Kurzweil PC2X

Using PC2X with the orchestral and classic keys ROMs.

The basic presets are amazing! together with the KB3 organ it is all the keyboard I need!! The ROOMS are a sweet extra but I could do without them.

The sounds are so FULL, you need good speakers or headphones because this tools is amazing. No wonder Paul McCartney uses it in his shows (inside his pretty flowered Piano cabinet he has a PC2X, you can see in the DVDs), I'm proud to have HEY JUDE plaed on MY keyboard!

The Piano is the best all around, and so other many other sounds. Overall, this keyboard is the best balanced keyboard between the entire array of competition.

Manual is pretty detailed but not very intuitive.

64 Polyphony, I don't think I will purchase the extension to 128.

The effects are really good, no need to add any more compoennts, they are easy to use.

The expansion is somewhat limited, 2 sounds ROMS and 1 polyphony extension, no sample memory (hey, it's a master keyboard not a sampler).

Midi is really good, you can easily splice and dice everything you want and control your entire array of modules or computer VSTs.

No sequencer.

This Kurzweil folks, the best around. FULL SOUNDS, you can't believe how good they sound. One of my favourites passtimes has become hearing a patch and thinking in what pop or rock hit did I hear it before. I've learned to identify the Kurz piano sounds and I hear it in so many albums.. funny.

Piano, organ, Wurli, Rhodes all keys are the best around!
Strings are very good! 12 string guitar - amazing!!

synth sounds - somewhat limited in comoparison to other less "acoustic" instrumets (meaning that Kurzweil mostly has real world instruments) but still very impressive.

Flute - excellent, vocal - unbelievable, bass - full and strong but somewhat lacks the punch.

Never had any issues.

Never used them.

Overall, this tool has the best abilities and balance.

The price is not so high, and you get everything you need.

Just add your computer as a sequencer and you made it to the pros!!

I just love it, and will get a new one if this one will bust (hope not)!

2.10v

Polyphony is adequate. Never ran out. Action is good for a keyboard compared to others I tried.

Use mostly piano sounds. They seem to be some of the best I've heard.

Cannot depend on this product. I had 2 PC88's before this PC2X that had serveral problems and needed repairs. My current PC2X has also failed me. I would never take it to a gig without a backup keyboard. Very sad such a great sounding unit can't be made more reliable. We depend on these things for our livelihood.

Have not called customer support recently within in the last 3-4 years but when I did, they were very helpful when I finally got to speak to someone.

I will no longer buy or support Kurzweil until they start making a more reliable pro keyboard.

I have a PC2X with both the Orchestral and Classic keys expansion.

Software version v4.00.

What can I say, I only got it a few weeks ago, but I am overwhelmed with joy.

The sounds are incredibles!! I though the effects were amazing, but even without effects, the pianos, eps, brass and most other sounds are amazing.

Using the keyboard is very easy once you get used to it, it's has many ways to do each feature, and you have a lot of control over everything.

I find it easy to work with.

64 poly - enough for everyone.

The action is amazing, it's feel like slicing butter, so smooth and nice but strong enough to express yourself - classic grand piano style!! Great work for Fatar and Kurzweil!

The effects are amazing, the sounds are so "fat" and full. You really sound like on of the pros (which by the way, love Kurzweil).

The expansions are great, too bad there are only two optional boards, but with so many great sounds, who can argue with Kurz.

The midi control features are great, very easy to apply, touch and aftertouch very sensitive.

No sequencer, but who does sequencing onboard these days?

This is the category in which Kurzweil is king.

I would say 80% of the instruments are usable, and 60% of them can sound as Solo and most people will never guess the difference.

The best piano out there no arguing about this.

EPs are excellent (the classic keys expansion is so cool).

Orchestral sounds, very very good, but I have to say that I was a little surprised the the basic string sections, which I usually use via VST (Edirol Orchestral - the king of VSTs), sounds a little to "synth", but I might be able to tweak it in the future.

