Kurzweil PC1X

Kurzweil PC1X
V 1.01
Most of the 512 preset sounds are Wonderful and Life-like.
At first, this keyboard takes a bit of getting used to for creating and editing your own setups (Kurzweils name for using more than one sound at a time).
You have to mostly use Effects to modify the sound to your need or liking,you can't simply adjust attack,sustain and decay etc.
The manual is pretty good,but you will eventually learn more by tweeking and exploring the keyboard,the manual does'nt tell you some things,it took me a while to realise you can layer 4 sounds together!

Polyphony is mostly plenty,unless you layer 4 sounds together and try and play rapidly up and down the keyboard (64 drops down to 16 polyhony).
However,the sounds are so Rich I seldom combine more than 3.
There are stacks and stacks of effects,but some are more subtle than others and you have to do quite a bit of exploring to find what you want.
It has plenty of expansion options,cards and onboard memory for your setups etc..has midi IN,THRU/OUT and OUT, and plugin points for Ribbon ,Pedals etc.
No sequencer on board,but I never wanted one,overall when you get to explore this keyboard,it's easy to use.
The key action is EXCELLENT,weighted like a real acoustic piano,but a tad lighter for fast easy playing on organs etc.
The Key velocity is widely adjustable ,and aftertouch is standard

The sounds are AMAZING and RICH WITH CHARACTER ,I would say 95% of the 512 sounds.
My favourites (being a piano player),are the acoustic pianos and electric pianos,there are about approx. 70 acoustic and even more electric pianos galore.
Heavenly Ear-Candy sounds can be made by layering some of the acostics with some of the modern electrics.
What stops me from giving these sounds a 10 is,I have noticed the piano sustain dies away abit too quickly around the middle of the keyboard.
The bottom end is SUPREME ,powerful and full of detail ,and sustain is perfect,top end shimmers and shines with no shortage of sustain,definitely the best I have ever heard on any digital keyboard.
Strings,Pads and synthes are Big,Grunty and Rich with detail.
Playing velocity and feedback to your fingers is ever so sweet and a joy to play.
Overall ,I just love this keyboards sounds and effects,even thou it has no direct adjustment for attack and decay etc,Iv'e still been able make up sounds that I want.
Of course,goes without saying,this keyboard would be Great for any music style.

No reliabily problems found after 2/1/2 years at home and a few gigs.
No problem depending on it at a gig.

I sent Kurzweil an email ,asking them if there was any way to adjust the piano sustain,they didn't bother to answer,so I guess I will give them about a 5.

Lost or stolen?,I would definetly buy another Kurzweil ,probably the later PC3X ,they have even more sounds and some new ones galore.
Been playing for 25 years,just have the PC1X and my P.A.
What I love about this Keyboard is the Awesome sound ,and the fact that it's not too big (for carrying around),much smaller than alot of other 88 key synthes,for instance Roland Fantom and Yamaha motif.
Nothing I hate about this keyboard at all,and nothing I really really wish it had.
Just wonderful for making music on .
What bought Kurzweil keyboards to my attention ,was watching the BeeGees playing them for many years,and they allways sounded Sweet.
I did lots of farming and looking around at all the makes before buying the Kurzweil PC1X.

Software version V2,

Presets sound great, creating setups and layers is really easy, selecting sounds great, its really easy to use, the manual is good.

64 not poly, the action is great, built in effects are great, and it can be expanded, MIDI is great it doesnt have usb like the newer ones but thats not a problem, there is no on board sequencer, but who uses one now a days anyway!

You can do in depth patch editing and sampling, you need to get the PC3X for this.

Very good indeed, sounds as good as many more expensive keyboards (Motif's & Roland XV's) The piano particually is much much better than the roland ones IMHO, Basically it has the sounds of the more expensive keyboards but without the edit and sampling functions.

Its really solid, havnt had a problem with it yet, only thing that makes this not a 10 is the fact it has a rather flimsy looking external psu, and I would prefer a proper internal one.

Dont know, not needed it yet

Absolutly excellent, superb value sounds better than allot of more expensive boards, its discontinued now and I got the last I could find in the UK, The pc3x is better if you need editing features but at 2.5x the cost this is amazing value. If it was lost I'd cry cause you cant get them anymore and then buy a pc3x!

Like any keyboard it is a bit of a trick to get the hang of adjusting effects, voices, creating new sounds, etc etc. I use only for live performance so I have not really delved into the midi feature yet. I did a bunch of research and messing around in the tones and now making my own tones with two effects of my choice is a breeze. It has more than enough banks for your tones. Get some pedals and your possibilities exponentially increase. I really dig making weird tones that kinda hit the audience like, wow i've never heard that before....ohhh i kinda like it.

