Kawai K3 | New patch bank 2022 | Synthpop, soundtracks, Synthwave - this synth has it all

The Kawai K3 is an amazing synth. Digital waveforms and analog filters and amps after that.
With its SSM2044 filters, analog chorus, both subtractive AND additive synthesis, this synth can do so much and it has a killer bottom end.
This new patch bank is a complete tone bank, that is 50 new patches (tones) for your K3/K3m. It's in a sysex format. I refer to the manual for how to load these into your synth.
I've included both the individual sysex patches as well as the complete bank. Patch names below.
These patches will NOT work on any other Kawai in the K-series. That includes the K1, K4 and K5000.
You can use the patches as you please, but you cannot sell them as your own, give them away or take credit for making them.
Find the patches here:
thepatchbay.io/product/kawai-...
sound7.co.uk/products/kawai-k...
In the video I use some external reverb coming from the Valhalla VintageVerb.
Support this channel on Patreon:
/ espenkraft
Find my music here:
iTunes Apple music: apple.co/35ZTdfR
Spotify: spoti.fi/38aoWMB
Bandcamp: espenkraft.bandcamp.com/
Google Play: bit.ly/2NrgXD9
Patch names:
1. TG Bells
2. Celts
3. Light Bass
4. Pluck
5. Soft Pad
6. Fat Memo Bass M
7. Elfs Bells
8. Sacrale
9. Key Bells (release)
10. Simple Bass
11. Phasey Pad
12. Alias
13. Subdu Strings
14. Filtered Piano
15. Hybrid Guitar
16. Hybrid Guitar 2
17. Reverse Bells
18. Auto Bend
19. Hybrid Bass M
20. Dreamy
21. Voxy
22. Sweat Dreams
23. VCA Arp
24. Forever Pad
25. Squelchy
26. Smooth R Bass M
27. TG Bells 2
28. C.Harp
29. VP Bells
30. '85 Strings
31. Chart Bells
32. Ambi Organ
33. Dual Bells
34. Air Pad
35. Digi James
36. Perfect Arp
37. Berlin
38. Glatt Bass
39. Hybrid Guitar 3
40. Plucky Pad
41. N-Bells
42. Alias Lead P,M
43. Strings & Guitars
44. Synthy Glock
45. Hollow Lead
46. Mullet
47. Vib Bells
48. Sacrale 2
49. Radio Strings
50. Texture

[@ingoodmusic]

the opening song was superb

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! It's actually from my upcoming album.

[@dannymolns3573]

Can you link me to the song please

[@dicknawson]

Yes!! K3 is so underrated.

[@m77studio64]

I'm listening, already the first two sounds are super. Thank you! 😊

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@DestroyER82]

Using K3m a lot in current sci-fi / horror soundtrack project im working on. Awesome go-to machine for interesting special synth sounds and pads with analog twist.

[@reeltorock]

Thank you very much for your efforts in creating these patches! I purchased a K3 and K3M through a local online auction several years ago (as well as a TX-7) and look forward to trying new patches.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@Kossi.]

Your new patch bank for the Kawai K3 are a treat for the ears once again Espen! 🎼🎹

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@jimcurtis9052]

I love the 85 strings patch... sounded really interesting. 😊👍

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@matthewcragg3607]

That patch reminds me of "Separate Ways" by Journey.

[@noventasmusic]

From what can be heard, it was practically impossible to exploit and take full advantage of the creative potential of this machine, in a musically revolutionary decade,..saludos

[@ErikHawk]

Oh yeah, bought your patches for my old K3! I'm excited. I know this synth sounds amazing and just haven't had the time to program more sounds so your new patches are perfect. Thanks!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Erik! I hope you'll enjoy them. :)

[@olivierpoutrain1001]

what's extraordinary sounds! Thank you !!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@Nacios007]

Very Nice, very good! Keep up the great work! Your content is sooo inspiring. Best wishes from Germany!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@johnb2044]

you been spying on my racks again Espen....lol

[@gsynth1731]

I sold my K3 many years ago and regretted it afterwards. Great demo and patches thank you :)

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@DynamicRockers]

wow those pads sound fantastic!

