The Kawai K3 - A story of a very 80's Synthesizer

A min-doc detailing the release of Kawai's unique K3 Synthesizer in 1986.

[@Novaheart1998]

I have a K3M and it sounds lovely. It is so easy to program as the module has around 50 real buttons on the panel, ridiculously great idea, no membrane. Its just a perfect sounding 80’s synth. It sounds like a Juno and a JX and a dx7 and a ensoniq all put together.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Very cool that you have a K3M - I'm definitely looking for one. I think that's a good summary - it very much has a the sound of all those synths combined.

[@johnb2044]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams you can borrow mine but not selling Johnnyboy ....

[@subaquaticencountersofthed8515]

I scored a K3m too. Have the keyboard and module. Planning to have them connected together for 12 voices of beautiful Kawai wave surfing.

[@teknokont]

Probably the most underrated synth manufacturer of all time. SX 240 is an amazing synth and K3 is a hybrid beast. K5 and K5000 are ambient sound scape monsters

[@VultureCulture]

SUCH A GREAT VIDEO! I love the way you put together the images, voice over, music and demos. Instantly takes the viewer on a nostalgic journey!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks so much and much respect. I've watched many of your videos and thought the recent one on best vintage synths going up in value was spot on. DDS-1 is on my list for sure. All the best and keep the content coming!

[@serhiymarchenko8361]

I am re-watching this video again and again - it is so well made! Recently I’ve put modern PSU into my K3. The original (recapped) was working fine, but was getting very warm after some time. The new one doesn’t have this problem.

[@mack_solo]

Kawai was Yamaha's apprentice - that's awesome! 😀Learnt something new today! 😃👍

[@marcanglin7127]

After having owned analog synths in the '70's and early '80's, my playing had to be put on hold for a couple of years due to work and moving. When I wanted to dip into the digital synth world, I started with a K1: Not as expensive as the DX7 and M1, but crystal-clean compared to my analog gear. Then my buddy at the music store told me about the brand-new K3m he had, and suggested I check it out. It went home with me that day and still resides in my "Kawai" rack with my K1r MIDI'd to my K1. The K3m has GREAT sound possibilities, and provides a surprisingly versatile and usable palette of colors even to this day. One of my best synth purchases.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Yes - I'd say with a K1 and K3M you are set. Best of both worlds really. K3 has such a clean and accurate warm sound. Thanks for sharing Marc.

[@tedmuss]

These videos have me glued to the screen, thanks for all the work and research you put in! ♥

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Tedmuss - much appreciated!

[@jeroenfigee]

I had the exact same thing. really interesting to watch. Loved the music around 9:30. Reminded me of a track I made in the eighties.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

@@jeroenfigee Thanks! I sort of whipped it together, but aside from the drums it's all K3, so I guess it came out pretty 80s for sure.

[@BaltimoreReese]

I appreciate the time you put into this video, really enjoyed watching it and listening to the jam session! Looking forward to more 💫

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Reese - much appreciated and more videos are in the works. All the best.

[@gaetan_gm2557]

Very well documented video , thank you !

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SanderAnderon]

another great doc, digging your admiration for synths and employing the ads of the day too. I was on staff at Keyboard in the 90s and those ads are like milestones marking the timeline of synth development over the years. Great job!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hi Sander - that's so amazing that you worked at Keyboard Magazine! The ads from this era really do chronicle well the timelines of synthesizer releases but also the features and marketing angle each company was coming from. Such fascinating history. I have many old Keyboard magazines from mostly from the 80s and I love going through them - takes me right back to that magical time. Thanks for watching!

[@jeffkiess]

Another TOP mini documentary from JMSD! You are making PERFECT synth documentaries! I consider myself well-informed on synths and, until watching this video, I never heard of Teisco before. Thanks for the education!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Glad you like them! Thanks so much Jeff.

[@seth4766]

that arp+prog at 4mins omg

[@Dudderlyful]

Fantastic video, I've just watched it with a beer on a friday night and it was thoroughly enjoyable, thanks!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Glad you enjoyed it - and the beer!

[@TeslaDanser]

This video made me happy

[@cdwhiley]

Most people forget that the DW 6000 came before the 8000. It was the first hybrid polyphonic.

