Fantastic demo of a sadly very underrated synth. Love the way you adapt your playing style to the sounds. I was lucky enough to pick one of these up for just £60 a couple of years back and I love the pads and fizzy digital sounds on this synth, it can also sound surprisingly warm for a late 80s digital synth. And yes as others have said it has one of the best, most playable keyboards of any synth I’ve ever owned. You’ve made me want to go and play m6 K4 now, thanks!
I lusted after one of these in the 90s but stuck for a cheaper SY22. Recently I got my hands on a K1. Yeah not a K4 but hey 50 bucks was a steal! Still got that Kawai magic.
This video made me buy the synth....I have a synth buying addiction....I guess thats better than drugs, smoking, alcohol, or gambling. Well I did buy one that was untested and needs new internal battery + patches reloaded, for $145 amd 22 shipping....so kind of a gamble because there could be another hidden issue (hopefully notl
I also have a synth addiction... a very heavy one... and no smoking, no drugs, no alcohol, no gambling, no gaming :-D Yeah, the K4 is very cheap nowadays.
Well, if this "addiction" has a good thing is that you are never loosing your money really. These things always tends to revalue, or at least, refund what you spent.
I had one of these. Great keyboard, aftertouch, and you could create some great evolving sounds and basses, touched on a little here. I wish I still had it. Heavy, though!
That's 1000% the most underrated vintage synth ever. I need one. Fuck I keep saying vintage digital is SO underrated, an era where presets where actually used in studios and on stage by pros and not an afterthought to sell units to clueless folks.
had one of these back in the late 90's...ended up selling it years later out of necessity and after watching this video, the shame of selling it is setting in now...jeez that thing sounded so nice for a wavetable board \m/
Very, very good demo where you probably show off the full potential of this synth. As in every demo you adapt your playing to the particular sound. These two things combined make it easy for the listener to learn the overall character of a synth and to decide wether it fits one´s taste. Weiter so ;-)
I think it's...you're right... fascinating. There is something about these multitimbral plus more synths. It's future of then not do tapped into much, it's my interest. The sample quality is pretty tame to sound quality of other synths, but can do wild stuff with them.
My main synth when gigging the working men’s clubs in the mid 1990’s. lots of splits and some decent brass when needed . Can’t remember when I sold it or to whom which is a bit weird
the late 80s and 90s had so many cool digital synths. we tend to only hear about the D50 and DX7 nowadays, occasionally the Wavestate and it's a shame.
This reminds me of the days I had this splendid synth, I used it on gigs and in studio, very big potentials K4 had at the time. Even today noone should be ashamed of beautiful depths of its pads and editability of factory sounds to something even better, though presets were not bad at all. Despite being a fan of Yamaha since the begining of my musical career, still today I consider this instrument simply the beast, and back then it sounded warmer than DX series or Korg models. Korg M1 and T3 were the kings of the time, like Nords are today, but Yamaha was blowing to the neck with SY series, while Roland issued its W30 or JD800, very nice pieces of gear but without any particular success on the market. Kawai offered this plastic keyboard aiming to compete with M1 and D50, suggesting optional additional purchase of sequencer for significant amount of money thus missing the point indeed, but I solved this problem with buying Yamaha V50 FM workstation, rather unknown instrument equipped with 8 track sequencer, additional built-in rhythm machine with decent PCM sampled drum sounds, digital DSP, dynamic keyboard, all that packed in solid metal housing. Combining these two was a win in creating recordings, mixing warm K4 and metallic 4 operator FM tones that had dual and split possibilities within V50 device. Both instruments were 8 multitimbral, K4 had aftertouch and dynamic switch function, so many possibilities were indeed at hand.
Woow!! I'm actually happy for you :) I've found/received gear for very little money sometimes, and so far it's been the way I've been able to get significant portion of my gear. Though it's taken a lot of time for a few items. They're not rare or expensive anyway, so I don't feel guilty :)
And you forgot to mention that its built in keyboard is one of the best (with better touch) you can find in a synth. It´s an amazing synth, with a wonderful, warm and particular sounding. I own one since 4 years ago and after owning some synths, I consider it my favourite digital synth. Only thing I miss on it is an arpeggiator.
I refer to the touch, when you press and release the keys. The sensation is very nice and you notice that it has very good built in keyboard. In this way, this is one of the best keyboards I´ve played.
