Kawai K5000 Synthesizer

[cosmic_adventure]

Hey guys!

I've searched all around the internet for more information on this awesome synthesizer, and wasn't able to find what I needed. I wanted to start a topic and see if we can share important information about the synthesizer and its different models so we don't have to dig through the web.

Here's my contribution:
http://kawaik5000.tumblr.com/usbtofloppyk5000w

Above is a small "how-to" I created after installing a Gotek Floppy-USB Emulator Drive on my Kawai K5000W. I updated the operating system to the newest version, which can be found on the resource page I added to the tumblr page.

If you have any information or questions let me know!
- Cosmic Adventure

[synthroom]

Thanks for posting the info!

Someday I plan on getting a K5000S. It seems like a really interesting synth.

[Rezisehtnys]

Indeed. I plan on getting a K5 soon though, have wanted one for awhile now. In fact I bought one last year off eBay, but it was "stolen" before it could make it to the post office. Funny after I was refunded it was shortly "recovered" and listed for considerably more than what I had won it for.

[Steve Jones]

I bought a K5000S last year, it's an impressive synth with a great build quality and action.

[Cerebral Infect]

I had a K5000S... It is indeed one of the most beautiful synth I have ever had. The build is great, the keybed is the nicest semi-weigthed to be ever put on a synth period.

However the reason for selling it was the sound engine. I love additive synths. But programming them from hardware or through Sounddiver (that often crashed) was killing me. Therefore I switched to additive VST synth to come out with similar sounds.

Remember, that synth is from what 1996, 1997 ?

[HideawayStudio]

I fitted a decent display to my K5000R and at least this tricky to program beast is a little easier on the eyes!



Great for sparkle, movement and evolving weirdness...

The Lotharek Rev.F HxC disk emulator will work with the K5000 too.

Increasingly becoming a bit of a secret weapon in my sound design, and what with the arrival of the gorgeously bizarre DK Synergy, additive synthesis seems to have crept in to this studio for sure.

[vcs3]

I fitted a decent display to my K5000R and at least this tricky to program beast is a little easier on the eyes!

what display did you fitted on you K5000R?

[cosmic_adventure]

Hey guys,
I'm excited to see so many people excited about this dope synth. I came across a K5000W over Craigslist. It went for $350 USD, in mint condition, with original manual and papers. I was surprised to see it going for $999 USD on ebay and got interested in learning more about this synth. I ended up purchasing it. It has an amazing sound to it, and in my opinion highly underrated. I'm still learning to program it, and would love if anyone has more information on that.

For anyone interested in buying one, here's what I'd recommend:
The K5000W is awesome but as a workstation does not really meet my expectations. I say that because you can't loop and record. You have to set it back to "0.01" in order to record over "Track 1". Definitely not something you could accomplish live without spending some time on stage. Don't get it wrong, I love it and the K5000W has extra space for sound banks/patches. I'm currently looking for the Kawai Macro Box but am having trouble finding it. The K5000S has a definite advantage to it. Another thing to be careful about is the resonance. I've been close to busting speakers by using too high of resonance on my sound banks/patches. (this applies to k5000w/s/r) I make hip-hop/funk/electronic music, and find this synth very versatile. From thick pads, fat bass, to fuzzy leads, its pretty amazing.

Glad to have such participation,
Cosmic Adventure

[White]

IMO, the best Kawai synth to get is the K5000S as it has an arpeggiator and the control knobs.

[max badwan]

I've had a K5000s for a while now, doesn't get used much, but I can't part with it - a well built and well designed keyboard. I wish Kawai were still in the synth market, they had some of the best synth products.
Sonically excellent, but a bit of a mindf#@k to program. It's my late-at-night-with-headphones synth.

[cosmic_adventure]

Sonically excellent, but a bit of a mindf#@k to program. It's my late-at-night-with-headphones synth.

Couldn't agree with you more! I'm currently trying to learn and got my hands on .pdf versions of the Wizoo Guide. (Download here: http://xy.cx/synth/k5000 )

I've been using the Wayback Machine ( https://archive.org/web ) to look up old websites that have now gone 404. I find most of them through Jens Groh's website. ( http://www.optimolch.de/jens.groh/K5000 ).

Its been sweet, I'm able to download patches that have been missing from the internet for decades. I've known about the Wayback Machine since 2009 but never have really used it for any legitimate purpose.

[Bitexion]

the metal band Angra has been using K5000 keyboards both on albums and as live keyboards for a couple decades. It does good strings, voice and interesting lead sounds it seems. It's nothing way out there just your basic synth sounds mostly.

[Stab Frenzy]

I had a K5000S... It is indeed one of the most beautiful synth I have ever had. The build is great, the keybed is the nicest semi-weigthed to be ever put on a synth period.

Close, the V-Synth is a little nicer. The K5000W and V-Synth were the first two synths I owned and everything I've had after that has felt lacking.

[Jabberwalky]

The additive synthesis does seem pretty interesting. K5000 was also used by Kraftwerk a lot during their early 00's tours.

[Mesmerised]

I'm currently trying to learn and got my hands on .pdf versions of the Wizoo Guide. (Download here: http://xy.cx/synth/k5000 )

I've been using the Wayback Machine ( https://archive.org/web ) to look up old websites that have now gone 404. I find most of them through Jens Groh's website. ( http://www.optimolch.de/jens.groh/K5000 ).

Yes, since my K5000S is alive again, I'm also at the Wizzoo guide.

Thanks for the hint, I'll try out the wayback machine too!