Nils' K1v is a classic rompler that emulates the Kawai K1, a famous japanese classic from 1988.
Features:
Can import & export SysEx presets & banks from/to the original device.
Transmits & receives parameter changes via SysEx to act as an editor for the hardware or to be edited via external editors.
Furthermore, the plugin features a fully fledged MIDI implementation:
Synthesizer Engine:
8-bit synthesis engine.
Four sources per voice:
256 waveforms, 204 additive waveforms with 128 harmonics + 52 PCM wave forms.
DADSR envelope.
8 velocity curves.
Coarse & Fine tune, adjustable key tracking, lots of modulation options.
Latest Changes
v1.19 (2021.01.28):
v1.18:
v1.17:
v1.16:
v1.15:
v1.14:
[Fix] Wrong number of presets (832 instead of 968) were reported to plugin hosts.
[Fix] MIDI notes could get stuck in some cases.
[Fix] Rounding issue in fixed key note number drop down menu that caused note B0 to be displayed although note C1 was selected.
[Imp] K1v now supports Multi presets. All factory Multi presets have been added for all factory banks, making up a total of 384 Multis, or 1352 presets in total.
[Imp] K1v now has a settings page to allow to specify the MIDI receive channel, disable/enable receive & send of SysEx and more.
[Imp] MIDI receive channel can now also be modified by sending an Omni-Mode-Off control change from a specific MIDI channel.
[Imp] Added ability to navigate through presets with cursor keys.
[Imp] Code optimizations to reduce overall CPU usage.
v1.13:
v1.12:
v1.11:
v1.10:
v1.09:
v1.08:
v1.07:
v1.06:
v1.05:
v1.04:
v1.03:
v1.02:
v1.01:
Reviewed By Trader One [all]
January 14th, 2022
Version reviewed: 1.24 on Windows
Emulation is good but it is emulating a bad synth. K1 / K4 is nothing interesting. There is about 5% of sounds I would really use. M1/T1 are superior to K1.
Yes, it's free but we have lot of similar free .SF2 sounds from same era already.
Read Review(Note: current version is 1.24, July, 2021.).
A minute and a half of envelope decay when set at 100%! This is teaching me stuff I never learned about my hardware K1r. Thank you nils! You have made me a happy composer. Donation is going to happen today. Cheers.
Runs perfectly in Digital Performer 10 under High Sierra in my aging 2011 MacBook Pro. It's the most processor-intensive plugin I run, and I need to bounce to disk to use it, but it's totally worth the effort, and it's a joy to listen to it.
Read ReviewIn most cases I'm not a rompler fan. Best example: SQ8ROM...1GB sampled from an 0,6MB VSTi.
But this is different. It is the emulation of real hardware and it brings a big, big bunch of great, well recreated sounds in a top quality. A must have for Kawai fans.
Needed a replacement as my real K1 slowly stops functioning after almost 30 years, this is perfect! It loads all the sounds from my library (> 10.000) without any problem and sounds almost exactly like the original.
Read ReviewReviewed By pestomusic [all]
September 26th, 2020
Version reviewed: 1.1.1 on Mac
For being a free plugin alone, this deserves 5 stars. Instant late 80ies/early 90ies feeling. If you like LFO (the band), you will love this plugin.
I have a K1r mk1 in my rack next to me and the plugin fails to model one crucial ingredient of the original: the noise floor;).
Really well done, Nils! And may I add that the fact this exists not only for Windows but also as a Mac VST and AU and on top of that also works on Linux systems is seriously mind-blowing. Especially if you consider the short time span during which all these versions for different platforms came out.
I have earmarked some € to donate (and may I suggest you consider doing so as well?), especially for the AU version. If this was a commercial plugin, I would not hesitate to part with 50 or 60€ if I was making as much music today as I used to. Don't like Ro-land Cloud but like the D-50? Get this. Seriously, download this plugin if you like breathy, aliasing ROMplers as much as I do.
So far, I haven't tried to use the plugin as an editor for the hardware but I am really excited to so. Just the fact that an emulation is capable of doing so is so awesome (Dexed comes to mind).
Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with the author of this software in any way. I'm simply blown away that somebody so talented and focused on getting stuff right (read Nils' blog about the development of this plugin, he's a man of dedication) would share the results of all his efforts with the world for free. And I do have a soft spot for quirky Kawai synths, now I can take one of them with me when I travel. I love this plugin.
