View other reviews for this product:
philarmor22 « A childhood dream imported from Chicago in 2009 to $ 1000 ... »
Published on 01/31/12 at 02:20This is an expander, for technical, I refer you directly to the website of Kurzweil (http://kurzweil.com/product/pc2r/overview/):
PC2R Features
Rack Unit: 1U
Display: 2x20 character LCD w / front panel contrast knob
Polyphony: 64-voice, Dynamically Allocated (upgradeable to 128 with the Polyphony Expansion option).
Multi-timbral: 16 parts (one per MIDI channel)
Factory Presets: 536 Internal programs (incl. Orchestral ROM set). Expandable to 668 via Classic Keys Expansion and optional GM Bank install.
Factory MIDI Setups: 32 factory programmed MIDI setups expandable to 96 via Expansion ROM Blocks. 128 user programmable MIDI setups, EACH with 4 independent zones, effects and arpeggiator settings.
General MIDI: available with the Orchestral ROM expansion (included in all units sold in the United States).
KB3 Mode: Kurzweil's proprietary tone wheel organ Modeled technology.
User Memory: 256 locations for User created preset programs (128 for regular and 128 for KB3 Programs programs)
ROM Expansion Slots: 2
Effects: Dual Processors (A & B) Offering: 58 Reverbs, 6 Delays, 10 Choruses, 6 flangers, phasors 3, 4 Shapers, 2 Enhancers, 8 Filtered Effects, 4 Distortions, 1 Mono> Stereo, 3 Wide Stereo, 4 Compressors , 2 Panners, 7 Rotary, Stereo Tremolo, and 44 combination effects chains Utilizing unique Kurzweil1s Laserverb
Effects Routing: All 16 MIDI channels Can send to A and to B in Any Amount. Also There Is a global send from A to B for serial effects chaining.
User Controllable EQ: Global 3-Band
MIDI: In, Out, Through (hardware switchable to copy of MIDI Out).
Controllers: 4 programmable knobs
Arpeggiator: Full-featured MIDI note arpeggiator with multiple latch modes, selectable play order, velocity, duration, tempo, and sync functions.
Outputs: Two 1 / 4 "balanced TRS analog (24-bit DACs), RCA digital w / selectable format (AES / EBU, S / P-DIF), bit width (16, 18, 20, 24), and dithering.
Headphones: Front panel 1 / 4 "headphone output
FREE OS Updates: Flash ROM upgradeable (via system exclusive dumps)
UTILIZATION
Get started fast: connect a MIDI keyboard, regardless of the output channel, you are ready to enjoy the beautiful sounds of the expander, SETUP mode (performance) ...
To use multitimbral (MIDI Receive mode) (mine), take the time to read the documentation (in English), browse the menu and overall make some small adjustments to suit your own needs (management of multi purpose, channels etc. ...).
The book is dense and very complete. Editing patches is possible via the GUI of the expander, but the use of a PC editor quickly becomes indispensable. My personal view is that in Kurzweil, the sounds are so exceptional that it is absolutely necessary to work again!
SOUNDS
Sounds, just y. .. The piano is exceptional, the orchestral ROM is exceptional (the Roland SRX06 pales next to most of the sets) and the sounds are realistic, of a purity, a clarity, dynamics and exceptional expressivity ( not embedded in multi effects). The Rhodes pads hearts are very good, excellent for most brass and saxes in particular. Also some excellent guitars (Roland gives many more choices in this area ...). Some will say "yes, but today we did better with the synths, given the power of PC platforms" ... Well I would say that expander is the branch and the OS takes a few seconds to start and we are ready to use. Never crash. I would add that the quality of the digital analog converters Kurzweil sounds give a warmth and realism all individuals ...
An important point: Kurzweil has made a point of honor to the design and to design a power supply (14.4 V) specific to ensure a noise figure as low as possible and the best possible dynamic. The signal to noise ratio is greater than 110 dB.
For cons I should say rather that it is an expander dedicated acoustic or electro acoustic sounds for the most in this area and, despite his age he is still often used in the studio. (2002, I had the opportunity to acquire a copy of Chicago 2008/04, the black edition with the Orchestral ROM, integrated electronics younger - yes, I had also that of 2002).
As already mentioned by others, you will not find big synth sounds. That's why I find the couple and Kurzweil Roland XV5050 PC2R complement each other very well ...
OVERALL OPINION
I use it since 2009, date of purchase. I listened to a lot of demos on the latest gear hardware or virtual, I remain amazed by the realism and expressiveness of the expander on both piano chords and the other acoustic instruments and electro acoustic ...
Made in 2002, first edition after 2005 I think, should we consider it an expander and vintage collection? Personally, I am among those who consider that it still provides badly in the studio and live by its realism (of, it must be said, to the excellent work of recording and processing of sound samples from Kurzweil). .. No need for treatment with dozens of layers, with these four layers, the PC2R it a hit ...
