Conference napalm::commusic_v1

2137.0. "KAWAI K4, K4R synthesizer" by CSC32::M_MOSHER (WE ARE HERE TO GO) Tue Oct 17 1989 14:34

We have a new Kawai dealer in town.  I stopped in and found that he already
has K4's.  He says he is one of the first to get them.  I played with it
for about 45 min. Here is an overview.  This is all from memory, so
there might be a few mistakes.

K4 $1445.00
K4R rack, ?????


GENERAL ARCHITECTURE:
=========================================================================
SINGLE MODE:
The machine is 16, or 8 voice polyphonic depending on what mode it is in.
Each patch is made up of:

1) "SINGLE" mode 16 voice
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|
                        |-->[FILTER]-->[COMMON PARAMETERS]-->[FX]
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|

2) "TWIN" mode 8 voice

[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|
                        |-->[*FILTER]-->[COMMON]-->|
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|                         |
                                                  |-->[common params]-->[FX] 
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|                         |
                        |-->[*FILTER]-->[COMMON]-->|
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|

*Resonance range 0-3

3) "DOUBLE" mode 8 voice
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|
                        |
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|                         
                        |-->[*FILTER]-->[FILTER][common params]-->[FX] 
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|                      
                        |
[DCO]-->[DCA]-->[LFO]-->|

*Resonance range 0-7

MULTI MODE:
Dynamic note allocation is used in multi-mode.  Drum
samples are counted in overall 16 voice polyhphony.
The synth is broken up into 8 tracks, with a 9nth drum track.
Each track has it's own midi channel, keyboard zone, transposition,
velocity crossfade stuff (I think?), volume, volume send to fx.
It looks something like:

[TRACK 1]-->|
[TRACK 2]-->|
[TRACK 3]-->|
[TRACK 4]-->|
[TRACK 5]-->|-->[FX]
[TRACK 6]-->|
[TRACK 7]-->|
[TRACK 8]-->|
[DRUMZ]---->|

I think there is a  global midi channel to allow for program changes
to change multi mode patch.

PATCH ARCHITECTURE:
======================================================
DCO:
WAVEFORMS:
This is a wavetable synth with 256, 16 bit multi-sampled waveforms.  These are
basicly made up of transient attack waves, and looped waves. The waves
are clean and usable.  They have the usual stuff; piano, classic synth,
bass, strings, choirs, guitars...

DCO modulation:
Pitch of oscilator is adjustable.  Pitch can be scalled by keyboard (I think).
Instead of pitch envelopes, it uses Auto bend (like the k1).  
I think pitch can also be modulated with velocity and aftertouch.
DCO can be set to POLY1, POLY2, SINGLE1, SINGLE2.  No portamento!!!
It alos has AM modulation.

DCA:
ADSR type envelopes.  Keyboard scalling.  Velocity and after touch
modulation:

FILTERS!!!!
The K4 filter will work on *ALL* waveforms.  The big news
is that it also has RESONANCE.  Too cool, resonant filters
on sampled waveforms.  The filter range is somewhat limited,
0-3 in twin mode, 0-7 in double mode.  Filter can be modulated
by: Envelope, velocity, aftertouch, keyboard tracking.  

LFO:
Speed, waveshape, delay.  Waveshape include SAMPLE/HOLD.  

EFFECTS:
The effects processor contains 16 different effects settings.
About half of them allow for two different types of effects at the same time.
There are two effects sends per patch.  Effects: Various reverbs (plate,gate,
room..), various delays (mono, stereo), Distortion.

DRUM SECTION:
==================================================================
There are 60 some 16 bit drum samples on board.  They drum samples
are in the same position as my d110's samples.  They include:
couple of bass drums, couple of snares, toms, hats, crash, ride, latin
stuff, timpanni.  The following can be programmed for each drum:
pitch, release time, and some other stuff...


USER INTERFACE:
===================================================================
It has two wheels (mod and pitch), a voulume slider, a data entry slider.
It has the same user interface as the k1 (almost). A few extra buttons.
Basicly, you hit edit, then you hit the page you want look at (like lfo).
If you continue to hit the lfo button, you will scroll through the
lfo parameters.  Their values can be set with the data entry slider.
You can only scroll in one direction.  If you miss the parameter you want, you 
must go all the way back around. 

KEYBOARD:
=========================================================
Velocity, aftertouch, release velocity.


PORTS
==========================================================
K4:
Midi in-out-thru
Audio stereo out
Wall bug power suplly (I could'nt believe this, pay $1400, bet a wall bug).
Card slot for programs.

K4R:
NOTE: The K4R has individual outs, but NO REVERB (how stupid).
Midi in-out-thru
Audio stereo out, plus 6 individual outs
Card slot for programs.

REVIEW:
====================================================================
Well, after all of that, what does it sound like?  

SYNTH:
It sounds alot like a D50 (what a surprise).  It has a real
byte to it.  It's not quite as breathy as the d50 though.  
It does not have any spectral type waveforms.  
I think it is a big plus to have resonant filters
on a wavetable synth.  I sort of sounds like a souped up ESQ-1.

EFECTS:
As with the M1, and D50, the effects really make this machine.  Without
the effects, it sounds good, but not fantastic.  That's why
I don't understand why they left the effects off of the K4R.
(I called Kawai, and asked why there are no effects on the
rack and the rep said, "What would you rather have,
8 outs, or effects".  I said "both, my d110, has both!!!")

