Keeping Current; Overview Of The Pc3Le - Kurzweil PC3LE6 Musician's Manual

Introduction

Keeping Current

The PC3LE contains many of the same sounds as the PC3. This includes detailed acoustic and
electric pianos, rich orchestral sounds, and many other instruments from Kurzweil's extensive
sample collections. The PC3LE comes with over 1000 instrument programs, all of which can be
edited or copied to a user program to customize your sound. In addition to sample based
programs, the PC3LE includes Kurzweil's KB3 organ simulator for realistic tonewheel organ
sounds as well as KVA oscillators for virtual analog synthesis.
The PC3LE includes many hardware features designed for live performance. There are five
knobs, each of which can be assigned to 3 separate parameters (each parameter accessed
through use of a shift button,) allowing for the control of a total of 15 parameters. There are eight
drum pads which are assignable to notes or control functions. The PC3LE also includes 12
assignable switches, mod and pitch wheels, as well as inputs for foot switches and an expression
pedal.
Keeping Current
Check for new documentation and operating system upgrades before you start using your
instrument. When new software is available for the PC3LE, it will be posted at
www.kurzweil.com. You can use the PC3LE's Boot Loader (described in this manual) to easily
upgrade your instrument with new software and sounds, which will be released periodically by
Kurzweil.

Overview of the PC3LE

The PC3LE's 1000+ programs include samples from our PC2's Base ROM, Orchestral ROM,
Classic Keys ROM, and a new String Sections ROM, as well as support for General MIDI. Multi-
zone performance setups are also provided; many of these setups use note triggers to play
factory-recorded riffs and arpeggiations that provide instant grooves and backing parts. An on-
board sequencer (Song mode) with front panel transport buttons lets you record your musical
ideas any time inspiration strikes.
The PC3LE has 64-voice polyphony with 16 multi-timbral channels, so that different programs
can be played on each MIDI channel. The PC3LE features a world-class effects processor which
provides multiple simultaneous effects, along with real-time effects control via the front panel
controls or MIDI.
For backup, storage, and moving files, the PC3LE features two USB ports on the rear panel. A
USB storage port allows you to connect a USB device such as a thumb drive, and a second USB
Computer port lets you connect the PC3LE to a computer for file transfer and MIDI connectivity.
How the PC3LE Works
The PC3LE integrates a keyboard, high quality samples, a powerful synthesis engine and a high-
end effects processor. MIDI events generated by playing the keyboard cause the sound engine to
trigger samples or oscillators which are then processed by Kurzweil's powerful V.A.S.T. digital
signal processing. The resulting sound is then routed through the PC3LE's effects and to the
audio outputs.
V.A.S.T. Synthesis
The PC3LE's uses Kurzweil's Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology (V.A.S.T.) to process
samples and oscillators with a variety of powerful digital signal-processing (DSP) tools and
functions. All of this happens "under the hood," so you never have to worry about how the
sound you are using is constructed in order to modify it. The PC3LE gives you easy access to a
program's relevant parameters via the front panel knobs and buttons, allowing you to easily
modify a program without having to navigate through a series of menus.
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