Does the K1 have the same keyboard as the K4? I’m looking for inexpensive synth where I can learn how to play keyboard on and the the K1 fits my genre and buget.
@@coen8531 The K1 is really a good synth, One of the tricks is adjusting the modulation values on the time, which comes before the level of volume. Also you can tweak the speed and amount of the vibrato as well as change its wave shape. Lots of good sounds from strings that attack softly and swell; to ripping leads I even created a good lead guitar sound including distortion, currently I'm working on the vocal with a dramatic touch....
This video is dangerous :D - You almost think you can get more amazing sounds out of this than its competitors. Then again, it was underrated and you can get it for less than a Korg M1, or a JD-800 (which is actually made for making sounds on), and a K2000 (the latter two have more powerful engines and more possibilities). If I know Kawai, I bet it has a great keybed, though. So this is a stealth steal for a sounding MIDI controller - plus what you hear (with the right sound editor or patient sound creator).
Which modern synth could offer that distinctive digital sound? ASM Hydrasynth imho could be the one, that makes me let go my good old (but slightly ill) K4. Still love my K4.
thanks! In my opinion the SY22 is the better choice. I had the K1 for a short period of time, but I liked the SY22 better. But K4 is completely different.
Ethan Bennett - I have owned a SY-22 also. Good gear For ambient and industrial sounds, but a limited synth. In this kind of synths (romplers) I prefer the K4, over other similar ones like the M1 or D-50.
but they sound very, very different. The K4 is more lofi, more character, but the samples are short, piano, strings, choir are not very realistic. The JV has more workstation character, rather a workhorse than a synthesizer
I had the 2080 and sold it, kept the K4, very different sounding, the roland is a lot more flexible and rich sounding but I liked the simplicity of programming the K4 and the sound has a certain unpredictability and sort of ethereal quality I preferred.
I got a rack mount version last year, so it saved space. Im still looking for a rack mountable woman...the best I could find was a blowup doll. I tell ya, when it comes to women the analog versions are still the best, there just very fuckin noisy!
I'm thinking of buying a K4 or a K1. Can i Also use it as a MIDI controller? Due to the lack of space in my tiny student room. I allready own a minilogue xd but want to expend a bit, plus the midi keyboard i own is only a double octave keyboard which is way to small imo. (Maybe it's also good to notice i am a Ableton live user.)
The keys will send out MIDI note data, but in terms of a 'MIDI controller' I always think and want a knobby controller, since that will allow you to 'synthesize' Anyway, your Korg XD knobs will allow MIDI control of the K4 synth engine. So win win. Get one. K1 easier to find imo.
what are your thoughts on this vs. a matrix-6? I'm looking for a synth that can do lots of things, from pads to leads, etc, to make all sorts of synth based music. what do you think has aged better and which would you recommend to go after in 2021?
The Matrix-6 is a very professional analog synth with a great sound. The Kawai K4 is not comparable, it's a digital budget synth with some nice sounds. The analog style sounds of the K4 can't compete with the Oberheim. It's like comparing a Mercedes with a VW Polo.
Two completely different sonic animals. You can have 3 K4s for the price of a Matrix 6 though. Something to consider. Oberheim are a bitch to repair as well.
wow, ok.. I really need to dig back my k4r then :) What makes me think of circuit bending is the sort of short & very fast "sequences", like the starting sound which slows down later on while pitching down, i wonder how you programmed/played this... Is it LFO-based or just a sample included in the synth? (it's been a while since i touched mine..) Thanks!
Welp, I've always said that Kawai was just too advanced, too weird for the (then) current generation. Little did I know that nearly 30 years on, this synth is still underrated. Yes, it was underpowered. Yes, it had no arp or sequencer nor did it possess the realism that was sorely needed by synths at the time. What did it do? Everything the D-50, M-1 and ensoniq did not. I've owned one since 1990 and for sound sound design, it still blows most digital synths out of the water. Here's a little secret: AM modulation. Good luck.
Thought it was two videos in two days! Although happy to watch this a second time. Were the phase issue a stereo/mono fold-down thing? Find that can be an issue on mobile devices.
Ever try the K5 or K5m? I have a K5m that I picked up at a really low price from someone who disliked it strongly. I wonder what you would come up with if you set to work programming one in depth, with well chosen effects.
Yes, I tried the K5. It's a completely different synth. Programming takes forever, and wonderful pads like on the K4 are not possible. It's an additive synth where you have to put together harmonics. Not subtractive and sample based like the K4. Didn't like it very much...
