Kurzweil PC3X

So much better to use than the previous PC2X, large screen with a lot of data and "soft keys" underneath. Might not be like a fully color big screen with touch capabilities, but in the synth world and for on-stage, the pc3x is the way to go in terms of control.

The presets are the best kurzweil ever did, it's like the fully loaded PC2X with all expansions, and then add 500 more sounds.Each sounds amazing.

Kurzweil finally added USB, making patches very easy in 2 minutes.

Manual is good, they provided a short one, and a longer one is available online.

polyphony 128, no more need! Action is slightly better than pc2x, a little easier to play.

It has expansion slots, no products available yet.

MIDI is ful.

They added a sequencer, very cool. I used it a lot for short ideas, phrases etc (come on -for full sequencing everybody will use their pc or mac anyway).

Sounds are the best i heard so far! other than a super tweaked korg oasys (10,000$ or so) there are nothing compared to this.

This time they can support all acoustic real worlds sounds with so many string presets for every application you need, full classic keys, many pianos, and a new virtual analoc synth, this one was missing on previous models, now we can do analog sounds too!
The KB3 simulation is awsome, you get a "real" hammond at your finger tips with all sliders etc.

Like previous models, build like a wwii tank.

I woldn't be caught dead carrying a plastic yamaha to a gig! bring on the metal heavy black kurzweils!

they are not selling ribbons, and sweetwater said a new company took over maintenance and parts - i don't know the status there.

This is the only one i need for gigs.
It has all sounds - i can play pop,folk,rock,disco,techno,europop, classic, jazz,blues - you name it - the presets are there.

I don't like kurzweil's way of managing presets,but nothing is perfect, in pc3x you can avoid it with a great new feature of "quick lists" that you prepare with presets/setups that has all your favourites setups aligned per your gig.

I love this one, my best kurz yet !! (and it's my third!)

Using the latest patch from kurzweil (I believe 1.35) update was so easy using a USB cable from my computer.

The presets are amazing, this is my third kurzweil. every time i check the others and come running back. This is their strength! I buy a synth to sound good, and not to have a color screen, for this i have a computer.


Manual is ok, better than the previous manual for pc2x, still not amazing - but pretty clear.

128 polyphony, will never use all of it.
Action is superb, better than pc2x, it feels a little lighter, but still like a piano, easier to use when playing organs where you want to slide.
Some expansion slots is there, no upgrades available.

didn't use anything beyond the basic midi so can't say much.

Good sequencer, i will still use cubase to record long compositions, but it's nice to be able to record on the go.

It has everything you need. The main problem with pc2x was lack of analog sounds, so kurzweil crammed in an entire analog synthg!! (VA1). I didn't test it much though, but it is defentely the best overall sound machine other than the oasys (and good luck paying for that!!).

It became my only keyboard for gigs. It has amazing natural sounds, the brass are excellent, guitar are good (not excellent), they have so many orcehstral sounds, i could write a music for an entire movie and you will think it's a symphony orchestra (the only product doing better is the vienna VST, but again - when i need only ONE keyboard, i rather have one that gives me 95% in all categories than spending X10 the money on 4 different synths).

The velocity always is not perfect for kurzweil, this is where the 9 came from, for pianos i feels something is slightly lacking - but again, this is way better than most synths!

Kurzweil = what can i say, heavy keyboard, metal case, very sturdy knobs and wheels. Feels like a tank. i use them for 10 years, no problems.

used a little, go to sonik matter, dave wiser from kurzweil answer ALL questions, the guy is amazing, i don't know who thinks they do not support. They are a small company - but hey, they listen and write back on a daily basis! The 9 is because still parts take time to ship (i did order some expansions etc).

This became my only keyboard for gigs, it is a sample based synth +analog synth + a complete hammond organ, what do i need more?
Amazing effects, sequencer, pc connectivity, 128 polyphony ( i sound like a salesman), clear screen, many control keys.

I would RUN to buy a new one if this one is stolen!!

I have had this product for 6 months. The sounds and ease of use are great..but I have had two major issues now with the unit. First after one gig the dimmer knob broke off and had to be replaced. The nearest authorized service center was 45 minutes away and the people at Kurzweil were not sympathetic.

Now there is white noise and static coming out of the unit which makes it unplayable on stage.This is not a stage friendly unit!! If you keep it still and in a studio it probably would be great. I have never had these kind of problems with any other brands of keyboards that I have owned.

I was very impressed by the easy navigation to different sounds straight out of the box. Excellent control of sound via the 8 draw bars.

I did find it difficult trying to control the Editing from the PC3X lcd with so many different tabs and menus which was like a maze to me. I plugged it into my laptop with the supplied USB Cable and downloaded the Soundtower editor and within no time was manipulating layers within setups and creating Synth Sounds with Dynamic VAST. It really helped me out with the editing.

I also found it easy to integrate the PC3X with Cubase and it runs my VST instruments like a dream through the MIDI button.