PC2R Features
Rack Unit: 1U
Display: 2x20 character LCD w / front panel contrast knob
Polyphony: 64-voice, Dynamically Allocated (upgradeable to 128 with the Polyphony Expansion option).
Multi-timbral: 16 parts (one per MIDI channel)
Factory Presets: 536 Internal programs (incl. Orchestral ROM set). Expandable to 668 via Classic Keys Expansion and optional GM Bank install.
Factory MIDI Setups: 32 factory programmed MIDI setups expandable to 96 via Expansion ROM Blocks. 128 user programmable MIDI setups, EACH with 4 independent zones, effects and arpeggiator settings.
General MIDI: available with the Orchestral ROM expansion (included in all units sold in the United States).
KB3 Mode: Kurzweil's proprietary tone wheel organ Modeled technology.
User Memory: 256 locations for User created preset programs (128 for regular and 128 for KB3 Programs programs)
ROM Expansion Slots: 2
Effects: Dual Processors (A & B) Offering: 58 Reverbs, 6 Delays, 10 Choruses, 6 flangers, phasors 3, 4 Shapers, 2 Enhancers, 8 Filtered Effects, 4 Distortions, 1 Mono> Stereo, 3 Wide Stereo, 4 Compressors , 2 Panners, 7 Rotary, Stereo Tremolo, and 44 combination effects chains Utilizing unique Kurzweil1s Laserverb
Effects Routing: All 16 MIDI channels Can send to A and to B in Any Amount. Also There Is a global send from A to B for serial effects chaining.
User Controllable EQ: Global 3-Band
MIDI: In, Out, Through (hardware switchable to copy of MIDI Out).
Controllers: 4 programmable knobs
Arpeggiator: Full-featured MIDI note arpeggiator with multiple latch modes, selectable play order, velocity, duration, tempo, and sync functions.
Outputs: Two 1 / 4 "balanced TRS analog (24-bit DACs), RCA digital w / selectable format (AES / EBU, S / P-DIF), bit width (16, 18, 20, 24), and dithering.
Headphones: Front panel 1 / 4 "headphone output
FREE OS Updates: Flash ROM upgradeable (via system exclusive dumps)
UTILIZATION
Get started fast: connect a MIDI keyboard, regardless of the output channel, you are ready to enjoy the beautiful sounds of the expander, SETUP mode (performance) ...
To use multitimbral (MIDI Receive mode) (mine), take the time to read the documentation (in English), browse the menu and overall make some small adjustments to suit your own needs (management of multi purpose, channels etc. ...).
The book is dense and very complete. Editing patches is possible via the GUI of the expander, but the use of a PC editor quickly becomes indispensable. My personal view is that in Kurzweil, the sounds are so exceptional that it is absolutely necessary to work again!
SOUNDS
Sounds, just y. .. The piano is exceptional, the orchestral ROM is exceptional (the Roland SRX06 pales next to most of the sets) and the sounds are realistic, of a purity, a clarity, dynamics and exceptional expressivity ( not embedded in multi effects). The Rhodes pads hearts are very good, excellent for most brass and saxes in particular. Also some excellent guitars (Roland gives many more choices in this area ...). Some will say "yes, but today we did better with the synths, given the power of PC platforms" ... Well I would say that expander is the branch and the OS takes a few seconds to start and we are ready to use. Never crash. I would add that the quality of the digital analog converters Kurzweil sounds give a warmth and realism all individuals ...
An important point: Kurzweil has made a point of honor to the design and to design a power supply (14.4 V) specific to ensure a noise figure as low as possible and the best possible dynamic. The signal to noise ratio is greater than 110 dB.
For cons I should say rather that it is an expander dedicated acoustic or electro acoustic sounds for the most in this area and, despite his age he is still often used in the studio. (2002, I had the opportunity to acquire a copy of Chicago 2008/04, the black edition with the Orchestral ROM, integrated electronics younger - yes, I had also that of 2002).
As already mentioned by others, you will not find big synth sounds. That's why I find the couple and Kurzweil Roland XV5050 PC2R complement each other very well ...
OVERALL OPINION
I use it since 2009, date of purchase. I listened to a lot of demos on the latest gear hardware or virtual, I remain amazed by the realism and expressiveness of the expander on both piano chords and the other acoustic instruments and electro acoustic ...
Made in 2002, first edition after 2005 I think, should we consider it an expander and vintage collection? Personally, I am among those who consider that it still provides badly in the studio and live by its realism (of, it must be said, to the excellent work of recording and processing of sound samples from Kurzweil). .. No need for treatment with dozens of layers, with these four layers, the PC2R it a hit ...