AnalogAudio1 - Agreed, for the most part. I've spent some time programming my K5m and I'm convinced it can do some interesting things. There is at least one software editor for it. It's limited compared to other additive synths, but it has interesting quirks.
I had the K5 synth when it first came out. I should of never sold it. While it's a pain somewhat to program, it can produce some awesome sounds/patches.. all digital synthesis. I still have my Kawai K1m (module) that sounds like this K4.. it's uses additive synthesis.
Mr Tom - It seems there were lots of attempts to come up with answers to the DX-7. Since Yamaha had bought the exclusive right to use Chowning's patented FM, the other companies tried to come up with comparable digital synthesis innovations of their own.
I got both, k4 and k5. The k5 is so difficult to program and nothing else sounds like it. It is awesome for metallic sounds and it has a great voice seperation and dimension to it. For certain, it's only usable for some stuff, but therfore you won't find anything else. The k4 gorgeous on its own. The filter is very good for such an early digital one, and it has a lot of punch and pressure on the low end, what I miss from most modern digital low cost synths today.
Only mono? The Synth have stereo sounds and stereo effects. Why put it in a bad light by recording it in mono? But it doesn't seem to matter to people commenting in this thread. They must be listening to the phones mono speaker (or are generally reeeeally bad at sound). Anyway, the sounds seems interesting, but it just sounds terribly boxed in and extremely flat in mono.
The push buttons on this synth are known to wear out and need replacing. After opening the synth up you'll find it to be of fairly cheap construction sadly. It does sound pretty awesome especially with the filter and effects section. Why are your patches for this k4 not available? Thanks
I made just of few. With this video I wanted to show it's capabilities and show the best sounds. Many of the best K4 sounds are from other programmers or factory sounds.
the card memory is needed to switch to additional sounds quickly. Or to transfer to card and from card to other synths. Like any other synth of that era DX7, D50, Korg M1...
bien meilleur que le d50 roland ou que le dx7. synthe pas tres connu mais j en possede 4 a la maison. j ai pleins d autres machines mais celui ci est vraiment special et pour le prix vous pouvez vous rhabiller avec vos jupiter 8 prophet 5 etc etc....il y a des tonnes de sons sur le net, et le K4 possede un filtre resonant, j en tire des sons comme sur ma TB 303. top SYNTHE
Oh dear. you were poor, could only afford a Micro Moog and an Oberheim, and Korg MS20. I feel sorry for you.I could always, give enough money for a K 4, for the Moog Korg and Oberheim?. Ha ha. Love the demo. just bought one myself. thanks for making me chuckle this morning with your sob story, I'm crying tears into my sugar puffs this morning.
@@AnalogAudio1 Well, the K4 has twice the the number of oscillators (32 - same as Wavestation) and up to 4 oscillators per patch, compared to the M1's 16 oscillators and up to 2 per patch. And I believe the K4 has 1.5-2MB of ROM samples totaling 256 waveforms (shorter, in general, and many synth-based and single-cycle), similar to the original (non-EX/AD/SR) 2MB Wavestation, while the M1's larger 4MB sample ROM had only about 100 samples (longer on average, obviously). All 3 different synths use 16-bit samples (32kHz on K4, maybe WS, too - although WS may have had some originally 12-bit waveforms derived from Prophet VS) and I don't think Korg was using 44 or 48kHz yet at time M1 released, at least not for most of the samples). K4 is sort of in between an M1 and WS, then, maybe closer to WS...
I know the SY77 (TG77) very well , actually it's the better synth, but the K4 is better on factory sounds and also has the better digital filters. But the FM flexibility of a 77 is hard to beat
The Union Beats - This is a good demo, but does not show what this wonderful synth is capable of. In this kind of synths (digital romplers) AnalogAudio1 tends to show their "digital side", with ambient, cold and thin sounds, it is clear he also likes these kind of sounds. But K4 can make many fat, warm and analog like sounds. I uploaded a demo with many and different sounds, where you can listen some of the potencial this synth has.
+I Love 80s - thank you for your comment. To show what the K4 is capable of, means to me to show the strengths of this synth, not only to play "fat" and "warm" sounds, which analog synths can do better anyway. Typical for the K4 are the digital/hybrid sounds, but also nice analog-style sounds, which I also showed. The potential of a digital synth is not necessarily determinded by the analog sounds it can emulate. You may call them thin, but there are so many other interesting sound colors which I like :-) it's not all about analog...
