Kurzweil PC2R Pro MIDI Sound Module with Orchestral GM Board
No longer available at zZounds
Now ships with the Orchestral ROM block installed. Current models are shipping in Black.
Overview
The newest addition to the PC2 Series products, the PC2R rack, brings the PC2 sound and other capabilities to a rack module.
Outstanding New Sounds
The PC2R is designed for anyone in search of the best sound quality with great sounding effects and compact 1U design. This is a songwriter's dream palette! It provides impeccable high-quality new sounds, including a brand new super dynamic stereo grand piano, stereo strings, Take 6 vocals, brass section, classic electric pianos (FM, Wurlitzer and Rhodes), organs, harpsichord, Clavinet, vibes, marimba, electric and acoustic basses (with and without layered ride cymbal), guitars, drums, percussion, and synth sounds. This unit features a total of 272 programs (256 factory programs and 16 KB3 organ programs). There's room for 128 user created programs as well. Limited voice editing allows users to tailor their sounds adjusting timbre, envelopes, and more.
Up to 4 programs can be layered/split to create full, rich, and expressive sounds and combinations called setups. The PC2R ships with 32 great sounding setups with room for 128 user created setups as well. It's easy and quick to make setups with layered and split sounds that are impossible to create on other rack modules.
Orchestral ROM
The PC2 now ships with the Orchestral ROM block installed. For owners of older PC2s, this ROM block is available as an option.
The Orchestral ROM Soundblock contains superb orchestral samples plus layers/splits/combinations. The Orchestral soundblock… read more provides 16 MB of sounds, including 128 new programs and 32 new setups.
Sounds in the Orchestral ROM Soundblock include String Sections, Solo Strings, Woodwinds, Orchestral Brass, Jazz Brass, Orchestral Ensembles, Choir, Organ, Harp, Nylon String Guitar, Orchestral Percussion, and Ethnic Percussion.
This ROM block also provides General MIDI compatibility and comes with 2 sets of programs, the standard GM programs and the new bank of programs. You can choose which set of programs to install into ROM for the presets, and then the other bank may be loaded into RAM in the User Bank, if desired.
Control at Your Fingertips
The PC2R offers the user clear and concise control over their sounds. The striking purple color is nicely offset by the 2 x 20 character backlit display. The 4 front panel knobs can be used as physical controllers and can be programmed on a per zone basis, allowing you to send any MIDI controller message on any zone or any combination of zones. The built-in arpeggiator can be synced to an external MIDI clock, and include many different latch modes and play orders. This flexibility allows for the creation of endless varieties of arpeggios and percussion patterns.
Each zone can be set to play the PC2R's own sounds, or an external MIDI device, or both. Of course, you can set the note range for each zone to create custom splits and layers, as well as customizing velocity responses per zone. Controllers can be scaled both positively and negatively and can have offset values as well as entry and exit values to set their 'state' upon selecting a program or setup. A PC2R setup can have up to 4 zones, and transmit on up to 4 different MIDI channels simultaneously.
The PC2R also features Kurzweil's acclaimed KB3 tone wheel organ modeling technology. Users can adjust most aspects of the organ model including the drawbar settings, vibrato/chorus settings, percussion settings, and more.
Fantastic Effects
The PC2 includes dual effects processors which feature preset effects of the same quality as found in our highly regarded KDFX for the K2500/K2600 series instruments. Dual effects processors provide great, high quality effects, with separate send levels per MIDI channel for each of the dual effects processors. This allows for stunning and complex effects design.
The 1U rack mount module offers 64 voices of polyphony and can be expanded to 128 voices with Kurzweil PCX-1 polyphony expansion board. The PC2R features ultra quiet specs with better than 119 dB noise floor and 24 bit digital output (consumer and pro formats supported: AES/EBU, and S/P-DIF). Two plug-in 16 MB sound ROM boards will also be available which will expand the PC2R1s sound ROM to a total of 48 MB. All options are user installable.
The front panel includes a combination push power switch and master volume control, 2x20 character LCD display, alpha wheel, buttons, Õ in. headphone jack, and LCD contrast control.
