Kurzweil K2000 SAMPLER

This video was made possible with help from ANGELSPIT's Patreon. Join and get awesome stuff here:
/ angelspit
The Kurzweil K2000 is a 30 year old synth - and it's still a beast! It’s the sound of early 90s Cyberpunk turning drum loops could be twisted into a digital paste.
Also includes a download pack with edited sounds I recorded during the session.
Topics covered:
K2000 History and Crazy Synthesis Engine
Albums featuring K2000
Looping
Sampling and editing - High Pass Filter, Normalizing, Compression, Noise Filtering
Download the samples I recorded and edited during this session here:
/ 25009242
THANK YOU:
Seth Larson
Sebastian Neumann
Danny Paul
Timothy Stansell-Gamm
Diana Davis
Jesse Bockelman
Acid Fairy
Ryan A Rasmussen
Matthew Shiori
Daniel Roth
Adam Stilley
YOU ROCK!
KARL.
/ angelspit
www.angelspit.net

[@kabulentnought]

The K2000 is 30 years old but it is a timeless _enigmatic_ synth. Everything mentioned in this video is why I love it. Now I'm quite young and only got one of these only last year, on top of a staple in industrial it also played a part in a lot of EDM tunes I grew up listening to. Little did I know when getting it that it was a fucking *supercomputer* , it is very easy to just get lost in V.A.S.T.'s capabilities when creating patches. Mine is a K2000S (V3 model with sampler included) and has been fully decked out with a hard drive (redundant but useful regardless), both Orchestral and Contemporary ROMs, SCSI2SD, etc. but even with a base model and floppy disks with .wav files you can do quite a lot on it alone, you have a full-blown handcrafted universe of sound at your fingers. Those kinds of eerie metallic sounds and distorted drum loops fit the K2000's monolithic capabilities quite well. V.A.S.T. today still lives up to it's name, or as it should've been called: *G.O.A.T.!!*

[@djvine]

K2000 64Mb Super Big Memory Monster Sampler!!!

[@The-Weekend-Warrior]

Loved this video :) I've got a K2000R with sampling option, no other expansions but full sample ram... I love to fiddle with it sometimes, such a lovely piece of gear...

[@angelspitmusic]

AWESOME! Yeah, it's a great synth and I STILL keep going back to it!

[@AxelWerner]

The K2000 back in the day blew me mind!!

[@cosmosynthesizer]

The Kurzweil K2000/ K2r is one of the best Synths I've ever had. And I had a LOT. I do like digital Synths, I had Casios, Yamahas, Ensoniq (KS32 still!) and Rolands BUT: the Kurzweil beats them all. I have the V3 with maxed RAM and SD Card and almost 15000 Sounds. I can play them forever and the Filter and the warmth is unbelievable good. I LUVE IT. Will get a fully updated K2r as a 2nd beside my DX7. And yes, the DX Sounds on the Kurzweil sound almost better!

[@angelspitmusic]

Thank you Colin! I'm currently thinking about the K2700...but I've realized that I STILL have not scratched the surface of the K2000. Also, since making this video I've become very fond of the DX7 (!!)...but still prefer the K2000. I'm told the FM algorithms on the K2700 are INSANE!

[@cosmosynthesizer]

@@angelspitmusic The DX7 and it's 6 Operators ARE insane :-) but the VAST System is pure madness. Try to use 12 FM Operators and detune them. BAM. I'm using the DX for presets only, no need to program FM. There tons of sounds out there, just like for the K2000. I had a full loaded 2500 in mint condition years ago but sold it. It was a monster but the K2000 has less plyphony but adds more "sparkling magic" to the Sounds. I'm sure it has the better (4) DACs than any other K-Series Model.

[@angelspitmusic]

@@cosmosynthesizer yeah...I need to delve into VAST FM more...There is something super gritty about the K2000. I know a bunch of people with K2500/2600/2700 and they keep the K2000 because it sounds TOUGH!

[@rayderrich]

I own a K2000 with sampling option since 1991 and just weeks ago put it up for sale. Since then I am watching videos about why I will regret this very much.

[@ultrajayme]

Just bought one Mint for $400 with the entire vintage synth disk collection and user manuals, from Reverb.

[@angelspitmusic]

That is an AWESOME deal!!! It's such a great synth!!!

[@ultrajayme]

@@angelspitmusic I know!!! It DOES need a battery. And I'm not sure which one it needs....but it still works fine it's just a tad dim.

[@angelspitmusic]

It takes 3x regular AA batteries. You might need to clean the battery compartment, as the batteries may have leaked. The battery compartment can be difficult to open. @@ultrajayme

[@ultrajayme]

@angelspitmusic ahhh okay I think I read about that. Is it located inside the unit or on the bottom...? Thanks for the help.

