Kawai K5M additive synth with MM-16 Fader controller

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"First of all this is a really cool synth very different from typical gear of this vintage.
Most Synths use subtractive synthesis or are samplers.
The K5M is a multi timbrel additive synth. This means that you make sounds by adding together sine wave harmonics or partials. Each harmonic has an envelope - right there you have an amazing combination... [see the Intro to Synthesis post for reference]

The stock sounds are quite good and also very different. Programming using the one big knob is not so easy BUT I am including the MM-16 which changes all that. The 16 sliders can operate the harmonics, envelopes, etc. so it is basically a front panel for it.

The MM-16 also can be used as a generic fader controller for midi mixing, software synths, and controls inside your favorite DAW.

A little known nifty cool thing about the MM-16 is that it has two hardware Midi outputs which can be switched to make all odd notes come out of one midi jack and all even notes come out of the other. Just think about that for a bit...

There is a yahoo users group for this, just search on yahoo groups for K5 or K5M

Other interesting features of the K5M - 16 different sounds can go on the 16 midi channels, you can select how many voices go to each channel, there are 4 hardware audio outputs, and a removable programmable card is included."

KAWAI K5m Digital Multi-Dimensional Synthesizer SN 115510

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Update: Someone wrote in questioning this listing for a number of reasons including the higher than normal price, especially considering the issue with volume slider, as well as the description being pulled from another site, and it stating these are easy to program. Ease of programmability of course is subjective, but I agree, owning a K5000s, a newer additive synth from Kawai, they are less intuitive to program than your standard subtractive analog. Regarding the listing being legit, one, the seller did not have to mention the issue with the volume slider but did, two, SN 115510 has not been listed here, so the images are new as far as I know, and three, when you buy through eBay, ALWAYS buy through eBay and abide by their rules. If you do, you will be covered by their buyer protection, if you don't you won't. It's as simple as that. As for the price, it is higher as you can see via a quick search on the site and checking other listings. And of course always check the seller's feedback. In short, always do your due diligence when buying online.

"The Kawai K5 offers all the sound-creating power of additive synthesis technology in an affordable, user-friendly format. This enables you to construct sounds from their harmonic components, the same way they are created in nature. With the K5, you can control the relative amplitude of up to 126 harmonic sine waves! This yields unprecedented clarity and accuracy for recreating natural sounds or developing your own unique timbres. And, because it is so natural, the KS's programming system will be easy for you to master. But that's just the beginning. The complex waveforms produced by harmonic manipulation can be passed through filters, amplifiers, LFOs, envelope generators and other processors with which you may already be familiar. These provide the kind of precise articulation control for which analog synthesizers are well-known. So you're getting the best of both worlds -- digital clarity and analog control in one comprehensive, performance-oriented package."

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KAWAI K5M with RAM Card

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"Breathtaking additive synthesis "harmonic-building" type sound creating machine in the style of the RMI Harmonic Synthesizer.
Up to 126 harmonic variations levels generated by a sine wave to create, shape and change sounds.
De-tuning function to thicken or augment sounds.
Each harmonic has an independent choice of four 6-stage envelopes for extreme shaping.
15-part multi-timbral machine allowing sounds to be split, layered, overlapped and de-tuned.
48 internal patches for memory storage as well as a 48 patch external memory card and 48 patches for multi-mode setting.

1X Expensive and rare KAWAI RAM DC 32 IC MEMORY CARD included .

Please see my other auctions to expand this machine with more maximum data storage KAWAI RAM DC 32 cards"

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Kawai K5m SN 115593

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"The K5m rack-module version is basically the same as the K5 except that it has 126 adjustable harmonics and 4 assignable audio outputs and a stereo mix output. If you plan to use the K5 strictly as a sound source in an established MIDI studio, the K5M desktop module version is more compact and practical than the keyboard version."

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Kawai K5m Digital Multidimensional Synthesizer Module

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"Groundbreaking synthesis, brought on the market in affordable package for the first time in 1987 by Kawai. Crystal clear sounds with real time control of up to 126 harmonics, and a very interesting sounding digital cutoff filter to really bring out those harmonics."

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Kawai K5M Rack Mount Additive Synthesizer w/DC-8 Memory Card

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"There aren’t many lower priced synths from this era that do a similar kind of additive synthesis. It’s can create some very harmonically rich sounds, really unique.

It is in complete working condition. The LCD is very legible though not backlit. (Actually, you see a lot of sellers claiming the backlight is dead but I don’t believe the K5m was lamplit behind the foil originally? I could definitley be wrong about that though.)

It is in good physical condition. There is definitely rack rash, scuffing and scratching but it doesnt affect its functional condition and nothing is broken or missing. The rear connections can be unscrewed and moved from 'rack position’ to ‘tabletop position’ very easily."

Update: here's one that was clearly backlit.

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Kawai K5m Synthesizer Module

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"*The backlight is out, though I have used it as such for years. It will not be readable in the dark, though is fine in a lighted room. Replacement backlights are available on-line, and usually go for about $30 on ebay."

I did a quick search and found this site that sells a number of LCD screen replacements for various synths. I did a search here on MATRIXSYNTH and only found this post on a K5m with a replaced screen.

KAWAI K5M Additive Digital Synthesizer SN 122236

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"This is one of the few additive synths ever made. The K5000 came out later and also offered additive synthesis, but doesn't sound as good to us as the K5m. If this doesn't sell soon, it'll become part of the insane collection of synths at The Synth Sanctuary electronic music studio in NYC."

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Kawai K5M Rackmount Digital Synthesizer

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