New life for old synths: Kawai K4(r) as Wavestation with Electra One & Atari ST Emulator, Librarian

video upload by Jürgen Moßgraber

"While everybody is talking new gear this week, I go retro :-)
Unbelievable what you can do with these old machines!

0:00 Introduction
2:10 1st Demo of Electra One Template
2:50 Update the Firmware
3:58 Patches for K4
4:25 2nd Electra One Template Demo: Wave switching!
9:26 Installation of Atari ST emulator
15:42 Atari ST Librarian / Editor for Kawai K4/K4r

Firmware 1.4:
https://monotanz.de/product/kawai-k4r...
https://stevereaver.com/k4r-firmware-..."

KAWAI K5000S Additive Synthesiser

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"The K5000 combines additive synthesis with PCM sampled waveforms to make up a feature laden digital synth engine with real time controls and filters a-plenty. This was the top of the line digital workstation at the time, made to compete with the Korg Trinity and Kurzweil K2500. This thing is made for creating CDR albums with lots of dolphins on the cover. Includes KAWAI supplement disk."

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Deck the Halls - Mannheim Steamroller Cover

video upload by Brian Seemann

Deck the Halls
arr. by Chip Davis

Performed on:
Schulmerich Handbells
Schulmerich Silver Melody Bells
Sequential Prophet 600
Roland JX-3P
Korg ARP Odyssey
Korg DW-8000
Kawai K3
Korg Mono/Poly

kawai k1 (K1r, K1m) Synthesizer Programming. Vintage Synth programming.

video upload by Scifi Funk

"KAWAI K1, K1r, K1m. A discussion on the features, programming, and sounds. Vintage Synth Review. https://hyperfollow.com/scififunk/

I present a Step-by-step programming guide using the front panel only (no software required), from basic waveforms.

Once you are familiar with programming basic waveforms it will be easier to understand what can be achieved with the 'preset samples' or more complex waveforms.

00:00 KAWAI K1r Ahh sound.
00:18 Introduction. The K1 is essentially a 'preset sampler' that you can program via additive synthesis/voice stacking.
01:28 How to make synth sounds via traditional synth programming methods.
02:24 A good starting point for programming.
03:19 The waveforms for programming /stacking.
05:30 Programming performance parameters.
07:39 Actual programming and discussion.
You really need to watch the whole video to understand."

Kawai k1 (K1r, K1m) Synthesizer Programming (part 2 of 2). Vintage Synth programming.

video upload by

"I continue my Step-by-step programming guide using the front panel only (no software required), from basic waveforms.

Once you are familiar with programming basic waveforms it will be easier to understand what can be achieved with the 'Preset samples' or more complex waveforms.

00:00 Sawtooth waveform, sinewave (hear the artefacts sadly vs an analogue synth)
00:57 Square waves, plus inverse saw, triangle and random
01:34 Examples of samples of real-life instruments.
02:09 Filter sweep example (using crossfading).
05:40 Using all 4 waveforms for colouring the sound.
You really need to watch the whole video to understand.

I personally bought the Kawai K1m when it was first released (1988 I think), then I traded it in for a K1r (losing a lot on the deal). Of course, the K1r doesn’t have the joystick that mixes the sound, so that’s a shame."

Kawai K5000S 61-Key Digital Additive Synthesizer w/ Original Box & Extras

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"Includes:
• Kawai K5000s Keyboard (OS 4.04)
• Power Cable
• Owner’s Manual
• Wizoo Guide with Supporting Disk for all Kawai K5000 keyboards): Introduction to Additive Synthesis, Advanced Sound Design, Tips and Tricks (incredibly useful!)
• The 4 floppy disks that originally came with keyboard, including Emagic SoundDiver and Supplement Disk with Demo Songs/Extra Single Patches and Multis/Original Factory OS
• 7 custom Floppies with additional singles/multis patches, and backup O.S. disks.
• Mini Floppy Storage Case
• Original Shipping Box
*Keyboard Stand Not Included

Original owner. Seriously underrated vintage additive synth with tons of real-time controls and classic programmable arpeggiator. Gently used only in a smoke and pet-free home recording studio. Fantastic sounds, amazing keyboard feel and action - really the nicest keys on a synth you will ever play.

Excellent working condition: all buttons, pots, keys, and controls work perfectly. All jacks/connectors are solid with no audio or midi issues. Display has slightly dimmed, but is still legible and bright with full contrast control.