[@_P_M_]

Love your video style. I didn't even know about the Teisco synths till now. Really interesting. I have an XD-5, and I used to own a K5000w, but that's it for Kawai in my setup.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks PM. I know the Teisco synths are pretty cool rare gems, although probably not going to get you much more sound-wise than a JP-4 or SH-1. Feels like Kawai was playing catchup technically until the K3 was released.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Great synth & great jamming!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Dark Side!

[@M80-]

Nice video! I have the Kawai SX-210 and SX-240, but the K3 not yet. It's definitely on my radar.

[@kemek3000]

I really need to fix my K3. Such a unique-sounding synth.

[@BatteryCoverMissing]

What is broken with it? I hope you can fix it and enjoy playing it soon! 🎹🎹🎹

[@MysticFrequencies]

Just a friendly FYI: The K3 came out in 1985, not 1986. I know this for a fact since I still have the K3 I bought brand new from Gamble Music Co. in June 1985. I still have it and use it to this day. The K5 followed in 1986.

[@philippezsiga1125]

That s right

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Ok wow - that's really interesting. Thanks for that first hand info! I'll see if I can modify my video to reflect. To add to the video I'd love to see your original receipt - do you happen to have it? As well - what serial no do you have if you're able?

[@MysticFrequencies]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams I have 4 K3's and used to have 12 K3m's, Now I still have the 4 K3's and only 1 K3m. My original Serial Number for my 1st K3 bought new is #104176. I do have the original receipt from Gamble Music Co. (Galesburg, IL) I will dig it up for you, might take some time but I know I still have it. It was special to me as I bought my first to synths ever there brand new (Kawai SX240 in 1984 and the K3 the following year in 1985). I am form Colorado but we had family in Illinois and would go to visit them every year right after school let out which at that time was usually around June 5th or so.

[@TryptychUK]

Kawai was never a company that crossed my path much, and seemed to be regarded by many in the professional field as a "second fiddle" budget instrument supplier, of which there were many in the 80's. Since then, I have heard many good comments regarding the company and their instruments, so maybe a lot of it was snobbery.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hey TryptychUK - I think I had a similar mindset back then - Kawai wasn't really a manufacturer that I considered when buying synths (not that I could afford many anyway - lol). But for sure - looking back I think there was something there.

[@TryptychUK]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams There were a few brands like Tiesco, Siel, Octave, Crumar and others that were fairly basic, but set at a price point where they were just about affordable. Better known companies like ARP and Moog also tried that market too. But Kawai seems to stand out from the pack at giving good value for money at the time.

[@cullendelmore2614]

I hereby engage with this content. Keep 'em coming!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks!

[@Zwopper]

Thank you for your fine work! ❤️

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Zwopper

[@Zwopper]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams I appreciate and enjoy your videos a lot. 🙏

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

@@Zwopper Thanks - I'll keep them coming! I have some new ideas I'm working on now so stay tuned. Much appreciated!

[@daz4627]

An interesting synth by the look of it... I used to own a Kawai K5000s and it sounded fantastic but I couldn't get my head around additive synthesis. Your videos are always fantastic and very informative... more please!!! :-)

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Yeah it's not easy for sure - it's sort of similar to the way a Kyma works - but super difficult to craft without good feedback as you're editing. Thanks - more to come for sure - I have some new videos in-progress.

[@BassFunMusic]

Super video ☺♥♥♪

[@McN4styFilth]

I'm never letting go of my K3!

[@theklangcollage4113]

Excellent video, bringing the story of the K3 into the historic circumstances, thanks so much! A nice balance between history, technology and sound. I own a K3m, which is not up to the level of the keyboard in terms of usability (plus minus buttons only), but I helped myself by creating an iPad based editor, which can even address the User Waveform thingie in a more visual way. Lots of fun exploring sounds and the overall sound of the synth is great (although it can also be a bit of a diva at times).

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks and really cool that you created a waveform editor for the iPad - great project! Can you share the link with everyone?

[@gabrieleserini895]

These songs are so good!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks for that Gabriel - I might release them soon - we'll see.

[@SpikesStudio3]

Before i evn start watching, Cheers johnny, you are awesome, i really need something like this today. And i loved my old k1-2. In the days where timbrality was more important than analogue. 👍

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Michael. Oh yes the workstation era and having 8 voices was such a thing especially as there were no DAW's as we know it - you had to still track on tape or run a full live midi mix sync'd to FSK....great times.