[@galamoonretrogaming]

I love your sounds !!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@Mamotreco]

Lovely sounds

[@mudi2000a]

These are really epic sounds!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@dessiplaer]

Great sounding patches!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks!

[@lundsweden]

Listening to this, I for some reason expect to see Axel Foley peak his head around the corner at any moment!

[@Maryandme4550]

Nice work! I purchased it…

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks man!

[@ryn5671]

I had a Kawai K-11

[@rickcaruso2114]

This was an excellent showing of the Kawai K3 Wave Table synth module. How we were all so quick to sell off & or trade up for the next best thing. Or so we thought ( Synth's ). What a fickled bunch we were back in those days. As you can all now hear the K3 & K5 / we're both very capable Synth's their street price made it a keeper. It was our fear of not owing the newest the latest gear that caused us to buy & sell at such a rapid pace that most of us never had the time with our current gear, to even know or learn what it could truly do for us. It was an era when the Keyboard manf. had become hungry for cash flow. Sequential Circuits, Oberhiem, Voyetra and other American made Analog Synth's power house beasts ( Synth's that could curdle your milk, and we're very capable of taking down a expensive 3 way PA system. The output of those hand made, hand soldered, hand wired Human built Moog Modulars systems & others had much higher hotter Audio signal outputs. May he forever RIP our beloved Uncle Keith Emerson (watch a few of ELP KZbin videos to refresh you memories) of the Song Lucky Man. Playing the lowest note ever reproduced yet recorded for our enjoyment. They made the girls in the crowd rip off their halter tops & bras. Then toss them on stage. Yeah yeah Elvis had some of that as well, but it came from the mother's & aunt's of the babes who came to hear ELP. For the newbies, we actually traded off our old gear worried that they'd lose their resale / trade in values if we kept em for much longer we'd have a hard time ridding ourselves of those heavy products. We all made the mistake of buying hard shell ATA cases to protect them in. So when light weight keyboards came along built of plastic, no more knobs, crappy little mylar chiclet switch panels better yet Menu diving became a house hold term. Hey look I can take my entire keyboard rig in my car to the gig all in just one trip. What's In those canvas bags ? Keyboards my man ! No more roadies ? Sorry buddy the fun R&R bars, clubs have all gone Disco with dress codes, yuck. The weddings are paying 3x what we used to get paid for 5 & 6 hours at a filthy dump with idiots puking on each other and peeing in the corner of the Rock joints. Now I'm on my way home by 12:15. More often invited for breakfast by some divorced chicks that were at the Wedding reception. Yes we had those kind of offers years ago playing in the Rock clubs, but the babes would be gone by the time we tore down the stage and loaded it into the van or truck. No this is much more peaceful. But don't you have to play BS wedding songs for the Folks. No not really maybe one Polka one Cha Cha, Rumba it's going out of style. People want to have fun to dance to the 70, 80s, 90s Car Radio stuff that gave them an identity when they were in Highschool man. Remember when you too were cool, and not just a tool ? Yeah Get rid of the Skynyrd tee shirt a hair cut & you might get lucky at the next wedding you get invited to. But this time actually Show up for it. You could Join a band that plays weddings like that movie Adam Sandler the wedding singer. Got 3 jobs no 4 for next weekend. Friday nite a Saturday afternoon wedding 2 hrs. Playing a Bar Saturday Night, my old neighbor hood. And a Sunday morning brunch at a Fancy Golf Club resort. Making over _$1500. On top Of my day job. I'm doing very well and I have mad money to spend on new gear anything I want. K3 ha I think I'll look Into Ebays used ads see what they have to sell. Then buy some new patches from Espen Kraft he is the 80's. So I'm told So Im told. Job's are & plug into the PA including Blow up had come to see themselves

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@62borneo]

Awesome!

[@g-muni5855]

Very nice mate. Need to turn on my K3M and bring some life back into this beast.. Thank you!!!👍🙏

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@PeachBeach]

VP bells is so evocative! Magic

[@suadcokljat1045]

This is very very nice Espen. Funny thing, I never owed an Kawai. A friend had Kawai Spectra. I was lurking K5000R but never got it. Love your paches. Cheers! S

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@ryananthony4840]

Sounds excellent Espen!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@maurize83]

Beast of a soundpack.

