I have always used it as a master keyboard. I think is pretty descent (at least for my needs) and definitely best value for money if you buy it today. I stack some older hardware to use as external sound sources (normaly I use VSTs). I knew that K1 was an 8-bit synth, so outdated even compared to some other h/w synths I use, but when I plugged its audio out in my patchbay to play with its sounds I was amazed how good it sounded considering. I had totally forgotten. What is indisputable though, I believe is its construction. KAWAI did a great job on that area for sure!

I had the k1m originally that I bought at goodwill for $5 because it was untested and didn't have the ac adapter. I got it home, it worked, and I loved it. Then I picked up a K1 ii from CL for $50 with an anvil case and really love it. The keyboard is top notch and has beem my primary midi controller ever since. I use the sounds on the synth itself allot as well. It's well made, looks cool, and for very little money is an awesome piece of gear

Thank you for that information. have you worked with that parameter in particular, either through midi or through checking if that "feature" is implemented on the synth? Specially on this model?
The manual refers to the parameters which are editable by the user on each patch, this doesnt mean the equipment's software / operative system does not implement that parameter from another one. That is actually something very common regarding this particular parameter, in which the paramater's value is copied from the velocity touch value, so the way the sound acts when we release the keys is influenced by the way we touched the keys in the first place.
And a synth doesnt really need to be expensive in order to implement that.
The complexity arrives when the value of a key's "release velocity" influences further keys parameters, as in Oberheim Matrix, for example.
Anyway, this is not really of much importance in my opinion :)
Cheers

No, "release velocity" is feature found from some of those better keyboards. Pretty rare, though.
Especially in synths at this price tag.

Only few of the best keys support release velocity, there is no even point to think that this could have it.
Aftertouch is allready big plus as not all boards have even that.
And then there is forever going topic about initial action and keyboard feel.
That's matter of taste and there is no single keyboard in this world thats action everybody would like... .. .

Own this keyboard for 18 years and will never part with it.
Shawn, i think the refered initial sensitivity might be what you call Velocity, or how the attack will perform according to how strong you hit the key.
The programming of each source for a sound in this machine has five parameters for envelope programming. The last one of these parameters is the release, or better saying, the ammount of time it will take for the sound to fade away after we release the key.
That might be what he ment by Release Sensitivity.
With a better processor, broad effects offer and better acoustic wave samples, this keyboard would be out of this world. But for something out of this world, Kawai has the K5000 :)