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KC20 - SynthWizard - 04-03-2020
KC20
<div><span>KC20</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-specifications field--type-double-field-extended field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Specifications</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Polyphony" data-content="The number of voices (notes) a device can produce simultaneously. Typically, a monophonic device can only play one note at a time. A Duophonic device can play two notes at a time. A polyphonic device can play two or more notes at a time." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Polyphony - </span>
<span class="specification-value">20 voices (8 drums)</span>
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</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Multitimbral" data-content="A synthesizing instrument that can play two or more timbres (also called sounds or patches) at the same time. A typical multitimbral tone generator can play, for example, the brass, piano, and violin parts all at once." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Multitimbral - </span>
<span class="specification-value">16 parts</span>
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</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Oscillators" data-content="An electronic device which generates a periodic signal of a particular frequency, usually a sine wave, but sometimes a square wave or other waveform. In an analog synthesizer, oscillators typically produce regularly repeating fluctuations in voltage - that is, they oscillate. In digital synthesis, an oscillator more typically plays back a complex waveform by reading the numbers in a wavetable." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Oscillators - </span>
<span class="specification-value">2</span>
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</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Waveforms" data-content="A signal, either sampled (digitally recorded) or periodic, being generated by an oscillator. Also, the graphical display of a sound pressure wave over time." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Waveforms - </span>
<span class="specification-value">ROM</span>
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</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="LFO" data-content="Low Frequency Oscillator. An oscillator especially devoted to applications below the audible frequency range, and typically used as a control source for modulating a sound to create vibrato, tremolo, trills, and so on." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">LFO - </span>
<span class="specification-value">1 LFO with Saw Up, Square, Triangle</span>
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</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="VCA/Envelopes" data-content="A shape that changes as a function of time. The shape of a synthesizer's envelope is often controlled by Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release parameters (ADSR). Envelopes can be applied to various aspects of a synth sound, such as pitch, filter cutoff frequency, and overall amplitude." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">VCA/Envelopes - </span>
<span class="specification-value">2 VCA with Attack, Decay, Release</span>
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</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Controls" data-content="On-board rotary knobs, linear sliders, and push-buttons or switches that may be used to edit various parameters." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Controls - </span>
<span class="specification-value">MIDI In/Out/Thru</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Songs" data-content="With respect to sequencers, Songs are arrangements of Patterns or Loops." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Songs - </span>
<span class="specification-value">3 Demo Songs</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Keyboard" data-content="A set of keys or levers, arranged in order of ascending pitch, which enables a piano, organ or synthesizer to be played by hand." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Keyboard - </span>
<span class="specification-value">61 non-weighted, plastic keys</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="double-field-extended form-group"><span class="specification-term" title="Memory" data-content="Storage capabilities for user programmed settings, patches, sequences, waveforms, and so on." data-placement="top" data-trigger="hover" data-toggle="popover">Memory - </span>
<span class="specification-value">64 Patches (RAM), 16 Patches (ROM)</span>
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<span><a title="View user profile." href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/user/406" lang="" about="http://www.vintagesynth.com/user/406" typeof="schema
erson" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Naomi Bolton</a></span><span>Sun, 03/29/2020 - 12:50</span>
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Kawai released their KC20 in 1993 to fulfill the need for an affordable synthesizer that is lightweight as well as portable but without skimping on a full 61-key keyboard. It was also designed to be GM-compatible, which meant that it could be used as a sound source for computer music and other applications.<br><br>
The stand out features of the KC20 for its time was its General MIDI system compatibility as well as the inclusion of both COMPOSE and PERFORMANCE modes. In COMPOSE mode it offers a maximum of 28-voice polyphony, or 16 sections, including drum sections. It makes use of a multi-timbre voice allocation system in order to allow independent play of up to 16 parts. The PERFORMANCE mode offers eight banks of eight patches for a total of 64 patches to store in memory. Frequently used settings can then be called up during live performances with the touch of a button.<br><br>
The KC20 has a full-sized keyboard and while it offers 61 keys, the depth of the keyboard is 20 cm, which is quite compact. Kawai included 160 high-quality tones with this synth as well as seven drum kits and used an 18-bit digital/analog converter for clear sound quality reproduction.<br><br>
