The K1 is one of Kawai's most economic digital synthesizers in the K-series. The K1 has 256 digital samples of waveforms, 50 of which are from acoustic instruments. You combine up to four wave shapes to create very new and unique sounds. The K1 is capable of very good acoustic recreation, excellent unique synth sounds or at times, completely noisy walls of complex sound.

The K1 comes in many options: the K1m module/desktop version and the rackmount K1r (pictured above). It makes a great entry-level or back-up synth. Budget digital D-50-like synthesis doesn't get much better than this! It is used by Cirrus and Lab-4.

Brian Lindsey

December 4, 2009 @ 2:14 pm

I have some free software that interfaced with the synth back in the MS Windows 3.1 days. It didn't work too well with later versions of Windows and totally didn't work with XP. Anyone know of anything out there that does? Actually Marc may have given me some clues there. I have a data card, the synth and the card each hold a set of patches.

Marc

July 14, 2009 @ 11:48 pm

To Bill: I believe that the factory internal sounds need to be reloaded via a data card in the front slot or via MIDI. If you need the factory sounds....or any others for the K1...just email me at marc.anglin@yahoo.com. I have every one of the Kawai Factory RAM cards, plus a dozen or so sets of banks from aftermarket support comapnies like Valhalla. Also, check the Web as there are Kawai support sites that have downloads of the factory presets and multiple other banks of sounds.

Gez

July 13, 2009 @ 10:44 am

The K1's 'Arrangement' patch was famously used in LFO by LFO.

Francis

May 15, 2009 @ 3:42 pm

Nice even if you use it just as a controller. The sounds are interestingly digital, a shame it has no filter, but you can get some really nice weedling 80s digital lead sounds out of it with perseverance.

themagickreport

April 21, 2009 @ 10:20 pm

i have the k1r...perfect for backing FM synthesis...thin and cheesy sounds that are like no other

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