Kawai K1

K1
ManufacturerKawai
Dates1988
PriceK1 £595[1] GBP
K1r £395 GBP
Technical specifications
Polyphony16/8 note (depending on mode)
Timbrality8 part
Oscillator4 PCM
LFO1 (triangle, sawtooth, square and random)
Synthesis typeDigital PCM Waveform Playback
FilterNo
AttenuatorADSR
Aftertouch expressionYes
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memory64 single-patches or 32 combo-patches
HardwareCPU: NEC D78310G
DAC: NEC μPD6355G[2]
Input/output
Keyboard61 keys
Left-hand controlLeft wheel - pitch bend
Right wheel - modulation.
External controlMIDI In, out, thru, sustain pedal input

The Kawai K1 is a 61 key synthesizer manufactured in 1988[3] by Kawai. It is an entry-level[4] and low fidelity synthesizer and not as feature rich as the Kawai K4 and was released to compete with the Roland D50 and Korg M1 synthesizers. The patch memory can be doubled with a DC-8 memory card which was available separately.[5]

Features

The K1 features 256 8-bit PCM waveforms (204 additive waveforms and 52 acoustic samples),[6] AM (Ring modulation), and a 16×2 character LCD.[7]

Modes

The four modes of operation are:

  • Mono
  • Polyphonic
  • Split
  • Unison

Percussion

The K1 includes drum kits and sounds (acoustic and electronic kits, cymbals as well as some tuned percussion), so can be used to create full rhythm backing when sequenced. The K1II model has 32 percussion sounds.

Mostly known for

Percussive sounds, organs, haunting pads, strings and FM bass sounds and acoustic bass.

Notable users

Kawai K1R and K1M

A 1U rackmount version of the K1 was produced called the K1r.[10] Also a module version called K1M was released. Both have the same synth engine as the keyboard version.

See also

Kawai K4

References

  1. ^ "Kawai K1 Synthesizer (SOS Jun 88)". www.muzines.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  2. ^ "Kawai K1". www.polynominal.com. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  3. ^ "Kawai K1 Digital Synthesizer". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  4. ^ "K1m". www.synthmania.com. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  5. ^ "Kawai K1 | Sound Programming". soundprogramming.net. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  6. ^ "Kawai K1 | Sound Programming". soundprogramming.net. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  7. ^ "Kawai K1 (MT Jun 88)". www.muzines.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  8. ^ Trask, Simon (Aug 1991). "Deep Vibrations". Music Technology. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 60–65. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  9. ^ Cathay 340. "Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble - 歌と器楽「シナウ」 / 신아우 / Sinau（ポチョンボ電子楽団，普天堡電子楽団，보천보전자악단）". YouTube. Retrieved January 29, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Kawai K1m | Vintage Synth Explorer". www.vintagesynth.com. Retrieved 2018-08-28.

http://www.synthmanuals.com/manuals/kawai/k1/owners_manual/k1ownersmanual.pdf