Kurzweil KMP-1 Micropiano

Really good sounding 1/2 rack space unit. It's not a true-sounding piano, but it's so close. I'm using version 1.03 software in it. I dont know if it's updatable or not, but it suits me fine. The presets are good enough for live work (it blew away my Roland JV-1010 and it's factory patches). The polyphony is more than I'll ever need. The thing is basically uneditable. You turn the dial and select the sound you wanna hear. MIDI in and thru, left and right out. Coulda been nice to have a headphone out....

Not sure about the polyphony, but it works great for live work. IT has built-in effects that are there but so far back in the mix that they are useless. No expansion or new boards or anything like that. It's a plug and play thing.

It sounds like a piano, and an organ, and strings. NO velocity or aftertouch noticed from my end. The tone you get is what you get. It doesnt react when you "spank" it, which is totally UNLIKE a real piano. The organs are good, but not as good as my XK-2. The strings are good, but my D-50's strings are better. I just got it for the piano. So far it sounds good in rock, blues, R&B and country. It's good to me so far.

I better depend on it, as it's replacing my personally programmed TG55. All I need it for is the piano sound. I'm already covered for the organ and strings end of things. I dont see any problems with it yet. I dont know how well Young Chang/Kurzweil service is, but I'll have to wait and see. It's built quite well. If I had to, I could probly hurt someone with it.

Never tried to deal with Young Chang/Kurzweil yet because there have been no problems.

If it were lost or stolen I'd have to hunt down the guy who stole it and kill him. Hands down it's better than the Korg SG-Rack and the Roland JV-1010 and my TG-55. Everything else is expensive and I doubt if I'll get anything else. I've been playing country/rock/metal for years now. My rig consists of the MicroPiano, a Hammond/Suzuki XK-2, a Suzuki KM-88 piano/controller, a Roland D-50, an Oberheim Matrix 6R, a Yamaha TG-55 and a Korg M1R (I used to have a MemoryMoog Plus before it died, but s**t happens.

No brainer, pick a channel and play.

It has all you need for a basic piano module. The 32 note polyphony is the same as keyboards claiming 64 note mono polyphony. The borrowing is good and dropout is well hidden as it is in Kurzweil gear in general.

You can still hear this piano on TV shows like Smallville. It has a signature sound, not real, just good. I have software synth pianos that blow this away for realism, but they don't sound like this!!!!

NEVER a problem!!!!

They have always been very helpful with questions I have had. (system exclusive midi questions)

I have been thinking about getting a backup.. I love it!!!! It works well with my Yamaha P80 when I want THAT sound. The strings are good to layer with the piano in the keyboard too. A very useful box for me. I don't have a low level problem with my unit, on my mixer it is about the same as the rest of my gear. Listen for it on X-Files re-runs!!!!!

Its pretty easy to use. A monkey could operate this fine apparatus while eating a banana. However, it could be difficult for some of the readers on this board.

It is pretty simple a monkey could operate the dial again while eating a boxed lunch. Also the monkey could probably shut it on and off without electricuting himself. this is imporatant as not all animals are house trained. The monkee might have trouble with the LED screen

All joking aside, i still enjoy playing this after 9 years. It is not exactly reALISTIC but it offers entertainment for the whole family. When I visit my grandpa at the old age home he always comments on how sound #6 reminds him of the steinway they had before we got power of attorney and took all of his possessions.

it broke when I got it so I threw a rock in the store and beat up the owner. funny thing is I walked outta there with a FREE triton after threating to sue. It is mroe reliabilie than my brother Moe who is in jail for lack of child suport

The company was great they fixed the unit after only 12 calls by my attorney. i think using the better business burearu helped

I enjoyed it but had to work long hours at the McDonalds to buy it. My family didnt eat for a few weeks but I told them it was for a good cause/

It has sufficient features for a piano module

The pianos are good, the rest are not usable.

The unit's reliability is good. The wall wart is undependable crap.I have two because the wall wart died in New York and the power listed on the unit (9 volts @ 1 amp) won't run the unit. It lights up but ....no sound. You have to buy another crappy wall wart from them to make it work. See customer service below.

So I call them and say it won't work on the advertised current requirement. Their answer: Buy a wall wart from us. They wouldn't admit that the advertised DC requirement is wrong but I have tried several generic wall warts that fit the spec with no sound.

I am trying to eliminate the module-controller approach so
I wouldn't buy it again. I want to avoid Kurzweil because I believe they misstated the current requirements. Unforgiveable.

This module is very easy to use, even though it can't save last setting. I can always get to my favourite setting pretty fast.