The rear panel includes 2 balanced Õ in. jacks (Left and Right). MIDI In, Out, and Thru, power connector for the external power supply, and digital output (RCA connector offers both AES/EBU, and S/P-DIF formats). read less
Outstanding New Sounds
The PC2R is designed for anyone in search of the best sound quality with great sounding effects and compact 1U design. This is a songwriter's dream palette! It provides impeccable high-quality new sounds, including a brand new super dynamic stereo grand piano, stereo strings, Take 6 vocals, brass section, classic electric pianos (FM, Wurlitzer and Rhodes), organs, harpsichord, Clavinet, vibes, marimba, electric and acoustic basses (with and without layered ride cymbal), guitars, drums, percussion, and synth sounds. This unit features a total of 272 programs (256 factory programs and 16 KB3 organ programs). There's room for 128 user created programs as well. Limited voice editing allows users to tailor their sounds adjusting timbre, envelopes, and more.
Up to 4 programs can be layered/split to create full, rich, and expressive sounds and combinations called setups. The PC2R ships with 32 great sounding setups with room for 128 user created setups as well. It's easy and quick to make setups with layered and split sounds that are impossible to create on other rack modules.
Orchestral ROM
The PC2 now ships with the Orchestral ROM block installed. For owners of older PC2s, this ROM block is available as an option.
The Orchestral ROM Soundblock contains superb orchestral samples plus layers/splits/combinations. The Orchestral soundblock… read more provides 16 MB of sounds, including 128 new programs and 32 new setups.
Sounds in the Orchestral ROM Soundblock include String Sections, Solo Strings, Woodwinds, Orchestral Brass, Jazz Brass, Orchestral Ensembles, Choir, Organ, Harp, Nylon String Guitar, Orchestral Percussion, and Ethnic Percussion.
This ROM block also provides General MIDI compatibility and comes with 2 sets of programs, the standard GM programs and the new bank of programs. You can choose which set of programs to install into ROM for the presets, and then the other bank may be loaded into RAM in the User Bank, if desired.
Control at Your Fingertips
The PC2R offers the user clear and concise control over their sounds. The striking purple color is nicely offset by the 2 x 20 character backlit display. The 4 front panel knobs can be used as physical controllers and can be programmed on a per zone basis, allowing you to send any MIDI controller message on any zone or any combination of zones. The built-in arpeggiator can be synced to an external MIDI clock, and include many different latch modes and play orders. This flexibility allows for the creation of endless varieties of arpeggios and percussion patterns.
Each zone can be set to play the PC2R's own sounds, or an external MIDI device, or both. Of course, you can set the note range for each zone to create custom splits and layers, as well as customizing velocity responses per zone. Controllers can be scaled both positively and negatively and can have offset values as well as entry and exit values to set their 'state' upon selecting a program or setup. A PC2R setup can have up to 4 zones, and transmit on up to 4 different MIDI channels simultaneously.
The PC2R also features Kurzweil's acclaimed KB3 tone wheel organ modeling technology. Users can adjust most aspects of the organ model including the drawbar settings, vibrato/chorus settings, percussion settings, and more.
Fantastic Effects
The PC2 includes dual effects processors which feature preset effects of the same quality as found in our highly regarded KDFX for the K2500/K2600 series instruments. Dual effects processors provide great, high quality effects, with separate send levels per MIDI channel for each of the dual effects processors. This allows for stunning and complex effects design.
The 1U rack mount module offers 64 voices of polyphony and can be expanded to 128 voices with Kurzweil PCX-1 polyphony expansion board. The PC2R features ultra quiet specs with better than 119 dB noise floor and 24 bit digital output (consumer and pro formats supported: AES/EBU, and S/P-DIF). Two plug-in 16 MB sound ROM boards will also be available which will expand the PC2R1s sound ROM to a total of 48 MB. All options are user installable.
The front panel includes a combination push power switch and master volume control, 2x20 character LCD display, alpha wheel, buttons, Õ in. headphone jack, and LCD contrast control.
The rear panel includes 2 balanced Õ in. jacks (Left and Right). MIDI In, Out, and Thru, power connector for the external power supply, and digital output (RCA connector offers both AES/EBU, and S/P-DIF formats). read less
Specs
1U Rack Module
Controllers: 4 knobs (multiple functions)
Programmable zones: 4
Flash ROM (for software updates via system exclusive dumps). The current version of the operating system is v2.10. The operating system in your unit is displayed on power up.