I've had the board for about 10 months and I???m still learning. There is so much depth to the inner workings. The Setups are just amazing. I'm creating multiple layers with arpeggiation and Riffs with ease because of the 128 polyphony and 16 independent arpeggiators. I'm running OS 1.35 and 1.36 will be out soon.

It comes with over 800 programmes but by making your own sounds stored in the machine or with use of flash cards and linking to a PC will give you a library that keeps growing, Plus you can download other players sounds from Kurzweil community forums. ROMs will be available in the near future also.

It has a great 88key hammer action key bed which is a joy to play. The sound controlled by velocity and feel makes it feel like an organic instrument. Its not as heavy as some hammer actions but that makes it better for playing Synth sounds with the addition of after touch, other manufacturers hammer actions don't have after touch.

The only time I use the sequencer is when i'm creating Riffs for within the steups, As I said before I use Cubase which works a dream.

The reason I chose this board is because its a Stage Piano, B3 Organ, Rhodes Electric Piano, Synth, Orchestra and Studio MIDI workstation in one machine.

The Sound is one of the main reasons I got this board, I can get lost in the Piano sounds for hours. I have VST Piano's and they don't sound as good as the PC3x's Pianos. They have great character. Make sure you have a good mixer and speakers to hear the true quality.

The great thing about most sounds in this board are they are useable. I tried other flagship keyboards and they had lots of sounds but they weren???t useable or just bad quality. The PC3x is consistently good throughout the sound set. Synth sounds, Organs, Electric Pianos, Pianos and Orchestra and Strings (You feel like your in a symphony) are excellent. The Guitars are of fantastic quality but lack strumming ability which can be important in a mix, For this I find my VST Guitars compensate. I don't know if they will fix this with future a OS or ROM.

To add to the brilliant sounds are the Effects. It goes so far beyond the standard. The Effects processing a pedigree of its own. You can have up to 16 insert effects, two available auxiliary and a global Master FX section. This all adds to changing the dynamics of a sound.

I have had no problems what so ever with this board. Built like a Tank.

I haven't needed it but on the main community forum. Mr Dave personally helps on any issues. He is the Kurzweil Senior Soundware Engineer. He created a lot of the sounds for the board.

Overall I have my dream set of Keys. I ditched my old boards and racks and just have a Laptop and a mixer and 1 keyboard. (What an empty studio ;).

I have all I need to be creative and I???m never bored and have left my wife a Kurzweil widow,

I can't stress how good this board is and would recommend anyone to try it for them selves. You wont be disappointed.

To take full advantage of everything under the hood of this beast takes time, patience, and effort. Dynamic VAST is huge and complex, and it's not easy to become a skilled programmer at it. (The payoff is more than worth it, however.)

That said, calling up usable sounds and functions straight out of the box is a no-brainer. This is hands down one of the best 'boards out there for on-the-fly gigging, as it makes finding the right sound quickly a breeze.

Reviews for older versions complained about the manual, which wasn't totally complete until late '08. Fortunately, the now finished edition of the manual is comprehensive and quite helpful.

I'm using OS 1.3, which is the latest and "feature-complete" version of the PC3X. Sadly, too many of the reviews below are based on older versions (which Kurzweil admitted were somewhat incomplete), so I hope people will reconsider based on the updated unit.

Yes, it DOES have an unlimited-track sequencer. Yes, it DOES have a dual step sequencer. (Both of these claims were challenged by older reviews.) It also has versatile arpeggiators, assignable "riffs," clickless portamento over the whole keyboard, seamless effect switching between patches/setups, 32-layer sound construction, and the ability to edit and even create your own algorithms.

Add to that the KB3 organ mode [with 9 functioning drawbars and a decent Leslie simulator] and the unbelievable VA1 virtual analog synthesis, and we're looking at a *serious* machine here. Sure, it lacks sampling, which many other full-fledged workstations have, but as a musician actually interested in making real music, I'll take its unique [as in, not found on others!] features instead, thank you very much.

I should also mention that I was a bit skeptical about the small LCD size, until I learned about the free sound editor/librarian by Soundtower. This is an awesome editor & development tool that interfaces perfectly with the PC3/PC3X/PC361, and it's downloadable from a link right off Kurzweil's website. Although the LCD is fine for navigating during a gig, it's a bit cramped for high-end editing behind the scenes. Fortunately, the Soundtower editor more than makes up for this.

I wish I could give this an 11. I'll be honest: in the past I'd always thought Kurzweil was overrated and didn't quite understand all the hype. The incomparably realistic sounds of the PC3X have made a loyal convert out of me. And the biggest deal about these sounds is just how *usable* they are in so many different types of music (unlike those really cool out-of-the-box noises that wow you in the store but end up not making any sense in most music).

Playing this 'board [which I had to take a train into the city to do, since so few stores carry it] actually made me both laugh and cry right there in the music store. No joke!