The KAWAI K4 was a serious synth with awesome sounds scapes and dreamy sounds back in the 90's and still going strong ..
What an awesome filter sounds so warm....
The filter sounds great, especially considering it's a late 80s digital filter. Great demo!
Thanks!
This thing is so wild, the sound patching can get intensely layered, love it
Fantastic demo of a sadly very underrated synth. Love the way you adapt your playing style to the sounds. I was lucky enough to pick one of these up for just £60 a couple of years back and I love the pads and fizzy digital sounds on this synth, it can also sound surprisingly warm for a late 80s digital synth. And yes as others have said it has one of the best, most playable keyboards of any synth I’ve ever owned. You’ve made me want to go and play m6 K4 now, thanks!
thank you!
Very underrated synth
I’ve had this synth for 6 years. It’s my secret go to weapon
I lusted after one of these in the 90s but stuck for a cheaper SY22. Recently I got my hands on a K1. Yeah not a K4 but hey 50 bucks was a steal! Still got that Kawai magic.
My K1 battery died a couple years ago so I picked up a K4 cheap. I replaced the battery now so I have both K1 & K4. They're both great!
I wasn't expecting much but that sounded great!
TheOtherSide - If you like this synth, you can see my demo, with many more amazing and wonderful sounds.
Wonderful synthesizer, tends to underestimate the series of Kawai K, but in good hands are a great creative tool. Thanks for sharing. A hug!
thank you :-)
Intro sounds like a satellite transmission in space. Enjoying those Cool Spacey Sounds. Thank you for sharing this!
This video made me buy the synth....I have a synth buying addiction....I guess thats better than drugs, smoking, alcohol, or gambling. Well I did buy one that was untested and needs new internal battery + patches reloaded, for $145 amd 22 shipping....so kind of a gamble because there could be another hidden issue (hopefully notl
I also have a synth addiction... a very heavy one... and no smoking, no drugs, no alcohol, no gambling, no gaming :-D Yeah, the K4 is very cheap nowadays.
+AnalogAudio1 It will be a pain having to get adapters for all my equipment when I move to sweden in a few years to be with my girlfriend.
Well, if this "addiction" has a good thing is that you are never loosing your money really. These things always tends to revalue, or at least, refund what you spent.
sort of, we keep buying new stuff and it doesn't always gain value lol
@@fortheloveofnoise Amazon for that
I had one of these. Great keyboard, aftertouch, and you could create some great evolving sounds and basses, touched on a little here. I wish I still had it. Heavy, though!
Ditto all those comments
That's 1000% the most underrated vintage synth ever. I need one. Fuck I keep saying vintage digital is SO underrated, an era where presets where actually used in studios and on stage by pros and not an afterthought to sell units to clueless folks.
had one of these back in the late 90's...ended up selling it years later out of necessity and after watching this video, the shame of selling it is setting in now...jeez that thing sounded so nice for a wavetable board \m/
Very, very good demo where you probably show off the full potential of this synth. As in every demo you adapt your playing to the particular sound. These two things combined make it easy for the listener to learn the overall character of a synth and to decide wether it fits one´s taste. Weiter so ;-)
thanks!
Great and very underrated synth (and great demo)! If it only had at least another LFO...
thanks!
This sounds like the perfect synth for 80s fantasy, sci-fi, and/or romance movies.
I think it's...you're right... fascinating. There is something about these multitimbral plus more synths. It's future of then not do tapped into much, it's my interest. The sample quality is pretty tame to sound quality of other synths, but can do wild stuff with them.
Extraordinary and magnifical sounds piano.
I have a K1, a K4r and the K5. Pretty similar to handle and program, they all sound completely different and I love all of them.
I worked on the K4. Great box.
In the development of the synth?
My main synth when gigging the working men’s clubs in the mid 1990’s. lots of splits and some decent brass when needed . Can’t remember when I sold it or to whom which is a bit weird
Check your attic :)
Super!
Great demo. Thank you
the late 80s and 90s had so many cool digital synths. we tend to only hear about the D50 and DX7 nowadays, occasionally the Wavestate and it's a shame.
The Wavestate was released in 2020, and it is certainly not a shame!
@@mosspa1 I think they mean Wavestation 👍
wowowowow that patch of yours at 1:07 is just...WOW!
