I have actually got three Kurzweils older K series and love them. They are amazing. It is just that I have the opportunity to pick up a brand new PC3K6 for half price and it's just too good to be true.

I have done the research and it turns out that these new models are just amazing in terms of sounds, features and really blow the older K series away. The new models can read all the older K series sounds too.

I am just wondering if any of you hardware keyboard types might have one of these new babies. Do you love it as much as I think I am going to love it?

I used to have a K2600XS that I absolutely loved for years.  I eventually sold it, thinking it was way over-kill for my needs and I was moving into a more DAW centered setup anyway at the time.  The moment I sold it, I missed it.  Not just because of all the sounds and features, but also because of the "feel" of it.  I tried many other keyboards/controllers but I never liked any of them as much.

Last year, I was able to get a great deal on a Kurzweil SP2XS and I jumped right on it!  I can't speak to the PC3 series specifically, but I can assure you the new Kurzweils are just as amazing as the older K series and then some.  Incredible sounds, features, and the weighted feel is simply the best!


You will love it as much as you think you are, Jeff!

I've got the PC3x and it sounds terrfic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH1VUzwNmwE

Not impressed by the action and it takes a while to boot and I have read online that the fuse sometimes blows as well. 

Cool that it has the Hammond clone incorporated.

VAST is beyond me at this stage.... and the manual is typical Kurzweil. 

For a MIDI guru like you Jeff it would probably be right up your street but I kind of wish I went for the Fantom G with the nice action now. 

The Norwegian guy on these boards-ProjectM- has got one too.

Thanks very much guys I appreciate you chiming in. I am getting the impression it sounds incredible. For me the action is not the thing so much. I am not really a piano player so much but a synth player and I have played synth actions a lot so it does not worry me too much.

I am into soundtracks and creating music especially in a multi timbral mode too. Although I will be transferring parts over to my DAW and processing from there as well. I am into VAST as I have used it on the older K2000 series. I am interested in the new PC3K series as it reads the old sounds and I have a pretty large collection of Kurzweil sounds on CD ROM. I will still keep a K2000R that is maxed out though just for some extra Kurz power.

The keyboard is in another city and I am not sure I am going to get a chance to hear it before I buy it so that is why I am asking. It is the sound quality of the machine that really interests me the most.

backwoods I have played the Fantom and yes it has a fine action for sure. The Kurzweil model with the nice action is the PC3K8. (supposed to be anyway) I am interested in the PC3K6. It has the same specs just a different keyboard that is all. I will be using it in the studio not live. Thanks again, hopefully ProjectM will chime in as well.

Has anyone opened it up and had a look inside as to build quality. That would interest me too as the old K2000 series is very well made.

After much a do I finally got the Kurzweil PC3K yesterday and I must say that it is really one serious instrument. I am very happy with the investment. I bought it off a guy who only used it for two hours so it is seriously new but I only paid half the retail price so I am very happy.

I must say, and I am a big believer in virtual instruments, that when you start playing something hardware of this quality it really turns your ideas around about how incredible a hardware synth can sound. All the presets are just breathtaking and so fat and powerful. It takes a serious load off your computer while you are producing music if you are one to be using external midi.

I have owned and used quite a few instruments over the years including the best of Yamaha, Korg, Roland etc but I must say this thing tops them all for sheer sound quality. It is in a class of its own for sure. Ray Kurzweil is a very clever man. So if any of you are thinking about making any sort of investment into a hardware synth please give this thing a go, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. It also contains a virtual organ synth engine and also their famous VA 1 virtual analog synth too and it sounds amazing.

Congrats Jeff! I know a guy like you will be able to use it to its full potential too. 

There is a forum somewhere that has a Kurzweil section and the main designer quite often chips in.

Thanks backwoods. Yes well.... I thought the K2000 was pretty complicated and it is but I must say this thing is WAY more complex. I will have to spend some time for sure digging deep into it. I am technical and musical at the same time. You could use it just the way it is and never get into it's deep programming but I know I will be wanting to dig deep at some point. 

Thanks for the info about the forum. I will chase it down for sure. 

Jeff,
I bought a new PC3K8 about six months ago and love it. Great action and awesome sounds.

steve stallings music There is a picture of it on my music page in the studio pics.

Hi Steven, Well I am having a serious love affair with mine. I have got the PC3K6 version but very happy none the less. The keyboard action is terrific and I love the way after touch is set-up on this too.

I must say I am a bit flabbergasted as to how bloody good it sounds. It is better than the older K2000 series. I have still got a fully maxed out K2000R and love it too but this thing is unbelievable. I have just used that NYC Grand on a big pop song production and it just sounds killer and so very real it is rude. The NYC Grand preset is amazing. The instrument records so very well.

I have owned a few biggie synths from Roland and Yamaha and others too but I must say there is something very special in the way this sounds. It is better than most I honestly believe it. They have taken the whole older K2000 thing and really upgraded it and pushed it into the stratosphere. Kore 64 must be amazing too. Next thing to get inside it.

Make sure you get all the free sounds on their website. There are few banks there with quite a few presets in them. Among the analog synths there are some really killer electric pianos. Some of the best ever!!