[@FFrrEEddRRiiKK1]

I keep going constant Miami Vice/Jan Hammer nostalgia here. Thanks.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@80ssynthfan48]

Jan really hit the sweet spot.

[@septembre1129]

Equipment? Doesn't matter. Your skills are above everything else Espen. You are an incredible musician.

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks for saying! :)

[@danielmintal7455]

Very good!🤝

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@kemek3000]

Nice! Now I need to hurry up and fix my K3!

[@EspenKraft]

Do it!

[@hemibass]

Some really cool patches. Makes me want to dive a bit deeper into the sound design on mine because I feel like some of these are much deeper than anything I've been able to come up with!

[@Novaheart1998]

Nice patches. I have a K3M its lovely.

[@80ssynthfan48]

Lucky you :)

[@davelordy]

Nice !

[@cortical1]

The Kawais really are great. I only have the K5m, bought it new in '87 for a thousand bucks (that really hurt at the time), but I love it. Super lush and emotive patch bank here, Espen, as always! Two things I've been meaning to share with you: 1) I really like your lowered voice singing on your song Atomic Winter. You have quite a range, and all the styles you sing sound good. 2) Is there any chance you would consider making more videos on music production, mixing, and mastering? I'd certainly pay for a full online course from you, since I consider your music to be some of the best sounding home-produced music anywhere. And the other videos you have about this really showcase the unique techniques of your vintage/80s approach and philosophy. Just wondering. Hope all is well in the way of the Nor! Cheers.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks for saying! I have something very epic coming in a month or so. Something that will last for several months. Just what you're looking for. More info over at Patreon soon. I also have a fiber connection now so I'll start live streaming soon and I will also take on 1 on 1 video tutoring for anyone interested. All in due time.

[@cortical1]

@@EspenKraft Sounds amazing! 👍🏻

[@erik_gerhard]

Just got a once-in-a-lifetime find delivered today: $250 for an "as-is" K3. Was worried it might have a dead voice or busted AT/velocity but I powered it up...and it's fully functional, and even came with an RC-2 RAM cartridge! Just bought your patches to kick my sound-designing on it in gear. Thanks as always, Espen, for your quality content and sounds. 😊

[@EspenKraft]

Nice score! Thanks for getting my patches, I hope you'll like them. Best :)

[@gilwe]

That's a very warm sounding digital/analog hybrid synth.

[@Jackson-W22]

Nice Sounds 👌👌

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@lunalangton5776]

Wellp. Espen Kraft definitely *is* the 80s. Great demo.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@brettwayne8103]

Wow way more expressive than I thought it could be: Never seen one used with real-time controller before!

[@burprobrox9134]

I’ve had a busted k3 for 4 or 5 years. This has reignited my desire to fix it significantly. Thanks!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@marcosachetto3538]

P20 - Dreamy at 05:14 ❤

[@normalizedaudio2481]

good levels

[@CraigRodmellMusic]

Sounds nice, Espen.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Craig!

[@precog669]

This sounds amazing, sadly i cant effort a K3 but have the K4r what is a totally different thing.

[@JonniArmani]

Nice

[@BeeDotEee]

P5 soft pad - that nice little bass edge at 4:27 If you can lend me a K3 i'll buy

[@stonail665]

Rich sounds, good demo. btw you can turn on soft takeover on BCR2000 settings to avoid jumping parameter values.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers! Thanks for the tip. I use that controller very rarely so I keep forgetting what it can do. ;-)

[@amonster8mymother]

Gouda!

[@Deepwatermusic]

Fabulous! But of course...

[@robertgrant721]

I have a K4 sadly, but this does make me think of creating a modern K4 patch editor.

[@EgoShredder]

The man that created the Nil's K1v VST, is supposed to be creating a K4 VST at some point. If he does it will be epic, as his K1v is fantastic.