The software version I'm using is ver 1.08.

The manual is really helpful.

It's 32 polyphony, 16 built-in effect and 110 default effect for proram. The only expansion capability is connect it to another module to have 64 polyphony, or any other sound module through "MIDI Through" connector.

It has a very good velocity response (adjustable velocity response curve).

For my need, the features it has is more than enough.

Practically I like all the instrument sounds. All of them pretty realistic. I don't like some of them NOT because they are bad, just because I don't like that kind of sound.

For me, the Classical Piano and Stage Piano are great. "Piano & String Pad" is the best. I feel that I am playing "Piano & String Pad" of Yamaha P-200.

Compared to Yamaha P-200, I give 100 point for P-200, and I give 70 point for the Piano & String Pad sound quality of this module. For only 1/10 of the price of P-200, you get 70% of the sound quality of Yamaha P-200. GREAT DEAL !!

It responses to velocity, and the velocity sensitive response curve setting can enhance the expresiveness.

No aftertouch is supported.

I'm sure it's pretty reliable. Mine has been in UPS truck for 5 days, and has been loaded and unloaded (because they made a mistake). With a poor packaging and handling, it works just great!

I has no experience with Customer Support so far. I hope I don't have to contact them, since I believe my MicroPiano is reliable.

If it were lost or stolen, absolutely I will buy again. I got a pretty good deal from a local store. For $149.99 I got everything; original power supply, User Manual, and also Quick Reference Guide. Even the original manufacture box !!

I really love my MicroPiano, it enhances my Roland Synthesizer E-10 very much. On the first day i received it, I play it for 4 hours!! I just felt I couldn't stop playing!! The sound is too wonderful to be missed.

I tried a lot of digital piano everytime I went to local music store. Roland FP-5, Korg SP-500, Korg SP series, Yamaha P series, Korg Concert Piano series (EC series). You name it. I like Yamah P-200 the most.

Considering my limited budget, I am unable to buy any of them at this moment. So, this MicroPiano is really brighten up my day!! For $149.99 I got a pretty realistic Piano sound, and a wonderful Piano & String Pad.

I have tried to compare it with Alesis NanoPiano and Korg P3. Korg P3 is not realistic enough, especially on the high note.

Alesis NanoPano, the high note sounds too synthetic (for this one, I only hear the mp3 demo).

GREAT ELETRIC PIANOS,STRINGS AND PADS.
ACCOUSTIC PIANO IS DISAPOITMENT.
EDITING PATCHES;YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE THE EFFECT LIKE CHORUS OR REVERB.

POLYPHONY IS 32.NO EXPANSION,NO SEQUENCER LIKE EMU MODULES.
YES,THERE IS A DINAMIC.

GREAT FOR BALLADS AND OTHER SWEET ,GENTLY MUSIC.
IF YOU USE KURZWELL STRING 31 AND FROM OTHER KEYBOARD ACCOUSTIC PIANO
YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH FEELING,OR KURZWELL PAD 32 WITH ROLAND EP-7E
ACCOUSTIC PIANO.MEGA PATCH IS FENDER RHODES 14.
ULTRA GOOD EL.PIANOS 15,16 19.

Very easy to use. No problem

Lack of some features, like:
1)Memory for some presets: sound, velocity curve, etc...
2)No phones output.
3)Very few configuration options.
Good stereo effect.

Good pianos, bright sound, specially low and high notes, although a little bit lack of "body". Nice for classic piano playing with a good MIDI keyboard.
Excellent classic Rhodes emulation (patch #14); the best sound for me and the most widely used, both at home and at stage. Lack of some other variations on it.
Electric piano sounds (patch #15 to #19) too synthetic. Useless for me.
Interesting strings.
Organs only average. No velocity curve election for them. Limited usability.
Lack of a Wurlitzer electric piano patch. I miss it a lot.
Nice effects (reverb) but most of them useless.

Quite robust and reliable.

No idea.

Interesting product for gigging. I bought it for having a portable set (along with a 61 note MIDI keyboard) with good piano sounds for gigging purposes. Nice and bright piano sounds and better Rhodes emulation. For professional use at the studio, could be an option, but there are several more up-to-date solutions (although more expensive). If lost or stolen, I would try to find a module more specialized in classic electric piano sounds.

The micropiano is very easy to use, I have to give it that much. Basically plug it in, get your cables in place, and you're ready. You can't edit the sounds on this unit, only change which effects are paired with each sound. The manual is straightforward and simple to read.