DRUMS:
The drums sound pretty good.  There
a little on the light side for me.  I hate the crash symbol.

CONCLUSION:
K4:
Does not sound as good as a d50.  I think there is a lot of potential
in this machine, and the factory patches do not do it justice.  
If your looking to buy a d50, I think this could be some good competion.  At
1400 bucks, you get drum samples and 8 tracks of synth.  JoeBob says check it
out... 

K4R:
Since the k4r has no reverb, I think I would rather have a KORG M3R...

=======================================================================
I played the K4 at the KAWAI music center.  The salesman
said that he will ship one of these mail order.  For
more information:

Kelly Miles
KAWAI Music Center of Colorado Springs, inc.
7862 N. Academy
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(719)260-7511
1-800-525-2924

    Since Brian posted the Sam Ash blowouts on the K4 and other Kawai
    gear, I thought I'd post an impression ...

    I stopped at a hole-in-the-wall store over the Christmas holidays that
    sells a synth every few years or so.  They had a K4 on the floor (!) so
    I went over and tried out a few of the sets that were in it just to see
    what all the hubub was about. 

    I was patently unimpressed.  Anyone own one of these or played one that
    has another (better) view?  Anyone want to argue about effective
    polyphony?  &*}

-b

From what I can tell about the K4, it is essentially a K1 with filters.  That
means that it is actually fairly hard to program.  There isn't much on a
K1-class machine that you can control, and the good patches that I know of use
very subtle adjustments of the few things you can control.  The K1 presets were
pretty useless, and that was my impression of the K4.  Now that I have good
patches for it, I am very fond of my K1R and it is my most used SGU.

	Eirikur

    I have a K4. I haven't tried to program it yet because I'm still
    waiting for the new Opcode universal patch librarian. Although it's
    a bit noisy, it has fantastic lead sounds and the weighted keyboard
    has release velocity. I originally bought it just to have an extra
    keyboard in case my A-50 croaked, but it turned out to be a nice
    machine. Patches like C-14 (Hammer On!) really make it for me. It also
    has built-in effects. I don't like the percussion or the wall bug. I
    got it for $1239 when it first came out.
    
    Some disjointed thoughts for you to mull over.
    
    Chris

    Well, as the resident KAWAI bigot...
    
    I played on a K4 for about 20 minutes, last weekend.  Although I
    am not in the market for a new SGU (HA!) I found the K4 to be a
    credible D50 clone.  The breathy bits were a little noisy but such
    is the nature of that beast.  In general the machine seemed well
    laid out.  And as the previous noter indicated, there are some neat
    sounds, which to my ear sound original.
    
    IF I WAS IN THE MARKET, what would recommend this unit over the
    competition (D50, M3, etc.) is KAWAI as a company.  Dealing with
    KAWAI is so much better than any experiences I have had with ROLAND
    or any of the other manufacturer's I have dealt with.  Moreover,
    their documentation is clear and very straight-forward.  
    
    Having said all that, I still think that KAWAI should have backed
    the K5, which was unique in the marketplace with respect to archi-
    tecture and execution.  I had occasion to speak to somebody in their
    Marketing dept. the other day.  When I asked him how the K4 was
    doing, he said that he felt that although the "entire marketplace
    is down dramatically, the K4 seems to be holding its own".   I for
    one, am not sure that there is room for both the K1 II and the K4
    in such a market, but I am sure the folks in Torrance know what
    they are doing.
    
    Clusters,
    Bill Allen

    
    The price on a K4r, newly arrived at EUW in MA, $895.  They hadn't even
    gotten it out of the box into the rack yet.
    
    It has six outs (3 stereo pairs) but the onboard effects are gone  ;-(.
    Still uses the wall bug (gag).
    
    Notice they are pricing the K4r, M3r and U-220 all at $895!!!!!  Can't
    decide on price, now....

    If this seems like a naive questions, it is because I am naive!.
    I have had a K4 for over four months now but have just used the
    factory patches up until now.  I have a sofware sequencer that says
    it records system exclusive information.  My question relates to
    MIDI data dumps.  
    
    The documentation tells me how to do a midi dump and and my sequencer
    seems to be recording it fine (I have events 1 to 2240 listed in
    a single measure in the sequencer).  I have read the documentation
    from front to back, but can't figure out how to get what I have
    dumped to reload?  Anyone with a K4 out there who knows how to load
    the contents of a midi dump back into the K4?
    
    Also, has anyone out there figured a way to change a single patch
    within a multi-patch with a program change from the sequencer, the
    way I can do with my D110?  I can change single patches and entire
    multi-patches, but is there a way to just change one of the timbres
    in a multi-patch?
    
    Thanks,
    Terry
    

    Can't help with the dump, but check your dump transmit mode parameters.
    Make sure they are set to send the type of dump you want (1 patch or
    all patches).
    
    But, on the program-change to change only one element of a multi-patch.
    Extrapolating from the K1, I would say that you have to change the MIDI
    Receive program change mode.  (Check your manual, on the K1 you can
    have it do this, disable this, or use a mapping of program change
    numbers to the internal patch chain list.)
    
    	Eirikur