I don't know if you noticed this or not, but one of the Jacks to the outputs of the piano wasn't plugged in all the way That might have been where the bottom end went...lol
Great video as usual. I do feel compelled to offer my opinion though. I bought an SP7 a year ago. When it arrived the plastic wrapping had stuck all over the gloss panel and permantly marked it - a right mess. I confirmed this with another user who had the same issue. Kurzweil need to address this packaging issue, if they haven't already. Upon playing the keyboard, it kept making a buzzing sound, like something wasn't screwed together right inside. I'd read so many reviews about Kurzweil, like it's some elite keyboard manufacturer that only the pros know about. That maybe the case but I was very undewhelmed with the SP7 and it was returned the next day. The price back then was over £1800 so the price reduction could be more of an incentive for some people.
I don't know I think the magic of Kurzweil is the digital modular synth engine at the core of the thing which nowadays includes a full DX7 engine (with full patch compatibility) that can also be used in the digital modular framework and that amazing sounding KDFX digital effects section which is a bit like having an Eventide and Lexicon quality effects in your keyboard. If they figured out a better UI or ported their synth engine to software they'd be king again.
That's it.... Demo song 5 has to be the new theme tune to Andertons keyboard channel. Great video Jack and Oz. Love these product demos and love the tunes Jack comes up with.
@@englishguy9680In SP6 (I'll be talking about this model specifically because I don't know if they made any changes in SP7) you get Medeli K6 key action. It's not graded, so the weight is uniform across all the octaves. It's pleasant to play, and gives enough control. I don't like the heavy hit at the bottom, there's no cushion and because of that it's louder. When I had minor strain injury of my finger (not related to playing piano) I had to take a break from playing SP6 because it felt heavy for this finger for a while. I had a chance to compare it to Yamaha GHS in P-45 and upright piano and I was surprised these felt significantly lighter and slightly shallower (even when K6 by down weight is considered on the lighter side). Recently I had a chance to try Korg weighted keyboard and to my fingers it was comparable in heavyness, but graded and with more pleasant bottom cushioning. If I were to choose I'd say in order of preference: Korg > K6 > Yamaha entry level GHS. But still I like SP6 for its sound - pads and piano samples more.
Great video as always Jack. Tempted by this. Had a Kurzweil PC3 back in the day. I’ve never heard better orchestral sounds, strings etc. Seems to be a USP for Kurzweil. Any idea what that Michael McDonald song is that Jack was playing?
I have the modx +. Their piano sounds are a little mechanical for my taste. To get the sound I wanted I need to layer four pianos together and pan them as well as lower the “r and l center” pianos in order to get a better sound
Nice demo Jack, ... I don't know why but when I see a keyboard that has an external supply not built-in it makes it feels like a toy for me rather than a pro one. Nice sounds though!
Same. I had two that had to go back. First made zero sound, and second would not save any of the settings I made. Gave up and ended up with a different board, sad because the SP7 seemed like a really cool board overall.
Sold my PC4, super small screen, unnecessarily bulky 88 key plastic keyboard, didn't like the keybed. Bad one. Pianos were great. Rhythms are super bad, old synth sounds, no good pads
@@judsonchristudas Absolutely. The action was wack in a way that’s hard to put into words…the keybed felt dead, with no springiness. I decided to go for the Yamaha CK88 and haven’t looked back!
Do I have permission to sample the audio off of this video? I could make some Hiphop with it. I'm very impressed by Jack's playing skills He has got really good, and the keyboard sounds great.
I like this kurzweil better than the cp88 sounds, Jack I’m not sure if you will respond but I’m looking for a new keyboard that will lead me through a worship service comfortably. I really want good action and good pads and piano tones, i like that the cp88 has switches and that it’s easier to get that worship sound, but is it just as easy on the kurzweil? Despite the reviews of them being buggy maybe updates time fixed them
I more prefer to have the modwheel on the side and a sequencer. Also more control for the synths. So for the same price a Roland Fantom 08 is in my opinion the smarter choice. 😎 If its around 800 - 1100€ I think it will be a way more interesting choice.
@@marcusunivers Mid-range Roland pianos all have the short decay problem. Here in Italy until a few months ago it was sold for €2000, I expected at least a piano with a long decay that didn't seem fake.
