Kurzweil K2000 Explained

Synth Name:	K2000
Synth Manufacturer:	Kurzweil Music Systems
Synthesis Type:	Digital sample-based subtractive, sampling
Polyphony:	24 voices with dynamic allocation
Timbrality:	16-part
Oscillator:	8MB of 16-bit waveform ROM (expandable to 24MB), 1 sample-based oscillator plus up to 3 additional DSP-generated oscillators per voice
Filter:	digital multi-mode with programmable and modulatable resonance
Attenuator:	3 envelopes
Lfo:	2 LFOs
Keyboard:	61 keys
Velocity:	Yes
Aftertouch:	Yes
Left Control:	Mod wheel, Pitch bend
Ext Control:	MIDI
Memory:	199 factory ROM programs (up to 800 programmable RAM locations), 100 multi setups; up to 64MB of sample RAM, standard internal + external SCSI interface for mass storage
Fx:	multi-FX DSP with four simultaneous effects including reverb, chorus, flange, delay, graphic EQ, parametric EQ and four-tap delay
Dates:	1991–2000
Price:	$2,995 US £2,769 GBP

The Kurzweil K2000 is a digital synthesizer and music workstation produced by Kurzweil Music Systems between 1991 and 2000 in a variety of standard configurations, including rack-mountable versions and models that came with 16-bit user sampling.

The K2000 features a complex digital synthesis architecture dubbed V.A.S.T., which stands for "Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology", Kurzweil's marketing term for the digital signal processing (DSP) sound processing system used in the K2000 and other members of its K2xxx series.

Features and specifications

Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology (V.A.S.T.)

V.A.S.T. stands for variable-architecture synthesis technology. It is variable in that the user can select different signal paths, which contain different DSP functions, for use in creating and shaping a sound. V.A.S.T. also includes an extensive modulation system, similar in concept to that of analog modular synthesizers. A wide array of modulation sources can be assigned to various parameters within a signal path, and modulation sources can be combined to create new modulation sources.

Expansion options

• Sampling A/D input & digital I/O
• Orchestral and/or Contemporary PCM ROM blocks
• P-RAM Program memory expansion
• Sample RAM up to 64MB (30-pin SIMMs)
• Internal hard drive

Models

• K2000 - Original keyboard version with a total of six audio outputs, configured as a main stereo pair and four assignable outputs.
• K2000R - Rackmount version of the K2000 with a total of ten audio outputs, configured as a main stereo pair and eight assignable outputs. The K2000R can accept the same P/RAM and ROM expansion boards as the keyboard, although a different option board is required to add sampling capabilities.
• K2000S and K2000RS - Same as the standard keyboard and rackmount versions, but also shipped with the sampling option and 2Mb of sample RAM from the factory.
• K2vx (US $3,495) - A fully-optioned version of the K2000 keyboard which included an expanded ROM sample set (incorporating the Orchestral and Contemporary ROM blocks) made up of 24 MB total (vs. 8 MB on a stock K2000), a factory-installed P/RAM expansion and new ROM presets (based on those in the Kurzweil K2500). The K2vxS (US $4,195) added the sampling option and 2Mb of sample RAM from the factory.
• K2000VP^[1] and K2000VPR (US $1,995 / $1,795) - "VP" stands for "V.A.S.T. Player" - Base models with the then-latest OS v3.54 and new presets based on those in the K2500. They had 2Mb of sample RAM, though the sampling option was not included but could be added.

Notable users

• Robert Miles on Children^[2]
• Rick Wright of Pink Floyd from the 1987 Momentary Lapse of Reason tour onwards^[3]
• Jean-Michel Jarre on Chronologie
• Jordan Rudess
• Depeche Mode
• Hardfloor
• Tori Amos
• Stevie Wonder
• Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
• Bon Harris (Nitzer Ebb)
• Wumpscut
• Front Line Assembly
• KMFDM
• Mark Van Hoen
• LTJ Bukem
• Nine Inch Nails
• Massive Attack
• Vangelis
• The Wiggles
• Tangerine Dream
• Laurent Garnier
• Luther Vandross
• Lito Vitale
• Josh Silver (Type O Negative)
• The Postal Service^[4]
• Paul Shaffer (for the theme and music of the Late Show with David Letterman)^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Jay Frog

Further reading

• Kurzweil K2000. Music Technology. 12. July 1992. 6. 8. 0957-6606. 24835173.
• Kurzweil K2000R. Music Technology. 28–30. February 1993. 0957-6606.
• Kurzweil SMP-R - Sampling upgrade for the K2000. Music Technology. 26–27. July 1993. 0957-6606.

External links

• Kurzweil's official website: http://www.kurzweil.com/
• K2000 user manual: http://kurzweil.com/content/migration/downloads/pub/Kurzweil/Pro_Products/K2000-K2vx-K2500/K2000-K2vx/Documentation/K2KMAN.ZIP
• Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150608011136/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/feb95/kurzweilk2000.html . 8 June 2015 . K2000 v3 Sound On Sound review.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kurzweil K2000VP. Sound On Sound. September 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/20150606085411/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep98/articles/kurzweil_k2000.html. 6 June 2015.
2. Web site: 2004–2006 . Famous Sounds . SynthMania . 22 January 2007 .
3. Web site: Behind Pink Floyd. Sound on Sound. September 1994. 21 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104041/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/sep94/pinkfloyd.html . 24 September 2015.
4. Web site: The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - Song Exploder. 2020-11-05. Spotify. en.
5. Web site: Paul Shaffer Equipboard . 2023-01-27 . equipboard.com.
6. Web site: Paul Shaffer's Keys to The Late Show . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190322181001/https://www.keyboardmag.com/miscellaneous/paul-shaffer39s-keys-to-the-late-show . 22 Mar 2019 . 2019-03-22 . KeyboardMag.com . en-gb.
7. Web site: Ferrante . Michael . January 24, 2006 . Shaffer's Keyboard Rig Setup? . 2023-03-19 . Sweetwater Sound.