Kurzweil PC3X

The 88-note PC3X delivers 128 voices along with a host of powerful, easy-to-use features.  In addition to Kurzweil's Triple Strike Grand Piano, the PC3X features hundreds of new sounds; basses, drums, guitars, and synths suited for every style and taste, along with a collection of flawless vintage keyboard emulations, KB3 Mode and over 250 orchestral and string section programs.

An unlimited-track sequencer with 1536 PPQ resolution and more effects processing power than Kurzweil's KSP8 processor have been added to the PC3X. USB, flash xD card port, newly designed keyboard action, and a new user interface round out the great features that helped shape the PC3X and make it a singular performance controller.

The PC3X offers a sound set of over 800 programs.  All of the basic sounds - basses, guitars, drums, horns and synths - have been programmed to reflect the needs of today's professional players, representing a broad selection of styles and flavors from the '60s on up to today.

Also included is Classic Keys ROM, which puts a large vintage keyboard rig at your fingertips. These are vintage emulations which actually sound like vintage instruments and classic recordings. The recognizable sounds of those classic electromechanical instruments, with all of their characteristic imperfections, have been re-created, along with pedals, amps and speakers. Lush Mellotrons, growling electric pianos, and punchy Clavinets are all there at the touch of a button.

The PC3X is equipped with the most advanced version of Kurzweil's KB3 Mode tonewheel organ simulator. In addition to newly developed Leslie effects, and a new bank of B3 programs, sounds from the classic Vox and Farfisa combo organs have also been included. The PC3X's 9 sliders provide real-time drawbar control.

The PC3X offers a full range of orchestral sounds, including the new String Section ROM bank, making it ideal for film-scoring and soundtrack projects. Every type of articulation, every nuance has been captured, with samples of full and divisi sections of violins, violas, cellos, and double bass. The details, warm swells, animated pizzicatos and the sound of scraping rosin all add to the effect of these string sections.

Dynamic V.A.S.T. picks up where the K series left off. Having up to 32 layers per program means that emulations of real instruments can be extremely detailed and accurate, while the synthesized sounds can be extraordinarily large and complex.  Users can now create and store their own DSP algorithms, with nearly limitless possibilities for routing.

Kruzweil has also built the VA-1's (Virutal Analog Synthesizer) synthesis engine into the PC3X.

Every layer in a program can be routed through the DSP of any other layer, in series or blended together, with up to 32 layers. You can run your sound through literally dozens of filters (which can all move independently in real-time) in addition to Kurzweil's signature DSP processors like Shaper, Wrap and Distortion.

The Easy Audition feature takes every one of the PC3X's presets and links them to a bank of "riffs", recorded sequences which demonstrate each sound in an appropriate context.  Also available will be a software-based PC3 Desktop Editor (for both Mac & PC) with comprehensive, easy-to-use features.

With up to 16 insert effects plus two available auxiliary sends, the PC3X offers more than twice the processing power of Kurzweil's acclaimed KDFX engine. Effects can be chained together in series, or distributed among the PC3X's 16 multitimbral channels. All parameters are assignable to any of the PC3X's real time controllers - sliders, pedals, wheels, etc.

The PC3X will feature a newly designed sequencer, with unlimited tracks and 1536 PPQ resolution. Combining a set of powerful song editing functions like step editing, swing, and controller scaling with a new friendlier interface, the PC3X truly excels as a song writing/arranging workstation, and is ideal for music production on the fly. Chasing controls and a global "set song length" function are just a couple of the features that have been incorporated.

The PC3X sports sixteen independent arpeggiators as well as a collection of pre-recorded beats and musical phrases.

Features:

• Keyboard: Next generation, 88-note, fully-weighted hammer-action, with velocity and aftertouch sensitive keys, featuring a quick release spring, striking an ideal balance of playability between piano type parts and synth/organ parts.
• Display: 240 x 64 angled, backlit LCD w/ dedicated back panel brightness and contrast controls.
• Polyphony: 128 Voice Polyphony, dynamically allocated, lightning fast performance.
• Multitimbral: 16 parts (one per MIDI channel)
• Architecture:
  Dynamic VAST: Powerful new synthesis engine, with user programmable DSP algs and routing. More DSP power than even our K Series instruments.
  VA1 Inside: anti-aliasing, power-shaped oscillators and DSP processing from Kurzweil's VA1 prototype synth, capable of delivering authentic analog emulations as well as incredibly complex new sounds.
  Cascade Mode: lets the user route one layer through the DSP of any other layer within a program - up to 32 consecutive layers deep.
• Software Desktop Editor: Mac and PC platforms
• Factory Presets: Over 850 New Factory Presets, many of which use 10-20 layers, featuring samples from the PC2 Base Sound ROM, the Orchestral, Classic Keys, General MIDI set, PLUS new String Section ROM Bank. Also, 64 new KB3 programs.
• Factory MIDI Setups: 96 factory programmed MIDI setups. 128 user programmable MIDI setups, each with 16 independent zones, effects and arpeggiator settings.
• General MIDI: Standard
• User Memory: 1024 locations for user created preset programs. 128 locations for user created MIDI Setups.
• Sound ROM Expansion Slots: 2
• Sequencer: Unlimited tracks; 1536 PPQ resolution; features pattern "Clips" that can be created within a track, and then easily stretched, compressed, copied, repeated and transposed. Song editing functions include step editing, swing, controller scaling and more. Controller chasing and a global "set song length" functions are also featured.
• Effects: 16 insert effects distributed over 12 busses, plus two auxiliary sends; featuring over 300 of our award winning effects - reverbs, delays, chorus, flange, phaser, EQs, distortions, Leslie simulators, compressors, and more.
• Global EQ: User-controllable master EQ section and master compressor for quick adjustments during live performance. (These do not use up the insert effect resources.)
• Controllers: Pitch wheel, modulation wheel, 9 front panel sliders/drawbar controllers, 2 front panel switches (momentary or toggle, software selectable), 3 switch pedal input, 2 continuous control pedal inputs, mono pressure, Super Ribbon input, breath controller input. Controller values can be "captured" and stored as part of a program.
• Arpeggiator: 16 full-featured independent arpeggiators with multiple latch modes, selectable play order, velocity, duration, tempo, and sync functions as well as pre-recorded beats and musical phrases.
• Analog Outputs: Four 1/4" balanced TRS analog (24-bit DACs).
• Headphones: 1 rear-panel 1/4" headphone output.
• Digital Outputs: 24-bit, stereo S/PDIF featuring 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192-kHz modes.  Externally clockable.
• MIDI: In, Out, Thru (hardware switchable to copy of MIDI Out).
• USB: MIDI over USB. Also allows the PC3X to load and save data directly to and from a computer as well as perform OS updates.
• Flash Memory Port: xD card type. Store and load programs, OS updates, and sequences.
• FREE OS Updates: Flash ROM upgradeable via USB or flash memory card.
• Dimensions: 54.33" L x 13.98" D x 4.33" H (138 cm x 35.5 cm x 11 cm)
• Weight: 55 lbs. (25 kg)
• Power: Internal AC power supply. Selectable 120/240V AC operation.