The KC20 features a pretty standard design with the pitch bend wheel and modulation wheel on the left and the volume slider up top. It also has a 16-character, 2-line LCD for displaying the settings and operations on the KC20. A number of buttons can be found on the top left of the KC20, including ones for accessing the System Edit mode, alternating between the Compose and Performance modes, and for performing octave shifts. The rear panel holds the power switch, DC-in jack, phones jack, Output R/L jacks, and "Hold" jack for connecting damper or sustain pedals. On the back, you'll also find the serial interface jack and serial select switch for selecting the type of computer to which the serial interface is to be connected. Options for the serial select switch include Apple Macintosh, IBM PC/AT, and NEC PC-98 as well as "MIDI" for when the serial interface is not in use. Finally, you'll find the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT jacks on the back.<br><br>
Overall, the KC20 was a decent keyboard for its time as it was very lightweight and offered a direct PC interface. It didn't excel in any particular area but offered acceptable all-round performance.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-make-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Make</div>
<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/853" hreflang="en">Kawai</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-year field--type-integer field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Year</div>
<div class="field--item">1993</div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-musical-genre-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Musical genre</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/776" hreflang="en">Pop, Rock & HipHop</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-synth-type-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Synth type</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/779" hreflang="en">Digital</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-interface-features-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Interface features</div>
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<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/784" hreflang="en">Modern</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-format-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Format</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/786" hreflang="en">Keyboard</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-sound-types-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Sound types</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/790" hreflang="en">Synthetic</a></div>
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</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-price-range-er field--type-entity-reference field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Price range</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/taxonomy/term/795" hreflang="en">Less than $500</a></div>
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</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-image-er field--type-image field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Image</div>
<div class="field--item"> <img src="http://www.vintagesynth.com/sites/default/files/2020-03/kawai-kc20-keyboardb.jpg" width="771" height="357" alt="kawaykc20" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive"></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-files field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Files</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"> <div class="file-item">
<a href="https://kawaius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Kawai-KC20-Synthesizer-Manual.pdf" class="file-title">KC20 GM Sound Keyboard User's Manual </a><span class="file-description">KC20 GM Sound Keyboard User's Manual </span>
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<div class="field field--name-field-youtube field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">YouTube</div>
<div class="field__items">
<div class="field--item"> <div class="youtube-field" data-pid="17231">
<div class="field-image">
<div class="field field--name-field-youtube-link field--type-youtube field--label-hidden field--item"><img src="http://www.vintagesynth.com/sites/default/files/youtube/do_lyTeQjy8.jpg" alt="Embedded thumbnail for KC20 > YouTube" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive"></div>
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<div class="wrapper-fields">
<div class="field-title">
<div class="field field--name-field-youtube-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Demo Kawai Kc 20.</div>
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<div class="field-author">by
<div class="field field--name-field-youtube-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Cristian Cruz</div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-user-rating field--type-vs-synth-rating field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">User Rating</div>
<div class="field--item"><div class="vs-fivestars" data-uuid="233cf14b-d824-4e3d-b8ad-1df5b64b0f80">
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<ul><li><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/rss.xml#" data-value="1" class="one-star">1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/rss.xml#" data-value="2" class="two-stars">2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/rss.xml#" data-value="3" class="three-stars">3</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/rss.xml#" data-value="4" class="four-stars">4</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/rss.xml#" data-value="5" class="five-stars">5</a></li>
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<div class="field field--name-field-texture field--type-list-string field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Texture</div>
<div class="field--item">Polyphonic instruments</div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-disqus-comment field--type-disqus-comment field--label-above">
<div class="field--label">Disqus comment</div>
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http://www.vintagesynth.com/kawai/KC20