The EPs [Rhodes/Wurly/Clav] and orchestral sounds [esp. strings] are probably the highlight -- so many variations and articulations, and they're all dead-on perfect. Pianos are obviously stellar, and the KB3 organs are actually so much better than I expected [even though I have a Hammond for that]. And the VA1 virtual analog synth is a monster. I'm blown away by how well the PC3X emulates the Minimoog, Prophet, ARP...you name it.

If I had to pick a weak spot, it would be the brass (which are only so-so) and maybe the acoustic guitars (which are good but not as absolutely perfect as almost everything else). But, since I perform with real guitar players and have little need for brass anyway, neither of these are a problem for me.

No problems whatsoever.

Haven't needed it yet.

I've been playing for 30 years and have never been this excited about a single keyboard in my whole life. It's really that good. If you haven't yet, do yourself a favor and try one out.

It's not the easiest thing to use right out of the box...but let's face it, it's not rocket science. Even without a manual you could figure out much on this keyboard by yourself, but it will take time. This is an advanced keyboard so if you bought it thinking it's going to be easy, you'll be disappointed. But it's very well worth using as it goes much deeper than beginner boards such as a Motif XS...which is a fine board beginners, but no here near as deep and rich and advanced as the PC3.

128 Poly. Great action on the weighted keys...though weighted keys are a matter of taste as to which brand you like the best. Some prefer Kawai or Roland or Yamaha's approach to weighted keys...but Kurzweil does a great job on their own. The keyboard also has aftertouch. The built in effects are quite simply some in the business. Even in the studio I tend to use the effects straight from this board. There are places for future expansion boards, so this thing is built for the future in mind. People have to remember this board is built for LIVE performances, and it's a swiss army knife in that regard....yet the features it has are top-of-the-line. Features MIDI over USB also. Doesn't have a sampler, but it's not really built for that and quite frankly I can see one of the expansion slots getting a sampler in the future. Oh, and contrary to what John Dough said below, the sequencer DOES have unlimited tracks. But since couldn't figure it out or wait for the manual (which is great now btw), he took it back.

Wow. Just wow. I'm amazed at the depth and richness of all the sounds. I liked just about all the instruments save for the guitars. They're fine and all, but not world class like the rest of the instruments. Everything else is top notch. Including the brass section. The shill for Yamaha here is really showing his true colors when he knocks that. It's pretty obvious.

The VA syths are also incredible. I've put this up against my MiniMoog and while the Moog has a little more "cream" on it (if that's actually a musical term), I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference in a blind setting. I'm not kidding about this folks.

Haven't had one problem. Since I actually own this board and gig with it...and ONLY it now (as it's replaced quite a few boards I used to go out on gigs with), I can say it's a very reliable board. I'm not going to sit here and say "I've heard stories" blah blah blah. That's just idiotic.

Top notch. They release updates to the OS on a regular basis. They're constantly updating and refining the manual. Haven't had a need to contact them because the board has been top-notch.

If it were lost or stolen I'd get another in a heartbeat. I've been a studio rat and a live performer now for 37 year. I've had my share of boards and organs and analog synths over the years but I've distilled it all down to just this one board now for gigs. It's much easier on my back for one and since the sounds are world class, I've often used them straight from the board in the studio...which is almost unheard of.

All top-line synths can be a bit of a struggle to use straight off the mark, but if you don't have short-term memory loss, you'll be using the PC3x without any temper tantrums very quickly.

I'm currently using software version 1.21 and there are no issues with crashes, glitches or poltergeists ;oP

Once you know where you are in the O/S, editing patches is very intuitive and logical. Envelope times are in seconds, LFOs are in hertz, amplitude is in decibels... makes sense!

The manual is constantly growing and you can trust Kurzweil to keep things updated frequently.

There are heaps of sliders (user-assignable) and lots of controller inputs - you'd run out of feet before you run out of controllers.

All in all, the learning curve's not the shortest, but worth it.

The machine has 128-note polyphony but you can cheat a bit! For example, you could have a thick detuned sawtooth patch using only 1 osc/note by using a sawtooth sample and one of the VA1 non-aliasing alorgithms running at the same time - two sounds for the price of one (note) ;oP

Each program/patch can have up to 32 layers with any velocity switching/note range that you care to choose. There's buckets of ways to modulate almost any parameter. 3 envelopes with 3 attack portions, 1 decay, 3 release portions and the envelopes can be looped. ASRs (simplified envelope... like older synths), 4 FUNs (mathematical functions), aftertouch, lots of sliders, the list goes on.

The built-in effects are very nice indeed. I won't babble on about them but you're probably not going to have to compromise on effect choice when programming new sounds.

There's room for 2 ROM expansion boards. It's Sept 08 and I don't think any have been released, but they won't be dissapointing if the internal sounds are anything to go by.

I could mention more, but everybody else already has so I won't rehash the same info.

Phwooaarr!!! Corr blimey!! Stone the crows!!! Well, almost. Despite a very few sounds that aren't utterly brilliant, the PC3x is inspiring to play.