[@angelspitmusic]

outside. bottom right side. @@ultrajayme

[@FatSynthDude]

"it does not need to be expensive or collectable or cool" Watches in horror as prices triple.

[@replikantofficial]

Hey Karl, I recently picked up a K2000s for a steal! I ordered new EPROMs with the last OS, an internal SCSI2SD drive with 6Gb of Kurzweil sounds and 64Meg of RAM. I’m also getting a new screen and the PRAM & Sound ROM upgrades so I’ll end up with a completely upgraded K2000!!! Such an iconic synth - especially for industrial.

[@angelspitmusic]

Thank you! It's such a beastie!! There's more synth related content on Angelspit's Patreon: www.patreon.com/angelspit

[@NunyaB1s]

I'm dusting off my synths after 15-16yrs and was deciding what to do with my K2661... I still had an Access Virus and was thinking about what to do for drum/percussion creation for... well whatever my next thing is. I'm Old and rusty. I actually accidently stumbled into the distorted drums during the breakdown in NIN's "Happiness in Slavery." I sorta bought it because I knew that FLA/NIN used them back in the mid 90s but it was the first time I had found that beautiful destruction. You reminded me of this. After what you did creating that metallic pad? Sir, you rekindled my passion from back when I was 16 and -stupid- smarter than I am at 41! Sell it? After THIS video you'll have to pull that K2661 out of my cold... dead... fingers!

[@angelspitmusic]

HA! Thanks Matt - you made my day. Yup...they are sooooo awesome! I'm glad you are making music again.

[@adiblasi]

I enjoyed this video very much -- the technology and your energy in front of the camera. Excellent!

[@angelspitmusic]

THANK YOU! It's a fun synth too!!

[@jemkeystv5717]

In my opinion, having used a k2000( among many other boards) as my main keyboard for thirteen years (1991-2004), it's the best keyboard ever made

[@davetbassbos]

This has inspired me to finally fix my K2000 (a couple of the keys are having velocity issues) but as it involves taking the keyboard off, I'll probably break it completely, oh well. They are amazing beasts! I remember one patch called liquid lead or something which was super cool.

[@oscarramirez-ji2zv]

Dwayne Goettell used one in skinny puppy and downloads album furnace

[@footmarshian8295]

That is the only synth I never owned That I really wanted it was very expensive like Nearly 3 grand in the Uk

[@angelspitmusic]

My first one cost (Australian)AU$5200 in 1995. My second was US$200 in 2015. My 3rd was free in 2019. Regardless of the price, they are a BRILLIANT synth! Thank you for watching!!

[@ReyhanJoseph]

Thank God the modern kurzweils still have VAST on them

[@PAVAGE]

I like your style! :) Once you mentioned FLA and the K2000 i knew this is a channel for me! Subbed!

[@MrToothsome]

Just got mine fired up.

[@Manmademadman]

Thanks for this! .... I wonder if you were one of my subscribers back in the day?

[@ShakaCthulu]

It was the industrial band Numb's main axe too.

[@joshuareavis4401]

Just located one of these in a quiet mountain town in Idaho! Mind blown!!

[@Gumorisco11]

I came to see the kurzweil sounds and instead i saw a guy sharpening a knife

[@jupitermarx]

Just bought a vintage Kurzwiel K2000. I’m looking forward to learning from you!!! ☝️🙏🏻

[@angelspitmusic]

Awesome! Keep an eye on the patreon, there's a lot of synth related content there: www.patreon.com/angelspit

[@EmberwolfXR]

Picking one up tomorrow for this exact reason.

[@aussierob7187]

Just found this - ROCK!!!!

[@epson_ecotank_et-2850]

this man is a character

[@marsmediapro]

I had an opportunity to get a pair of DX7's for $100 each, but when compared to a Kawai K-1, I chose the K-1, as the DX7's sound was so thin and tinny. Little did I know that I could have sold those 2 Yamaha's for more! I don't regret my purchase, in fact, I now have 2 K-1's, and am looking at adding a Kurzweil K2000S to my synth arsenal...

[@angelspitmusic]

The K-1 is a seriously under-rated beast - it's a GREAT synth!!

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

@@angelspitmusic There's a free VST of the K1 released a few months ago; it's supposedly spot-on.

[@longleggedlummox4395]

Idk if you still respond to these but if you do, I recently got a K2000 and I'm still getting used to the programming. I'm just wondering how you were able to use the modwheel to control the filter cutoff in the beginning part. I've tried playing around with it and looking it up but haven't gotten anything. Any tips?