[@IanDixonTDL]

For some reason even back in the 80s I always dismissed Kawai, from your demos they actually sound pretty good!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Same - I didn't really consider Kawai at all in the 80s and 90s. It's really tight - reminds me of a cross between Alpha Juno and DX7 for some reason

[@ncp738]

Oi Johnny, I love rockin' the key of C awesome, K.I.S.S., seriously! Please do the K4 next, that's one of my favorite dark horses. Keep the videos coming, you've got a unique style on this in a good way!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks NC P - I'll see if I can find a K4 to play with. I've heard good things for sure about the K4 and 90s techno / electronic music. Ok all the best.

[@budgetkeyboardist]

I missed this keyboard when it came out, but it looks really cool. Great video as always!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks!

[@tukler2]

Thanks, Great video as usual!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Anders!

[@SeverityOne]

The K3M is on my "I should really check this out" list, but budget and especially space are limited.

[@dxmat]

Awesome video. Thanks.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks DXMat - more coming!

[@avva3802]

Thank you for the video and blessings in Jesus Christ name.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Loved this one. Subscribed.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Peter!

[@beatfarmdigital]

I have friend with a few of these. Still thinking about getting one. Kawai was under the radar mostly at the time. Sort of the AMC to Roland, Korg and Yamaha's Big 3. The K1 was actually a pretty big hit, and you can tell, because there are a lot around for quite cheap. They had some great drum machines in this era, too. If I'm not mistaken, there are some Baldwin branded Kawais out there as well, though not the K3.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hey Beatfarm - totally. Compared to the JX-8p/alpha Junos./ ESQ-1 it's definitely pretty similar but was no where near as popular. I'd say for sure with the massive amount of waveforms the K1 definitely has much more variety in sound. The K3 sort covers that percussive / mallet synth / DX7 sound pretty good.

[@michaelpierce3264]

hi I think the sequential vs can do a draw wave!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Both an old friend of mine and a foreign language teacher from when I was in high school were 2 musicians who owned the followup to this model, the K1. One thing which will always fascinate me about that particular synthesizer is the implementation of the vector joystick. If I’m not mistaken, the K1 wasn’t meant to be a vector synthesizer. Could somebody explain the function of that joystick? (I do remember seeing it being used for some kind of editing purposes, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.)

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hey Shred - I've never owned a K1, but I think it could be used to real-time adjust the balance between the 4 digital oscillators in a Patch, similar to the D-50. It could also be used for parameter adjustment during patch editing.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Many thanks, Johnny.

[@crime_wavcorp]

awesome video. i learned some things.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hey glad you liked it - more coming!

[@Maintenancebay]

Bought one of these 6 years ago at a Sam Ash in East LA for $300. Sold it when I left the state for $200. Boy do I regret 😑

[@wrmusic8736]

110F is a great monosynth. There are two unique things about it that stand out immediately - first being a filter bank (which is an on-board 8 band analog parametric EQ - which you can use to process external source too) and second being a variable shape LFO. As in you can do PWM with square shaped LFO and gradually modify the shape from ramp to saw resulting in some unique sounds. I'm surprised this isn't a standard with modern synths where LFOs are digital and thus do not require any additional circuitry except some code.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

I hear the variable shape LFO is really interesting. For sure it seems Kawai was always trying to do at least 1 thing different as compared to it's competitors, which was easy to do as they typically launched their products 6 months to a year behind Roland and others. But all-in-all I think Kawai made great quality synths which is what you'd expect as the brand is highly regarded

[@corri303]

Again great video! Would love to own one but these seem to be quite rare.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hey Corri - thanks - yeah I think they're somewhat rare due to the fact they didn't sell overly well. They do come up from time-to-time - I'd put it in the used JX-8P price-range.

[@TheB3Nut]

I lucked into one last year at a pawnshop for $149....I couldn't buy it fast enough. The aftertouch strip is pretty weak on it now, but it works great aside from that. Definitely a keeper machine.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Good find for sure!

[@treedeblue]

Gonna have to buy one now, my shit band could maybe use one

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Totally - I think it sort of fits in somewhere in the JX-8p / Alpha-Juno / ESQ-1 range somewhere as far as usefulness vs. cost.

[@wArGa5m1]

4:18 I don't remember my K3 sounding like this.... 7:35 Yep this sounds about right😆

[@InstantNoddles]

Any chance you could do the history on the K5000? Not sure anyone has done that. Thanks for the well put together video on K3

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Good idea on the K5000! I'll look into it.