So far it looks solid rock to me. We'll wait and see.

I bought it used from a guy who used to gig every week, and he had no problems for over a year.

never called them.

The best sounds I've ever seen on one board, clear cut winner.

Will be my main board in any performance or practice.

I will never gig without a backup no matter which board I use. I always have a midi keboard and a VST setup that can save the day.

If it would be stolen, either I will get another one, or I will put in the extra thousands for the Kurzweil k2600xs, which doesn't sound as good unless you buy some of it's expansions (good bye $5,000).

Excellent and easy to use however if you read the manual you won't find it helpful. It makes no sense what-so-ever. Very difficult to understand. The keyboard however is intuitive. Obviously the creator and manual author are not on the same page.

N/A

Excellent sensitivity to touch and feel however when the pitch wheel breaks and ruins everything good about the keyboard you will be left out to dry

You can absolutely not depend on the PC2x! Like the PC88 its older ancestor, it has major pitch problems. I strongly caution you to be very weary of this product, it is unreliable.

They have (drum roll please) .......... two tech support guys for the entire company. Let's go over those numbers again: ...... two guys......... for the entire company!!!


F$&*#!!!!!


I would STRONGLY caution anyone thinking about buying Kurzweil keyboard because you're not going to get much help when it breaks and it will.

Amazing sounds, improved piano sounds and great string sounds. The best as far as I'm concerned. But then it will crap out on you and you'll be totally up the creek.

OS v4.00 The Kurzweil PC2 is one of the easiest keyboards I have every used. The presets are great! This is definitely a "meat and potatoes" keyboard, with an emphasis on pianos, electric pianos and organs. The Kurzweil sounds are very fat compared to others, however, this keyboard is not meant for a total dance/pop production like the Triton, Motif, or Fantom series. I find very little need to tweak these sounds. If you have the Orchestral and Classic Keys ROM, you are really covered. The KB3 mode for organ is the next best thing to a dedicated organ, however, most people would agree that if you are focusing on organ sounds, not to get the 88 weighted version.
The manual was helpful, but even more so, the kurzweil website has a tutorial series that spells out in detail various programming procedures.
One of the most useful features of the PC2 is the ability to create quick splits and layers in "real time". While workstations are ultimatly more programmable, everything has to be edited and set up before a performance. The PC2 allows the user to split/layer the keyboard into 4 zones with dedicated buttons. Even the split note can be changed while performing!! This makes it ideal for both live performance, and use as a MIDI controller. Of course, you can save the splits for later recall.

The polyphony is expandable to 128 voices, which is competitive with most other boards out there. The action on the 88 is slightly heavy. I have broken key contacts due to the action, however, I have yet to find the perfect weighted action. The built in effects are great and easy to edit and assign. The expansion options include two ROM boards, the orchestra, and the Classic Keys. The orchestral comes standard now, and contains some of the best string samples ever! The classic keys contains every variation on Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clav, ARP, and other vintage keyboards, with many of the sounds named after popular rock songs featuring those keyboards. It is well worth it for a rock player.

As I have mentioned, the PC2 series is geared toward traditional keyboard sounds: pianos, Hammond organs, Rhodes style EPs. This makes the keyboard great for classical/jazz piano, as well as a straightforward rock gig. This is not the keyboard for dance/hip hop production. There are also very good horn and string sections. Kurzweil sounds always seem more "fat" than other manufacturers, due to the effects. The Orchestral ROM which is standard with the PC2 offers some of the best string samples on any keyboard. The Classic Keys ROM which I mentioned earlier are even better than the presets.

The PC2 is a highly reliable keyboard. However, I have never needed a backup for a pro keyboard. My only complaints about the PC2 are the weight,its very heavy to lug around!, and the lack of an internal HD, disc, or flash media drive. Any OS updates or dowloading sounds must be done through MIDI, which was a big pain when installing the Orchestral and Classic Keys ROM boards. Highly recommended for a studio MIDI controller, piano for recording, or keyboard centered live performance!

