Nerding out with Kawai K5 and Strymon TimeLine Delay [demo]

You'll never believe what we found sitting on the curb in our neighborhood a few months back. This fully operational Kawai K5 digital synth! A neighbor put a few keyboards on the curb and posted an ad to Craigslist. I guess the original owner got sick of additive synthesis. So we took the Kawai home and fired it up. It's a digital synth made in 1987, and seems to have it's own unique sound. I decided to plug it into my trusty Strymon TimeLine delay and see if I could come up with a few sounds and some song ideas for my new album. After many months, I finally completed the demo of the two together. :)
More videos (please subscribe!): / stateshirt
My website (lots of free music): stateshirt.com
On Twitter: / mrethantufts
On Instagram: / mrethantufts
On Facebook: / stateshirt

[@timekeeperstudios]

Outstanding... What a deal! I have a K4 and really enjoy it. I definitely am going to look into one of these delays.

[@eaglechildkeys]

I have a k5 and it sounds good, but it's a real nightmare to program it. Great demo :)

[@GrodyMcG]

My takeaway from this is that even dated synths can get a refresh on their sounds with a nice fx pedal. Would have no problem putting this instrument in a modern work.

[@snuppssynthchannel]

Know what you have there and appreciate it, its one of the best additive synths around, i only think the K5000 beats it. Jan Hammer used to call it a baby synclavier 2.

[@TheSynthZone]

Back in the mid 70's I saw Jan do the theme from the future TV show Miami Vice on analog gear....pre midi. Was awesome!

[@lundsweden]

I have the K5000W but want a K5 too. Definately like the family sound, K5 sounds like an ambient beast just like its younger sibling!

[@emulatorthree7349]

Makes some beautiful sounds I love KAWAI SYNTHS

[@XPJV]

You need to add a big sky to this...

[@dessiplaer]

That's quite a find. I was going to purchase on layaway a K5 when they first came out, but I lost my job. Since I knew I wouldn't have the money coming in, I applied my layaway to a Kawaii K-1, which I still have and use. The K5 is a really nice keyboard capable of some great sounds.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

That "Retrogress" part is really something. Beautiful!!

[@49minutesago]

One man's horror is another man's harmony

[@cortical1]

Really nice, man! I've had a K5m since the 80s. Funny how all these old synth sounds (both digital and analog) can't fully be reproduced now. Great find and great composing!

[@lundsweden]

They probably could be reproduced, in theory, but in practice these synths are too niche to get a remodelling job by Arturia or whatever!

[@nichttuntun3364]

Great combination. The K5 is a keeper.

[@lundsweden]

These sounds are great, and give me synth envy, even though I have a K5000. Are these your own sounds, or presets?

[@chrisstrobel3439]

Wow nice find that free K5! I use to sell those back in the late 80's as a Kawai MI dealer, and they were the schnitz .. some pretty big names out here in Los Angeles used em to good effect. I came by your video looking for Timeline demos, pretty awesome little box 👍

[@gregchuchelo7248]

2:48 absolute magic. I want this to be made into a track!

[@alexey7459]

Wow can't believe they had a free synth ad. You would probably never see that where I live. The timeline really makes a great pair with the Kawai. Love the nerding out with vids! :)

[@stateshirt]

Glad you enjoy the vid! I know, it was crazy-walking distance from my house. Just sitting there on the curb along with a Casiotone and a few other things. :)

[@otisobl]

Let's be fair: what amazes us here is the sound of the Strymon, not the K-5. The K-5 by itself sounds pretty thin.

[@anonymous_friend]

Song 1 = Daydream scene music for 80's teen movie. I can dig it.

[@pcuimac]

Wow! Isn't the K5 additive like my K5000? You can still get 400€ for that here in Germany. smh

[@synkuk]

So .. a $400 synth for free .. crazy what some consider trash....

[@TiagoMallenOficial]

Amigo. Você tem o Syex para disponibilizar? Obrigado! Abraços do Brazil

[@captaindapto6463]

K5 is a true sleeper. One of the very first commercial synths with Digital Resonant Filters.

[@juno6]

It's not an actual filter, it simulate a filter by manipulating the harmonics levels, which to me is something amazing.

[@dianplankgas9821]

Kawai is okay. i have the awesome K5k. Great. Nice chords!

[@pcuimac]

Dian Plankgas Yeah. K5000 S rocks!

[@biggrime]

Free! No way!

[@_fig.8]

dig the set up shots at the beginning. nice touch including those!

[@Mrmre]

good stuff!!!! I'm interested in the D50 for these type of textures

[@ADRIANKEYMUSIC]

As a current effects processor makes an old synthesizer become great again.