オケやバンドに埋もれない良い音出す名機でした
This reminds me of the days I had this splendid synth, I used it on gigs and in studio, very big potentials K4 had at the time. Even today noone should be ashamed of beautiful depths of its pads and editability of factory sounds to something even better, though presets were not bad at all. Despite being a fan of Yamaha since the begining of my musical career, still today I consider this instrument simply the beast, and back then it sounded warmer than DX series or Korg models. Korg M1 and T3 were the kings of the time, like Nords are today, but Yamaha was blowing to the neck with SY series, while Roland issued its W30 or JD800, very nice pieces of gear but without any particular success on the market. Kawai offered this plastic keyboard aiming to compete with M1 and D50, suggesting optional additional purchase of sequencer for significant amount of money thus missing the point indeed, but I solved this problem with buying Yamaha V50 FM workstation, rather unknown instrument equipped with 8 track sequencer, additional built-in rhythm machine with decent PCM sampled drum sounds, digital DSP, dynamic keyboard, all that packed in solid metal housing. Combining these two was a win in creating recordings, mixing warm K4 and metallic 4 operator FM tones that had dual and split possibilities within V50 device. Both instruments were 8 multitimbral, K4 had aftertouch and dynamic switch function, so many possibilities were indeed at hand.
Indeed, lots of character
Picked one up today for 30$ ...
What! Where?
Woow!! I'm actually happy for you :) I've found/received gear for very little money sometimes, and so far it's been the way I've been able to get significant portion of my gear. Though it's taken a lot of time for a few items. They're not rare or expensive anyway, so I don't feel guilty :)
What?!?!??
Congrats, thats a lot of synth for the money!
@E V R worked like a charm... and still does - great synth
Beautiful. Are the effects on the keyboard more worth it than foregoing the effects on the K4r since Kawai ditched the fx processor on that?
Yeah, I had the k4 and k4r at the same time and the onboard effects on the k4 add so much life to the presets.
Waiting for mine to arrive, found one mint condition for 270$, I’m beyond thrilled
And you forgot to mention that its built in keyboard is one of the best (with better touch) you can find in a synth. It´s an amazing synth, with a wonderful, warm and particular sounding. I own one since 4 years ago and after owning some synths, I consider it my favourite digital synth. Only thing I miss on it is an arpeggiator.
velocity is some kind of hard to control in my opinion. But I think it's a matter of taste.
I refer to the touch, when you press and release the keys. The sensation is very nice and you notice that it has very good built in keyboard. In this way, this is one of the best keyboards I´ve played.
I Love 80s no knobs
Does the K1 have the same keyboard as the K4? I’m looking for inexpensive synth where I can learn how to play keyboard on and the the K1 fits my genre and buget.
@@coen8531 The K1 is really a good synth, One of the tricks is adjusting the modulation values on the time, which comes before the level of volume. Also you can tweak the speed and amount of the vibrato as well as change its wave shape. Lots of good sounds from strings that attack softly and swell; to ripping leads I even created a good lead guitar sound including distortion, currently I'm working on the vocal with a dramatic touch....
This video is dangerous :D - You almost think you can get more amazing sounds out of this than its competitors. Then again, it was underrated and you can get it for less than a Korg M1, or a JD-800 (which is actually made for making sounds on), and a K2000 (the latter two have more powerful engines and more possibilities). If I know Kawai, I bet it has a great keybed, though. So this is a stealth steal for a sounding MIDI controller - plus what you hear (with the right sound editor or patient sound creator).
anos 80 e 90 tiveram os melhores teclado com qualidade e preço....este kawai k4 timbres muito bonito será são originais do teclado?
Which modern synth could offer that distinctive digital sound? ASM Hydrasynth imho could be the one, that makes me let go my good old (but slightly ill) K4. Still love my K4.
I own a Hydrasynth - no way...
Using my K4r with a lexicon reverb processor. Takes up less space than the keyboard. I can also edit the effects in real-time without menu diving.
@@killswitchmediastudios same! Love the K4 since my K3 takes up real estate lol
great demo
thanks!
@@AnalogAudio1 whenever i think of selling it I go back here...
Ohhh almost bought a kawai k1 incredible synth bought the Yamaha sy22 instead;) great video!
thanks! In my opinion the SY22 is the better choice. I had the K1 for a short period of time, but I liked the SY22 better. But K4 is completely different.
right, the K1 organs were very good. All sounds were noisy, though.