I contacted Kurzweil customer support twice. The first time was for info on programming a continuous controller pedal. I recieved a reply email shortly with specific directions. The second time was when I tried to install the Expansion boards by myself. I sent an email and was never responded to. I would up taking it to a pro-audio repair and paying $50. It was well worth it.

My overall rating for this keyboard is a 10. While it is in the category of a stage piano, the PC2 has the sounds/effects/editing of a workstation, minus the sequencing and sampling. For a while I was using the PC2 with a Korg Trinity for my gig rig. Now the PC2 is the center of my home recording setup, where I use it with Pro Tools Le, Digital Performer and Finale notation software. For gigs, I am using a Korg Triton Extreme 76, where I trigger sequences and samples, in addition to the live sounds.

Ok so i have found this one of the easiest machines to use i can find, but for reasons i will mention in a second, i find it very difficult.
But as a whole the instructions are very clear, not in jargon etc. all the features are clearly laid out, not having trouble finding anything.

It's a Kurzweil. What do you expect? it has a massive array of features, similar models of other makes don't even come close.

Again, its a Kurzweil. The onboard sounds are amazing, i can't fault them at all. My keyboard technician listens to native american tapes, and says that this is the keyboard they have used, because it sounds so realistic.

I would use it at a gig, which i have but it continually fails me. I bought it from America, and from day one the screen never worked, which i hear is a very common problem. This is why the ease of use isn't very easy. Then the pitch bend wheel went and isn't fixable because Kurzweil can't get their act together and produce parts for their stuff

Emails are responseless, technical support none existant. I had to go elsewhere for help.

I love this keyboard, and i wouldn't give it away for anything. I would seriously consider buying again, but its marred by the lack of any support. If you want to buy one, be warned, either check it before you buy or hope/gamble that it works when you get it.

2.10 software version, presets sound great, manual is pretty helpful

Polyphony is 64, Keyboard action is good & effects are good

Piano sounds are some of the best I've heard especially for classical. The onboard effects are also very good. It takes a little while to get use to the touch especially if you are used to playing a real piano all the time.

Can't say I had any luck in this area. This is my 2nd Kurzweil PC2X and I 've had trouble with both keyboards. I will always carry a spare keyboard (Yamaha)when gigging with either of my two PC2X's.

Customer service is helpful, however I did get a run around trying to get to the right person.

If it were lost or stolen, I might buy another, however, I'd definately look into other products. I have been playing for 25 years. Mostly classical, jazz & musical theatre. I think the piano sounds are some of the best I've heard compared to Roland, Korg, Kawai, Ensonig, Alesis, etc. I own 2 other Yamaha keyboards and are very happy with those, especially for the gigging dependabilty factor. I like the piano sounds on my Yahama keyboards but I must say the Kurzweil pianos are my favorite, just wish Kurzeil would get their act together and make a more dependable unit.

Acquired v recently as an up-grade to my Yamaha P80 digital stage piano, after testing a Yamaha S90 and Roland RD700SX (just out) - this PC2X kept me interested with it's functionality and quality of sounds. The keyboard action is light - which suits my playing style (Roland was probably more like the 'real thing' re: keys action to be honest, but more basic in function; Yamaha S90 was great, but quality of sounds not up there...and I'm a Yamaha fan, so trying to be objective, here.)
Initially very easy to use - you can get instant results, but I need to spend less time with my intuition and more with the manual - which is well laid out. Presets sound cool - strings and orchestrals some of best I've heard (and I've heard a few....). KB3 organ mode is good for my (prog rock) purposes.
Already own a Korg Triton Studio, so in terms of programming - it's quite intuitive, but I need to dig deeper.

