Kurzweil K2000R - Part 3 Firmware and Memory Upgrades

This video discusses various firmware upgrades for the K2000R including the engine EPROMs, setup EPROMs, and various other PLDs. I also discuss memory upgrades and other hardware details and revisions.
Synth firmware archive I mentioned in the video: dbwbp.com/index.php/9-misc/37-...
Video where I detailed sourcing and programming EPROMs: • Bench Notes #1: LCD an...

[@tonverfall_studio]

your videos on the K2000 series are a goldmine of information! thanks for putting them up!

[@cdwhiley]

Having just discovered your videos and having an absolute ton of gear and just the last year and a half diving into synthesizer repair maintenance and upgrades I have found your videos to be really good and really helpful and I want to thank you very much.

[@jtharkham]

A million thank you's for these beautiful resources...

[@JV-yj4sv]

Thanks for the video! I just bought a K2000R and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't load any samples. Long story short, the sample RAM cards were improperly installed (one in Bank A and one in Bank B). Your videos a huge help to people like me troubleshooting these units. Thanks!

[@ScottFromCanada]

Excellent information! Thanks!

[@popfortyfive]

Thanks for making this video. I have three K2000s - One keyboard K2000 V3 and two K2000Rs. I got the keyboard first. The case is in bad shape and it's missing the bottom part of the case. It was only $15 so I had to grab it, especially for the Orchestral expansion. It's a Janis board. Next, I got a K2000R, also a Janis. It has a P/RAM expansion board. I wanted to max out the rack with the Daughterboard/Orchestral card but I couldn't figure out how to get it to work. I still can't really... after trying to swap in parts without having the right eproms, it makes a bunch of noise over 75% of the patches. I'm also having trouble finding a replacement volume pot because this one broke. The other rack is more bare bones and is a Calvin.

[@ferenclucas2842]

Kurzweil K2000 setup EPROM version comparison: Features original K2000 Programs ------------------------------------- EPROM v1.3 : 2 Program banks #1-199 (no ROM blocks installed) EPROM v1.00 : 3 Program banks #1-199, 900-999 (Orchestral ROM block installed) EPROM v3.00 : 3 Program banks #1-199, 800-899 (Contemporary ROM block installed) EPROM v4.00 : 4 Program banks #1-199, 800-999 (both ROM blocks installed) Features K2500 Programs ---------------------------- EPROM v5.00 : 6 Program banks #1-199, 600-999 (both ROM blocks and PRAM option installed) EPROM v6.00 : 2 Program banks #1-199 (no ROM blocks installed) If you have a k2000 keyboard and you want to install Orchestral and Contemporary ROM then version 4.00 will keep your original classic 1-199 patches (3rd world order) while version 5.00 will change those 1-199 to the same as the k2500 has however you can always load any patches to another bank.

[@terceiravalvula]

Fantastic!!!

[@jackispax1633]

Thank you for this, I recently got a K2000 that is still running version 1.0 and needed that info on the jumpers!

[@jackispax1633]

Just to share the info, turns out I had a VERY early 1.0 keyboard model. It's a Calvin board but there is only one jumper near the chips. I had to bend up and solder a wire from pin 31 on both setup chips to pin 31 on one of the firmware chips. The jumper on the board is not changed. Worked fine!

[@sergeystudzinski6234]

Can you share this v1.0 Calvin firmware for archiving purposes? Thank you.

[@jackispax1633]

@@sergeystudzinski6234 Not sure how to, but I did keep the chips. I can send them to you if you're interested. The biggest difference I noticed was the sequencer, the 1.0 version is very basic with only one track.

[@sergeystudzinski6234]

​@@jackispax1633 I'm interested of course. Where are you from? I can drop you email with my address. May be you can read this chips using a programmer?

[@jackispax1633]

@@sergeystudzinski6234 I'm in Michigan, USA. I have no access to a chip programmer unfortunately.

[@michaelsmithers177]

Hi Brad, fantastic videos. Thank you so much; especially for the Kurzweil stuff. Do you have any experience with the Kurzweil K1000 series? I have a K1000SE which I've managed to repair - damaged traces controlling the SRAM - but I've found the aftertouch isn't working. Aftertouch doesn't appear to be on the online schematics.

[@stevew4910]

Another interesting vid, many thanks. Could you update the description with the link to the mentioned EEPROM source, and perhaps provide some basic info/recommendations for basic kit for starting out with reprogrammable devices? Inquisitive EEPROM newb here :)

[@bradthx]

Hey Steve, yes. Totally meant to link that site which I have now added to the description. The ROM images I pulled should be listed there soon. I also linked a past video detailing EPROM programmers and where to source EPROMs as well. Thanks!

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

@@bradthx Since the OS chips are EEPROMS that are erasable and re-writable, could you just re-write the existing chips with the programmer after you pull them from the K2000, instead of having to buy new EEPROM chips? (Presuming you already have the larger 4-megabit size chips installed.)

[@sagamusix]

Regarding 30-pin RAM: Hard to believe but there is some (what I believe are New Old Stock) 16MB module kits still being sold on Amazon for rather reasonable prices (there seems to have been a little price hike since I got mine for the K2500, though). Just search for "64 MB gold SIMM MEMORY RAM KIT". Easy way to fully upgrade the K2000 and early K2500s.

[@bradthx]

That's good to know. Looks to be roughly the same price as what is found on eBay right now as used, but if is indeed NOS, even better. Thanks for watching!

[@phoenixsub7072]

Hehe i must just ask the final question, do you have a part where you can listen som example sounds ey?

[@timquadrat70]

Hello! Thank you for your great videos - I've just bought a K2000 and now I'm happy to have found your channel. I've bought an EPROM programmer and used eproms and now I wanted to program them, but I just can't understand the URL of the website with all the firmware downloads. It's something like evwmp.com? Or dvwmp.com? I'd be really happy, if you could help out. Thank you very much! :)

[@timquadrat70]

Please ignore my question - obviously I‘m kinda stupid... 😪

[@megadoesstuff1164]

How’d you go about replacing the floppy drive? I’m doing a compact flash mod on mine and I’m lost

[@bboxrender]

Hi Brad, thanks for the k2000 serie videos ! very useful ! I have a K2000R 3.18J, and my ram is not recognize anymore (it was working fine before). I have taken apart my K2000 and discovered a trace of heat underneath the RAM emplacement on the verso surface of the board. Some pics in the link below. Do you maybe have a clue on what could be wrong? i am struggling to find what to do .... except the ram not displaying and not available my k2000r is working fine. Thanks www.dropbox.com/s/ze62kboj6oe79jc/k2000%20heat%20below%20the%20ram.jpg?dl=0

[@bradthx]

Yikes. There is a regulator (VR5) on the audio board directly underneath that is most likely the cause of the heat discoloration on the engine board. Check power supply voltages, capacitors, etc in the power supply. Something caused that regulator to run really hot. Some underlying issue is causing the ram to not be seen, plus most likely other issues would be my guess.

[@bboxrender]

@@bradthx many thanks for your insights ! looks like there are a lot of possible issues unfortunately... obviously out of my competences...all i can do is replace capacitors and regulators on the board..... not knowing if this would solve the problem... too much gambling