Ethan Bennett - I have owned a SY-22 also. Good gear For ambient and industrial sounds, but a limited synth.
In this kind of synths (romplers) I prefer the K4, over other similar ones like the M1 or D-50.
I Love 80s ok thanks:)
yes, I would also prefer the K4 over D-50 and M1, both are sold, but my K4 stays :-)
is there anyone out there, owning a K4 and a JV 2080? I know the JV is a rompler, but what would you prefer from the sound quality?
The K4 is not less a rompler than the JV... both use samples with filtering
thanks for the info, didnt know that!
but they sound very, very different. The K4 is more lofi, more character, but the samples are short, piano, strings, choir are not very realistic. The JV has more workstation character, rather a workhorse than a synthesizer
I had the 2080 and sold it, kept the K4, very different sounding, the roland is a lot more flexible and rich sounding but I liked the simplicity of programming the K4 and the sound has a certain unpredictability and sort of ethereal quality I preferred.
I do still have a JV 3080 incl. all the expansion boards...also had a K4...a great combo, neither one is better nor another.
1986 at Yamaha music school practise music room , i said up this Kawai K4 model to be manufactured in Japan.
and at the KAWAI music school probably you will find some Yamaha synths... :-D
I had this one, loved it, spilled coffee on it... :-(
congratulations.... don't drink and play
@@AnalogAudio1 that's when I learned that
People say the K3 is better but this has a great sound as well . I can’t fault it on anything without hearing it in person
I had room for just one more synth, had to get rid of my girlfriend, just no room, and a lot cheaper. Got one.
I got a rack mount version last year, so it saved space.
Im still looking for a rack mountable woman...the best I could find was a blowup doll. I tell ya, when it comes to women the analog versions are still the best, there just very fuckin noisy!
@@anthonybrett Hahaha.... :-)
Hahahaha
Where can I get all these patches from to use in my K4r?.
Most of these are factory presets, some are mine, see video description.
I'm thinking of buying a K4 or a K1. Can i Also use it as a MIDI controller? Due to the lack of space in my tiny student room. I allready own a minilogue xd but want to expend a bit, plus the midi keyboard i own is only a double octave keyboard which is way to small imo.
(Maybe it's also good to notice i am a Ableton live user.)
Of course you can use them as MIDI keyboards.
@@AnalogAudio1 isnt it bad for the engine or anything?
@@willembmx No, its all digital. Just some processors calculate formulas :-)
The keys will send out MIDI note data, but in terms of a 'MIDI controller' I always think and want a knobby controller, since that will allow you to 'synthesize' Anyway, your Korg XD knobs will allow MIDI control of the K4 synth engine. So win win. Get one. K1 easier to find imo.
Traded this for a behrimger ms-1. Still like the ms-1 but I definitely want this back
Was the absokute GOAT when it came out!
I found it great when it came out. Some analog synth and also Fairlight-style sounds. More character as on the M1.
what are your thoughts on this vs. a matrix-6? I'm looking for a synth that can do lots of things, from pads to leads, etc, to make all sorts of synth based music. what do you think has aged better and which would you recommend to go after in 2021?
The Matrix-6 is a very professional analog synth with a great sound. The Kawai K4 is not comparable, it's a digital budget synth with some nice sounds. The analog style sounds of the K4 can't compete with the Oberheim. It's like comparing a Mercedes with a VW Polo.
yes, the matrix 6 kills the k4
Two completely different sonic animals. You can have 3 K4s for the price of a Matrix 6 though. Something to consider. Oberheim are a bitch to repair as well.
Hartmann Neuron please!
Where can we get your patches for this one too?
No, only half of the patches shown here are created by me.
Hello, the sequence at the very beginning from 0:00 to 0:21, is it (full) K4 ? It sounds like circuit bending... Great channel btw!
thanks! Yes, all sounds come from a single K4, no circuit bending
wow, ok.. I really need to dig back my k4r then :)
What makes me think of circuit bending is the sort of short & very fast "sequences", like the starting sound which slows down later on while pitching down, i wonder how you programmed/played this... Is it LFO-based or just a sample included in the synth? (it's been a while since i touched mine..) Thanks!
Le migliori 👍🎶🎹🪐
Shit, now I kind of regret selling mine..
The chime type sound at around 4:05 was pretty awesome
So was the chime sound before
All over early Front Line Assembly and their side projects.