Arpeggiator: Multiple note order modes, latch modes, selectable play order, velocity, duration, tempo, and beat values; syncable to MIDI clock
Polyphony: 64-voice, user-expandable to 128
Effects (Dual Processors):
Processor A presets: 58 Reverbs, 6 Delays, 10 Choruses, 6 Flangers, 3 Phasors, 4 Shapers, 2 Enhancers, 8 Filtered Effects, 4 Distortions, 1 Mono>Stereo, 3 Wide Stereo, 4 Compressors, 2 Panners, 7 Rotarys, Stereo Tremolo, and 44 combination effects chains utilizing Kurzweil's unique Laserverb
Processor B effects: 30 Reverbs including booths, rooms, chambers, halls, and plates.
Effects Routing: All 16 MIDI channels can send to A and to B in any amount. Also there is a global send from A to B for serial effects chaining
Memory: 256 ROM preset programs, 128 user preset programs, 32 ROM setups, 128 user setups. KB3 mode: 16 presets, 128 user presets
Display: 20-character x 2-line backlit LCD w/ front panel contrast knob
Audio outputs: Two Õ in. balanced TRS analog, RCA digital with selectable format (AES/EBU, S/P-DIF), bit width (16, 18, 20, 24), and dithering
Headphones: Front panel Õ in. headphone output
Audio Performance: +/- 119 dB S/N, .003% THD
MIDI jacks: In, Out, Thru
Options:
PCX-1 Polyphony Expansion (not yet released)
PCROM-1 16MB ROM expansion (not yet released)
PCROM-2 16MB ROM expansion (not yet released)
Dimensions (H x W x D): 1-Ó x 19 x 11-1/8 in. output jacks to tip of data knob (4.5 x 4.83 x 2.83cm)
Weight: 6.88 lb (3.1 kg)
Controllers: 4 knobs (multiple functions)
Programmable zones: 4
Flash ROM (for software updates via system exclusive dumps). The current version of the operating system is v2.10. The operating system in your unit is displayed on power up.
Arpeggiator: Multiple note order modes, latch modes, selectable play order, velocity, duration, tempo, and beat values; syncable to MIDI clock
Polyphony: 64-voice, user-expandable to 128
Effects (Dual Processors):
Processor A presets: 58 Reverbs, 6 Delays, 10 Choruses, 6 Flangers, 3 Phasors, 4 Shapers, 2 Enhancers, 8 Filtered Effects, 4 Distortions, 1 Mono>Stereo, 3 Wide Stereo, 4 Compressors, 2 Panners, 7 Rotarys, Stereo Tremolo, and 44 combination effects chains utilizing Kurzweil's unique Laserverb
Processor B effects: 30 Reverbs including booths, rooms, chambers, halls, and plates.
Effects Routing: All 16 MIDI channels can send to A and to B in any amount. Also there is a global send from A to B for serial effects chaining
Memory: 256 ROM preset programs, 128 user preset programs, 32 ROM setups, 128 user setups. KB3 mode: 16 presets, 128 user presets
Display: 20-character x 2-line backlit LCD w/ front panel contrast knob
Audio outputs: Two Õ in. balanced TRS analog, RCA digital with selectable format (AES/EBU, S/P-DIF), bit width (16, 18, 20, 24), and dithering
Headphones: Front panel Õ in. headphone output
Audio Performance: +/- 119 dB S/N, .003% THD
MIDI jacks: In, Out, Thru
Options:
PCX-1 Polyphony Expansion (not yet released)
PCROM-1 16MB ROM expansion (not yet released)
PCROM-2 16MB ROM expansion (not yet released)
Dimensions (H x W x D): 1-Ó x 19 x 11-1/8 in. output jacks to tip of data knob (4.5 x 4.83 x 2.83cm)
Weight: 6.88 lb (3.1 kg)
Documents and Manuals
For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Web: https://kurzweil.com/support/
Web: https://kurzweil.com/support/
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
(21 ratings)
Submitted October 1, 2004 by a customer from btinternet.com
"Kurzweil Kwality"
Acoustic instruments sounds are likely to be needed for a long time to come and this unit satisfies that requirement.
Sound
It does all the acoustic stuff very well. Use it with synths of your choice. Good live sound.
Features
Slightly odd architecture using 4 MIDI channel Setups. But all 16 channels always available for multitrack sequencer work.
Quality
External power supply. Pretty well built.
Value
If it's a choice between quality and quantity, then the Kurzweil sound gives you tops in quality. The search ends here.
Manufacturer Support
Not too good at present, but Kurzweil are going though hard times so it should improve when they get themselves sorted out.
The Wow Factor
And it's purple!
Musical Background:
Recording Engineer & Composer
Musical Style:
Film Soundtrack & RnB
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No longer available at zZounds
In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer
