Kurzweil at Keys Week 23: It's the sound

KEYS WEEK 2023: Kurzweil Music Systems was founded in 1982 by Ray Kurzweil, who was inspired by Stevie Wonder after having collaborated on a reading machine for the blind. In 1983 the Kurzweil K250 was considered the first successful attempt to realistically emulate the sound of a grand piano.

Since then, Kurzweil has been renowned for being a major innovator in the music tech industry and continues today stronger than ever under the proven leadership of Hyundai Development Co. With their flagship model K2700, Kurzweil introduced its latest incarnation of the legendary K-Series synthesizer/workstation. 

K2700 Synthesizer/Workstation

Introduced in 1990, the K2000 laid the foundation for the legendary reputation of Kurzweil's K2XXX series. For the first time, it was possible to process not only the factory ROM samples but also your own samples with the outstanding, unique V.A.S.T Synthesis,  thus creating signature keyboard sounds and sonic spheres of previously unattainable sound quality and complexity. 

Countless famous musicians and bands such as Pink Floyd,'s Roger Waters, The Who, Billie Joel, Sting, Andrew Lloyd Webber and many more have relied on the Kurzweil K-Series live on stage and in the studio. 

The K2700 is the modern incarnation of the legendary Kurzweil K-Series workstations and continues the tradition. 

With 256 voices of V.A.S.T. polyphony, the K2700 offers 5 times the polyphony of all previous K2 models. 4.5 GB of factory sounds and 3.5 GB of memory for user samples knock the spots of all its predecissors. With V.A.S.T synthesis and editing, 6-operator FM engine, virtual analogue synthesis with anti-aliasing oscillators and KB3 tonewheel organs, the K2700 offers unlimited sound design possibilities. 

Exclusive features such as the patented FlashPlay technology, the K.S.R. - Kurzweil String Resonance technology, an integrated audio interface, the new live audio inputs and unique live performance and master keyboard functions make the K2700 the perfect master controller for every keyboard setup on stage and in the studio. 

Learn more: https://kurzweil.com/k2700/

Features

SOUND ENGINE

• 256 Voices of V.A.S.T. Polyphony!
• 4.5 Gigabytes of Factory Sounds!
• Patented FlashPlay® Technology
• 3.5 Gigabytes User Sample Memory
• V.A.S.T. Editing
• 6-Operator FM Engine
• Virtual Analog
• KB3 ToneReal™ Organs
• Powerful FX Engine
• K.S.R. – Kurzweil String Resonance

PERFORMANCE

• 88-Note Italian Hammer-Action Keyboard
• 16-Zone Multi Controller Mode
• 16-Track Sequencer
• 16 MIDI CC Sequencers
• 16 Riff Generators
• 16 Note Arpeggiators

CONTROLS

• Built-In Ribbon Controller
• 16 Pad Triggers
• 9 sliders, 9 knobs and 10 buttons.
• Widescreen Color Display
• Master Transport Controls
• Categorized Sound Selection
• Pitch/Mod Wheels & Transpose Controls
• Pedal to the Metal
• Two assignable switch pedal jacks* and two assignable CC pedal jacks.

AUDIO INTERFACE + I/O

• Integrated USB Audio Interface
• Live Audio Inputs w/ FX
• Balanced Audio Outputs
• USB MIDI + Audio + Storage

SP7 Grand Stage Piano

The SP7 is the latest member of the famed SP series of stage pianos.

The SP7 Grand is designed upon our new synthesis platform A.T.S.T. and marks a new era in Kurzweil technology. The SP7 Grand offers 256 voice polyphony and  307 presets organized into 13 categories and features our German “D” 9 ft. Concert Grand derived from the K2700. The SP7 Grand A.T.S.T. engine provides significant advances in piano sound realism through support of higher resolution audio, smooth velocity transitions, a 2x oversampling filter and the use of both string and pedal resonance modeling, envelope/velocity controlled key-off samples as well as half-damper* pedaling, together delivering a heightened piano performance experience (* half-damper pedal sold separately). 

Combined with the new Fatar TP100LRG key action, the SP7 Grand offers an superb balance for feel and playability, serving a variety of playing styles.

The SP7 Grand marks a new milestone for Kurzweil and features a new design philosophy and user interface architecture. Color coded knobs and buttons corrospond with the all new 1024 x 600 LCD touch screen and the instrument powers up in multi-mode all ready. The built-in audio interface offers to Auto-stabilize the pitch of the mic input as well as adjust the signal’s vibrato and legato qualities. Furthermore, you can process your vocals and automatically generate up to 4-part harmonies in real-time as well as generate vocoder-like effects. 

Learn more::https://kurzweil.com/sp7-grand/

Features

• New synthesis platform A.T.S.T - Authentic Timbre Synthesis Technology allows support for high fidelity audio, streamlined sound programming and boasts near seamless velocity layer transitions.
• New 88-note, fully-weighted hammer-action (Fatar TP100LRG)
• 7″ color LCD touch screen with 1024 x 600 pixel
• New design Philosophy and User Interface with Color coded knobs corrosponding with display of touch screen. 
• Unit powers up in Multimode  - no confusion of type of current used mode anymore
• 2 GB Factory Sounds - 307 presets including our German “D” 9 ft. Concert Grand derived from the K2700. 
• 256 voices polyphony
• String & Pedal Resonance modeling
• Envelope/Velocity controlled Key-Off Samples
• Support for half-damper* pedaling (* half-damper pedal sold separately)
• 16 performance zones for creating your own sonic split/layer combinations along with a host of customizable controllers.
• 8 Hybrid Arpeggiators - combines both a step-sequencer and note-arpeggiator
• 21 effect algorithms including reverb, BPM-synced delay, chorus, flange, compression, various distortion types, rotary speaker, tremolo, wah-wah and eq.
• 2-in/2-out 24-bit/48Hhz USB audio interface
• Auto Pitch-correction and 4-part-harmonizer for mic input

SP7 Stage Piano

The SP7 was developed based on Kurzweil's new synthesis platform A.T.S.T. and thus marks a new era in the Kurzweil portfolio. A.T.S.T. offers hi-fi audio, optimised sound programming and smooth velocity layer transitions as well as a 2x oversampling filter. The SP7 Grand offers 301 presets divided into 13 categories, and features a German 9-foot concert grand piano carried over from the K2700.

In addition, the grand pianos in the SP7 Grand are further enhanced with string and pedal resonance modelling, envelope and touch-controlled key-off samples, and half-damper pedal function to provide an even better piano playing experience. (Half-damper pedal sold separately). The SP7 is available in black and white.

Learn more: https://kurzweil.com/sp7/

Features

• Discover the fully weighted hammer action, ideally tuned for realistic feel and playability.
• The SP7 offers 8 performance zones for creating your own sound split/layer combinations, as well as a variety of customisable controllers.
• The SP7 Grand Hybrid Arpeggiator combines both a step sequencer and a note arpeggiator. This evolution of the classic arpeggiator design can create numerous musical phrases and patterns.
• The pitch of the microphone input is automatically stabilised and the vibrato and legato qualities of the signal are adjusted. Process your vocals further and automatically create up to four-part harmonies or vocoder-like effects.
• Navigate the SP7 Grand via its 4.3″ colour LCD touchscreen. 
• The 2-in-2-out 24 bit/48 kHz audio interface connects easily to your Mac/PC via USB. Loopback functionality further expands production possibilities.
• With the SP7 Grand's pitch/mod joystick, 8 knobs, 8 buttons, 2 switch pedal inputs and continuous control pedal input, you have plenty of hands-on controls and modulation options.