The action is killer. I play mostly with the Rhodes tones, put a few pedals inline with my Roland kc-550, then put the left out to a fender blues junior (with the bass knob all the way down) for the highs. Mic the blues junior and take direct from the Roland. I get crazy stage volume and can keep stereo with the effects pedals. The different tones put in are so so, some are phenomenal. Adding slight effects or reverb to any of them makes them sound sooooo creamy. Like most keyboards you can combine voices, split the keys down the middle of the board to have one voice on the top half, another on the bottom. (Very fun to put an upright in your lefthand and an organ on the right, if you can walk and solo it's funny to see how the crowd reacts.) There are a couple cool bass tones but you need pedals like i said to get them sounding great. Me and our bassist actually trade 4's and have slap battles, rediculously fun and entertaining. There is really some great engineering put into this board.

I use it for funk/jam/jazz. So it gets it from all sides. Funk I use the clav tones, the staccato touch is spot on. Use mostly organ/rhodes or straight piano for jazz. The piano tones are very touchy, if you don't have classical training in voicing and phrasing it will get a bit muddled (like any real piano). Because the keys are weighted you will never get that organ feel but it still does the trick for runs and palm glissando's. For jamming, throw some effects in line with it and engage a couple of the on board effects (you can add two effects to any tone) and you can get some mesmerizing atmospheric effects. Throw a wah in line, a delay pedal and that only adds to the orgy. I've been playing on full size Steinways and taking lessons from college professors since I was 6 and the touch gets it done. For classical, to a good ear you can tell it's an electric, but that is expected. The upper registers of the piano tones sound PRISTINE, so when you're killin a quick run in the upper registers I have not heard a better elec. piano tone for it. The mids are a little weird (still talking piano tones) but the lower registers can GROWL, I dig it. It doesn't quite get the touch of the new Roland's but it feels solid, and you can slam on the keys without worrying about it. Some of the volumes and eq's change when you change tones, so just be conscious of your volume. To really get the tones you want you're going to have to get a couple pedals. I use a compression and crank up the attack to get those chubby percussive organ sounds. Use a wah to get the chunky pudding sounds of clavs. Use a dealy and phaser to get the funky, precise, and mezmerizing sounds out of the rhodes tones.

I have had it for over 4 years now. I completely abuse every piece of equipment I have while I'm playing (except my hollowbody) But while moving and setting up I don't mess around. Don't skimp on a stand, and get a case. Keyboards are incredibly precise instruments and if something gets messed up it's not an easy fix. Do not load them into a car vertically with the keys down, do not load them in at an angle where there are varying pressures torquing the keyboard as a whole, and never stack ANYTHING on top of them unless it's in an anvil or flight case. It takes everything I throw at it as far as playing abuse. The keyboard itself has a few little quirks, everything has to be plugged in when you turn it on. I saw Taj Mahal play a concert on this keyboard, and his tech turned it on THEN plugged in the sustain...needless to say the sustain was backwards (off when pressed, on when resting). Taj went to play it and couldn't figure it out. All he had to do was turn it off and back on. It has never failed me yet. One of the little tone adjustment knobs has a little play but that is entirely my fault.

havn't had to yet

I really dig it. There are better keyboards on the market, but they are sooooo expensive. This strikes a perfect balance, it is very professional, has a medium feel (quick yet heavy), while still being practical and affordable. I've had it for about 4 years, and my tones grow along with me. Great job Ray Kurzweil!

Bought it in November 2005. Very easy to use. I was worried I wasn't going to be able to decipher the manual but it was great! I don't care if you can't edit down to it's DNA level. I never did anyway. Presets are amazing, especially the pianos. Organs are only fair. Maybe Kurzweil will make a KB3 module for it someday? I can only wish.

Since I don't sequence, no real opinion on its polyphony abilities. The effects section is what really makes this keyboard sing. Easy to edit as I stated before. Getting to your saved setups is a cumbersome effort.

I play mainly rock and roll covers and this instrument is perfect for me. I was using a Roland RS-9 but this keyboard kicks its ass in so many ways. The action is like an acoustic. Not perfect but gives feedback in a way that's so comfortable. The aftertouch however is sluggish but I haven't looked into ways to improve that yet.

Don't know about dependability just yet. It's my first Kurzweil product. This summer's gigs will be the real test. Hope I'm luckier than a few people out there. I will be using it without a backup.

Never dealt with Kurzweil.