Bought one in October of '23 for use in about 45 Christmas shows, live, with a bass player and drummer. Loved the Zones, BUT, it crashed (live, remember) in 1 out of 3 shows. Each time I tried to document what I was doing. Onetime, it was using the sustain pedal as I changed (added or took away) zones. Another, during a soft passage that I was sustaining, I took the pedal off, began playing the next section and there was nothing. It had defaulted to a very quiet, un equalized acoustic piano. I literally conducted the audience with one hand while madly turning the unit off, then back on, then finding the Zone I needed. Bottom line: I won't use this in public, live, again. I just don't trust it. I know someone here in Portland, OR, US, that might be able to fix it. And, yes, I have upgraded to the newest system. Great sounds, great keyboard feel, but totally untrustworthy, to me.
That is a lot of kit for the price. How does the keybed feel compared to the Casio PX-S6000/7000? Similar price. I have the 6000+pianoteq so I'm ok for sounds, and it fits very nicely on my desk, beneath my pc monitors, but the SP7 is a lot of shiny tech. Looks a bit like the StudioLogic Numa X Piano GT (I had one, returned it for the px-s6000)
This model does look great but.....I've owned a K2600, PC3, two PC3ks, a Forte and a PC4. Sadly the 2600 key weights fell out, the PC3s generally were reliable, however had issues with key velocity after some time and in the end one of them didn't turn on at a gig and was unfixable so we had to call around and hire an instrument to get through the show, the Forte kept crashing and despite sending it to sound tech twice for repair they couldn't find or fix any problems. I lost faith with Kurzweil after this, then tried again in the lockdown with a PC4 and it was just horrible and plasticky and the keybed wasn't very pleasant. Looking at this unit it looks solid... but given my previous mixed experience I'm just not sure I can bring myself to shell out the money
Basically three sensor action is the only thing justifying 4000 dollar plus keyboards. Are their any 3 sensor midi only keyboards and just how great is three sensor action and is worth 3-5 grand just for the three sensor.
What issues did you have? Had issues with the sustain pedal but that was it and just swapped pedals. I just couldn't seem to connect with it though and get much inspiration from it. It seemed to be really deep as far as editing goes though. Maybe just me.
I can tell you the SP7 Grand is no escape from bugs. Seems like they push this one out before finishing it. Kept it anyway. I know of one retailer that has received some returns.
@@CS-xi9dz So much. Awful volume discrepancies between most patches. With all else constant, some patches would be (no joke) 25db louder than others. The screen would flicker occasionally? The way they coded the effects in was mind-boggling, as even when I’d flick through different patches, PREVIOUS patch effects would still linger? I’d turn the keyboard off and on again, and the new patch would sound totally different (due to no effects lingering). When layering, sometimes faders would not control volumes equally - various patches would be extremely sensitive, others wouldn’t budge a decibel. Worst of all, randomly there would be a huge RF sound randomly and indiscriminately bursting from the board. I tried troubleshooting every connection along the way, but irrespective of headphones vs quarter inch out, and irrespective of the patch I was on, without fail, it would take 15-20mins and then this super loud static-y sound would blast my ears off. That was the bug that did it in for me. I video taped all of the deficiencies, sent it back, and got a full refund. Just go with the Yamaha CK88 or CP88 and thank yourself later!
Sorry, I fogot you're British - my complaint with Kurzweil has ALWAYS been the weight. 400 pounds off? It's the piano from "Up..." 🎈🎈😉 But I can hear "Kurzweil" in every patch. There is a particular evenness to the timbres that says over-compressed to get broader dynamic range. Great fun for the tweaker. And a great price...
This thing is amazing on paper but I’ve seen too many horror stories about software bugs and quality control. Seems like they rushed to get it to market which is a real shame but it seems to have everything you could want
Sweetwater customers gave it a 3 star rating. Kept crashing and unreliable were the reasons. Not a good sign. DID THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE?
