Kurzweil - K2088

The Kurzweil K2088 synthesiser is aimed at musicians who want an instrument capable of going very far in sound creation without sacrificing playing comfort. Its 88-note hammer-action Fatar TP/40L keyboard gives a solid, expressive feel, suitable for both pianists and sound design-oriented keyboardists. Aftertouch lets you add natural nuances while playing without leaving the keys. The chassis features a large 4.3" colour display for easy navigation between programmes, multis and advanced settings. Numerous physical controls make changes fast during rehearsals, concerts or studio sessions.

The Dynamic V.A.S.T. engine remains the heart of the machine, with 32 layers per program and extremely advanced routing capabilities. The K2088 also features a 6-operator FM engine, a Virtual Analog section inspired by the VA1 project and KB3 ToneReal organs with full drawbars. The 2000+ factory sounds range from vintage synths to modern strings, pianos, organs, basses, strings and atmospheric textures. FlashPlay memory lets you load sounds quickly, with no waiting time. You can also import up to 2GB of user samples to fully customise your setup.

The performance section has been designed for musicians who work in depth on their setups. Multi mode manages up to 16 MIDI zones with a huge number of assignable controls. The 16 independent arpeggiators, MIDI CC sequencers and riff generators allow you to build lively rhythmic layers. The 9 faders, 9 knobs, assignable buttons, 3-zone touch ribbon and pedal inputs give you enormous freedom to control sounds in real time. Integrated transport controls also make it easy to work with a DAW or the internal 16-track sequencer.

Connections include 4 balanced TRS audio outputs, stereo line inputs, MIDI In/Out, USB MIDI and a dedicated headphone output. The K2088 can function as a USB controller and also accepts an external MIDI keyboard thanks to the USB host function. Built-in effects include reverbs, delays, chorus, rotary simulations, compressors and advanced EQ with 32 effect units available. Despite its 88 keys, its modern, robust design makes it ideal for large stage set-ups. This instrument is particularly suited to keyboardists looking for a powerful synthesiser capable of covering production, stage and in-depth sound programming.