Keyboard action just right for me.
Built in FX are awesome - enough said.
Would like to get the Classic Keys exp board in due course. Only able to have 2 exp boards, but - again - for me - no probs.
Arpeggiator seems limited (esp compared with the Korg) but I didn't buy it for that anyway.
No on-board sequencer/sampler - get the (very heavy) K2600X if you want all that -or the Krg Triton Studio. I did not buy this as a workstation.

Orchestral/strings/piano/organ - excellent. Other synth sounds seem to almost have an analogue warmth which is difficult to describe, but they do not have that fizz or harshness you can sometimes get with synths -to me the sonic quality is top notch because of that.

Too soon to say but no problems yet!

Lars Karstensen, Kurz Europe - very helpful. Helped me to check that the Kurz warranty was def in place before I put a penny down. Was very open about the past corporate issues Kurz have had which they're coming out of. Make yourself aware before you buy a Kurzweil, just so that you buy 'eyes open'.

I'm not a 10/10 merchant as I always believe that you can get more, but...I have to give 10/10 for value as RRP #2200; Internet #1800; face to face in shop #1600 - but I found this superb deal at #1200 brand new. Yep - I'd buy it again - it complements the Korg Triton Studio workstation - I feel I have the best of all worlds with both units as the Korg has those more cooler/colder 'digital' sounds if you get my drift, whilst this is 'warm'in essence.
To be honest - these days the quality of the Roland, Yamahas, Korgs really is superb, but this just stood out as having that certain sonic 'je ne sais quoi' - I always say - okay, read reviews but at the end of the day there's only one way and that's to get in the shop and test the keyboards. You know what you are after from a board - all I can say is that when I did that - this was the one for me - and I'm delighted.

OS fine, stock standard with it. i'm a little buggered with the setup features cause i'm finding it hard or immpossilbe to get any other sounds into a pedal change in a setup cause it only reads 0 to 127, and it seems to be only the internal list A, which is annoying when you want to change from organ or lead to pizz. strings or something. manual is fine, getting everything out of it that i need except this one problem

Polyphony is fine, loving the keyboard action (as i came from a measly technics P-50(obviously you can see i'm jus starting)). the effects are easy to get to, simply push channel A 'select' and your there, but i think it needs more distortion effects and things for Leads and rhodes, i play in church and its not really cutting it when i want something beefy. Orchestrial ROM is great and all, i dont use like 95% of it, (and because i'm in Australia prices are higher, and Kurzweil parts are harder to get ect ect..) i just want to try out the vintage keys EX board, cause that may fix some of my problems, but there aint none here.

loving it here, have played with Triton LE's, Rolands and all, but some of them just seem to be littls boy's toys when it comes down to it. the sounds here are absoultly fine (strings could be a little warmer and more Leads and Pads would be great) but i'm happy with this purchase. the response is great for anything i need, jazz sounds great with the rhodes (Serious classic) and the piano (any of the 20 odd ones you can find lying around in various groups) is great. the velocity features are great when you want layering and such with songs, (to define a sound to come in at a certain velocity helps heaps in some songs)

No problems here at all mate, but when i play, church, band or by myself, i have no worries about it dying.

have had no need.

if i lost it, i owuld get another one cause it plays very well. been playing for 10 years (i'm 19) and this is a great step forwards from little stage pianos and what-not. Wish it came with a music stand so i didnt have to wait for one to coem from America (Has taken 5 months so far, still waiting for equipment (Kurzweil pedals too) from nearest Kurzweil Dealer. bar that, its great.

I too have dealt with Duane Garvin through Kurzweil Service and I as well as another friend with a Mark 150 series were treated EXTREMELY RUDELY and received NO HELP or service. I wasn't given any info as to any probable cause to my problem and after talking to Mr. Garvin, I fealt 10X more frustrated with his lack of help and my decision to purchase a Kurzweil. VERY dissappointed with the service. I will think about that in the future when I'm choosing between a Roland or Kurzweil keyboard.