That’s what I want to know too. I’m guessing if they had we would hear about it. Also suggests that’s why I see people selling them at a discounted rate
Just found triple action midi keyboard on Amazon for 500 bucks …going to check into it…because these triple action high keyboards may be a rip considering computer tech these days…they are looking for ways to justify the price because let’s face it the sound engine is computer based and any computer can replicate the sound engine…if it’s just the quality of the keyboard then get the most premium midi keyboard and just purchase the latest sound engine. I love hardware too but nothing magical is happening here it’s computer technology. Unfortunately when I write something educational like this a bunch of ignorant people will hype the amazing benefits of the brand new hardware they supposedly are on world tour with at this very moment. But all of these instruments are crap after 5 years. Buy an analog synth like a prophet 5 or latest OBX for 5 grand it will hold its value. But this will lose value faster than a diamond engagement ring.
Unfortunately Kurzweil Boards nowadays are kinda thin sounding and look like blincky cheap chinese arranger keyboards. PC3 and Forte were the last professional ones in my opinion
I agree, happy PC3x and PC3A8 owner here. Was looking at the PC4 but to many things bothered me when doing my homework for a new board and went with a used PC3A8 instead. Love that board!
Okay, I can sort of agree with this but… seriously… when was the last time you played an actual acoustic piano? Leaving alone Pianoteq and so forth aside, yes, there may be better on the market (most folks say Nord, I say Dexibell and, in either case, I invite a price comparison) but the short version is: If you want a stage piano, what are your actual _performance_ needs? Regarding the sound, I would say that the SP7 is 90+%, where Nord/Dexibell are 95+% and Pianoteq is 97%… And If you understand diminishing returns, you understand where I’m going but B) Dude, srsly. Something else; Moe or less like Jack says…, :D
I don't know if you noticed this or not, but one of the Jacks to the outputs of the piano wasn't plugged in all the way That might have been where the bottom end went...lol
😂
Great video as usual. I do feel compelled to offer my opinion though. I bought an SP7 a year ago. When it arrived the plastic wrapping had stuck all over the gloss panel and permantly marked it - a right mess. I confirmed this with another user who had the same issue. Kurzweil need to address this packaging issue, if they haven't already. Upon playing the keyboard, it kept making a buzzing sound, like something wasn't screwed together right inside. I'd read so many reviews about Kurzweil, like it's some elite keyboard manufacturer that only the pros know about. That maybe the case but I was very undewhelmed with the SP7 and it was returned the next day. The price back then was over £1800 so the price reduction could be more of an incentive for some people.
8:42 how I wish nord could do that. And it should work if you had a lower keyboard
I don't know I think the magic of Kurzweil is the digital modular synth engine at the core of the thing which nowadays includes a full DX7 engine (with full patch compatibility) that can also be used in the digital modular framework and that amazing sounding KDFX digital effects section which is a bit like having an Eventide and Lexicon quality effects in your keyboard. If they figured out a better UI or ported their synth engine to software they'd be king again.
Greetings from Mexico, great channel, got me into keyboards! 🎉
That's it.... Demo song 5 has to be the new theme tune to Andertons keyboard channel. Great video Jack and Oz. Love these product demos and love the tunes Jack comes up with.
I like the FM gestures you make all the time.
How do you get a stereo sound with the right cable not plugged in all the way?
@2:56 MATE! MATE!! MATE!!! A+ for the EDIT!!!! pew pew pew
I think almost every digital keyboard nowadays have audio interface built-in. Phantom power is a nice addition though.
I'm happy I was able to grab SP6 at half of that price right after the release of SP7. I love Kurzweil sounds.
How do you rate the Keybed? I’m looking for something to use as a midi controller for pianos. Does it compare well with Kawai, Roland, Yamaha etc
@@englishguy9680In SP6 (I'll be talking about this model specifically because I don't know if they made any changes in SP7) you get Medeli K6 key action. It's not graded, so the weight is uniform across all the octaves. It's pleasant to play, and gives enough control. I don't like the heavy hit at the bottom, there's no cushion and because of that it's louder. When I had minor strain injury of my finger (not related to playing piano) I had to take a break from playing SP6 because it felt heavy for this finger for a while. I had a chance to compare it to Yamaha GHS in P-45 and upright piano and I was surprised these felt significantly lighter and slightly shallower (even when K6 by down weight is considered on the lighter side). Recently I had a chance to try Korg weighted keyboard and to my fingers it was comparable in heavyness, but graded and with more pleasant bottom cushioning. If I were to choose I'd say in order of preference: Korg > K6 > Yamaha entry level GHS. But still I like SP6 for its sound - pads and piano samples more.