Welp, I've always said that Kawai was just too advanced, too weird for the (then) current generation. Little did I know that nearly 30 years on, this synth is still underrated. Yes, it was underpowered. Yes, it had no arp or sequencer nor did it possess the realism that was sorely needed by synths at the time. What did it do? Everything the D-50, M-1 and ensoniq did not. I've owned one since 1990 and for sound sound design, it still blows most digital synths out of the water. Here's a little secret: AM modulation. Good luck.
Got mine as well since 30 years. Awesome machine. Unique! 😊
5:20 gorgeous :-)
Yeah!
This was my first synth.
The K4 was not my first synth, but one of the first synths I every tried in a music store.
7:56 Klingt ein bisschen wie der Sound aus "Mr. Vain" von Culture Beat.
ist halt ein Gitarren-Sample ;-)
'Mr. Vain' - das is nicht a good advert for this synth :)
how can i get sounds like these ones?
If u have reason studios u can get the refill
Thought it was two videos in two days! Although happy to watch this a second time.
Were the phase issue a stereo/mono fold-down thing? Find that can be an issue on mobile devices.
I think the 2 cables (L and R) were the problem, they were very different. In future I will check for mono compatibility, it will never happen again.
I like the rack with Lexicon LXP15ii.
Ever try the K5 or K5m? I have a K5m that I picked up at a really low price from someone who disliked it strongly. I wonder what you would come up with if you set to work programming one in depth, with well chosen effects.
Yes, I tried the K5. It's a completely different synth. Programming takes forever, and wonderful pads like on the K4 are not possible. It's an additive synth where you have to put together harmonics. Not subtractive and sample based like the K4. Didn't like it very much...
AnalogAudio1 - Agreed, for the most part. I've spent some time programming my K5m and I'm convinced it can do some interesting things. There is at least one software editor for it. It's limited compared to other additive synths, but it has interesting quirks.
I had the K5 synth when it first came out. I should of never sold it. While it's a pain somewhat to program, it can produce some awesome sounds/patches.. all digital synthesis. I still have my Kawai K1m (module) that sounds like this K4.. it's uses additive synthesis.
Mr Tom - It seems there were lots of attempts to come up with answers to the DX-7. Since Yamaha had bought the exclusive right to use Chowning's patented FM, the other companies tried to come up with comparable digital synthesis innovations of their own.
I got both, k4 and k5. The k5 is so difficult to program and nothing else sounds like it. It is awesome for metallic sounds and it has a great voice seperation and dimension to it. For certain, it's only usable for some stuff, but therfore you won't find anything else.
The k4 gorgeous on its own. The filter is very good for such an early digital one, and it has a lot of punch and pressure on the low end, what I miss from most modern digital low cost synths today.
Does this little guy have usb and can you create/upload different patches? If so, I'm in!
No USB, but the other things yes!
@AnalogAudio1 it got midi ports tho?
Idk why I would think this would have usb lol
i just found that synth in my wardrobe and don't know what to do with it. Anyone ?
give it back to the right owner... :-D
@@AnalogAudio1 I am the owner! I was using it many years ago just as a midi controller. hahaha. Still looking for the power supply though.
Only mono? The Synth have stereo sounds and stereo effects. Why put it in a bad light by recording it in mono? But it doesn't seem to matter to people commenting in this thread. They must be listening to the phones mono speaker (or are generally reeeeally bad at sound). Anyway, the sounds seems interesting, but it just sounds terribly boxed in and extremely flat in mono.
The push buttons on this synth are known to wear out and need replacing. After opening the synth up you'll find it to be of fairly cheap construction sadly. It does sound pretty awesome especially with the filter and effects section.
Why are your patches for this k4 not available?
Thanks
I made just of few. With this video I wanted to show it's capabilities and show the best sounds. Many of the best K4 sounds are from other programmers or factory sounds.
AnalogAudio1 ok thanks for the info. Is the memory card needed to save/transfer files? I assume it would be sysex?
the card memory is needed to switch to additional sounds quickly. Or to transfer to card and from card to other synths. Like any other synth of that era DX7, D50, Korg M1...
fantastic demo! would be super helpful to know which are the factory sounds, cuz everybody can't programm those things like you do. ;-) Cheers!
thanks! My sounds are the following: 0:49 | 1:07 | 2:01 | 2:22 | 2:59 | 4:47 | 5:18 | 5:53 and everything else is from Kawai
@@AnalogAudio1 Thx man, keep up the good work!
