Something really new
Back in early summer 2022, Kurzweil announced the release of a new version of the Stage Electronic Piano “Kurzweil SP7”. There is a certain shortage of microprocessors in the world now, and perhaps that is why they are seriously talking about the new product only now.
What is interesting about the Kurzweil brand in itself?
A little reference - the brand of electronic keyboards "Kurzweil" was created by Ray Kurzweil, an American scientist, engineer and futurist. Once upon a time, Kurzweil's very first samplers and romplers beat music experts who couldn't tell apart in blind testing, the sound of the real Steinway from the Kurzweil K250 - the piano sound in Kurzweil was the most believable. The instrument's tactile design made it easy for blind musicians to use, and one of Kurzweil's influential clients was Stevie Wonder. The Kurzweil company was then American, but then its founder switched to other business, sold the company to South Korea, and for many years this brand disappeared from American and European radars, and new synthesizer models were no longer developed and produced.
In the mid of 2000s, the new owner of the Kurzweil brand, South Korean music giant Young Chang, was itself resold to an even larger corporation, Hyundai. And the new owners of all this decided to update the line of long-outdated keyboards. But how?! - They had to persuade Ray Kurzweil to return to the position of chief engineer. And for more than 10 years, Kurzweil Music System has been producing very good new keyboard instruments - mainly in three categories - conservative grand pianos with electronic filling, electronic stage pianos and workstations (synthesizers).
The company has some problems with its product nominal, which can lead to confusion about the functionality of musical instruments. A striking example is the line of extremely powerful in terms of functionality and completely full-fledged Kurzweil PC workstations (currently the current Kurzweil PC4 model), but the abbreviation PC stands for Performance Controller, that is, MIDI-Keyboard, and this is a truly compact studio for creating full-fledged tracks within a single instrument.
The same can be said about the Kurzweil SP product line, where SP stands for Stage Piano. But this is not at all the case. This is a full-fledged tone generator, or as they sometimes say - "Brains". It has everything you need to connect the instrument to a computer with a software MIDI editor and create full-fledged polyphonic works only on the basis of the sound power of this instrument.
It was a short preface, meant to clear up the confusion.
And now about the novelty.
What has Kurzweil invented this time?
Kurzweil SP7
The device is available in two versions: Kurzweil SP7 and Kurzweil SP7 Grand. The second modification is steeper, but not much. The differences are small.
Let's look at the basic specifications
- Polyphony: 256 voices
- Multitimbrality: 16 parts (one part per MIDI channel)
- Volume of factory samples: 500 MB (SP7) and 2GB (SP7 Grand)
- Number of factory presets (Programs): 301
- Number of factory presets (Multi): 512
- Number of user presets (Multi): 128
Note: Programs differ from Multis in that Multis consist of 16 Programs, one per voice for each part, but they can be layered or split into midi channels or zones. The keyboard can be divided into zones.
- Number of keyboard zones: 8 (SP7) and 16 (SP7 Grand)
- Keyboard type: Fatar TP/110 88 key (SP7) and Fatar TP/110LRG 88 key (SP7 Grand) - the second keyboard is heavier.
The most significant thing that distinguishes SP7 from all previous SPs is the new synthesis engine — ATST — Authentic Timbre Synthesis Technology.
Kurzweil keyboard enthusiasts are well aware of the other abbreviation: VAST — Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology. And this has been the main synthesis engine in all models from the very beginning - a 32-layer extremely powerful algorithm that allows you to work wonders with sound. But it was a bit difficult for the average musician. especially the difficulties of using it manifested themselves when trying to edit the sound on the musical instrument itself - through its tiny screen. True, it was possible to transfer the sound design process to a computer environment - a software editor for VAST was attached, but it did not always work well - it was produced by a third-party company, and such an editor appeared much later than the instrument itself - maybe in six months or a year.
And finally, after many years of sobbing users, the developers decided to make their life easier - let it be like everyone else: a few samples with a couple of changeable filters, attack, sustain, vibrato - and what else is needed to correct the factory sound for your song? For most users, nothing else is needed. But this is also supposed to be done programmatically - through a computer - later, when the corresponding software is released - but for now it is not.
But, fortunately, and also for the first time, the new SP7 has a relatively large, color and even - incredible! - touchscreen. I confess, I did not believe until the last moment that Kurzweil would dare to do such a thing. Now Kurz has almost caught up with Korg.
The Kurzweil SP7 has a display resolution of 480 x 282 (4.3 inches), while the Kurzweil SP7 has a resolution of 1024 x 600 (7 inches). And this is “Just some kind of holiday!”.
Both devices have a built-in auto-tuner for vocals - there are analog inputs, you can sing and not be afraid of false notes (although probably, if you really try, then everything is possible). Vocals (analog external signal) can be passed, as well as all 16 parts sounded by the instrument, through the built-in effects processor, which is traditionally very powerful on Kurzweil keyboards - 2 send returns and 16 inserts. In addition to this, there is a 4-band master equalizer - its control is brought to the front panel with separate knobs.
Mention is made of a 4-band vocoder and automatic adjustment of the vocal level during live performance according to the average level of the accompaniment.
Separate volume control for headphones to the line output is very convenient. This is also a traditional feature of Kurzweil.
There is no on-board sequencer in these models, but there is a hybrid arpeggiator that allows different parts to work out different rhythm patterns - factory or custom, recorded in step input mode. Up to 8 arpeggiator patterns can be used simultaneously. It is assumed that in a special mode, the arpeggiator can generate note sequences that are not repeated and constantly changing.
I have listed the main features of the new musical instrument from Kurzweil, but there are a huge number of nuances and small details that we will learn about later.
Already, many musicians are actively discussing the device, and their opinions vary greatly. Some are in mourning over the supposed end of the VAST synthesis era, as the new synthesis engine is said to be forward-thinking - ushering in a new era in Kurzweil instrument sound synthesis. And along with VAST, two other sound engines that were used in previous models of the SP family, as well as in the PC and K families - “KB3: ToneReal emulation” and “VA1: anti-aliasing, power-shaped oscillators and DSP processing” will go away. This is very unfortunate.
On the other hand, many people are happy that editing the always very good sound of Kurzweil will become available to more users, and not to a few with programming skills.
Opinions were divided about the keyboards that come with both models. There was a time when Kurzweil made its own keyboards, but then found it cheaper to use a solid and inexpensive FATAR. But FATAR by that time had lowered the quality. And now there are concerns about the keyboard FATAR TP / 110. But those lucky ones who have already tested the novelty said that this keyboard is good. However, it takes time to get the full picture.
Why two different devices?
Why are two models of seemingly the same instrument made?
The Kurzweil SP7 Grand includes all samples of the German 9-foot grand piano from the Kurzweil K2700 with support for string resonance modeling and pedal and body, although the pedal will have to be purchased separately. But if you are not a professional pianist, and do not work in the genre of authentic classical music, it is quite possible that these subtleties will not be too important for you. The Kurzweil SP7, which is cheaper and 4 kilograms lighter, will suffice.
As for me, the white model seems a little prettier to me.
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