Read ReviewFantastic job Nils.
You really captured the gritty nature of the k1. I own the k3m but I have been looking at k1 rack versions though I may not have to now because of this gem. Good on you and your talents.
1.0.1, with some presets emit strange background sound, hope fixed...
Could you send me a recording of that background noise? At what sampling rate do you use it in your host?
REAPER and FL Studio 9 (all 32-bit) under Windows 7, 64-bit.
It's like a "tick tock" sound that affect the sound, not in first sight but it's audible.
Tried now with version 1.0.2, same problem.
I don't know how send a file here but by the way sorry, hope you'll resolve or probably it's a simulation of the cheap onboard converters of the original hardware? i can't recognize.
Are like little glitches or peaks but very fastidious...
Hi, the clicks are fixed since v1.07. Thanks for reporting.
What a great project. Like a time machine transporting my ears instantly back to the period, thank you.
What's the name of that Wavestation-like patch that loops a couple of strings & aaahhh PCM samples? The preset that was famously used by LFO on their seminal self-titled techno hit "LFO". Would grab this one just to be able to play with that preset. A friend of mine got this as his first synth back in 89.
On the Nils K1v the preset is 'iC8 Arrangement' I found it by resetting to the factory settings............... LFO your heart out :)
Great project, great sound. Kudos!!.
How do I install it in Cubase 10 Pro, I have placed K1v_x64.dll in various VST plugins folders and each time run Cubase and plugin manager but it seems to be invisible to them, I have even placed in the same folder as my Sylenth1 and no go. Any assistance would be appreciated.
How do I install it in Cubase 10 Pro, I have placed K1v_x64.dll in various VST plugins folders and each time run Cubase and plugin manager but it seems to be invisible to them, I have even placed in the same folder as my Sylenth1 and no go. Any assistance would be appreciated. That is for 64-bit version.
OK, so when I installed the 32-bit version and Jbridged it, it shows up.
Just grabbed this. My studio rebuild is not for another few weeks but will try this out then! I still have my K1-r but this just looked too cool to pass up and realtime JOYSTICK control ala Vector movement? Yes please.
1.0.6 - a very loud short clicks when playing in Renoise 3.1 in some presets. They aren't in Renoise 3.2.1. Empirically, I was found that the problem in the delay of the envelope. As soon as you remove the delay, a clicks disappear immediately.
Also, occasionally K1v misses some notes (in all Renoise versions, not only in 3.1), but I did not find any regularity. But this happens VERY rarely, so I have no special problems with this.
Hi, the clicks are fixed since v1.07. Thanks for reporting.
Version 1.0.4. Thank you SO much for this wonderful VST. I have a very old K1m with a lot of custom patches, and was able to transfer all of them in via sysex without any issues. Also very happy to report that it works in Linux using the Carla Windows bridges. The only issue when running (in Linux) is that none of text displays on the various buttons, or in the middle screen where the available patches are shown. I am assuming this is simply a WINE font issue? Does anyone know what font may be missing?
Hi, the used font is Arial bold to be as compatible as possible. Didn't have Linux in mind but if it helps :).
OMG! I regret selling K1R and finally something that sounds pretty damn good!! Looking forward to seeing this develop.
I was impressed with this plugin. I did a review on it. You can find it here. https://youtu.be/utdAsVkf_q8.
Good morning is there a Linux version coming soon.
Regards.
Alastair.
Great plugin! ...But my Linux export doesn't work. And another small problem - the waveform selection menu has too small a font.
Hi, this looks great! Is the MacOS version still scheduled?
Thanks.
There is now a Mac VST version, AudioUnit is in development.
I downloaded the mac VST version, but when I put the VST file in the VST folder and start up my Logic Pro x 10.5.1 I do not see the KV1 can you please tell me how to get the VST to show the plugin thank you.
Hi, .
Logic does not support VSTs but only AudioUnits. Please download the AU version of the plugin. It is available on my HP since today so you have luck :).
Best, .
Nils.
Con Logic si puó usare Blue Cat's patchwork, per leggere i VST ma attenzione solo i VST non i dll ne VSTi ne VST2-3.
If I read things correctly, it can be used as an editor for the K1rII?
I have a lot of sounds, stored on my computer, but alas made with an old version of Cubase, so I'm not sure I can use the sounds either in the software version, or get them back to my module with this program.
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