[@TheSynthZone]

Mother in law set my hardcase and EMU emulator on the curb, hope you or someone managed to get it! (I was 100 miles away at the time) This situation happens! I asked a buddy (Jim Johnson) in Eugene Or. to look out for a jx 3 at a random garage sale, he got one and a lovely roland sh101 ckassic! It was just a total hunch, I am still a little miffed he sold them to a kid for a pittance. ^^

[@sp-404hypnodiqsoundjunkie8]

TheSynthZone She would’ve quickly became my Ex-mother in law after that. So disrespectful! Sorry, to hear that man.

[@JLJones0664]

@3:21 Oh my god! Right in the heart K5/TimeLine beauty!

[@Deepwatermusic]

Thanks man! I have the K5M. You have inspired me to make more use of it.

[@moogdome2562]

Can anyone tell me the differences between the K4 and 5?.

[@abrahamproject]

the K5 is additive synthesis based on oscilattors and 16 progammible harmonics per oscillator. The K4 is sample based (tiny sample loops) as their sound source. They are very different and provide completely different sonic palettes. The K1 and K4 are probably more closely related. The K4 is "bigger n better" in terms of storage and sample quality. Just the same, the mighty K1 can hold its own and has a lot of unique sounds. (back in the day, I was brought on board by Kawai to develop sounds for the K5, K4, and K1 synths). Hope this helps!

[@davekuhn4831]

First patch sounds like PM Dawn's "set adrift on memory bliss"

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Free synths on the side of the rode? Must be California. Never could get that lucky in my state....let alone find a K5.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

road° wont let me edit comments on mobile......sigh

[@lifesynthtance]

That was one awesome find ! Awesome sounds in combo with the Timeline 👍

[@cybernaumemusic]

fantastic!

[@roto8814]

The synth sounds good but I don't like the guitar FX

[@stateshirt]

🤷‍♂️

[@MrTom-Songwriter-Composer]

Thanks for posting this video. I had a K5 back in the day when it was new. It's was really awesome for piano and bell like sounds. I didn't appreciate it back then, and foolishly sold it. I had it paired up with a Kawai K1m module which I still have. I really wish Kawai would make synths again... Hey, maybe Behringer will a make a few! LOL! I hope you still own this one.. those sounds that you are playing in the video.. really take me back. Have a great day, stay safe out there.

[@carmafons.a.3403]

Kawai made very powerful sound engines, but never support their equipment with patches like Yamaha, Korg and Roland made for exploit the possibilities of their keyboards and the musicians can use in their productions.

[@bradleyhove4177]

I see you're flipping this for $100 on Reverb. Damn what a game hahaha Really really cool synth tho, might make an offer anyway

[@stateshirt]

I suppose I could have paid it forward. But $100 is a pretty good value too! :) :)

[@bradleyhove4177]

And I respect your decision, gotta get money to spend on more synths! I actually would've bought that K5 but my synthesizer budget was drained from my last purchase - an Ensoniq ESQ-1. Fantastic board, you should play one if you get the chance

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Man I woulda payed 100....wish I knew....been after the k4 and k5, just ordered a non functioning k4 for $145 plus $22 shipping. (said it only needs new internal battery, but we will see when it gets here)

[@sp-404hypnodiqsoundjunkie8]

ADHD Synth Did you ever get the K4 working or did I end up buying it? LOL😂. Someone got me on eBay last year or around the beginning of this year. like a dumb ass, I didn’t even open the package to check it out til’ months later and found that it only powers on but does nothing , I decided to keep it anyway. I hope to at least get it repaired and running properly again. I love these old Kawai synths, they’re something special.

[@twoeggcups]

The K5 was built like a tank and had a lovely keyboard, but was so hard to program.

[@TakeTheRide]

You inspired me. I just bought one of these. Thanks for showing me some of what it can do. Now I just need a delayer that I can make loops with and then to figure out how to run my cello through it or into it. I've only ever had an upright piano so this is going to be all new for me. Thanks for posting this.

[@nanotrax]

Love that sound with the timeline combination

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Sounds beautiful! :)

[@The2011andrey]

such great collection of synths u have

[@martinberlugue2769]

I love the sound so much !!

[@martinberlugue2769]

Where the preset come from ? :)

[@whoosh2887]

Dang, nice find!

[@Transterra55]

NICE NICE NICE...Way to go!

[@leegonzalezrecordings9643]

wow! sounds so cool with efx

[@zhurom2634]

Шикарно!!!

[@chinitosperon1462]

sick

[@stateshirt]

Thank you! :) :) :)

[@eivindengedal9830]

3:18 is fantastic! I love old digital synths. The Strymon helps a lot, though.

[@stateshirt]

Glad you dig it! :) :)