I am wondering if they are gone use nice large touch displays in workstations in the future. K2061 and K2088 still have a small one.
Apologies to Kurzweil, but I'm really waiting for your Korg Grandstage X review. What a beautiful thing 😍
It's a beauty
Korg WAY TOO HEAVY keybad WAY TOO OLD!
This keyboard is a good value! I don’t love the acoustic pianos but they are good.
The idea of this keyboard is very good, seems like a great live performance tool!
Great video as always Jack. Tempted by this. Had a Kurzweil PC3 back in the day. I’ve never heard better orchestral sounds, strings etc. Seems to be a USP for Kurzweil.
Any idea what that Michael McDonald song is that Jack was playing?
Off topic….. I want to see a Nord Stage 4 vs Montage M8X blind test.
I have the modx +. Their piano sounds are a little mechanical for my taste. To get the sound I wanted I need to layer four pianos together and pan them as well as lower the “r and l center” pianos in order to get a better sound
@@ramjayanthravichandran The MODX+ is not the Montage M8X, with all due respect.
I could be wrong, but are not the same sound engines in each one?
Cool video as usual
Nice demo Jack, ... I don't know why but when I see a keyboard that has an external supply not built-in it makes it feels like a toy for me rather than a pro one. Nice sounds though!
Agreed there is no excuse for not putting a kettle on it at this price range let you know theyre serious
10:07 Jack one of the few people that still retains his accent when he sings LMAO
The demo song seems taken straight outta a Sonic the Hedgehog game.
Great keyboard with very nice tools, kind of reminds me of some Korg keyboards.
ha ha, definetly sounds like Wii Party Globe Trot Music lol
I had to send mine back. It was very buggy. Bought a PC4.
Same. I had two that had to go back. First made zero sound, and second would not save any of the settings I made. Gave up and ended up with a different board, sad because the SP7 seemed like a really cool board overall.
Funny you say that, I had a PC4 that was extremely buggy…sent it back after toying around with it for one hour. Software was completely messed up.
I guess now we know why they are giving them away 🫣
Sold my PC4, super small screen, unnecessarily bulky 88 key plastic keyboard, didn't like the keybed. Bad one. Pianos were great. Rhythms are super bad, old synth sounds, no good pads
@@judsonchristudas Absolutely. The action was wack in a way that’s hard to put into words…the keybed felt dead, with no springiness. I decided to go for the Yamaha CK88 and haven’t looked back!
Price of SP7 Grand and price list of other keyboards, the sounds are great. I have a Kurzweil Mark12 Ensemble Grand ,I would appreciate it.
Do I have permission to sample the audio off of this video? I could make some Hiphop with it. I'm very impressed by Jack's playing skills He has got really good, and the keyboard sounds great.
Onaip = Piano backwards. Like the patch. Lol
One of the 1/4 inch jacks l or r looks like it was unplugged.
… I’d actually get this if it had physical draw bars.
The k2088/61 is coming out soon, I’m curious about that
I like this kurzweil better than the cp88 sounds, Jack I’m not sure if you will respond but I’m looking for a new keyboard that will lead me through a worship service comfortably. I really want good action and good pads and piano tones, i like that the cp88 has switches and that it’s easier to get that worship sound, but is it just as easy on the kurzweil?
Despite the reviews of them being buggy maybe updates time fixed them
Can you Demo the Hammond sound and can you control the Leslie?
why dont you guys have more views!!??? i dont understand!
Again a supercute & informative video but isn't Kurzweil's tone generation's name VAST?
Not on this model. They deviated from VAST and implemented a simplified system.
3:10 Finally!
I more prefer to have the modwheel on the side and a sequencer. Also more control for the synths. So for the same price a Roland Fantom 08 is in my opinion the smarter choice. 😎
If its around 800 - 1100€ I think it will be a way more interesting choice.
If Fantom 08 had a decent piano, not ten, just one (unfortunately including expansions), I would buy it today.