Cosmetically it’s in excellent condition except on the left side of the keyboard, above the drive slot and pitch and modulation wheels, (see pic) there’s a small blemish/chip in the dark blue where it looks like something was dropped on it (I don’t remember what it was or when it happened). Additionally, further down, closer to the left edge of the keyboard, left of the Pitch Bend wheel is another mark that’s about the size of a pencil tip and barely visible. Hopefully, you can see from the pictures that these are really minor blemishes on an otherwise beautiful synth."

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Kawai K5000S Phrase Demo OS 3 00

video upload by Ross Totino and Fans of Collision

"Factory Demo for Kawai K5000s synthesizers. These were "Phrase Demo" which played short MIDI "phrases" of presets from Bank A and D."

KAWAI K1m Digital Synthesizer Module w/ RAM Card and Original Manual

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Kawai K5000S FOC Demo 1

video upload by Ross Totino and Fans of Collision

"Kawai K5000S Demo. Recorded in Logic Pro with lots of effects."

Kawai K1 & Yamaha FB-01 Sample Pack for Prophet X and SF2

video upload by Espen Kraft

"A new patch bank for the Prophet X. Also available in the SF2 format for Logic and the Tal Sampler.
50 multi-samples from the Kawai K1 and Yamaha FB-01. Great sounds to add texture and depth to your music and productions.

The samples were originally meant for MY Prophet X, for my live needs. A way of having all my vintage synths in one keyboard when doing live gigs doing MY own songs as faithful as possible to my albums.
Every sample in here has been recorded by me personally and sounds exactly how I want them to sound. They've all been recorded through the Yamaha DMP7 digital mixer for extra mojo.
Many of the samples are velocity layered multi samples, some upwards of 30-50 samples per set.
Be aware that this pack is the multi-samples only.
IMPORTANT info for Prophet X users: This sample user add-on pack is imported like this : px/u01

If you want to purchase this bank, please send me an email and I'll give you the download details.
Please specify if you want the Prophet X or SF2 bank. They cost the same.

My CONTACT email address is this: espenkraft69@gmail.com
Price is $15 USD or €15 Euros if that's your preferred currency. PayPal only. * The above email is NOT the one to use for payment. That will be given upon ordering.

If you haven't already bought my big epic Prophet X sample- and patch bank from before, I'll be happy to offer both that AND this new one in a bundled price of $40 USD (or €40 Euros) combined. Let me know in the email."

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K5000s Deep dark below

video upload by Snupps Synth channel

"Another long ambient real-time programming session for the K5000s, where i start out from an initialized sound. Purely additive, no external effects where used."

Kawai SX-210 61-Key Analog Synthesizer SN K6765

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"It's an 8 voice, single oscillator DCO (with sub-oscillator) synth that is roughly like a Juno in its basic sound, only a bit darker and lusher thanks to the excellent SSM-2044 filter. Programming is fast and simple: you select the parameter via its button (every parameter has a button; no menu diving), then use the dial to select the value. Despite its simple architecture, there are a number of features on board here: portamento and glissando, chord memory, dual and mono modes with stacked voices, an ensemble effect that is great for strings, etc.

This synth is fully functional and sounding great. It is extremely clean aside from some wear on the right wood panel. One screw is missing from the bottom. All in all, a nice example of a rare, under the radar synth."

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Kawai K3 review and tutorial

video upload by synthlegends

"The KAWAI K 3 is a nice sounding hybrid synth with ssm filter design, like a PPG wave. It has 33 waves and one additive waveform to program. Also there is a chorus section wich is a bit noisy but quite useful. It has aftertouch and you can route interesting paremeters on it. So it is an interesting synth with 33 wave, two oscillator, a low and a high pass filter, one LFO with 7 waveforms and two envelopes. This synth produces nice pianos, organs, also brass and string sounds, but metallic bell sounds as well. It is quite comparable to the Korg DW 8000 and Ensoniq ESQ-1, which are also affordable hybrid synths from that time."

Kawai S100P / Teisco 100P

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"It comes with with its original, black dust cover, music stand, power chord (3-prong for the Italian market) and a possibly original jack audio cable.

Some tiny dings on metal panel and wood panels, some tape residue on the dust cover that seems to go away with rubbing alcohol."

