V.a.s.t. And Kb3 Programs - Kurzweil PC3LE Musician's Manual

Program Mode

V.A.S.T. and KB3 Programs

Alternatively, a temporary controller can be set for use in the Temporary TAP controller field, or
you can tap the Tap soft button. The Temporary TAP controller works only while on the Tap
Tempo screen and will remain selected when accessing the Tap Tempo screen from other modes,
but the selection will return to OFF the next time the PC3LE is turned on.
You can also assign a controller (such as a footswitch) to controller destination 168, Tap Tempo,
to be used as a tap tempo button when not viewing the Tap Tempo page. This can be done in the
Control Setup (see The Control Setup on page 7‐69.) Any MIDI values received by destination 168
send a tap signal to the tap tempo function. This would be best used with a assignable switch (or
footswitch.) Configure the selected switch so that it is Toggled, has it's On and Off Controls set
to destination 168 (Tap Tempo,) and set the On and Off Values to any value other than None.
Entry and Exit State should be set to None.
V.A.S.T. and KB3 Programs
It is important to understand the difference between V.A.S.T. programs and KB3 programs.
V.A.S.T. programs contain up to 32 layers. Each layer contains either samples (most often used
to recreate conventional instrument sounds,) or KVA oscillators (used for virtual analog
synthesis.) Each layer is preset to be triggered by the keyboard in specific ranges and velocity
levels. The ability to trigger so many layers results in detailed and more realistic programs. Each
layer is also routed through sophisticated digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms which
shape the tone and other behaviors of the sounds.
KB3 programs use a much different architecture. There are no layers or algorithms, just a set of
oscillators (designed to emulate the tonewheels in a Hammond Organ) that start running as
soon as you select a KB3 program. We've done extensive testing and analysis with several tone
wheel organs, and created our own models to emulate the unique tone wheel sound. Each
oscillator operates independently, and has its own pitch and amplitude settings. The
oscillators—we'll call them tone wheels from here on—are divided into an upper and lower
group. The upper tone wheels use the samples in the PC3LE's keymaps to generate sound, while
the lower tone wheels use sine waves.
KB3 programs are different enough from V.A.S.T. programs that we use the term KB3 mode to
describe what's going on when you play a KB3 program. Whenever you play a KB3 program,
you are in KB3 mode. You can find KB3 programs by pressing the Organ category button while
in Program mode. The programs that use KB3 mode will light the KB3 LED to the left of the
knobs, indicating that the PC3LE's knobs and switches are now dedicated to the organ controls
that are labeled on the front panel. KB3 program will also be displayed in the program mode
info box.
Note:
You can play KB3 programs only on a single channel at a time. When a channel other than
the currently selected channel is using a KB3 program, the info box on the program mode main
page will indicate which MIDI channel is using a KB3 program.
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