I will hunt down and disembowel the creep that steals anything of mine, especially this one. I've never spent more money on a single keyboard in my career. Been playing longer than I'm willing to admit. I'm very happy with the PC1X. It's by far the best, most expressive instrument I've ever owed. Yeah, it's a heavy bastard, and it could benefit from better sounding organs, but overall a great 'bang for the buck' keyboard. It's a Kurzweil! Besides, I use a Roland VK-7 as my top keyboard and they play very nice together. Would highly recommend it to someone else.

v.1.01
The presets sound great the only minor should be the organs they suck but the pianos,ep's,brasses,orchestras sounds rocks!
you can layer sound extremely easy!It's even easier than my roland and I know that they say that kurzweils are difficult for programmibility but this is extremely easy and the manual is super clear.

64 voices they have never drawn to me not even with the 4 layers.the keyboard action is great and there are 6 modes tht you can change.It only has the orchestral expansion but I don't own it but you can buy something for $20 that are like 50 patches or more that you tranfer via midi to the user bank I donw own them but I'd like.no It doesn't have sequencer.

It sounds great in my opinion. I play every type of music with it.one word:GREAT.I bought the ribbon too!IT's another word:GREAT!!

I depend on it!!I have gig with it without backup..Damn I f i had the money to buy aanother pc1-x I'd buy a k2600s instead..:P

Haven't deal with them yet.

If I get stolen I'd cry and I'd buy and k2600s used...:P but that doesn't mean that I don't love it.I have benn playing for 6 motns.,I have a roland rs-50 too.I'd like to have a sequencer but there are somethings that you can't just have.If you want to buy one buy it you wont regret it!

Easy to use, self-explanatory manual.
The modulation ability should be easier for performance situations; it takes too much time to punch in all the buttons.

Good features, but needs to be easier to transpose. It takes too much time.

Good piano sounds, and strings are pretty good. The brass could use some help.

Can't depend on this product; it began making phantom screeches within a month of playing on it, and the problems increased substantially over time. I never knew if I'd get through a performance without a problem or not.

This haws been not just BAD - but TERRIBLE!!! I would never recommend purchasing anything from Kurzweill - if you have a problem, you'll never get it solved!!! My keyboard has been at the authorized repair center for over four months. Couldn't get the parts . . . then promised a new board, and now I've been waiting on that for six weeks! Never, ever, ever buy a Kurzweil product!!!

If I could do it over, I'd have never bought this product!! What a nightmare - my Band is suffering because I don't have a keyboard now.

* Software version: V 2.01
* The presets of the board are great, see more at Sounds.
* Editing patches is really easy, I didn't need the manual for most of the editing. I didn't hook the PC1X up on a sequencer, so I don't know how that works yet.
* The manual works fine for the (few) things I needed.
* overall the keyboard is very easy to use

* polyphony 64 voices, I play a lot piano, and I don't mention any notes dropping away. So 64 is just fine for me
* Built-in effects are just great!! Before this Kurzweil, I only played Roland keyboards and the Rolands cannot combine 2 effects. With the PC1X you can apply 2 effects on the sound. Thats really great. The sound of the effects also really cool and work on the patches really well.
* very good feature is the EQ section. On stage my Mix engineer always complained about the sound of my piano. Now with the PC1X this is solved, the EQ makes it as bright as I want and it cuts through all other sounds. Real good EQ, very musical.
* The PC1X has expanding capabilities, but just one: the vintage keyboards. I am willing to buy it, but I'll wait a few months, because I'm not bored with the sounds I got now.
* Midi is just fine I think, I didn't hook the PC1X up on a sequencer, so I don't know how that works yet.
* The aftertouch of the board works very good. I think this works much better then on my Roland (XP and Fantom) synths.

The sounds are so great! I really like this board with great sounds. I bought it for playing more piano, but you definately get more then just digital piano sounds. It's between a digital piano and a synthesizer. The piano's are great! The electric pianos are really good! Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzers, fantastic. Clavinet is better than most boards, but for the real thing I use my own Hohner Clavinet Duo.
I don't like the guitars, but I don't use them much, so I don't complain too much about that. Further sounds, organs, like synths, pads, basses, drums are all on a (very)good level. It's just like someone already mentioned: you don't get much, but less can be more. All the sounds on this board are at good-very good quality.

The keyboard feeling is good for me. I used to play the Yamaha P80, but that was too stiff for me. This keyboard feels good, has good reaction and I can play fast on it.

The Kurzweil instruments don't have good reputation about reliability. I doubted alot before I bought the PC1X, but now I'm so glad I've got it! I played it alot since the 3 weeks I've got this board. No complaints at all, and I hope it will be that way forever. Maybe Kurzweil produced better PC1X models because of the many complaints, I don't know...

Never dealt with them, so I can't give you that information

I am so happy with this board, really my favourite at this time! If it stays in this good shape (no broken keys or other quick complaints) I'd really buy another one when it were stolen.
For this amount of money, it is hard to find a keyboard with the same features AND quality!
I choose this for the old funk keyboards like Rhodes, Wurlitzers and Clavinet. Above that, the pianos are at really good level and so do the organs. For a gig I don't even need another board.