[@angelspitmusic]

HEY! when you edit the filter, assign the CUT OFF frequency to CC01 (mod wheel). Let me know if you need anymore help.

[@longleggedlummox4395]

@@angelspitmusic I figured it out! I checked out the different filters on it too. It's so good! Anyways, thank you so much! I love your videos and I love your music. Can't wait for more!

[@denniboger6581]

That was fun. And yes, that machine is awesome.

[@trevor4835]

angelspit would you consider another video on the k2000 for sampling? this was great, and theres very little else on youtube for it

[@angelspitmusic]

Thank you Hog, Honestly, I don't sample on the K2000 - I sample on my DAW, process the WAVs and drop them onto the K2000.

[@Synth2000]

@@angelspitmusic How do you transfer the samples to the K2000 ?

[@ZoogVonRock]

​@@Synth2000Via ZIP disks...! I have a USB ZIP on my computer and a SCSI ZIP connected the K2000. The K2000 reads 44.1/16bit WAV files from a DOS formatted ZIP disk.

[@otherbrotherrecordings1247]

Interesting video, nice examples

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

Great vid, thanks!

[@DonSolaris]

Totally fucking awesome video! Finally someone how knows the stuff he's talking about!!

[@digitalwitch1111]

I got one of these in the mid 90's, and had an ASR-10. It was a bummer that the keyboard version doesn't seem to support resampling internal sounds or sequences, like the ASR-10 did. Keymap setups vs the ASR-10's way, and lack of resampling kept me from really getting on with it. The manual was misleading, seems maybe the rack version supported resampling? Mine had some loose wires inside, but never could get it to work. Does anyone know if you can resample on the keyboard version? Whats the trick?

[@angelspitmusic]

Hey! I'm pretty sure you can not resample...

[@RasMix1]

I have had a k2 v3 keyboard version for ten years got it dirt cheap to use as a keyboard controller for school. and just bought a k2000r. I know enough to know they are incredible but always wondered why they don't seem to be that good at saving samples when you turn it off and back on. The programs save but not the samples.

[@angelspitmusic]

Hey! Glad you liked this! yeah - it's "old skool" tech. You need to save the "Bank" in order to save all the samples and presets together.

[@TheAarowsmith]

Awesomeness!!! Thanks for all the great tips, I'm going to sample me eating breakfast.😄

[@angelog.spicolaiii8021]

Kudos to u sir great vid has inspired me go jump down that V.A.S.T. wormhole once again as have gotten lost for days sometimes weeks on occasion over the years have had K2k since late '92 greatest synth ever produced IMHO. Haven't really touched the thing in about a year & a half because of the relative state of the world which is why I can't believe I haven't come across ur stuff until now glad I have. BTW DX7 & D50 do suck comparatively and especially that shitbox M1 (hate korg) used to have'm all until the Kurz was acquired many moons ago thanx again dude

[@azurduy117]

came for the kurzweil, stayed for the salad bowl

[@trevor4835]

Dope video !!!

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

Destruction ! Excellent

[@Deatg-ek8rf]

You are so kool

[@amonster8mymother]

This is the first video I have seen about sampling with the k2000 sampler. It's a bit of a mystery. 😎

[@_oscillator]

Do you live on planet Earth? :)

[@amonster8mymother]

@@_oscillator apparently not. 😁

[@angelspitmusic]

It's a great synth - research it, as there's a lot of information out there about it. I hope you love it!!

[@amonster8mymother]

@@angelspitmusic I'm hoping to get it I just got this delay a d1500?? The k2000 has fx built in right?

[@angelspitmusic]

@@amonster8mymother Sure does - and it sounds pretty good! I actually like the reverbs on it!

[@RainaPCB]

LMAO I got mine half broken from a church. The ESD killed the eeproms so I had to replace them. I like to make really shitty dubstep with it. Great video

[@djscooby4293]

Very good! Thank you!

[@angelspitmusic]

THANK YOU!!

[@strt6480]

Very nice. Kurz rulez !

[@snuppssynthchannel]

Yamaha when releasing the the FS1r: "hold my beer!" 🍺

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

I do most of my work in Ensoniq Samplers. Some of my longer samples get slaved out to an Akai. I'm really looking to add something creatively different to my arsenal. The K2000/K2500 series is really enticing me. How do you feel about these machines, w/o the sampling option? How are you importing samples? We probably have similar taste in sound creation. How do feel about the K series as sound design machine? & as a centerpiece workstation? Great video!