Piano - sounds really really nice except the loops aren't going to embarrass the competition. Basically, the piano is great and sounds fantastic in any context. Go play one and judge for yourself. There are a large number of variations, each with different dynamics, sound, presence.. listen and you'll get what I mean.

Strings - wow wow wow WOW wow. The ensemble strings sounds are to die for. Luckily you don't have to die to get some for yourself. Very expressive programs allow you to play almost any style of music and you don't have to hide them in buckets of reverb or under layers of other instruments.

Orchestral - only 3 wows, but who cares. All useful, very hard to find any average sounds. No lemons.

Pads - I felt that there was a *slight* shortage of pads in the factory soundset, but the ones that are in there are really rich and full sounding. This machine can be made to make almost any pad sound you've already heard if you wanted to program it yourself. 2.5 wows.

Synth - heaps of wow but I don't think the you could ever fear not being able to emulate almost any analog machine. Seriously - the sound engine is huge and a savvy programmer could make insane noises with this thing!

Guitar - electric guitars are very respectable and the effects finish the package. You could do truly gut-wrenching rhythm guitar parts with this and ear-bleeding leads. The acoustic guitars are slightly bland in my opinion but I'm hoping an expansion ROM will change my mind.

Basses - no complaints at all. All great, all expressive, very playable.

Organs - KB3 hammond emulation is just great and can only be made even better with future software releases.... but it rocks now :o)

Electric pianos - 8 wows. Just fantastic. So many variations. Puts other 'boards to shame.

Percussion/drums - Mostly perfect. Drum programs are extremely well made ie closed hi-hat at low velocity, foot pedal at high velocity, very natural sounding. Unfortunately there seems to be less kicks and snares than I've heard in software synths but I'm crossing my fingers for some more in the ROM board(s).

Overall, this 'board has extremley playable, inuitive, musical programs which don't sound like you're playing a static soundset. It responds to your touch like you'd expect a musical instrument should and it can be used for just about any musical application without being laughed at by people that think they play 'real instruments'.

Not one problem. Weighs a tonne. Ewoks would swing this thing from trees to knock over those long-legged robots in a Star Wars battle.

The sounds are reliable in that you can trust they'll sound good in any context or situation. They're not too loud. There's no unusual EQ. Nothing has to be bathed in reverb to make it sound better. There are no sounds that would make people cringe or laugh at you.

Kurzweil update software frequently so you won't need to worry about it becoming obselete in a hurry.

The team at Kurzweil are right there in the trenches - check out the popular Kurzweil forums and you'll see what I mean.

It seems that they actually want to hear from customers and seem totally proud of the product - flaws aren't avoided and problems are resolved. Very rare indeed!

If my PC3x were lost or stolen, I'd cry for a few weeks and then go buy another one (assuming my insurance company hadn't already found me a new one).

Love: Sounds are rich, expressive, expensive-sounding and natural to play. Keyboard action is wonderful. Lots of modulation/controller options. Lots of support from Kurzweil. Huge synth engine. Wonderful effects.

Not-love: acoustic guitar sounds aren't the best, but not the worst. Piano loops could be better. Really heavy (but I'm a weakling). Doesn't cook breakfast.

It's a shame you can't load your own samples via USB and the screen could be a bit nicer, but neither of those are a burden or disincentive.

A really fantastic synth that won't dissapoint.

Have used the instrument for five months. Version 1.11.8388. I have not edited any patches, nor used the sequencer. The manual is available online and is comprehensive.

The PC3X has 128 voice polyphony. Its weighted key action feels top-flight, firm and very comfortable to play. There are many built-in effects, but I have not explored manipulating them yet since the presets on each patch have been sufficient for my tastes. There is an xD card slot for storage and sockets for ROM expansion cards. MIDI is there, as well as pressure-sensitivity. There is an on-board sequencer that I have not yet used.

The PC3X contains over 800 magnificent patches. They range from spot-on, realistic replications to the far out space-age turf.

The pianos display a wide breadth of styles - aggressive, sedate or genre specific. Combined with the keyboard???s solid feel, the pianos are very pleasurable to work with and feel about as close to playing a real acoustic as an electronic instrument can get.

Organs abound, sound thrilling, and are easily tweakable with the front panel sliders.

Orchestral instruments are, for the most part, pristinely executed. Most are presented as both soloed and in ensemble for various applications within an arrangement. String patches are numerous and often breath-taking, ranging from thinner chamber tones to thick and aggressive full orchestra applications. Brass and woodwinds are very realistic in a mix. There are many patches that blend various combinations of strings, winds, and percussion for a fast tutti fix. Percussion instruments are practically faultless ??? tympani, gongs, mallets, cymbals and most of the rest are immediately gratifying. (The oboes leave me irked with their odd and strident timbre ??? however, I compensate by using the English horn patch, which is shockingly gorgeous. Saxes are fine in ensemble patches, but with one exception ??? a soloed tenor ??? I want for some better solo sax tones, a must for cool jazz usage.)