[@lundsweden]

The poor old K5000- the synth that killed Kawai's synth division. Not that Manny people were interested in additive in '96-97. The Nord Lead and Roland's JP-8000 was exactly what the market wanted at the time.

[@KONNECTORAS]

I actually got my hands on a brand new, completely UNTOUCHED K3M with its memory cartridge! Looking forward to explore it!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Wow - great find!

[@RayyMusik]

Perfect video! As questionable the 80s‘ user interfaces may be - the alphanumeric input system via the keys on the SX series is ingenious. Why wasn‘t that continued/adopted by other companies? I hate to dial in patch names!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

I know - the SX displays were cool, really surprised they didn't bring this design over to the K3 - possibly it was cost - not really sure.

[@M80-]

Yep, I know, that's a real fun to give the patch names via keys. :)

[@improbablesafari1491]

4:11 Curious - what is this giant keyboard below the DX7ii?

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

That's the KX88 Midi master keyboard. These are still awesome if you can find one.

[@magnumkale]

Awesome video! Do you create all of the background music?

[@magnumkale]

haha if i had paid attention to the credits at the end I would have answered my own question! I love the background music, you did a wonderful job with that

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Fantastic Johnny! PS - I love my SX400 way more than my JP-4 !😁

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

I bet! It's super cool and it looks so 1980. I'd love to play one.

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams The JP-4 is a really great synth. It has a more 70's vibe and a better chorus, but personally I find myself more drawn to the SX. It has an incredibly punchy early 80's VCO sound. Bliss in unison... and yes once of the best looking synths ever IMO.

[@RandyPiscione]

Nice vid. As is the case with nearly everything I've sold over the years, I regret selling my K3. It was surprisingly heavy 'though.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

I know - it's a beast - they made 'em solid back in the 80s! It's such a cool synth and super well built.

[@TwoThreadsAhead]

3:43 any idea what synthesizer is featured here in the background song ?

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hey Semblance - that's my Prophet 5 rev4. I wrote that song for the video.

[@TwoThreadsAhead]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams That’s a lovely sounding patch! I couldn’t finger wether it was the p5 or the p10, seeing the video was about the k3 threw me for a loop at first though i wont lie lol

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

@@TwoThreadsAhead I know I just love the P5 so much I can't stop writing with it.

[@TwoThreadsAhead]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams it’s my dream board, specifically the rev4. While the p6 has stereo out I think next to the ob6 and 8 there’s nothing that compares to the feeling of the prophet 5

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

@@TwoThreadsAhead I know - it was such a had decision for me when purchasing a few months ago as the Prophet-6 has many more features and still sounds incredible, but when playing the P5 I just felt infinitely more more inspired. It has a soul.

[@SirNotAppearing]

Terrific demo track.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks!

[@DestroyER82]

I have adopted K3M from Junkie XL studio when he did sellout couple years ago. Since then im using it in all genres and for all the various uses, it is all over my current and upcomming albums and also all over PC Game soundtrack I composed recently, I have even used it for some in-game sound effects and ambiences. Awesome talk and video. All the best!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

No way that's so cool - I remember his big sell-off on Reverb a few years ago. Glad you got his K3 and are putting it to good use - you should let him know!

[@DestroyER82]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams It was really really good pick back then. What a huge batch of amazing instruments he was selling and I found it little sad, because I really admire him so much as composer and his hardware gear electronic music. But yeah, he did the decision to move on and change the workflow, gotta respect that. I wasnt able to afford those big pieces he had and also I wanted to skip things that wasnt that interesting for my music / workflow and so I ended up on K3M (and XV-3080) and never regret. Friend of mine called K3M the most analog sounding digital based synth he ever heard. Its fine I think many people are trying to get in touch with him, I wont disturb a rather focus on myself. All the best!

[@JahaJaho]

Cool what is your astist name? Would love to hear some.

[@DestroyER82]

@@JahaJaho Greetings to you, thats awesome, thank you. What kind of music would be interesting for you or can it be "anything" (I have multiple projects).

[@JahaJaho]

@@DestroyER82 Hi. I listen to most things except ganga rap ... If you have any project on Spotify or something like that just list a few and I will listen to them.

[@natevizzi2901]

I want a k3 so bad …. Been looking for a looooong time and just can’t seem to make it happen

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Hope you find one!