[@angelspitmusic]

They are GREAT! Get one - they're super cheap! You don't need the sampling option. You can import via SCSI ZIP, or MIDI/Sample dump or Card reader. Stunning machines - you will LOVE them!!

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

angelspit perfect, thank you.

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

I picked one up. I’ll dig in & start learning the beast. Thanks again!

[@angelspitmusic]

@@whenvioletsturngrey9597 AWESOME! Check and replace the AA batteries...they have a nasty habit of leaking...

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

@@angelspitmusic I need to find the battery door for it...or make one. I cleaned the battery compartment. It had evidence of that. Other than that, the machine seems to be in tip top working order. Sounds amazing. I did some poking around. Now time to dig in & learn.

[@danieldemayo6209]

Are you sure FM is easy on this thing? I’ve been reading forms and it seems to be a mystery that’s taken people years to figure out lol. I guess the info got lost through time.

[@angelspitmusic]

well..making horrific-smashed-up FM is easy...

[@MichaelRivera718]

Try playing with algorithm 19, the shape mod oscillator. It's not FM, but it is a sine wave that's shaped by the sample you feed it, and it can sound metallic, glassy or horrifying depending on what you modulate it with.

[@kevinsturges6957]

Just found you. Great video. Subscribed.

[@frequencymanipulator]

Kurz Krew® Whoooooop!!

[@AZ-zf1eu]

What kind of tech do you need for transferring samples to the k2000? I’m not sure I’d be able to put samples onto it with what I have. Also really appreciated the dive into sample treatment.

[@angelspitmusic]

Hey! I use an old ZIP drive. I have a USB ZIP connected to the computer and a SCSI ZIP connected to the K2000. I drop 16bit/44.1 (mono or stereo) WAVs onto the zip and physically transport them across. You can also get card readers. You can also Sample Dump via MIDI, but it takes forever.

[@AZ-zf1eu]

@@angelspitmusic oh nice! Thanks for the quick and friendly response. A bit before my time in computer tech. But definitely looking into this now.

[@angelspitmusic]

@@AZ-zf1eu AWESOME! The K2000 is BRILLIANT! Also, Angelspit has a livestream TONIGHT (it will be MADNESS!) 5pm PST facebook.com/events/418730332701280 Join us!!!

[@angelog.spicolaiii8021]

@@angelspitmusic If I'm understanding you correctly are u using 2 separate zip drives 1 for the computer one for synth can't u just use a SCSI to USB adapter to directly hookup synth to computer and create a file with .KRZ prefix to save patches or samples to the comp hard drive/memory & then save adjacently to a zip drive be great if ya could clear that up I'm just kinda slow with all this stuff thanx again dude

[@angelspitmusic]

@@angelog.spicolaiii8021 Yes, but I might get a floppy emulator soon...

[@arifmemovic3383]

Can you use the kurzweil to chop drum breaks like you would with an akai s series?

[@angelspitmusic]

I think you can in later versions. You can copy/paste sections of the sample onto new samples...but that's tedious.

[@amonster8mymother]

I think I would normalize after compression. 😎

[@angelspitmusic]

My compression has normalizing built into the chain.

[@keedavid88]

I have the k2000 V3, and something weird happens: sometimes when I sample longer than 7 seconds, the sample with have this odd distortion/phase noise on it when I play it back. Also, it will sometimes happen when I import samples into the k2000 (I have a scsi2sd drive installed on it). Any thoughts?

[@angelspitmusic]

Thank you! ...this is weird...maybe make sure the chips are firmly inplace...?

[@keedavid88]

@@angelspitmusic I’ll try that!

[@imago667]

Great content! was is the software for sample editing that you use in this video?

[@angelspitmusic]

Thank you! I'm using SOUND FORGE to edit the audio.

[@josefsaint]

uhm, I want a k2000, badly. but the dx7mk-II is fantastic, as is the sy77/sy99. but that k2000..... mmmmMMmMMMmmmm

[@angelspitmusic]

Thank you Josef! yep, it's such a good machine!!

[@josefsaint]

@@angelspitmusichey got myself a k2000! gonna wire it up to my DX7 muhahahahah ;-)

[@allanjazzera7630]

Rode K2 Mic? Love your work, love your chords!

[@angelspitmusic]

THANK YOU!! I think it's an NT1a.

[@amonster8mymother]

I was gonna buy a k2000 rack but I found out you don't actually get the sampling board with the unit. 😖

[@angelspitmusic]

yup...that sucks...but I always record (and clean up the audio) on my DAW, then drop it on the K2000 via ZIP disk. I'd suggest still getting it - it's a killer synth!

