Kurzweil PC2X

Newest firmeware installed by store.

Greatest soudns ever!! Patch editor gives you a lot of control (it is NOT a sampler, but has many editing features).

I would say this is the #1 keyboard for real world instruments (piano, strings, organ, guitar, flute etc), it is a little less suitable for dance,trance etc (not so many analog patches) - still you can do a decent jobs using the ones that are there + the editor and effects.

Action is great, it has aftertouch.

64 poly, some expansion (i have orchestral) which are gret.

midi is great, it has aftertouch and BREATH CONTROLLER (you need to buy a yamaha breath controller,i never did, but i am looking for one on ebay).

The sounds are the #1 sounds out there. better than yamaha, roland or korg. This is the mercedes of keyboards. Nobody competes with them in sounds.

Effects are excellent (a little less than KDFX, but more than enough).

I work mainly with rock music.

No problems (so far):>

Had a backup issue and got it solved

I would buy a new one if this is ruined, this is the best overall rating for me :>

I love my Kurzweil PC2x. It is very easy to use, i dont do editing, I just use splits and layers and basic effects and i just love it.

I know i get always get deeper, since it has million features, but i hardly need them.

I think it does 64 polyphony, never had an issue.

The action is a little lighter than a piano, but it's good since sometimes you want to play something else.

Many expansions, I never needed them.

Midi has everything, I just use basic connectivity to Cakewalk.

onboard sequencer - no. I use cakwalk.

Big sounds. So full of sound and expresiveness.

This is why i bought it, I saw it in the store and couldn't believe the sounds i was hearing. Kurzweil wins all other companies!!!!!

Two years. Zero problems.

Had one question that was answered very fast.

Perfect workstation for me.

It will remain the core of my rig for years to come.

Great sounds! The best in the industry.

Editing patches is easy, the screen is not too big, but it's enough.

Manual is a bit too technical, it has all the information, but it's not written like a "tutorial".

64 sounds is ok. I love the key action.
Effects are really easy.
It has expansions, I didn't install any other than the one I have (orchestral).
Midi is great, I control an external module from the pc2x.
No sequencer.

ohhhh oohhhh, the sounds are what I bought this for. Sweet sounds :>

Like the pianos/organs and the synths. Orchestral is amazing.

Mine works great like a war horse :> I didn't test it too much on the road though.

never tried ...

This is my dream keyboard.

I love the sounds, it makes me sound like the big boys.

I'm using the software verson 4.0.

The presets sound very good and there are some great setups with very interesting arpeggiators (based on drum sounds - great to play Jean Michel Jarre).

Editing patches isn't hard and I found the manual helpful for my needs.

Sometimes it gets a little complicating with the split and layer
functions (I still don't really know how to make a tripple split or layer but I managed do that once but no idaea how).

The polyphony is just OK - don't need to expand it to 128.

The keyboard action is just right for me (good for playing the piano and also for the organ - not so heavy as on a real piano).

The effects are great and it's good that it has two sections (A & B), so you can combine reverb with other effects.

It has no sequencer but I don't need anyway.
MIDI - have no experience.

It is very programmable: you can save up to four different sounds (eith effects) in each setup and also the arpeggiator and a lot of physical controllers (4 sliders, 5 switch buttons, the pitch and mod wheel and I'm currently also using a pedal switch, a sustain and continuous controller pedal and the ribbon - very expressive!).

Although it has many usefull features, there are some things I'm missing: it has only two epansion slots and two different expansion cards. There is also no place for a memory card and all of the memory is during the time when the synth isn't activated an a little battery and you can suddenly lose all saved information if you don't change it in a proper time when the voltage is low.

The sounds are really great, especially the pianos. The Triple-Strike Stereo Grand Piano is good but I like the Dynamic Stage Piano better - the best piano I ever heard (my suggestion: play it with headphones).

The electric pianos are also fantastic (graeat for playing Pink Floyd) and If you play the wurly through a guitar amp you get the same sound as Jon Lord (Deep Purple) on Demon's Eye!

I have the orchestral rom and the sounds are very good (very rich, very full). Some very good pizzicatos, strings, flutes, choirs, brasses and church organs (though I prefer Korg Karmas pipe organ).

The KB-3 sections rocks! I play with my band that old rock music (Deep Purple, Steppenwolf,...) and you can make a really grungy distorted organ sounds or those more "relaxed" ones as Pnik Floyd's Richard Wright uses. And I recommend an expression pedal because that's when playing hammond organ becomes a great experience!

I'm maybe missing some more of the synth sounds (although the pads and and leads are very good-sounding, but there could be more of them), but main problem (for me) is the lack of ethnic sounds (no sitar, bagpipes, etc).

Summa summarum: The sound quality is on a very high level, the instruments are very realistic and expressive, the effects are also very good; What more can I say?

The sound works well for old rock'n'roll music and also for classical if you need a good piano and orchestra.

I have never had problems with it and would use it on a gig without backup, despite it has just a little battery to save all my setups.

Have never dealth with the Kurzweil company, so I can't say anything about this category.

I would definitively buy a new one if it were lost or stolen!
I still have a Roalnd DisCover 5, but it doesn't even come close to the PC-2X (but it has almost the same price).

The best thing are the electric and acoustic pianos and the organs (sounds that I mostly use).

It's the best combination of organ, piano and synth for the price.

I would recommend the PC-2X to any old-time rock'n'roller!!!

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.