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Average rating:
3.7 out of 5
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As many of the reviews indicate, there's something about the Kawai K1 that endears it to most owners. I purchased the K1R new, and still love the intuitive simplicity of tweaking the multi patches as needed.
I'm keyboardist in a DOORS tribute band, and use two bass sounds one octave apart and the higher one detuned in order to get a very punchy bass guitar simulation (I can split the keyboard and modules for the different patches). I also love the way you can designate the different sounds in the multipatch output as L, R, or both. The bass sounds output is L only, so I can use a dedicated bass amp, and also send the DI XLR output to it's own channel in the house PA's. For the remaining sounds in each multipatch, I simply use an organ or electric piano sound to mix both with my KORG X5DR module and selected sounds on my YAMAHA DX7 (with E-Grey Matter installed).
I have purchased a used K1M module, and would like to purchase another K1R as backup if I spot one. A friend had the K1 keyboard, but I found that needed additional tweaking to make the sound outputs consistent, and really prefer the sound modules, especially as the velocity can be controlled by the DX7 Grey Matter. Live, I can switch sounds on the DX7, and midi automatically program changes both modules.
Even so, the K1 is very limited in what it can do well, and I would not consider the K1 keyboard strong enough as a solitary synthesizer. But, as I said, I can't tire of my K1R and K1M, and will continue to use them forever.
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Alfonso - I don't think the acoustic pianos are that bad - they're probably not as good as those from a Casio CT-600, which was, I think, a PCM-based board. They have character though, and that's what matters(and you can edit them till the cows come home. But the electric piano patches are something else - put "Real Rhodes" through a nice reverb and play some chords in a nice mellow key(A or E) - ooohh, instant jazz lounge. Buy a K1 - it's a little hidden gem.
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I have some new programs for the K1, actually a whole bank. They bring the K1 back to competitive "new synth" life. Email me for the SYS bank.
celestrium@cox-internet.com
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In the past I've owned, used, and sold a K1 & K1r (to upgrade to K4 & K4r -I still have the K4r, which I like very much). I recently picked up a K1m because there are certain unique sounds I missed from it, even though I have a nice collection of very desirable synths. Excellent strings and "air pads". Great for ambient, electronic, and New Age music.I've done a lot of programming to get the most out of it, and I HIGHLY recommend using an external effects unit to make it come alive - I use a Boss SE50 for reverb and delay. This is an excellent synth that didn't get the recognition it deserved.
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I got my K1 last summer for �150. Love it to bits. Horrified when I knocked it over and broke/bent it, but after an afternoon's work with a hammer and glue it's as good as new. There are many, many excellent sounds in this box if you are prepared to work to create them. The only thing it really misses is the ability to split the keyboard into different MIDI zones - it will receive on up to 8 midi channels simultaneously, but it will only transmit on one at any particular time, which is a shame.
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