Anyone have some K4 Patches to share?
Reso Factor. I have plenty 😄
hundreds available on internet....
@@MsLeguman all I'm finding are outdated links :/
@@nigelnewton5770 Try Way Back Machine to access those old links
What preset are you playing at 9:53? I have a k4 and cant for the life of me figure out which preset that is
not all patches are factory presets
@@AnalogAudio1 i saw that you stated this, but in the list of sounds that you state are not factory, 9:53 is not included.
@@beirutfan well, it's not a factory patch nor my patch. You could buy more patches from Kawai back then. I don't know exactly what it was.
Hadn't you uploaded this one already?
yes, but the audio was out of phase, did not notice, but now it's fixed
9:23 - stranger things grandfather clock S4E3 @ 59 minutes, not quite the same but very uncanny resemblance
bien meilleur que le d50 roland ou que le dx7. synthe pas tres connu mais j en possede 4 a la maison. j ai pleins d autres machines mais celui ci est vraiment special et pour le prix vous pouvez vous rhabiller avec vos jupiter 8 prophet 5 etc etc....il y a des tonnes de sons sur le net, et le K4 possede un filtre resonant, j en tire des sons comme sur ma TB 303. top SYNTHE
Still waiting for your rev2 demo :)
that will be the next video :-)
Oh dear. you were poor, could only afford a Micro Moog and an Oberheim, and Korg MS20. I feel sorry for you.I could always, give enough money for a K 4, for the Moog Korg and Oberheim?. Ha ha. Love the demo. just bought one myself. thanks for making me chuckle this morning with your sob story, I'm crying tears into my sugar puffs this morning.
moog Dome prices were different back then. The whole reason they brought that up was to show the irony of it all. Guess it went over your head.
🎶🎼🎵😍
Would rather own this synth then a D50 or a korg m1.
I'd rather own just about anything more than a Korg M1.
I have one but am confused on how to use it
Download the manual and read it.
KAWAI R-100 also a great machine
yeah, I had it once. Layout clearly inspired by the Emu SP-12 :-)
ALTAR ELECTRIBE
Thank you so much from one of developed staff long time ago.
I had one un the 90's...kinda poor man's Wavestation...much underrated👍
poor man's Korg M1 I would say... but not exactly, the Kawai has better filters with resonance
@@AnalogAudio1 Well, the K4 has twice the the number of oscillators (32 - same as Wavestation) and up to 4 oscillators per patch, compared to the M1's 16 oscillators and up to 2 per patch.
And I believe the K4 has 1.5-2MB of ROM samples totaling 256 waveforms (shorter, in general, and many synth-based and single-cycle), similar to the original (non-EX/AD/SR) 2MB Wavestation, while the M1's larger 4MB sample ROM had only about 100 samples (longer on average, obviously). All 3 different synths use 16-bit samples (32kHz on K4, maybe WS, too - although WS may have had some originally 12-bit waveforms derived from Prophet VS) and I don't think Korg was using 44 or 48kHz yet at time M1 released, at least not for most of the samples).
K4 is sort of in between an M1 and WS, then, maybe closer to WS...
not terribly impressed, the sy77 demos sound like it has more character, depth and body than this.
I know the SY77 (TG77) very well , actually it's the better synth, but the K4 is better on factory sounds and also has the better digital filters. But the FM flexibility of a 77 is hard to beat
it actually sounds pretty good on second listen.
The Union Beats - This is a good demo, but does not show what this wonderful synth is capable of. In this kind of synths (digital romplers) AnalogAudio1 tends to show their "digital side", with ambient, cold and thin sounds, it is clear he also likes these kind of sounds.
But K4 can make many fat, warm and analog like sounds. I uploaded a demo with many and different sounds, where you can listen some of the potencial this synth has.
+I Love 80s - thank you for your comment. To show what the K4 is capable of, means to me to show the strengths of this synth, not only to play "fat" and "warm" sounds, which analog synths can do better anyway. Typical for the K4 are the digital/hybrid sounds, but also nice analog-style sounds, which I also showed.
The potential of a digital synth is not necessarily determinded by the analog sounds it can emulate. You may call them thin, but there are so many other interesting sound colors which I like :-) it's not all about analog...
exactly. never been a fan of digital synths trying to emulate analog, no matter how good you think they might do it, its just not what they are.