Drumsets range from standard rockers to hip-hoppy variants. Those I have used sat well in the mix and complimented the recording.

Synths and pads have a sophisticated quality. A large gambit is run here, from in-your-face vintage synth basses to ethereal, floating delicacies. Nothing ... nothing sounds cheesy, except when intended, and even that is executed towards useful purpose.

The vintage keyboards are numerous. Many seem to tweak a memory of having been heard on a recording somewhere, and would certainly find a place in a mix when that particular sound is desired.

The nine sliders and mod wheel allow for a fast adjustment to any patch. You can quickly modify the depth of the preset effect, adjust the brightness and timbre of the tone, manipulate the balance of multiple instruments on a single patch, or morph the variations of ???whatever??? on the more esoteric synths and pads.

The keyboard reacts quite well to velocity and aftertouch. This instrument is a good match for most musical styles due to its large variety of competent sounds. Classical, jazz, rock, pop, old school and new school are well represented.

Build quality is stout. This is a heavy, metal instrument. Sliders and buttons work well. It seems as trustworthy in construction as any other keyboard I???ve encountered. I don???t gig at this time, but would certainly trust it in a live situation. I have not yet had an operational glitch occur.

I haven???t needed support during the five months I???ve owned it. Kurzweil releases continual updates on the operating system and I???ve downloaded one without incident so far. There is a PC3X forum at Sonikmatter.com which provides answers to questions from a user community. Several of Kurzweil???s engineers make daily appearances in this forum with information from a very friendly horse???s mouth.

I have been playing for 50 years. I currently am using the PC3X as my anchor keyboard. I also use a Moog Voyager and Prophet ???08. At this point I am a studio user and do not play live, so I have not addressed that facet in this review. I bought the PC3X strictly for its grab-and-go sounds and have not been disappointed.

A great strength of this keyboard is that its sounds seem custom-made to sit well in a recording. It is very much of a Swiss Army knife tool, possessing myriad tones for quality results. I haven???t explored the sequencer or sound-building capabilities, but the presets and keyboard feel alone justify the price tag to me. I have suffered no buyer???s remorse and always look forward to the next power-up.

The PC3X is a beautiful sounding instrument and a joy to play.

The user interface itself is very straight-forward and (for the most part) intuitive. There is a 2 point deduct here because of the fact that the manual and editing software are still in development.

The polyphony is more than adequate for most applications. Effects are what you have come to expect from Kurzweil, highly-usable and musical. The expansion capabilities are as of yet unknown, as there is not yet product to expand the PC3x. The onboard sequencer is a very straight-ahead piece. Remember, this is not intended to be a Korg Oasys.

This is one of the few electronic instruments that makes me want to sit and play for hours. The sounds can be described as organic, full and musical. The sounds do not suffer from the tons of compression that you will hear in many of the instruments from the major keyboard manufacturers. They will sit well in a mix or a recording. The pianos are as good or better than in any hardware piece with which I am familiar and certainly better than anything in its price range in terms of organic sounding approximations of real instruments. To get piano sounds that are better without question or argument would require a large-sample set software piece. If you want a collection of authentic sounding "meat and potatoes" sounds, the PC3x(IMHO) can not be bested by anything residing in its price range and it is superior to many instruments that are more expensive.

In addition to the organic sounds, there are other "goodies" in the Kurz. You will find some very interesting analog textures from the VA-1 component, some very lush pads, DX-style FM electric pianos, great Rhodes sounds, Wurlis, Clavs galore, basses, guitars, voices, excellent orchestral sounds, assorted drums, guitars, and a few things from the "effect" category.

I would not be afraid of taking this keyboard on a gig, but have not done so. It is in use in my studio setup as a controller and sound source. The feel is that of being well constructed. Reliability is a matter of time and this unit is still new.

The people who design, build and market this instrument are top-notch. I have had occasion to communicate with them on several occasions and they are professional, courteous and are interested in their customer.

If this unit were stolen, I would turn around and replace it with another one without even considering another produce. Go to a Kurz dealer and demo one. Make sure that the dealer has it connected IN STEREO to some reasonable speakers and live it up. A/B it against the Roland and Yamaha product in its market and see what you think. I'm willing to bet the PC3x will open your eyes to some of the flaws in the sounds of the competitors' sounds.

<b>I'm currently using V 1.20.</b>

The presets on the PC3x for the most part sound amazing. The pianos sound nice, the strings are almost untouchable by other boards, the orchestral sounds are fantastic, the choir sounds are really good, the synth sounds are great, and the Classic Keys are very, very reminiscent of the classic sounds they emulate. 95% of the sounds on this board are fantastic. The brass sounds are rather weak, especially compared to how great all of the other sounds are. Last week I would have included the organs in the brass category, but the latest OS has improved the KB3 Mode immensely and now they are very well done.

