Kawai K4 - Demo I

[vectorass]

My parrot likes this track, thank you!

[pHr33kAcHu]

Kickass track man, and not a bad little board either!

[matiasmoriconi999]

the best demo of the K4 in youtube, also the video is great!! i hope to get my K4 this year, regards from argentina ;)

[drumsdrumdrumdrum]

That kick is awesome. Additive synths are amazing

[knutgehtsgut123]

Well, generally you maybe right, but for most people the way is the goal. I have fun by playing around every kind of synth, old, new, hardware or even software.

Sure, you can discuss hours about quallity and sound characteristic of synths and come to the conclusion you will only need one good synth to make everything you want for a good track.

For me this is not the point, I like the K4 and why should I tweak a good sounding plugin as long, as I get the "bad" sound of a K4 when I own a K4 ? ;-)

[maccagrabme]

I used to own a K1 and thought it was good at the time but that was 20 odd yrs ago. I cannot believe how basic the K4 sounds, no disrespect to your demo, you are doing your best given the limitations but honestly, any software plugin free or otherwise has a nicer sound than this. I would put this almost on par with a Tx81z soundwise, which I also own but even that has a better bass sound. I also owned a Roland D110 when I had the K1 and that blows this out of the water let alone an M1.

[alejandronova]

@maccagrabme If you are not into industrial, EBM, or experimental music, then things like metallic noise, or a sample, modulable with any of the internal samples (AM modulation) are worthless to you, and the M1 (or my X2, an AI2 keyboard built on the heritage of M1) is undoubtedly better. Sometimes you NEED a not-so-nice sound, and, when you have to play gothic or industrial tunes, the K4 delivers. Hear the K4 Chorus sound. If you are into goth music, you'll love it.

[kolakube123]

Cool synth the K4. Back in the day (early 90s) this was a poor mans Korg M1. Excellent synth the K4. Even the K1 was cool.

[smackyjack]

I like Kawai synths. Analog and digital. I like this music. I like you. See you, and thank you.

[LTStelevision]

Great Synth... The sequenced synth track in our song "you belong in the countryside" is a Kawai k4r. Have look/listen at the video on our youtube channel.

[vectorass]

How did you sequence all K4 sounds on this beautiful track? Technically?

[knutgehtsgut123]

@vectorass

Thanks. The aim was to record everything at once with the limitation of 8 voices, the sequencer was my good old cubase :-)

[homerlovedonuts]

@vectorass i have a kawai Q80 sequencer, which he may be using.or any other midi sequencer.

[trom69]

Fantastic demo. sounds and music are super!

[AttilaSVK]

Awesome demo. The K4 sounds sometimes like an Amiga module, and sometimes like a Roland D-10... I have some free space in my rack, I think I'll buy a K4r :)

[Desmaad]

@AttilaSVK Those MOD composers had to get their sounds from somewhere. Remember, it is a sample-based format.

[syvergutten]

Can the K4 reproduce those nice vintage mellotron sounds from say, the Beatles, King Crimson or Pink Floyd? Or does it only do future sounds?

[knutgehtsgut123]

I would say - within its synthesis - no synthesizer does only special sounds. Each gear has its characteristik but the rest belongs to the sound programming, so the answer is "yes" and "no" ;-)

[alejandronova]

@syvergutten I've owned a K4, and the answer is a resounding no. If you want realistic pianos, Hammond organs, or orchestra sounds, the K4 is useless. However, if you are into Depeche Mode or german Gothic or EBM music, the K4 is priceless. Watch this demo: maybe the author doesn't know it, but what you can hear here is instant Deine Lakaien.

[Colpocorto]

@syvergutten As far as I know Pink Floyd never used a Mellotron

[PolymoogFred]

Great video and music, well done!!

[WE1AREUS]

I am looking to buy a keyboard and I need recommendations... I recently found "RonaldReekees" Or someone by that name on youtube and he is amazing.. I am looking for a sound that he has but would also like recommendations. Would you say this is a great keyboard? And what am i looking at for price range.. thanks.

[knutgehtsgut123]

I don´t know RonaldReekees and have no sound here to check at the moment.