For the rest of this review, I've got to compare the micropiano to other products on the market...which is what you want to hear. When it comes down to it, that's why people come to this site - to hear the pro's and con's of each synth so that you know exactly what you're buying. Bottom line on this unit ?? It was top notch in 1993 and may have a LIMITED use in today's synth market. The built in effects are average at best compared to what's out there today. No expansion. No sound editing. Doesn't remember settings.

I was VERY disappointed with the paino sounds to say the least. The next reviewer is absolutely right - any synth after 1998 will have a better sounding piano..that goes for the S80, XV-88, JV-2080, QS8, N1, SGproX, Proteus, and PC2. I trained on classical music for 10 years and have been in rock bands for 10 more. I bought this without hearing it first mainly because of the reviews on this site and the Kurzweil name. The piano's don't outright suck. They're not terrible, and again, they were top of the line in 1993. But, samples and data storage in the last 5 years are light years ahead. The pianos on this unit sound distant, thin, muffled, and lack presence and body. I'm playing a Korg and I'd compare the micropiano to a watered down beer...you get the jist of the taste, but there's no fullness, no bite, no body. Really, after reading the reviews on this site where it was compared to the K2600, I thought I was missing out by not having one. My Korg pianos blow this unit away though and again, any unit in the last several years will have a better piano. The electric pianos were better (above average in some cases) and the strings were ok. Organs downright suck.

Seems very dependable. I didn't keep mine long enough to put it throught the paces.

Haven't dealt with Kurzweil

"IF"..you have a pre-1995 synth and need a piano sound for under $350 this unit may work for you. Otherwise I'd steer clear of the micropiano. I never recorded with mine but I'd guess it wouldn't shine at all in a mix. There are other synths in the last several years that can put this unit to shame.

Since all the other reviewers seem to be in love with this thing, I
thought I'd cast a dissenting vote.

I used to own a Micro Piano (for two years, 1993 - 1995) and sold it
because I thought it was pretty lame.

A couple of caveats:

1. Kurzweil pianos are "pretty and nice" for solo noodling, etc., and
don't out and out suck, but I frankly don't understand why people rave
about them.

My keyboard player has a 6 1/2 foot Yamaha grand at his house (1978,
I forget the model number), so yes I know what a good piano, well
tuned sounds like.

2. If you are playing the Micro Piano in a band situation, or trying
to record it in a full band situation that has any power or volume
whatsover, the total lack of balls and punch with the module will really
frustrate you.

I would characterize the sound of the Micro Piano as being ok at low
volumes and velocities, but when you bang it, there's no payoff, it
still sounds like the blanket is on the top of the piano.

I'll cover this more in the sound quality section.

I bought mine when it was new (I'll agree with several of the reviewers
I originally bought an Emu Proformance piano and took it right back, that
thing totally bit) I don't remember the software rev, but it was a
real early one.

The presets sounded ok (most of the pianos) to pretty lame (the organs).

The piano/string layers were nice, but nothing to write home about.

Ease of use?

This thing was so damn easy to use, if you've got a pulse you can
figure it out. If you think it's hard to use, you probably also would
need to be told the difference between the black and white keys.

You can't really "edit" patches, just change the velocity response and
turn the effects off.

Kind of annoying, other than the velocity, the thing doesn't remember
your settings when you turn it off.

The manual was pretty good, but hey it had a small set of sounds and
a few buttons, it would have been pretty hard to screw up the manual.

I'm taking off a point for the thing not remembering settings...

32 voice polyphony, which was great in 1993, and it's REAL polyphony,
with a notable exception.

Unlike Roland at the time, who claimed 28 voices on their synths, but
you had to use three oscillators for a decent piano sound, which
resulted in 9 - 10 voice poly, the Micro Piano has a true 32 note
poly.

The exceptions are some of the "combo programs", like strings and piano,
then it's only 16 notes, since you are in effect using two sets of
sounds.

In practice unless you lean on the sustain pedal a lot, you won't run
out.

No expansion capabilities, no patch RAM, no nothing. Like a PC-88, you
had better really like the sound of a given patch because there is no
way you can change it, other than the effects a little.

Midi implemenation was pretty basic, it does respond to controller 7
(midi volume), which turns out to be useless because if you turn the
Micro Piano down at all you can't hear it.

No sequencer, etc., it's just a basic bare bones module.

I'm giving it a low rating because hey, it doesn't have many features.

Well I guess different strokes for different folks, but here's my take:

Warm? - Well if you call murky sounding warm, yeah I guess so.