[@natevizzi2901]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams dude …. I hope so too

[@AriestheLegendRVA]

🙌

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Aries

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Nice job! I had a Kawai K1 for a while - an inexpensive alternative to a Yamaha DX synth. I wish I’d taken the time to learn how to programme it! Do you remember the Kawai electric grand piano? In many ways superior to the Yamaha CP80!

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Thanks Simon - Totally - the K3 definitely has a DX feel to it without the FM synthesis, although the additive waveform method definitely can have an FM type feel with the way sounds are created. I didn't own a K1, but with all those waveforms I'm sure it sounded amazing. I'll have to check it out if I can find one.

[@gahgahgahd00]

anyone have a k3 they'd be willing to trade for a casio fz1?

[@ymotechnopopfan]

Actually, it's pronounced as "Kah-wah-ee". It's pronounciation sounds like the word "kawaii" (かわいい,meaning cute)

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Wow - thank you for that information. I've never heard it pronounced that way in North America, but great to know the proper way to pronounce it. Thank you!

[@dyscotopia]

Hey. It's my first synth. I lent it out around 2007 and never got it back... That's okay tho. It weighed a ton, and while I miss the sound a bit, it baffles me that anyone would pay over $1000 for one. It has some major limitations. Having only 5-bit memory for parameters mean that dialing in a fine tuned setting is impossible. The filter is quite nice but the difference between setting it to 30 or 31 means self-oscillation is either on or off and stepping is very apparent if trying to use the dial for performance. Membrane interfaces just suck, tho at least this one is the easiest to understand and it's a very easy to program synth despite having an unusual architecture. Yes, it can create more "realistic" sounds than old analog synths but they lack much weight and they're only realistic in the sense that a sears home keyboard is realistic. I have no idea why they thought it should be built out of steel, but it is the heaviest piece of equipment I've ever lugged from gig to gig... A minilogue xd and the k3 sound kit is a far more sensible option than the real thing even if you lose a couple voices, you gain far much more flexibility and sound shaping options

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Fair review for sure. I can't disagree with any of your points. It's big and heavy, and probably doesn't get you much more than the minilogue xd. I think working with 80's tech can sometimes be more about the process than the sound. Something about the K3 does cut through though - not that you can't get this in other ways, but it's just fun to explore vintage tech in this way.

[@jazzmoran]

It looks like a roland jx8

[@daccrowell4776]

I'm on my second one. First one, I sold...and immediately regretted it. The sound is not exactly something you can replicate...that digital fixed wavetable generator into those SSM filters gives it more of a PPG-ish quality. Does it sound 80s? Sure...it can, but it's more versatile than that. Also, note the capability it's got for a really good take on the infamous Tangerine Dream "singing chipmunk" patch...not easy to replicate at all on other synths of the same period. Long story short: the second one (got that now) isn't going anywhere. Probably ever. The K3 is just too unique, even if its appearance makes it look like yet another 80s polysynth.

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

I can't agree more - grouping the K3 in with any other synth is difficult. It looks like JX-8p but I agree sounds more like a PPG. I just borrowed the one for my video, so I'm now looking for one. Thanks for the comments and adding to the thread!

[@daccrowell4776]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Yep...screw around with a K3 for about 15 minutes, then you're begging for the shop to take your Magic Plastic! Very common syndrome...🤪 Also...Stereoping makes the fix for the one knob thing. One firmware iteration for their multi-device controller reconfigures it to give you massive access to everything under the K3/K3m's hood, enabling loads of new control and programming trickery. That's currently on my "must have" list; the K3 is already sonically excellent, but that development lets you get at ALL the innards in real time!

[@doordedeur]

Funny the good keyboard action of the K3 is mentioned, because the K1, K4, PH50 and Spectra have the worst keyboard actions ever available on a synth. And that from a renowned piano factory...

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

Interesting - Not sure why Kawai of all companies had such bad keybeds.

[@antoinemarsaud]

Thanks for this amazing documentary on the Kawai K3. I got mine in 1992. After years of not using the synth, I recently recorded a new track with it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWPWfn6XlK6LeLc

[@johnnymorgansynthdreams]

So 80s! Great song - could have been a cue on Top Gun soundtrack. The K3 sounds perfect.

[@antoinemarsaud]

@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thanks, glad you like it.

[@helio1055]

I have an SQ-80 instead, sounds very similar