Version 2.01 w/ Orchestral Expansion Installed

Didn't have time to read the manual (i will ellaborate on reliability).
This unit seems very easy to use, because i didn't look at the manual at all, and I was able to create my own setups, and configure the unit almost completely.

64 voices, no expansion cabailities in that area (Hey Kurzweil, was that too difficult to implement??).
A really sluggish action, doesn't feel good at all, i'd rather buy a Kurzweil PC2X, it has a really better action:

Kurzweil PC1X : Fatar TP30 AFT <- very very very ... light action
Kurzweil PC2X : Fatar TP10 MDF AFT <- PC88MX' like action.

It accepts an expansion card (Classic Keys) but i don't have it.

For a midi controller is really cool, and the sounds are great.

Pianos are beautiful, although the action sucks, you can achieve nice results and a completely dynamic performance using the following velocity setup configuration:

- Vel Scale: 125%
- Velocity Offset: 0
- Velocity Curve: Cos+
- Global Touch Setting: 5 Hard 1

That gives you a really cool setup, because if you organize your pianos into these kind of setups and maintain a Global Touch Setting of 5 Hard 1, you will be able to play all the other instruments with great dynamics without having to alter anything further.

The effects are really cool.

It doesn't react well to my playing but i could get used to it, because of the light action.

I can't depend on it, two days and one key lost the touch sensitivity. Returned it to the store, they did refund my money, and now i'm looking possibly for a PC2X or a RD700SX.

Haven't dealt with Kurzweil, but the people that represents them were very friendly here in Chile, and i have never been in trouble with them. Very friendly and helpful people.

If it were lost or stolen i'd get a PC2X, a really better machine for a couple of hundred bucks more.

I use the pianos, rhodes, ep, clavs and some strings and maybe a synth or pad every now and then. I don't edit. Thwe manual is easy to read and comprehensive.

The keyboard action is just right for me, a little light but lively. The keyboard responds well.

I work on classical pieces and practice with the pc1x. I occasionally, rarely, take it along to gigs. The pianos are fantastic. I picked this guy out because it had the pc pianos without the kb3 add-on. The Kurzweil pianos are my absolute favorite over Yamaha and Roland. I owned a Yamaha P80 and the action was too stiff for me, not responsive enough. The Roland RD700 sound is great, too, but I just like the pc1x pianos a little better. That's why I bought it.

So far, ok.

Haven't needed it - and I have 3 kurzweil boards.

I have been playing all my life. Play/practice every day; gig 5-6 times a month. Play in a blues band, a classic rock/horn band and a gospel group. My favorite stuff to work on are my own little 'learning' projects at home. I love the way Chopin and Scott Joplin sound on this guy. This makes me sound better than I really am. I can put on the headphones and work way past my bedtime. I love playing this thing. Makes me want to buy a PC2 for gigs! In fact, I think I will.

I got it today !
OS 2.01
This beqast only has presets and they are wonderfull. I have a Motif ES which has some of the best sounds available at the moment and the quality of both keyboards is about the same -great samples.
Patches editing is basically non existent here (but I did not want a symth just a great stage piano with MIDI controller.
Haven't really gotten into the manual but from some glimpses I threw inside - it is OK.

64 voices polyphony is enough for me as I plan on using it in tandem with my Motif ES (128 voices)
Keyboard action is great - I am not a pianist and this is my 1st ever hammer action and I love it.
Built in FX - it has of course but I haven't yet played with them.
It has one slot for ROM expansion - dont see myself adding one, though.
I dont want any more sequencrs ! cubase is the one I use.
I wish they would stop adding sequencers to any more models !!

Sounds are fantastic.
Organ selection is a bit small but I bought it mainly for piano sounds - these are really great.
sounds are very responsive
Orchestral ROM is awesome and very varied.
Drums use a different map than most companies - Bass drum/Snare are not allocated as the rest - I hate it.

I hope so but I have no intention of carrying this monster anywhere - would not go into my Mitsubishi Lancer and is too heavy for me.
It is all metal built and looks as sturdy as it gets. the color is not brown as it appears in the photos you find online.
Its face is not smooth so may hold on to it and fell nice.

N/A

Would buy again -I hope no one tries to steal it :-/
I have been playing for 23 years (never studies music)
I have a Motif ES 6 and VST instruments.
I love everything in it
I hate it being so heavy - I would love to carry it to my band's gigs.
I compared it with all the competition and glad I bought it.
I wish it had a bigger LCD.
I am in love it is a beautiful musical instrument - looks much better than any of he photos online and is huge as hell