Dark? - yeah it was real dark, I don't consider that good

Responsive - Actually the lower half of the velocity response is quite
nice, my problem was that in spite of always tweaking
my controller, and the module, I could never get the
sound to open up and have any presence.

Probably best for new age, unless your classical repetoire consists of
material with no forte or double forte passages.

Rock? Fuggitaboutit! Once the band kicks in there is not way in hell
you can hear the damn thing.

I'll put it to you this way, I use a Mackie LM-3204 to submix most of
my keyboards. In order to even hear the Micro Piano in a mix, I'd have
to turn it up all the way, turn up the channel ALL the way, and then
turn all the other synths and keyboards down below one half.

It helped some to just run the micro piano straight into the console
and then jack the gain up, but I bet the damn thing only puts out about
-40 db, instead of the -20 to -10 that most keyboards put out.

I think there are probably some issue with the audio circuitry in this
thing, that prevented the designers from providing a hotter output, I
have NEVER encountered another unit that had such a low output,
including my Korg P-3 Piano module, which was pretty bad for having a
low output.

The PC-88 also has this problem, actually I may be in the minority,
but I think the sound of the PC-88 (see my review here on HC as well)
also blows chuncks.

Before you blow me off as not knowing what the hell I'm talking about,
both keyboard players I work with own PC-88's and agree with me.

One guy has been playing for 34+ years, the other guy for 20+ years.

They both know their stuff, and while they love the PC-88 for it's
action and controller features, they both feel the sounds in them
(and one guy has an MX version) totally bite.

The guy with the MX wound up buying a separate rack module, just to
layer with the PC-88.

I've kind of digressed into PC-88 bashing here, but believe me the
Micro Piano shares the same sound quality issues.

It's not so much that the sound totally sucks and is harsh, it's just
not "there", if you play with any agression or passion at all.

ONBOARD EFFECTS

Actually not too bad, although I usually bypassed them. The longer hall
setting sound a little swimmy, and the shorter ones a bit harsh, but
considering the price and all the built in effects are pretty decent.

SOUND QUALITY

While I appreciate Kurzweil's attempt to provide a "mature" type of
piano sound (rather than a "hyped one" that doesn't sound real), and
the piano tones are ok, my real problem with the unit as I keep saying
is when you spank it. It sounds like the hammers in the Piano have
cotton sponges taped to them. At low velocities, playing "noodly" types
of lines, it sounds pretty decent, but when you lay into it, the
sound just dies.

The strings are pretty decent, but there are a lot of things out there
that put the Micro Piano on the trailer. Nice to have to layer with
though. The organs kind of blow, I wished they had used the waveform
ROM on better piano tone.

I've pretty much covered the whole bit about reacting to playing,
velocity and aftertouch.

I just couldn't get past the feeling that the module ignored any velocities
over about a 75 and just played the same sound after that.

My original Piano module was Korg P3, which I bought in 1989. I thought
it sounded pretty good, especially compared to the piano sounds in
my Korg DW-8000 (no real piano there), and my Kawai K1 (with 512K of
sample ROM, what the hell do you expect?).

Later on, I realized that the Korg P3 really did suck, soundwise, and
then I bought the Emu Proformance. I used that for one night, and took

Yeah it was reliable, but it had a wall wart. Need I go into how bad
that all warts suck?

Ever had a wall wart fall out at a gig? You'll know how I feel.

I wouldn't gig with a Micro Piano, but not because it wasn't reliable,
but because unless you are just playing after dinner music at a
restaurant it's not gonna get it.

With Kurzweil?

Yeah right!

I don't understand how a company that makes such expensive products
as the K2000/K2500/K2600 cannot afford adequate tech support.

I doubt you'd need it for the Micro Piano, but the fact they have never
responded to the four emails I've sent over the years about software
bugs with the PC-88/PC-88MX kind of says a lot.

I've also left phone messages with them and never got a reply.

The only reply of any sort I ever got was in a Kurzweil forum on
www.synthzone.com.

The guy there (who said he was a Kurzweil rep), told me that there were
no ERPOM upgrade chips for the PC-88 series, which effectively meant
the bugs that I had encountered were not going to be addressed.

Kind of weird as both of the guys I work with have 1994 and 1998 vintage
PC-88's (the MX is the 1998) and they both show the same OS when you
fire them up.

I wouldn't hold my breath for any upgrades to the Micro Piano.

Let me get this straight.

I don't think the Micro Piano sucks, in fact you'd probably be hard
pressed to get a better piano sound for the same price, unless you
already had a Roland JV series unit and bought one of the Piano
expansion boards, which are now down to about $200.

