, then in the accompanying "farm" disk.

Thanks again!!!

Dave

==========================
Dave Weiser
Senior Soundware Engineer
Kurzweil R&D
781-890-2929 x252
==========================

[arra]

Thank you Dave Weiser. I WILL BE placing my order with Sweetwater the day the PC3 is released. I currently own a PC2X which has IMHO the best rom samples on the market. And I own each of the big three. If you are taking sound requests, some FAT analog brass sounds would be great along with some J. Rudess and Derek Sherinian lead Wah sounds would be tremendous. All I needed to hear was that I would be able to edit the sounds along with the new FX's and updated programs, sign me up for the 88 key version and a 76 synth keyboard action (if a 76 key version is ever released) today. Again, thanks for the info and please keep us updated on the progress.

[clif marsiglio]

Thank you Dave Weiser. I WILL BE placing my order with Sweetwater the day the PC3 is released.

Good job! We can take lessons on how to suck up from you! Now wipe your face off.

along with some J. Rudess and Derek Sherinian lead Wah sounds would be tremendous.

Ok, now you are ruining it. Why does every progger seem to think Kurzweil is targeting their synth entirely to them. I have the inside word that *NOTHING* in the new synths will be in way related to this genre. In fact, I heard my HonkeyKong Jr. patch was rejected even though everyone at the Kurz loved it. It was a detuned piano with the sounds of an early 80s video game mixed into it. Twang twung dithered bleep yee-haw. That sort of thing. They told me if I could come up with a new name, they'd put it back in the patch list, but otherwise they faced the risk that Jordan Rudess was coining a new Southern Nerdcore style.

So there it is from the whoreses mouth. No prog patches in the Kurz going forward. Sorry. Not going to happy.

BTW Dave -- I believe I can do PR right from where I sit in Indiana. Ya'll might want to reconsider my application...or do you really think I might learn something about civility out east

[arra]

Lighten up, Frances --- I mean Cliff.