@@andreanarcisi97 I mean the super natural ones are not to bad. But unfortunately the V-Piano Engine is only for the Fantom 8 and not 08 😭
@@marcusunivers Mid-range Roland pianos all have the short decay problem. Here in Italy until a few months ago it was sold for €2000, I expected at least a piano with a long decay that didn't seem fake.
if you want that, then go for the PC4 workstation
@@sharingmatters I don't like the keybed on Pc4.
have you made a video with Nord stage 4 vs Kurzweill SP7?
Bought one in October of '23 for use in about 45 Christmas shows, live, with a bass player and drummer. Loved the Zones, BUT, it crashed (live, remember) in 1 out of 3 shows. Each time I tried to document what I was doing. Onetime, it was using the sustain pedal as I changed (added or took away) zones. Another, during a soft passage that I was sustaining, I took the pedal off, began playing the next section and there was nothing. It had defaulted to a very quiet, un equalized acoustic piano. I literally conducted the audience with one hand while madly turning the unit off, then back on, then finding the Zone I needed. Bottom line: I won't use this in public, live, again. I just don't trust it. I know someone here in Portland, OR, US, that might be able to fix it. And, yes, I have upgraded to the newest system. Great sounds, great keyboard feel, but totally untrustworthy, to me.
Initial reaction to the sound is that the stereo field is very narrow. Is there a way of widening this?
look at the pink audio right jack on the video, it was not all the way in....maybe it's because of this?
good sound
How do you compare this with the Fantom 06?
That is a lot of kit for the price.
How does the keybed feel compared to the Casio PX-S6000/7000? Similar price. I have the 6000+pianoteq so I'm ok for sounds, and it fits very nicely on my desk, beneath my pc monitors, but the SP7 is a lot of shiny tech.
Looks a bit like the StudioLogic Numa X Piano GT (I had one, returned it for the px-s6000)
The keybed of this Kurzweil is a Fatar TP110 (the same is on the Numa X Piano, not GT)
This model does look great but.....I've owned a K2600, PC3, two PC3ks, a Forte and a PC4. Sadly the 2600 key weights fell out, the PC3s generally were reliable, however had issues with key velocity after some time and in the end one of them didn't turn on at a gig and was unfixable so we had to call around and hire an instrument to get through the show, the Forte kept crashing and despite sending it to sound tech twice for repair they couldn't find or fix any problems. I lost faith with Kurzweil after this, then tried again in the lockdown with a PC4 and it was just horrible and plasticky and the keybed wasn't very pleasant. Looking at this unit it looks solid... but given my previous mixed experience I'm just not sure I can bring myself to shell out the money
Basically three sensor action is the only thing justifying 4000 dollar plus keyboards. Are their any 3 sensor midi only keyboards and just how great is three sensor action and is worth 3-5 grand just for the three sensor.
I've been asking that same question regarding triple sensor midi controllers
I had to send my PC4 back due to how buggy the software was. Hopefully the SP7 is different. Buyer beware!
What issues did you have? Had issues with the sustain pedal but that was it and just swapped pedals. I just couldn't seem to connect with it though and get much inspiration from it. It seemed to be really deep as far as editing goes though. Maybe just me.
I can tell you the SP7 Grand is no escape from bugs. Seems like they push this one out before finishing it. Kept it anyway. I know of one retailer that has received some returns.
@@CS-xi9dz So much. Awful volume discrepancies between most patches. With all else constant, some patches would be (no joke) 25db louder than others. The screen would flicker occasionally? The way they coded the effects in was mind-boggling, as even when I’d flick through different patches, PREVIOUS patch effects would still linger? I’d turn the keyboard off and on again, and the new patch would sound totally different (due to no effects lingering). When layering, sometimes faders would not control volumes equally - various patches would be extremely sensitive, others wouldn’t budge a decibel.
Worst of all, randomly there would be a huge RF sound randomly and indiscriminately bursting from the board. I tried troubleshooting every connection along the way, but irrespective of headphones vs quarter inch out, and irrespective of the patch I was on, without fail, it would take 15-20mins and then this super loud static-y sound would blast my ears off. That was the bug that did it in for me. I video taped all of the deficiencies, sent it back, and got a full refund.
Just go with the Yamaha CK88 or CP88 and thank yourself later!
Is there gonna be released with 61 keys?
Wish K2700 had the same display...