You get what you pay for though, and I did not find the Micro Piano
to be very useable at all in a recording or performance situation.

If you're just a guy/gal that sits at home and noodles around, it
would probably work fine for you, but if your music involves playing
or recording with other people with any sort of volume or mix density,
you'll find yourself wondering where the hell the piano went to.

If I still had the thing and it were lost or stolen, I would certainly
move on to something better.

The Micro Piano has been on the market now for about 7 years, which
is geting real long in the tooth.

In modern synth with a decent amount of sample ROM is going to put it
on the trailer in terms of sound quality.

I've been playing, programming, and messing around with synths and
keyboard for about 14 years now (I'm mainly a bass player), even further
back if you count using a modular moog in college.

I'm no keyboard player, but a bit better than the average wanker.

I do know sound and recording though, I've been doing that since 1978.

Before you get the impression that I'm some high fallutin dude that
cannot be pleased by anything, take a look at my keyboard list, no
high end units there.

In fact I would say that the Micro Piano has better sounds than
anything else in my rig except for my Roland JV-90 setup.

The Micro Piano does sound better than my Proteus F/X module's piano
sound, but that's a bit like saying that Margaret Albright is a better
looking woman than Janet Reno. I'd still be pissed off if I encountered
either one on a blind date...

The other gear that I have:

Roland JV-90 with VE-JV1 synth Expansion board and SRV-JV80-03 Piano
wave expansion board

Korg DW-8000 - Passable rhodes type sounds but certainly not very
good for piano. Hey it's a synth, that's what I use it
for. The DW-8000 has an Angel City Turbo Expansion
board in it

Kawai K1 - Good for certain things, but piano isn't one of them

EMU Proteus F/X module - Good for orchestral sounds and some synth
stuff. Brass is pretty bad, as well as a lot
of other stuff. Piano is REAL Bad. In fact
the Piano sound of this module reminds me a
bit of a tinnier, thinner Micro Piano. It
has the same lack of balls

Oberheim Matrix 1000 - Pianos? Yeah right!!! Well actually there are
some pretty decent Rhodes type things, but
this thing's forte is kick ass analog synth,
it was never meant to do Piano

Yamaha CS-1x - again, a pretty bad piano sound, but that's
not what I bought it for.

I did compare the Micro Piano to the Emu, and it won hands down.

The Micro Piano was probably the best Piano module of 1993, but hey the
world has moved on.

I think it would be a pretty good unit for a used thing for $150, but
I wouldn't buy a new one, no way.

I like the simplicty of the unit, and the idea behind it, I just wish
it had some presence and some balls. Real pianos can go from the
faintest tinkle, to the loudest roar, the Micro Piano barely gets out
of tinklesville for me.

It really got in the way of making music for me, because I found
myself constantly tweaking things to try and get it to be heard in the
mix of the recordings I was working on.

I mainly record analog, but use virutal midi tracking to run keyboards
"Live" through my console while the sequencer is synched to timecode.

This avo

Simple - not too many useless features that u will neva use etc. Just a damn good quality grand piano sound, which is all you will ever need if you are even thinking about buying this module. Only one annoying thing is that I have to go into the setup mode to change the velocity curve, as I use it with a Technics KN1400. Manual VERY easy - do not really need to read it, though MAKE SURE YOU TRY ALL OF THE VELOCITY CURVES IN THE SRTUP MODE, AS THEY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE SOUND OF THE PIANO!!!

Top piano sound, best I have heard. Takes some getting used to, though. When I first powered mine up I was a bit disappointed, going froma technics kn1400, which had an OK piano sound, but now it is by far the best I have heard. Features - it is not fully laiden with everything you will ever want to do, but it doesn't promise to be. It is just a good sounding module.

Brilliant sound wuality on the pianos. Number 7 - 'stage piano + strings' is one of my faves, strings sound fake to start with, but sounds excellent after a couple of days. This patch is absolute ecstasy! Goes perfect with Disney-style songs. Normal 'solo' tunings DO make a difference to the sound, which is first rate on all of the piano patches. Organs are dogdy, not as bad as other reviewers make out, but all you;ll ever use this module for is a decent piano sound.

No need to use a back up. This thing feels pro down to its sockets. Deceptively heavy! nice, clear LED which has a window so u cant smash it (done that more than once before)!

Never had to deal with them, this thing is very reliable.

Absolutely brilliant. Definaltely would buy another if it got stolen, if I could claim off the insurance!! Just looking for decent keyboard amp to team it up with now - any suggestions ne1? e-mail me if you have - i cant spend too much money on it though!