[@rolandsolomon7728]

Don't underestimate that K4. I bought one new in 1989 and still have it today. I did an awful lot of sequencing with it since it's multitimbral. Even in the studio, I used it exclusively for numerous instrument emulations, thanks to Bo Tomlyn. Having said that, I'd love to have a K3 to add to the arsenal. 😊

[@12opsynths]

Espen, ever see one of these with E! Installed? There were ads for it in 80s Keyboard, but never seen it the wild. Really nice patches man! Very JX but that low end is massive.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! I've never seen any K3 with expansion updates. Didn't knew that even existed for it.

[@oscarwebb2961]

Excellent!! You have a great ear. I purchased the patches. Was interfacing the BCR2000 difficult?

[@EspenKraft]

Many thanks! If you know how to program sysex it's not difficult. There are templates for the K3, for the BCR2000 online also.

[@wallyelectronicsformusicia8646]

i have a k4 but the sound never totally convinced me, yours are better.

[@EspenKraft]

The K3 has nothing in common with the K1, K4 or K5000. These are all digital synths. the K3 is fully analog, after the initial digital waveforms.

[@wallyelectronicsformusicia8646]

@@EspenKraft ah......

[@pablous5281]

Forever pad is identical

[@borlibaer]

It's a KAWAI Synthi 🥰

[@fishwigy]

I currently have a kawai k4. It's all digital, but I love the sounds.

[@80iesDude45]

I have the K4 and a K4r Rack, but I'd trade both for a Kawai K3, love the sounds of the K3.

[@fahadurk]

Weeknd would make an album out of this patch.

[@DoctorNemmo]

I'll always regret selling my Kawai K5000S

[@marcelofp75]

I have a Kawai mm-16 for sys-ex editing on my synths but I have no kawai synths on my setup. I have to do somtheing about it.

[@matthewcragg3607]

I love these sounds. I just purchased a K3m on eBay today. If it arrives in good condition and sounds like it should I will purchase this sound set.

[@EspenKraft]

Happy to hear it!

[@matthewcragg3607]

@@EspenKraft The synth arrived and it works great. I purchased the sound bank. Now you have a little more money in your pocket and can just buy what you need instead of shoplifting in your hometown.

[@dannymolns3573]

Did you find a good editor or librarian? I'm about to pull the trigger on the k3 too and wanna buy these after. I'm just afraid I dont know how to load them on to it (I only have newer synths with software atm) I'm a Mac user if that makes a difference!

[@jooei2810]

Remember seeing Kawai, Roland and Yamaha synths on local music shop, went there after school to have my synth dreams fulfilled. They also had EMU 2 keyboard to play with.

[@tihinter]

great sound, great patches! thanx for showing! Happily I already own a K3M, otherwise I’d be in the market for one now… Btw, which reverb did you use? Sounds somewhere in the middle between the cold loneliness of a Rev7 and the wideness of the PCM70 to my ears…

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Check my video descriptions for additional info about setups etc. Here I use Valhalla VintageVerb. The only reverb plugin I have, and the only one I think is worth money.

[@nichttuntun3364]

❤

[@mr.zeitmaschine6878]

Nice sounds. I have 2 of the K3’s and both in perfect condition. What is the cost for each bank Espen? Thanks

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! It's only one bank. Links are in the video description.

[@mr.zeitmaschine6878]

@@EspenKraft thanks Espen

[@80ssynthfan48]

Lovely sounding synth, though the K3m is now serious money.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! I see them for $400 all the time. Not that much for something that should cost a lot more.

[@80ssynthfan48]

@@EspenKraft where might that be? I haven't seen one under GBP 800

[@EspenKraft]

Well, like this one up for sale this very minute, in Sweden: vend.se/629162-kawai-k3

[@80ssynthfan48]

@@EspenKraft that's remarkable. Thanks.

[@JLaDrew]

😍🤩😍🤩

[@SDVY-Stevie]

These patches are great, really nice work. What other gear do you find the BCR2000 good for? The K1?

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! I only use it for the K3m really. ;-)

[@SDVY-Stevie]

@@EspenKraft nice. I bought an MM16 the other day for my K1 since it’s just “ready”. I wanted to perhaps get a BCR2000 for that and other synths, but perhaps I’ll stick with my original plan!

[@SeverityOne]

Looked up the K3(M). Would it be fair to compare it to the Waldorf Microwave I, but with 6 instead of 8 voices? It appears to be more affordable than the MW1, although by no means cheap. Very nice sounds. Well done.

