Kawai K4

Last updated
K4
Manufacturer Kawai
Dates1989 [1]
PriceK4 £895 GBP
K4r £695 GBP [2]
Technical specifications
Polyphony 16 voices
Timbrality 8 part
Oscillator 2
LFO 1 - Sample & Hold, Saw Up, Square, Triangle
Synthesis type PCM ROMpler
Filter 2 - 12dB Slope (2-pole), Low Pass, Resonance
Attenuator ADSR
Aftertouch expression Yes
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memory64 RAM slots
Effects 32 types including: Reverb, Reverse Gate, Normal Delay, Stereo Pan Delay, Chorus, Flanger,Over Drive.
Hardware8-bit UPD 78310G CPU
Input/output
Keyboard 61 keys
Left-hand controlMod - Wheel, Pitch -Wheel
External control MIDI [Pedal - Sustain, Velocity, Pedal - Volume

The Kawai K4 is a 61 key synthesizer manufactured in 1989 by Kawai. It contains several features beyond those offered on Kawai K1, adding resonant filters and a DAC PCM wavetable. The K4 incorporated a new type of synthesis called Digital Multi Spectrum.

Contents

Features

Interestingly, the K4 uses a system that splits 16 bit samples between two read only memory (ROM) chips, while reserving a third chip for 8 bit sound samples that naturally have more noise (such as cymbals, snares, and other noisier percussion) in order to have more functionality for a cheaper manufacturing cost. [4]

Kawai K4R

A 2U rack mounted module was also produced by Kawai. [5] [6] It has six separate audio outputs in addition to standard left/right stereo outs and a headphone socket. The effects are removed in the rack mounted version as it is presumed outboard effects will be used with the unit.

References

  1. "Kawai K4 Digital Multi Spectrum Synthesizer". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 2018-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Kawai K4 & K4R (MT Dec 89)". www.muzines.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  3. "Kawai K4 & K4R (MT Dec 89)". www.muzines.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  4. "Kawai K4: Really a 16 bit synthesizer? Only partially!" . Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  5. "Kawai K4r". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 2018-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Kawai K4R". www.polynominal.com. Retrieved 2018-08-02.

Further reading