KVR Audio

TS-12 · Post by **TS-12** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 2:58 pm

currently he's using Kurzweil PC88 as a controller and Sound Module,
he's still using Cakewalk Sonar 4, but little by little trying to figure out latest Cakewalk by BandLab.
he wants to start using an all-in-on VSTi or DXi Instrument that can replace his Kurzweil,
which VSTi / DXi out there would be the closest sounding one to Kurzweil PC88 ?

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 3:37 pm

Is DX still a thing? Thought that had died years ago, even on Cakewalk.
As for sound source, something like Korg Triton Extreme might fit the bill. Probably not identical sound but it's a monster S&S 90s synth ported to VSTi in the same vein.

By the way, he doesn't have to replace the Kurzweil sounds. Decent 2-input audio interfaces can be bought for not much more than the price of a VSTi so he could get one of those and record the Kurzweil into his DAW. Focusrite, Steinberg, Audient...all good quality & cheap plus midi in/out. I suspect once he gets into DAW music he'll end up buying some VSTi anyway, but he can just buy an interface and use a DAW alongside the Kurz.

Etienne1973 · Post by **Etienne1973** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 3:44 pm

AFAIK nothing around that covers the Kurzweil sound characteristic and whole PC88 sound palette in software. I would demo plugins like Korg Triton Extreme (mentioned), Roland XV-5080 or Steinberg Halion Sonic.

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 3:54 pm

Halion is a good recommend

. Shitloads of rompler/sampler/instrument banks and quite a capable wide-ranging synth too. The more I use it in even the cut-down Cubase one, the more I rate it. Likely far more value than a straight rompler.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 4:00 pm

TS-12 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 2:58 pm currently he's using Kurzweil PC88 as a controller and Sound Module,
he's still using Cakewalk Sonar 4, but little by little trying to figure out latest Cakewalk by BandLab.
he wants to start using an all-in-on VSTi or DXi Instrument that can replace his Kurzweil,
which VSTi / DXi out there would be the closest sounding one to Kurzweil PC88 ?

What's the point? He's going to have a hard time playing anything without a keyboard. Is he expecting to add notes to the timeline in his DAW?

I'd recommend Komplete, but keep the PC88 to use as a controller. That should be plenty to keep anyone happy.

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 4:43 pm

What's his Computer specs and OS?

Bartone · Post by **Bartone** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 12:40 pm

Elderly friend... Are we talking about @Vurt?
But in that case, would elderly be enough.. should it be more like ancient friend?

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:56 pm

That would be me, then (vurt is just a wayward young'un). I can assure you it's not me...I may be ancient but have no friends

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Mon Sep 25, 2023 1:15 am

I still use my PC88 as a master keyboard for my DAW system, no reason to replace it.

Personally I don't even bother hooking up the audio output these days, just use various piano libraries, mostly in Kontakt.

However, if your friend really wants to have the PC88 sounds then look no further than the UVI Key Suite Digital edition as this has all the piano sounds from a Kurzweil MicroPiano, which is the same thing in a module (it's the one called PERformance in the UVI). Wait for the sales though, it can had quite cheaply). It doesn't have any of the string or synth sounds, but you'll find better options in the world of VST instruments anyway.

https://www.uvi.net/en/pianos-keyboards ... gital.html

AllanH · Post by **AllanH** » Mon Sep 25, 2023 4:38 am

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I can relate. I replaced my PC88 about 5 years ago with a newer Kurzweil. Your friend should consider getting a Forte, imo. There is something unique about how well the Kurzweil works as a performance keyboard - the built-in instruments are well done and behave as a keyboard player expects.

Back to the question: I would recommend UVI Falcon. I have used Falcon since 2.0 was released and have most of the synthesizer packs. Falcon on it's own is hugely programmable and a substantial step up from VAST. Your friend will love it. On top of that, UVI has done a good job of sampling nearly every synths and have created corresponding Falcon instruments. If your friend is "just" a player, he does not need Falcon but can do with UVI Workstation (free). However, the feature set of Falcon is incredible from a programmability and flexibility perspective.

Here are a couple of links
Falcon: https://www.uvi.net/falcon.html (https://www.uvi.net/falcon.html)
Synth Anthology 4: https://www.uvi.net/en/vintage-synth/sy ... ogy-4.html (https://www.uvi.net/en/vintage-synth/synth-anthology-4.html) [excellent collection]
Synth Vault 4: https://www.uvi.net/en/vintage-synth/vi ... ult-4.html (https://www.uvi.net/en/vintage-synth/vintage-vault-4.html) [*huge* collection of sampled synths]

felis · Post by **felis** » Mon Sep 25, 2023 11:13 am

TS-12 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 2:58 pm ....he wants to start using an all-in-on VSTi or DXi Instrument that can replace his Kurzweil, ....

Can't be done - Kurzweil is hardware and vsti's are software.

If you mean he wants sounds in a vsti that are similar to sounds in the Kurzweil,
then some of the suggestions already given that have rompler type sounds might work.

He'll still need something to control them though unless he wants to do everything with a mouse, so he might as well keep or upgrade the Kurzweil.

helping elderly friend transfer from Kurzweil to Software