Sounds great through my Sony WX 1000 headphones.
And Demo 5 has some major Leisure Suite Larry vibes!
Sorry, I fogot you're British - my complaint with Kurzweil has ALWAYS been the weight. 400 pounds off? It's the piano from "Up..." 🎈🎈😉
But I can hear "Kurzweil" in every patch. There is a particular evenness to the timbres that says over-compressed to get broader dynamic range. Great fun for the tweaker. And a great price...
This thing is amazing on paper but I’ve seen too many horror stories about software bugs and quality control. Seems like they rushed to get it to market which is a real shame but it seems to have everything you could want
VERY first demo where we actually hear the audio interface used....
Lmao when you said 400 pounds off this thing I thought you said 400 pounds of this thing meaning the weight is 400 lbs 🤣🤣
Your funny so as a result you have won 400 pounds, I know I am very generous to give you 400 pounds of mud.
I went to see how much it was in kilograms and i thought, maybe it's not the weight.
Same lol
MONO! One audio cable is not plugged all the way in. Look at the cables from the top view.
Noticed it too haha!
Also distortion at 1:20 How am I supposed to take all of this seriously?
Νομίζω πως είναι απλά μόνο το κάλυμμα απο το καλώδιο, το καρφί είναι μέσα κανονικά... Νομίζω!
Sweetwater customers gave it a 3 star rating. Kept crashing and unreliable were the reasons. Not a good sign. DID THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE?
That’s what I want to know too. I’m guessing if they had we would hear about it. Also suggests that’s why I see people selling them at a discounted rate
@@englishguy9680 Well, Ray Kurzweil is kind of Suss.
Demo song is a casio!😮😢😅😂👍🏼
Looks to me as though you could set it up to be anything you need it to be. Including actual music.
There are some other demos in there that are actually, shh don't tell anyone, not pentatonic.
Just found triple action midi keyboard on Amazon for 500 bucks …going to check into it…because these triple action high keyboards may be a rip considering computer tech these days…they are looking for ways to justify the price because let’s face it the sound engine is computer based and any computer can replicate the sound engine…if it’s just the quality of the keyboard then get the most premium midi keyboard and just purchase the latest sound engine. I love hardware too but nothing magical is happening here it’s computer technology. Unfortunately when I write something educational like this a bunch of ignorant people will hype the amazing benefits of the brand new hardware they supposedly are on world tour with at this very moment. But all of these instruments are crap after 5 years. Buy an analog synth like a prophet 5 or latest OBX for 5 grand it will hold its value. But this will lose value faster than a diamond engagement ring.
.....thought the piano weighted 200KG then clicked its UK currency.
Unfortunately Kurzweil Boards nowadays are kinda thin sounding and look like blincky cheap chinese arranger keyboards. PC3 and Forte were the last professional ones in my opinion
I agree, happy PC3x and PC3A8 owner here. Was looking at the PC4 but to many things bothered me when doing my homework for a new board and went with a used PC3A8 instead. Love that board!
I had a PC3 it was built like a tank and lasted for years and had some of the best orchestral sounds on it I’ve ever had on a keyboard
Glad it’s not just my ear.
Okay, I can sort of agree with this but… seriously… when was the last time you played an actual acoustic piano? Leaving alone Pianoteq and so forth aside, yes, there may be better on the market (most folks say Nord, I say Dexibell and, in either case, I invite a price comparison) but the short version is: If you want a stage piano, what are your actual _performance_ needs? Regarding the sound, I would say that the SP7 is 90+%, where Nord/Dexibell are 95+% and Pianoteq is 97%… And If you understand diminishing returns, you understand where I’m going but B) Dude, srsly. Something else; Moe or less like Jack says…, :D
Demo Song #5 = Sonic Magic Island Bonus Stage
He dont like it. Clearly
To me it doesn't sound good. It's all harsh somehow.
It's great . But it's got an issue . It's not a Nord ;)))).
Nord is garbage
Nord is terrible
The LGBT leds kkkkk
£3099 for a keyboard is very very poor value. its good but not that good. no wonder the market for keys is dying off.
Umm, where does it say £3099? - the current Andertons price is £1399 (including the £400 deduction)
Maybe you should stop being presumptuous and check the actual prices.
First lol