Vintage Synth Explorer

Kawai • K4

The K4 from Kawai can be thought of as a warm and fuzzy digital synthesizer. A sample-based digital synth, its sounds are those typically weird industrial type sounds that can still be useful in lo-fi, big-beat and trip hop music styles. The sounds are 16-bit preset PCM samples of acoustic instruments. However, unlike its predecessor the K1, the K4 adds a welcomed digital filter section. This truly makes the K4 more flexible, fun and useful for today's filter tweaking music effects!

The K4r is the eight output rackmount version which has all the same features except for the effects processor. Both feature 8-part multitimbrality which is great for stacking, splitting and layering sounds. The K4 will give you strange, new and unique sounds with plenty of flexibility and analog-style sound shaping and control at an affordable price. It is used by The Chemical Brothers and ATB.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

federico

Posted 85 days ago

I own one...I find it very useful due to its particular and "metallic" sound.. Highly intuitive programming (somewhat similar to Roland D series). I could create my best synth-bass patch ever! So, in my opinion, exciting for noisy and cutting sounds, as well as reso pads, and so on. Less effective for natural instruments, pianos, organs (i hear a trend to mid-frequency overload...do you ?)

Daveshtayn

Posted 93 days ago

After several decades, I've managed to put together several vintage synths into a small personal studio. My first bet was my everloved Kawai K4, which I still have since 1994 and refuse to let go. I've also bought my gear in rack versions: a Roland JV-1020 module with 4 expansions (classic, tecno, r&b and pianos), a Korg M1R and a Emu ESI-4000 sampler. Boy, do they sound nice! And all connected thru a audio digitalizer via usb port to a computer, add some after effects... Really, no need for those expensive new keyboards and modules after a bit of tweaking.

Cyber Y Music Tech

Posted 116 days ago

I love my Kawai K4 Synth and Q80 Sequencer. Had 'em since 1987. There is NOTHING out there like these machines. No KORG/ KARMA/ TRITON/ M3 doo-hickey , no software reproduction can come close to it's otherworldly analog/fm/digital hybrid sound.

By the way, if you want to hear the K4 in ALL it's glory, you need to check out a guy named Louis Haiman. Apparently, his entire first release from 1997 ish was done ENTIRELY on the K4. So check it out here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/louishaima n

Obsolete K4 4Ever!

Cyber Y Music Tech

Posted 116 days ago

I love my Kawai K4 Synth and Q80 Sequencer. Had 'em since 1987. There is NOTHING out there like these machines. No KORG/ KARMA/ TRITON/ M3 doo-hickey , no software reproduction can come close to it's otherworldly analog/fm/digital hybrid sound.

By the way, if you want to hear the K4 in ALL it's glory, you need to check out a guy named Louis Haiman. Apparently, his entire first release from 1997 ish was done ENTIRELY on the K4. So check it out here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/louishaima n

Obsolete K4 4Ever!

Marcus The Pianist

Posted 143 days ago

This was the first "real Keyboard" I've ever owned. This keyboard was good for some of those deep bass patches as well as some of the fat synth patches. I was 18 when I brought this board. And I had some good times on it!! This board made me famous in the mid 90's in high school. I use to play for a few local up and coming funk bands in D.C. using only this keyboard. Although I have a Roland Fanton-X6, a Korg Triton Extreme, Two Motif ES's and a V-Synth GT...I will never forget this keyboard.

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