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.

AJ 9000

September 23, 2012 @ 3:11 pm

One of the most underrated digital synthesizers ever made. Although it's not as "big" sounding as the k5000, it's also more organic, and you'll find some of the most beautiful pad sounds of any digital synth here.

dr.blitzen

July 13, 2012 @ 5:37 am

I picked up one of this 2nd hand in 1997 but sold it a few years later which I regret. It had a nice palette of 80's drum sounds. It had some unique sounds and I even had a nice 303 type sound out of it. I think the only problem with it, was that the build quality felt cheap. The plastic case felt like it was going to fall apart at any moment and the buttons after a few presses were on their way out.

1xeach

June 5, 2012 @ 4:57 am

I bought this beast as a replacement for the K1. As i had noticed that it's not a replacement i tried to reengineere all my K1 sounds and (mostly) succeeded :)
Still use this synth and like the analog/digital sound fusion (yes, there is a ring-mod) ;)

Bill Craig

January 16, 2012 @ 4:11 pm

I bought the K4 in the late 80's when it first came out, and the K4r later. I've accumulated a lot of synths since then, but I still use the K4 as one of my controller keyboards. The velocity and release are more sensitive and unique than other keyboards I have, and is very useful in many situations. It's true some of the sounds are dated, but what synth from the 80's isn't? Some sounds are very different and distinctive - D-15 KlavXpress for example - and can't be duplicated.

Ken

November 3, 2011 @ 3:02 pm

I have one of these. Awesome synth, although I haven´t used it much lately.
Thinking about seeling it about selling it.
k4@glxn.net

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