[@danthreepwood2760]

@@angelspitmusic Hi mate, awesome video, lot's of energy and love for the K2000!! Question, is it possible to load and edit wav's the way you describe in the comment without the hardware sampler option installed? I have an upgraded V2 with scsi controller and os 3.01. Many thanks!

[@angelspitmusic]

@@danthreepwood2760 Hey Dan! > Q: is it possible to load and edit wav's the way you describe in the comment without the hardware sampler option installed? A: YES! I do all compression/EQ/normalizing on my DAW, then drop the WAV onto the K2000 via ZIP disk. Some audio software (example Sound Forge) has the option to dump it directly over MIDI (using SMIDI). your K2000 should be able to do it A-OK. Also, the K2000 likes WAV (or AIF) files with these specs: 16bit any sample rate...but it prefers 44.1 mono or stereo ROCK! KARL.

[@danthreepwood2760]

@@angelspitmusic Heey Karl, thank you very much for the info! Just bought one 3 weeks ago but it's already in the repairshop so I had time to read the manual but couldn't check it real time myself ;). Anyways, a really awesome piece of equipment. Synth on brother Beavis! Cheerio, Dan

[@arifmemovic3383]

the k2000r doesn't sample? I got one for a steal used but haven't tried sampling with it yet. This is very disappointing.

[@Mode-7]

Awesome video...love your enthusiasm! Fuck yamaha dx7 😂 love it! The K2000 is such a slept on Synth. I don't know why. I've owned one since 1996. It's a beast.

[@angelspitmusic]

Totally! I'm STILL getting lost in the algorithms - especially the higher ones - they blow my mind!

[@zaprudergabriel7940]

_-Banda-_ _-Magnifica-_

[@Jack_von_Baron]

K2000 can oinly do 2-op FM. Not quite the same.

[@resofactor]

What about something like this for Ableton? Cool vid, Zoog.

[@angelspitmusic]

You mean a plug-in of the K2000? Not sure There's stuff you can do on a K2000 whcih are difficult to emulate on a plugin, as the DA outputs are built to distort - and they sound GREAT!

[@resofactor]

@@angelspitmusic That sound around 3:00 or so sounds like a type of "Waveshaper" or "Wavefolder" Distortion. I was wondering if you had any idea or how you get similar sounds with DAW or software for similar ideas.

[@angelspitmusic]

@@resofactorthere's heaps of waveshaping plug-ins...but the K2000 is super nasty. I have not found anything that compares with it.

[@angelspitmusic]

@@resofactor YES! well spotted! There are similar things you can do on a DAW (or a modular)...but the K2000 is super nasty

[@anonymous_friend]

Dont you talk about DX7 like that. Yamaha is your master.

[@angelspitmusic]

HA! Funny - I just got a TX7 and I *LOVE it!!!

[@Chevytravelleruk]

Love the K2000 series.. used them loads back in the 90's and cut a reasonable living from programming them for other artists.. Ridiculously powerful synthesis engine... Hahaha Fuck the DX7! Loving the "found sounds" practice of sampling... I'm a big "Wilder years" Mode fan..

[@angelspitmusic]

I still build a drum kit from sampling pots and pans - it's awesome!

[@angelspitmusic]

@Mee Omi I own/have owned Emu Emax, Emax II, EII, EIII, and EIV. All these (except the EIV) only have a Low Pass Filter. The EMU stuff is different - they have a huge sound...like *HUGE*, but there's waaaay more you can do with synthesis on the K2000. I also like the K2000's editing and file handling. but if I had to choose, I'd probably go with the Emu EMAX 1 - it's so simple, dirty and effective....it's so much more basic than the K2000, but i always gravitate back to it. The EIV has amazing Morphing filter, but I never use them, I prefer the K2000. The EMAX1 has a "sound" - everything it samples sound awesome.

[@angelspitmusic]

@Mee Omi Watch the Emax blipvert here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpmwo4KZgNKbd7s

[@angelog.spicolaiii8021]

@@angelspitmusic ....yeah that's why Reznor used the EMAX early on for the NIN stuff till he got the Kurz LYS K2k much more deep & versatile thanx dude

[@angelspitmusic]

@@angelog.spicolaiii8021 Watch the Emax blipvert here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpmwo4KZgNKbd7s

[@callactm14]

Smashing Pumpkins Marilyn Manson nine inch nails = absolute rubbish

[@callactm14]

@DiamondHead AmIEvil Trent reznor and Billy corgan would have to die and be replaced before I listen, Hate the squeaky voices

[@angelspitmusic]

...yet the K2000 is still AMAZING!

[@callactm14]

@@angelspitmusic it is indeed