I've only done minor editing so far, since a completed manual wasn't available until this week. Without the manual, the editing options being very robust were too daunting for me to play around with. From browsing the new manual though (available online), I'm a little more comfortable at attempting to make some of my own sounds. The software editor is supposed to be available by the end of September and by the looks of the screenshots released, my score of 7 will probably go up to a 9. Be that as it may, as it stands, a 7 it is for now.

The new completed manual is very well written and helpful in learning to program, use the sequencer, use the Set-up mode, etc.

The polyphony is 128 and not like the 128 I've seen on other boards where there should be an (*) after it. I haven't run into any situation where I've asked too much of the PC3's sound engine.

I absolutely love the feel of the keys, nice balance of weight and smoothness when playing, and nice sensitivity.

There are 2 slots for ROM expansion cards for future use, a USB connection so you can update the firmware and object files, or save your files onto your computer's HDD. Unfortunately, Kurzweil chose the xD card format for removable storage as you can only use Type S cards which aren't as easy to find as say SD cards.

The onboard sequencer is pretty decent, the basics of using it were pretty easy to figure out without the manual. It is a 16 track sequencer and you can have up to 16 effects parts assigned to your Programs. Keep in mind, some sounds use more than one effect, a couple of sounds I've seen use 10 effects! However, you can also assign an AUX effect to your Programs so if there's a particular effect you're going to share amongst your programs, you can choose a program with the effect you want, place it in Track 1 and use its effect as an AUX effect on the other Programs to get your 16 effects to go a lot further.

<b>Best Sounding Board In This Price Range</b>

I have never owned a board before that has inspired me to play nearly as much as the PC3x. There's an over abundance of USABLE sounds, which I haven't seen on other boards. Usually, the program count is high, but I'd be lucky to find half of them fun to use. The PC3x does so many different sounds so well, I want to play them all. Yeah, the brass section is a little weak, but the PC3 does so many other sounds so well, it more than makes up for that one point.

The synth sounds are incredible, especially the new Supersaw from the latest OS update. And the Classic Keys selections are very close to what they're emulating, closer than any other board I've played with.

The Orchestral and Strings sections are very, very well done, the best out of box sounds in these categories by far.

It's really easy to get expressive with the sounds as the aftertouch of the keybed is done very well, the typical mod and pitch wheels are put to good use in the out of box programming, there are 9 sliders that can further enhance the sound you're using which also double as drawbars in KB3 Mode. On all programs, there's a section on the screen that says "Info" that when you select it will tell you what each button assigned to the program does; the LFO modulation, the pitch, the filter effect, enable/disable layers, etc. Also, when browsing through all of the sounds you can press the "Play" button to hear a brief demo of the program to see if it's what you're looking for at the time, very helpful feature.

If you're looking for a new keyboard, I highly suggest considering the Kurzweil PC3x because its sounds are amazing and will really bring your music and compositions to a whole new level. Make sure that when you demo one, it has at least Version 1.20 installed as this OS has cleaned up most of the bugs and incredibly improved the KB3 Mode. The manual is now available and very accessible to help you learn the more advanced features of the PC3.

If it weren't for the weak brass, I'd give this a 10 easy. Don't get me wrong, the brass sounds are on par with the comparable boards, though I'd put it in last place but not by much. However, since the rest of the sounds are so good, they seem weaker than they are.

I haven't had any mechanical or software failures yet, although I've only owned the PC3 for a couple of months. I knocked off one point for a key combination problem my unit had which I'll get more in-depth on below.

Kurzweil is by the far the most accessible company I've ever dealt with. They regularly participate in forums and use user feedback to improve their products, by fixing reported bugs (in a timely manner I might add) or improving performance (the aforementioned KB3 Mode). Since I purchased an early unit I had many questions about some of the more advanced features (no manual) and the software guys were very helpful in getting me to where I needed to be and all of my e-mails were answered promptly. I really don't see how anyone could have a problem with Kurzweil customer support.

Also, the very early units had a key problem where a couple of different key combinations wouldn't sound, and Kurzweil took care of the problem quickly with an add-on resistor that the music shop I bought my PC3 from installed in 5 minutes. I was very pleased with the quick response to the key problem. The newer units don't suffer from this problem. Such is the risk of buying a pre-release unit.

Most of what should be included in this section I've already stated. I can't say enough good things about the PC3 and how it inspires me to just play and play and play. The problems listed in the previous reviews were true of earlier iterations of the PC3 as it wasn't a completed unit, but now with the latest OS (V 1.20) it's safe to say this unit is now a safe buy. There's also another update coming in September to add a couple of other features that still haven't been implemented, and also the software editor will be released which will greatly improve the Ease of Use category.

I would definitely buy this again knowing what I know.

As I said earlier, at least give this board a play to see how great and expressive it really is.