[@EspenKraft]

It's not based on wave tables you can sweep through. It's more like the DW-8000 or Ensoniq ESQ and somewhat like the Prophet VS. The killer feature is the SSM 2044 filter. They still go for pretty cheap, at least around these parts.

[@SeverityOne]

@@EspenKraft Purely coincidentally, both the EX-8000 and the ESQ-M are on my wish list... Now I'm not sure whether to thank you or not, considering what this information could do to my bank account. 🙂 Just kidding, much appreciated.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@leepshin]

Is there anything new for the K1 and K1m Espen?

[@EspenKraft]

No, I don't think I'll have something for those in a long time. Put all that on ice.

[@willyabsinth1989]

I would buy it. But unfortunately, I didn't find any info about how to send this bank into k3 thru midi.

[@EspenKraft]

That's very well explained in the Kawai K3 (page 46) manual you can find online. How to use the synth is explained in that. ;-)

[@willyabsinth1989]

@@EspenKraft thank you very much :)

[@natevizzi2901]

@@EspenKraft can you record these individual dumps to a daw so that the track and be played back and it loads them (I don’t have a sys ex software gui) for example on my k11 I just record a system dump and then when I play it back my keyboard loads everything from sys ex

[@jodeyjansen]

What controller are you using on top of your KX88 for cut off, etc.?

[@EspenKraft]

A sysex controller. In this case a Behringer BCR2000.

[@lawjcrg]

Very ppg wave like

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

How these were slept on for so long is beyond me...

[@kicksNCY]

Hey Espen, If you should keep just one, would it be the DW/EX8000 or the K3 ? thanks !

[@EspenKraft]

Hard choice.

[@amonster8mymother]

What time is it?

[@KurtFuller]

Most of vintage synths have much more limitations compared with modern gears, but they have much more punchy, personality and lushing sound.

[@dankeplace]

I know who you are Epsen but I don't know all your history. Have you ever done a colab for sound score on a movie? I have seen a massive resurgence of 80s films, specifically the ones that are historical. Ie In search of the last action heros or In Search of Darkness or In Search of Tomorrow then don't forget Kung Fury sequel. It would be awesome if you worked with these guys.

[@EspenKraft]

I've done games. Most directors/studios want endless discussions and revisions. I don't do that. I don't take on such gigs. I want total freedom within the limits set for me, with no interuptions nor asks for changes. If I can't have those terms met, I don't want the gig. I'd much rather work on my own things instead. I don't collaborate creativly. It's me alone, or not at all. Occasionally there are studios that trust and want what I want. Then we have a lot of fun, separately. ;-)

[@dankeplace]

@@EspenKraft Yeah thanks for the extended reply, I get what you mean. Game music is cool, I remember being introduced to Junkie XL before he was Tom now lol. He did music on Quantum Redshift, loved that music, and loved his later game music too. I'm going to do some follow up on you, get out my magnifying glass and start inspecting... I actually made some music for an unreleased game, the dev just said, do what you want and I did. Was creative freedom. I get your vibe, again thx for the explanation. :D

[@dannymolns3573]

Sorry to bug you, im on the verge of getting a K3 and your video is really selling me on it. Just a question though, whats the best was for a mac user to get these on the synth? Do you have a recommended librarian? Or can i send them to the synth over midi? Thanks!

[@EspenKraft]

I've never used any librarian software. Like ever. I never recommend a Mac for sysex transfers at all. It's a recipe for disaster. Use a PC, any old one will do. Use SendSX from Bome or MidiOX. Both are free. Transferring sysex from a PC to an old synth is a piece of cake.

[@dannymolns3573]

@@EspenKraft appreciate your reply! Thank you. Gonna find a cheap old PC laptop and get that so I can do this. Appreciate it!

[@serhiymarchenko8361]

Interesting to hear that. Never had any issues with MIDI SysEx on Mac (used AMT8 and Midex8 via USB). At least on Mac OS X Mojave.

[@ericascott9413]

How do I purchase these patches?

[@EspenKraft]

Links are in the video description as always. Or contact me directly on email.

[@RobertForslund]

First! 😁👍