Vintage Synth Explorer

Kawai • K3

The K3 uses the same technologies as the popular K1. Although it was among the first from Kawai, it is surpassed by the K1 and K5. The K3 is a wavetable synthesizer. It has 32 waveforms, some of which are samples of acoustic instruments like piano and percussion as well as some unique waveforms. By combining two of these waveforms you can create unique new sounds or add a twist to a traditional sound. Since there are only 32 of these waveforms, the K3 also features a programmable digital waveform where you can tweak the harmonic content of a waveform allowing for added flexibility and range of sounds.

What's really neat about the K3 is that (unlike the K1) it has analog filters and envelopes! So although the sound may be digital at first, it sure does get warmed going through the filter. The low pass resonant filter even has its own envelope generator. There's also a hi pass filter and a highly flexible LFO. The K3 is an interesting synth, nicely bridging the gap between the analog and digital domain of vintage synthesizers. The K3M is a rackmount module version of the K3. The K3 has been used by Jan Hammer and Patrick O'Hearn.

VISITOR COMMENTS (17)

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Lamster

Posted 34 days ago

I,ve had mine 20 odd years from new. easy to program nice semi weighted keys. And got midi thru. Sounds fat does a passable obi strings.Dug it out the roof last week after 10 years and worked all ok. Patches sounds a bit samey to me now sort of metalic quality to them. But I would never sell it.
Got a K1r too nothing like the same as the K3. K3 is a hybrid like korg poly's and roland juno's.

bill

Posted 138 days ago

this synth has absolutely nothing in common with the k1.
it has a analog filter and a analog envelopes.

Teleny

Posted 202 days ago

I used to own one of these back around 1990. It makes great metallic-like sounds. Although rumored to have a great engine, I was more of a player than programmer, so it didn't fit my needs. Plus it a monster-I used to gig a lot and everyone hated their turn carrying the k3. IStill, I'd take another if it was cheap enough.....

elektrogeist

Posted 209 days ago

If you find one cheap, GET IT. unfortunately many of the digital waveforms for the oscillators are useless, so just stick with the basic sawtooths and square waves. raising the resonance quickly drops all lower frequencies unfortunately. would've been quite a machine had they used VCOs and knobs.

Rose Specs

Posted 230 days ago

Recently got the K3M... its great; sounds really rich and lush (potentially cheesy in its versatility also) and its interface has to be one of if not the best of any push button synth; its better than many fully knobbed jobs IMO for ease of use and responsiveness. If you're into keyboard based control i'd highly recommend it; 6 voice analog(mostly), good aftertouch/velocity programability and cheap! I really don't know why this synth is cheap.

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