1.21 software. The presets are not as 'glossy' sounding as, say, a Fantom or a Motif, but very playable and work really well in a mix. This is my first Kurzweil, and there's a bit of a learning curve - but I've dealt with much more difficult equipment. I learned the basics in a day or so, even without a dedicated manual. Lots of functions are the same as in the K2600, that manual has been very helpful.

Polyphony isn't an issue, I have made setups with 8-9 internal sounds as well as triggering external sounds via USB and MIDI, and there's no stopping the PC3, the timing is impeccable and the sounds are well defined. The controller capacity is vast (pun intended), and it's really easy to make complicated setups. Having all sliders, switches and other controllers assignable per patch is unmatched and extremely helpful. Playing the PC3 is like having a third hand, it's actually quite amazing. I haven't tried the sequencer, - I'm a Logic kind of guy - and I don't use the KB3 mode.

This relates to the category above; I would rate the internal sounds as 7-8/10 and the MIDI capacity as a 12/10, and it's indeed called a performance controller. Velocity has selectable curves and ranges, and I'd say it's hard to make it sound bad. If you can program it, it's a real beast. Other synths may sound biggger out of the box, but won't work as well when there are other instruments involved.

I had one crash on an older OS, now it seems solid. Almost every single synth I've had has crashed in one way or the other.

Along with DSI, probably the best support in the business. These guys really go out of the way to make us customers happy. Upgrades are regular and add functions and bug fixes, and new sounds. Upgrades via USB are a breeze.

I couldn't replace it with anything else. As a performance controller, it's the best out there - period. There are other synths out there with newer sound rom, flashy expansions and sample ram, but if you want a REAL performance controller, look no further. I used to have a Roland A-90, nothing ever reached their class when it comes to control - until now. I wish it had sample ram, but then again it's not a 'K' series synth, it's a PC. I have too many synths to list, but I can mention a M3-73, Motif ESr, Fantom Xr, PEK+PER, Nord Stage 88+Compact, Nord C1, Leslie, Andromeda, Moog LP, Roland JX3P, Vari-OS. And a couple more. :)

Very easy to navigate, the separate category buttons are a boon and once you know your fave presets, you can dial them in numerically. Elegant and adaptable.

Simply the best sounding ROMpler available today. I sold my Triton Extreme 88 to finance buying the PC3X and while I loved my Korg, the Kurzweil blows it out of the water. Immensely playable.

Patch editing is logically laid out and follows on from previous Kurzweils so great if you're an experienced user. For a newbie, the forthcoming Patch Editor will help.

Mine only came with a very brief preliminary manual but there is a proper one on the site now as a PDF download.

128-note polyphony, Dynamic VAST architecture *plus* Kurzweil's VA-1 virtual analogue thrown in too. I'm in the UK so I have the TP40-L keyboard and I love the action on it. Very smooth to play and just amazing for the piano presets.

The quality of the built-in effects are superb. Lovely ambiences from the reverbs, very gritty distortions and a host of other thick effects. I would say they easily compare / surpass my Lexicon MPX-1.

The sequencer, like all onboard sequencers I've used, is a little arcane if you're used to DAW sequencing. But if you've ever used any Korg or Yamaha onboard sequencers, you'll get to grips with it fairly quickly. In this instance, I missed the Korg's touchscreen and extra pixels.

In terms of sound quality - put it this way, I don't use most of my sample libraries any more! There is a tendency when talking about sample-based sounds to go for a 'never mind the quality, feel the width'-type argument. Obviously, the Kurzweil has less sample memory to chuck at its pianos than a dedicated multi-gigabyte library. But it's the way the presets are programmed that makes them come alive, the articulation of the samples. I have the PC3X, the 88-note version, and it is simply the most inspiring instrument I've played in a long while. It feels like I'm playing an acoustic instrument, it's that expressive.

The pianos are complemented with equally stunning orchestral, string, brass and percussion sections. The dedicated organ emulation easily beats Logic's built-in softorgan and I'd say it bests Native Instruments' effort too.

And an added cherry on the top - the Mellotron sounds in the Classic Keys bank. Wow.

If I had to say a current weakness it would be that the pure synthy side isn't as well served in the presets. The VA-1 sounds great but it's obvious that Kurzweil have aimed their presets at the more bread'n'butter player side rather than wacky synth presets. Therefore, it's not even trying to compete with the Virus TI. Which is fine, as I already have one. I would say that if you wanted it to, you could program those kind of patches in as the engine is capable of some fine tones.

Sooo... if you're making music that needs great pianos, lush strings, thundering choirs etc, the PC3(X) is a no-brainer. If you're making wild-*** dubstep or glitch, it might not be your go-to keyboard.

Never had a single crash, never had to reboot. No build-quality or finish issues either. Beautiful instrument.

This is where Kurzweil soar so far past any of their other competitors. They're present on a couple of forums I know and they respond promptly and efficiently to every user bug, issue or request. Where you get the corporate blank wall of silence from Apple, you get real, helpful, FRIENDLY humans at Kurzweil.

