Overview Of The K2600 - Kurzweil K2600 Musician's Manual

Introduction

Overview of the K2600

For K2600R Owners
Throughout the MusicianÕs Guide and MusicianÕs Reference weÕve simpliÞed things by saying just
ÒK2600Ó any time weÕre referring to features that are common to all instruments in the K2600
Series. Obviously, though, there are some differences between the rack and keyboard models;
weÕll point them out where they occur and mark them with a handy K2600R margin symbol like
the one to the left of this paragraph. If you own a keyboard model of the K2600, you may want
to read the K2600R-speciÞc information anyway, since much of it also applies when your K2600
is a MIDI slave (when using a computer-based sequencer, for example).
Overview of the K2600
The K2600 has been designed to be a versatile instrument both for performance, and for multi-
timbral sequencing and recording. Its Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology lets you build
sounds from realistic instrumental samples and sampled synth waveformsÑthen modify the
nature of those sounds through a wide variety of digital signal-processing (DSP) functions. The
K2600 also generates its own synth waveforms, which can be combined with the samples or
used on their own. The K2600 packs 12 Megabytes of onboard sound ROM. You can add up to
four optional ROM sound blocks (there are two currently available), and you can load samples
from disk into optional sample RAM.
Before we get into explaining Variable Architecture Synthesis, here are a few of the features that
by themselves make the K2600 an impressive stage and studio machine. ItÕs fully multi-
timbralÑdifferent programs can be played on each MIDI channel. ItÕs 48-note polyphonic, for a
full sound no matter how many chords you play. ThereÕs an on-board digital effects processor,
providing up to Þve simultaneous effects, including real-time effects control, internally or via
MIDI.
In addition to the standard stereo audio output pair, there are eight separate outputs that can be
conÞgured as stereo pairs, or as individual mono outputs. These are balanced outputs, which
you can connect to either balanced or unbalanced inputs.
The K2600 offers two SIMM sockets (single, in-line memory modules) so you can add optional
Sample RAM, where you can store samples that youÕve loaded from disk. You can add up to 128
megabytes of Sample RAM. (Sample RAM is not battery-backed, so RAM samples are erased
from memory when you power down.)
For ofßine storage, thereÕs also a ßoppy drive and two SCSI ports, so you can store Þles on
ßoppies or on an external hard disk or load them from a CD-ROM drive. The two SCSI ports
make it easy to chain multiple SCSI devices together. ThereÕs also provision for an internal SCSI
hard disk. YouÕll Þnd all this storage potential extremely useful for saving and loading samples,
which can be transferred to and from the K2600 using the standard MIDI sample transfer
format, or the faster, parallel SMDI sample transfer format (SCSI Musical Data Interchange). See
the MusicianÕs Reference for information about MIDI and SMDI sample transfers.
The K2600Õs battery-backed program RAM can store about 800 of your own programs, or about
60,000 notes recorded in the sequencer. This sequencer (Song mode) lets you play back MIDI
type 0 or 1 sequences, record and play back your own songs, and record multi-timbral
sequences received via MIDI. For more onboard storage you can add the P/RAM option, which
will increase your battery-backed RAM to about 1500K (1.5M), enough to store hundreds of
additional programs, setups, songs, and other objects . (Without the P/RAM option, the K2600
has about 500K of program RAM.)
The Local Keyboard Channel feature enables you to use the K2600Õs multi-zone setups even if
youÕre using a MIDI controller that can transmit on only one channel. The K2600 will also
rechannelize incoming MIDI information and send it to its MIDI Out port, enabling you to
control additional synths on eight different channels.
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