Kurzweil:History

From Sonikmatter

In 1990, [Kurzweil] released the foundation to the K2-series in the form of the K2000. Featuring a ground breaking method of manipulating sounds, the K2000 was acclaimed by the critics to be the "Steinway of synthesizers".

The K2000 shipped in four variations. The K2000. K2000S, K2000R and K2000RS. The K2000 and K2000S were the keyboard models with the K2000R and K2000RS being the rack modules. Models with the "S" symbolize that they shipped with the sampling option and 2 meg of RAM. In May 1995, Kurzweil released the K2500 rack module, followed by the keyboard version in January 1996. While both these would be the K2000's bigger and more advanced brother, several features would later surface to further the K2000's development. The K2000 was repackaged with all its options in February 1996, and became known as the K2vx.

( The K2Svx pictured )

The K2vx came standard with the Contemporary, Orchestral ROM blocks and PRAM options installed. It gained quieter effects and now had presets based on the K2500. A total of 600 programs (the K2000 had 200) came built in, 200 of them which would not be seen on any other model. Originally started shipping with ver 3.18 software. The original K2000 ended in 1997. It would be replaced by another model based on the K2000 and along the basis of the K2vx. In July 1997, the K2000VP was released. The "2000" part of the name would later be dropped and the keyboard/rack would be known as the K2VP and K2VPR.

( The K2vp pictured )

The K2VP came with the same 200 presets that the K2vx had. These were presets modeled after the K2500. This model also shipped with 2 meg of RAM and came with a 31 disk set. It came standard with ver. 3.54 software installed. In the year 2000, the K2vp and K2vx series officially were "dis-continued". Version 3.87 software would be the last update for the operating system. The Kurzweil K2000 support lasted 10 years. While the K2000 series may have come to and end, the actual K2-series have not. The Kurzweil K2500 and the K2600 continue the path that the K2000 paved.