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1989 Kawai K4 - Digital Resonant Filter (DCF) Test

video upload by ChrisLody

"I recently bought this vintage Kawai K4 imported from the USA because I'd heard good things about it. I was most intrigued though by the fact that it's a polyphonic synth with digital resonant filters (as in written purely in code rather than controlling any analog filtering) which makes it one of the first on the market to offer this alongside the Yamaha SY77 and Emu EMAX II which I've been informed all launched in 1989. The Roland D50 had something that sounded very filter like with it's 'TVF' back in 1987, but this was only available on square and saw waves and was more of a mimic of a filter. So I'm told anyway, I never used any of the other gear I just mentioned 😄

S considering that it was this early in the game I was very interested to hear what it sounded like but couldn't find any other filter demos on YouTube, so here's mine. I was planning something more involved showing how to edit a patch etc, but I got carried away playing and ran out of time. Maybe in another video.

All the examples shown use the brightest saw I could find (the waveforms are sampled) in a single slot with a single filter. If setup correctly a single patch can have 2 filters either in parallel or serial modes but I haven't experimented with that yet."

KAWAI K5000S Advanced Additive Synthesizer With Hard Shell Case SN 600640

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Stylophone Beat, East Beast, Kawai K1m Jam

video upload by ChrisLody

"Full Disclosure: I occasionally take on freelance work at Dubreq (they make Stylophones) on an hourly rate producing video content. This video wasn't paid for directly but as a result of my work with Dubreq it is marked as Paid Promotion

Right time for a weird jam! I've been ridiculously busy recently with my day job and music related work so can barely justify taking time off to make this (this is product endorsement which is about as close as I can get to time off at the moment 😅), but I risk my channel turning into wall to wall Sonicware news (more of that to come) so I'm trying to find time for a bit of silliness like this!

Dubreq sent me the Stylophone Beat a few weeks back and I've been having some fun with it. For such an inexpensive machine it has surprisingly features. It can play 4 different kits, 4 different bass sound, 4x 32 step patterns, has some realtime playback effects like a filter sweep and pattern length (think stutter mode), patterns can be copied, elements muted etc, the stock sounds are well chosen, really quite good. There are limitations of course, the volume of each sound is fixed, there's no sync capability (although technically the LED flashes at 1ppq so it could be hacked) and the memory is wiped when it's powered down so make sure you record you work. One saving grace in that regard is that it goes into standby quite quickly so this Beat was left on all night with my rhythm programmed in so was still there the next day for me to continue work on. One small caveat is that the drum sequencer supports 16th note resolution but it seems the bass sequencer doesn't, you'll get 8th note recordings. It does support glide though as you may be able to tell from what I've made here. So all in all a fun little machine!

I also bought a Cre8audio East Beast recently and haven't had the chance to use it, so here it is used in the laziest way imaginable with the Stylophone Gen X-1 as a delay effect. It's a very capable little semi modular but I'm not using those features here. I also bought a Kawai K1 which used to belong to former Sonicware staff member Evan Sirchuk, so here's that too playing one of it's presets. That's a really bright sounding bit of kit and I wasn't sure what to use it for at first but it fits in nicely here. I don't even think I've used that Korg NanoKEY2 for anything yet either and I've had that for years!

Anyway, I don't know how I ended making such an odd sounding jam 😁"

KAWAI K4 16-bit Digital Synthesizer w/ Original Box

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"What's Included:
The KAWAI K4 61-Key Keyboard itself (upgraded to V3 OS/ ePROM at the Kawai facility in Southern CA)
The original KAWAI K4 Power Supply
The original KAWAI K4 User's Manual, Wave List Manual and other supporting documentation
The original KAWAI K4 Carton with all original packaging
2 x 5' New MIDI Cables
CD containing the Original Factory Library and Windows SendEX program only ever needed to reload the K4
New Internal Battery (Installed Sept, 2023) which should be good for up to 20 years
Handmade cover made by my girlfriend (who still loved me at the time) for my Juno 106but fits the K4 perfectly"

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Kawai XD-5

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Kawai K5000 Demos by Snupps

video uploads by Snupps Synth channel

Use the player controls to skip through videos.

Playlist:

1. Kawai K5000s demo, my sounds

A ambient demo of the Kawai K5000s Advanced additive synth, All of the sounds were made by me.

2. Kawai K5000s demo: Photosynthesis

A ambient track where i use some of my sounds on the Kawai k5000s Advanced additive synth. I also use for parts of the track, the Behringer deepminds 12 and Yamaha Ex5.

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Kawai K5000W 61-Key Digital Synthesizer SN 591350 w/ Original Box

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