I have been trying to track one of these down for eons. So far, I've found one FS, but they want some crazy high amount for it. I see a few regular 150s around for relatively cheap.
I've been wanting one of these forever. I'm trying to find out what made the FS version different. It seems from some internal photos it looks like it's 6 chips and a piece of software on an Apple IIe.
Is there anyone out there that might have some more insight? If it's a matter of software, then is the software/PROM image set out there somewhere?
I can't hardly find any info. I may have to wait until someone has an FS with software and come up with enough cash to convince them to part with it.
Kurzweil K150/FS
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Re: Kurzweil K150/FS
I have no direct experience with this synth, but there is a write-up on it in the equipment gear section of this site...
https://www.vintagesynth.com/kurzweil/k150.php
And it does mention the FS version. This is from the article...
"The Fourier Synthesis (FS) is an upgrade to the standard K150 which allows you to define new instrument models by editing their velocities and envelopes, tuning intervals and more further expanding creative and unique sound synthesis potential. The FS model needs to interface with an Apple IIe to use Kurzweil's Sound Laboratory software for editing and management in order to unlock the true power and potential of the K150-FS. The oldest versions of this software is called SOUNDLAB, while the newer ones are called .S.M.P. (Sound Modeling Program). The results of this program are stored in the K150 as voices, which can be utilized in up to seven layers of any of the three regions in any given program."
So, it looks like you need to find a working Apple IIe to take full advantage of this model?
I'm curious about the stats of 240 oscillators for additive synthesis and 16 voices. With 16 voices, does that mean there are 240 oscillators per voice (a whopping 3840 oscillators), or are the 240 oscillators shared among the voices, which would be 15 oscillators per voice, which would not really seem like enough to make a complex sound using only sine waves and noise.
https://www.vintagesynth.com/kurzweil/k150.php
And it does mention the FS version. This is from the article...
"The Fourier Synthesis (FS) is an upgrade to the standard K150 which allows you to define new instrument models by editing their velocities and envelopes, tuning intervals and more further expanding creative and unique sound synthesis potential. The FS model needs to interface with an Apple IIe to use Kurzweil's Sound Laboratory software for editing and management in order to unlock the true power and potential of the K150-FS. The oldest versions of this software is called SOUNDLAB, while the newer ones are called .S.M.P. (Sound Modeling Program). The results of this program are stored in the K150 as voices, which can be utilized in up to seven layers of any of the three regions in any given program."
So, it looks like you need to find a working Apple IIe to take full advantage of this model?
I'm curious about the stats of 240 oscillators for additive synthesis and 16 voices. With 16 voices, does that mean there are 240 oscillators per voice (a whopping 3840 oscillators), or are the 240 oscillators shared among the voices, which would be 15 oscillators per voice, which would not really seem like enough to make a complex sound using only sine waves and noise.