There are a lot of good Keyboards/Synths on the used market and most of them have their own charme. The question is what you want, I think for a used value of 100-150 Euro the K4 is still a little good digital synthesizer...

[WE1AREUS]

My ad it's not Reekees it's "Ronald Jenkees" but you should look him up.

and I've been trying to find this keyboard at local music stores but they don't have any so I probably wont get this keyboard but ask them what they recommend.. Thanks for the info though!

[haakondale]

Ronald Jenkees uses a Korg TR and a Yamaha Motif XS.

[ventouse]

depends on what you expect from a synth I'd say. This synth has its own metallic / digital touch, which compared to analog synths is REALLY different, but it sounds 'bad enough' to be interesting I think.

I found one for 150USD and am quite happy to use it for its 80's sound.

[knutgehtsgut123]

"Song factory default" ? Hm ?

I don´t know how many voices it were at least at the same time, but I recorded it in "one shot" using 4 of the 8 possible slots (3 instruments + 1 Drum) and it didn´t seem that the K4 was on its voice limit.

[knutgehtsgut123]

I wouldn´d sell my K4 ever :-) ...for the price of today it is still a good and unique piece of gear at all...

[notreallysure9]

thansk so much for your help.... unfortunately, perhaps, I have sold it so it is too late but I truly appreciate your help....

[notreallysure9]

Hi,

I just found one of these K4 synths. It powers up fine but does not make ANY sound.... Any ideas?

[Cristofre]

Make sure the internal keyboard is set "on" in the MIDI settings. Try resetting it to factory defaults. Check the jack, maybe is bad.

[grupovariaciones]

check the midi dump system or replace the internal memory batteries

[thyselroy]

Don't forget to check Local Mode On/Off !

[nobodaddy33]

I can probably help you fix it - if you're willing to post an email address I can talk you through some stuff to ascertain what's wrong with it. Otherwise, I have a guy who fixes my stuff when I'm stuck (been working on synths for about 25yrs) who is very cheap so if I can't help I'll pass you his details

[bazytherapper]

hey, great demo!

I have bought a k4, but unfortunately without a volume pot. It is working, but the volume is on 0, and the volume pot is missing. I checked it out, but it was desoldered from the main board, and I don't know where it goes in the circuit now. If anyone could help me with some kind of schematic of the place that the volume pot goes, and with what type of pot should I put there, it would be very appreciated. thank you very much!

[kkreiger]

Awesome!

[ilovenanako2008]

Very good composition:you have captured the really essence of this great Synth.

Hi,I have a K4r controlled by an Yamaha DX7.

Record track by track on Magix Music 2006 and use the powerfull effects of this software.

My first elettronic simphony is almost finish,only few days and all the fans of the

k4-k4r can hear that this wonderfull synth can make.

[marxhale]

spooky... sounds 80's,nice, but

the track could use a little more diversity

still some people dare 2say the k4 has a thin crapy toy sound (they cant program it)...

i own the k4r myself for about 18 years,

and i use it in almost every track,you have the effects,but i love my 8 outputs

on the K4r ;)

[knutgehtsgut123]

...yes, I agree to the missing diversity...according to the length of the track... ;-)

"thin crapy toy sound" ? Hm, I wouldn´t agree to that too, you can create awsome sounds of course. Comparing to a modern synth would be a bid unequable.

8 outputs ? But every output would need a mixer input, so here are my problems again... :-) *lol*

[marxhale]

or like i have: every(2)output needs a different effect unit ;)

but i have a 32channel mixer so no problem...well they are all in use, :)lol

[sauermusicDE]

A really nice song. The K4 has a very unique snare drum sound. Is that a Behringer UB mixing desk in your video?

[knutgehtsgut123]

Thank you, but at least I didn´t spend much time for the arrangement ;-)

I have no idea what mixing desk is on the picture, this is just a free short video sequence that is allowed to be used for uncommercial usage. ...somewhere from the internet...

Personally I own a Behringer DDX3216.

[synthargentina]

excellent!!!!!!

[knutgehtsgut123]

Thanks ;-)

[synthargentina]

excellent!!!