Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $3,250
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1501+
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High-end
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Description
Experience the fusion of advanced technology and expressive sound with the Kurzweil K2500. This synthesizer is renowned for its powerful V.A.S.T. (Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology), offering musicians unparalleled control over waveform shaping and sound design. Whether you're crafting intricate compositions or performing live, the K2500 provides the tools to bring your musical ideas to life. With its intuitive interface and vast library of high-quality sounds, this synth is perfect for both studio and stage.
The K2500 features a robust selection of onboard effects and modulation options, allowing for creative flexibility that suits any genre. Its expandable architecture ensures that you can keep your sound library fresh and up-to-date, while the onboard sequencer supports complex arrangements with ease. With a focus on delivering rich, authentic tones, the Kurzweil K2500 remains a favorite among synthesists and producers.
Key Features:
- V.A.S.T. Synthesis for deep sound customization
- Onboard effects including reverb, chorus, and more
- Expandable sound library with sample RAM options
- Built-in sequencer for intricate arrangements
- Compatible with MIDI for seamless integration with other gear
- Comprehensive modulation options for dynamic sound shaping
Videos
juan manuel
Kurzweil K2500 Demo
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Kurzweil K2500.
User experience
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Users find the V.A.S.T. system's modulation and envelope options inspiring for exploring mathematical functions, enhancing engagement with synthesis.
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Owners find updating the K2500's firmware straightforward, involving floppy disks and specific on-power procedures, with well-documented instructions available.
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The K2500 is praised for its build quality, with a heavy, durable metal construction designed for touring, rivaling the robustness of a Hammond organ.
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Other
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The K2500's DAC was upgraded from the K2000's AD1860 to AD1865, retaining 18-bit processing with steep anti-aliasing filters, maintaining a consistent sound character.
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Use cases and applications
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The K2500's Live Mode allows for advanced external audio processing via V.A.S.T., enabling complex feedback architectures not detailed in the manual.
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The K2500 is favored for its ability to combine samples with synthesized tones, reminiscent of 90s-era artists like Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess.
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This synth is highly regarded for creating ambient and pad sounds due to its extensive modulation options and multi-output capabilities.
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Mods and upgrades
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Installing KDFX significantly enhances the K2500's capabilities, transforming it into a powerful effects box beyond its original synth functions.
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The K2500 can utilize SCSI interfaces for expanded memory and connectivity, benefiting live performances with fast sample access.
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Users recommend replacing the floppy drive with a GoTek USB thumbdrive/floppy emulator for easier data handling and access.
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Comparisons
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The K2500 is described as having a more 'hi-fi' sound compared to the K2000's 'vintage' tone, partly due to different converters.
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Compared to newer models, the K2500's sequencer offers more comprehensive features, such as track muting, which are lacking in the K2700.
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The K2500's V.A.S.T. architecture allows stacking of multiple layers, a feature not commonly found in modern synths, even though it can be replicated in software.
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Features and functionality
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The K2500 can load K2000 patches and offers 10 outputs compared to the K2000's 2, which significantly enhances its studio and live setup flexibility.
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The K2500 can perform a variety of synthesis techniques such as wave sequencing, FM, physical modeling, granular, and additive, making it extremely versatile.
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The K2500's sequencer can play back 32 tracks and drive external MIDI, though its 48-note polyphony requires careful management in complex orchestrations.
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Setup and maintenance
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Owners use flash-to-SCSI drives to modernize data handling, citing the convenience of removable cartridge drives like the 1 GB Jaz Drive.
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Owners note the importance of having both manuals for programming as the K2500 is complex but not overly menu-divey when navigating LFO and modulation settings.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 8 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
SL: According to your opinion, which are the most legendary synths ever produced?
JB: I’d have to go with the Memorymoog and PPG 2.3 Waveterm. I bough both in the mid 80’s and still have them, they are beautiful to look at and compliment each other. The Memorymoog is extremely versatile for an analog synth and the PPG system had unsurpassed digital technology with analog filters, a winning combo. I’m also a big FM fan, I used and owned the DX-7 II FD extensively and still own and use the SY-77 perhaps one of the most underrated synths of all time. As I mentioned, I love the Kurzweil 2500 for it’s playability, ROM based sounds and VAST sampling technology. I used it with Fear Factory live for years.
“I recently purchased a Kurzweil K2500 and maxed that out with all the memory and sound blocks and the sampler. I like that a lot, especially for soundtracks and orchestral textures."
"Some pictures of my music studio from 2002. Roland XV5080, Kurzweil K2500, Korg 01R/W, Wavestation SR, M3R, Yamaha Promix01, PSR500, Sony DTC-790 DAT Recorder and more :) #studio #homestudio #synth"
As can be seen in the photograph, Ernst Horn used the Kurzweil K2500 keyboard for live performances.
Craig Kerley uses the Kurzweil K2500 exclusively in the studio, as detailed on the Not Otherwise Specified Band Gear page for Atlanta Progressive Rock.
On his bio page, Tony Trippi lists the Kurzweil K2500 among his sound modules and samplers, indicating his use of this synthesizer in his setup.
Sean mentions the synths he used in his studio.
"My vintage 80s synths include a Emulator II, Roland D-50, Korg M1, Yahmaha DX’s, a couple of Kurzweil K2500s… well, and a bunch more. I love the old outboard gear because of the warm and gravity they bring to the sound. I often bring back the orchestral recording stems into Sonar X1 to further manipulate the overall cue."
Gear
Kurzweil K2500 (two) "I use one K2500 as my controller keyboard and I have an additional rackmount K2500. I use those to control my sound library of real orchestral sounds." Akai S2000 Roland JV1080 "I use this with the orchestra expansion card for some of the orchestral sounds that are mostly in the background — in other words those that don't require so much authenticity. It allows me to layer up sounds without having to use up any of the memory I need for my better CD‑ROM orchestral samples." Studio Electronics ATC1 "This one I use when there's a need for analogue sounds. You can switch from one type of sound to another depending on what cartridge you put in." Roland Juno 106 "I used the Juno 106 for Mercenaries and a bunch of other titles that needed more industrial types of sounds." Tech 21 SansAmp PSA1 "This is great for recording guitar sounds. It has a whole bunch of different guitar distortions and effects and plugs straight into the board — you don't have to go through a separate amplifier, but it creates the sound just as well." Alesis ADAT XT "Occasionally when I have all the samplers filled up and I don't have any more memory I dump them on to different tracks on the ADAT and record them that way." Tascam DA30 DAT recorder JVC Pro Series Digital S video deck "I use this half‑inch deck to sync up films and timecode." Apple Power Mac 4400 running MOTU's Digital Performer "I've been trying various different sequencers to see which one I like the best and, although they all have their pros and cons, I find that Digital Performer works really well for what I'm doing." Digidesign Pro Tools "I don't use Pro Tools that much. Sometimes I will if I need to sync up different dialogue and sound effects to the music, but mostly I do the final mix onto DAT and if necessary I'll load that back into Pro Tools to burn CDs."
Album Usage
The Kurzweil K2500 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Kurzweil K2500, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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