This is the antithesis of most major music corps nowadays. I have been so impressed by the outstanding level of service that I've recommend the Kurzweil to every player I know. That a keyboard that sounds this fabulous also has this kind of backup is simply unheard of.

I would rate this area higher than ten if I could.

This is my central master and composing keyboard now. I'm even thinking of getting a 76-note PC3 for my live room now, as I like it so much.

I've been playing synths since 1978, gigging since 1982. Professional musician since 1997. Other synths I own:
Alesis Andromeda, Memorymoog, Rogue, Source, JP8, JX-3P, Doepfer modular, Elektron MD + MM, Yamaha VL1 and more.

If I had a fantasy wish list for the Kurzweil... I wish it had:
Big, colour touchscreen to make onboard patch editing easier
Was made out of some fantasy material that would make it lighter as I have a bad back but want those 88-keys :-)

Well, since the manual won't be released until late August, I took mine back because I couldn't figure out how to use it. I got a Motif XS and it blows away the PC3x in terms of being a production powerhouse! Back to the *yawwwn* PC3x...It's not one of those keyboards where you can just start pushing buttons and start sequencing songs. The presents do sound nice-for the most part...more on that later. Editing the patches requires knowledge of advanced synthesis...not for me! Again, can't comment on the manual since there isn't one!

Polyphony is the standard 128 note. Keyboard action is good except for the physical defect that is on all of the earlier shipped units preventing one key from sounding when a certain chord group is pressed.
Apparently, according to Kurzweil, their effects are the best in the business, but the reverbs I heard were mediocre at best. I'm seriously beginning to think that Kurzweil's best at marketing only-not synth programming-like they claim...It takes 2 expansion ROM cards and it's storage is by xD cards type S, which unfortunately are going out of production for good. Sequencer is NOT umlimited tracks like what is mentioned on the website and the resolution is NOT 1500 + ppqn-again, false advertising. The sequencer res is 480 ppqn. No step sequencer.

Strings sound great, pianos are not bad, orchestral sounds not bad-except for timpanis, organs are quite well emulated and guitars are nicely done. The BRASS IS HORRIBLE on this thing to say the least. Probably some of the worst brass patch programming I have EVER heard...This board is good for churches and session players but pretty much USELESS for production, yet it's labeled as a 'Full Blown Music Production Workstation'. THAT is an outright LIE. Kurzweil ain't what it used to be...

Not reliable, I've read horror stories of it locking up during live performances...can you imagine?!! Plus the defective units are just unacceptable in my opinion. They should have been thoroughly tested before going out the door. Common sense right?!

At first, very helpful, but they don't like to be reminded of their many mistakes and they can't understand why people are miffed having been waiting for a manual for almost 3 months now?!!

I own a Motif XS (AMAZING) an MPC 4000 (AMAZING) and an ASR 10 (AMAZING). The PC3x will undoubtably be looked at as Kurzweil's first big mistake since almost going bankrupt a few years ago. Plain and simple, they're charging $1000.00 too much for it.

Version 1.1.1
Old fashion LCD display but the PC3x is conceived to be played right out of the box. There are plenty of editing capabilities but, until the promised soft editor will be released, you have to do the tweaking by means of a quite poor interface.
Presets are very good and Rock/Blues oriented. The manual is clear but not so complete.

128 notes polyphony. 88 piano-like keys with aftertouch. The action is a little softer than Yamaha or Korg equivalents. You have multi-effect with routing capability but I have still not gone too deep in that. There is a xD Card slot for saving of program, settings and songs. A USB port can be used for midi transmission and for load/save of files on a PC or MAC. There are some Expansion slots for ROM samples but at the moment no option is available on the Kurzweil website. The PC3x has full midi controller capabilites with 9 sliders (read drawbars too) and many buttons. The sequencer is also there and it can work in combination with the arpeggiator to trigger riffs or full songs from Program or Setup mode

As Kurzweil's owner know the top sounds are the acoustic and electric pianos. These really shine if you think the total ROM is only 64Mb!! The KB3 organ simulation is also very realistic and playable. Orchestral sounds are not so bad either. I would say that the focus is on the sound of the 70s but what is most important is the playability of the presets. This is a keyboard that makes you want to play!!

I have it since 1 week so no real feedback on this. Nevertheless it is well built and it has already stand a trip of 900Km on the backseats of my car

I have upgraded the OS from the Kurzweil site and it worked very good.

At the moment I'm very happy of this unit. I was evaluating the purchase of a Korg M3 or a Yamaha Motif XS8 but I think this PC3x has everything I need. I'm a longtime KORG user and I can notice the difference in the sound. It is not a matter of pure audio quality. It is the character of the sound that is richer and warm. I love Korg instruments for their power, user interface and ergonomy but if you're looking for a musical instrument this one is for you. You can get much higher quality and ergonomy with a DAW if you need it. Only regret is on the lack of possibility for loading some user samples. Let's hope for the future expansions