Kurzweil K2000 programming tutorial =================================== produced by Darwin Grosse ddg@wi.rr.com 414-546-9785(h) 414-577-5362(w) copyright 1995,1996 all rights reserved Introduction ------------ This text has been created to help interested musicians become Kurzweil K2000 programmers. A few notes to begin: 1. The difference between being a synthesizer programmer and a synthesizer "guru" is one's ability to transfer ideas to reality. This text provides the tools to program the synth, you have to provide the creativity and experimentation to become a "guru" on your own. 2. I will be using an "analog synth" model for programming, since that's how I learned synth programming. There are other ways, I'm just going this way. 3. I guarantee that this text will be chock full of errors, misstatements, spelling errors and bone-headed opinions. Feel free to flame me if you want -- I have a bit-bucket just waiting for flames! However, if you are able to help correct the information presented, I'll be glad to make any corrections, enhancements or adjustments that are appropriate. 4. I in no way accept responsibility or liability for any consequences stemming from your use of this text. You bust something, you fix it! 5. The K2000 Musicians Guide contains a wealth of reference information about each programable item in the K2000. The purpose of this tutorial is not to reiterate information contained in the manual, but to provide useful discourse in synthesis usinga K2000 as a machine of great opportunity. The document is presented as a series of tutorials, each meant to provide an evening of fun, and maybe profit. I will be providing patch files for each example in .KRZ format. The majority of these .KRZ files will be boring as heck until you do something with them - so experimentation is good! Since this text was originally meant to be produced in book form, I will have to do some cut'n'paste to collect the materials for each tutorial. If something is missing, write quick! I will be providing an addendum to each tutorial to correct errors, provide new insight and change misconceptions. Also, I want to thank John Krikawa, Mitch Imhoff, Tom Henry, Keith Cowgill and Yash for their help in getting this going. Also, thanks to the whole K2000 newsgroup for their support and interest. The Analog Model ---------------- One advantage of analog synthesizers (and a reason they retain their popularity) is the ease of programming complex sounds through a relatively simple user interface. I will be using block diagrams (in glorious ASCII) that look like this: [ Osc ]--[ Filter ]--[AmpEnv]--[Output] to represent the flow of "sound" through the K2000 processing routes. I will try to explain each block as I go, but reading additional texts on synthesizer programming would probably be helpful. Specific articles and books on generic programming techniques that I've found useful: Keyboard's Special Issue on Programming by various authors Keyboard Magazine, June 1985 - Difficult to find, but well worth the effort. Synthesizer Programming Hal Leonard Books - reprints of the above and Keyboard article reprints. Secrets Of Synthesizer Programming by Jim Aikin Keyboard Magazine, October 1989 - This article concisely presents the basic synthesis blocks in a generic fashion, and would be helpful to any reader. The Secrets Of Analog And Digital Synthesis by Steve De Furia Hal Leonard Books - General programming techniques, with some synth (non- K2000) specifics. Good for intermediate and advanced readers. Tutorial Formatting ------------------- Each tutorial will contain the following: - An introductory discussion of the issues to be presented. - A detailed discussion of specific new concepts. - A hands-on tutorial - meant to be worked on "at the machine". - A recap of the ideas presented - in "quick review" format. - A section of ideas for further exploration. I hope to format the pages to conform to 8 1/2" x 11" paper, with form feeds between pages - allowing a simple "print" of the document into paper manual format. I highly urge that the tutorials be printed, and that you take notes, jot down ideas and make corrections, making this manual your own. Isn't there any boring legal stuff? ----------------------------------- Sure. With each tutorial, a .KRZ file will be provided. This will contain a few generic programs (referred to in the tutorial) and other segments (effects, keymaps) as are required. If samples are provided, a non-sample based program set will be provided for those without sample RAM. All samples, programs and program segments are the property of Darwin Grosse Productions (P.O. Box 773, Cedarburg, WI 53012), and may only be distributed with the expressed written consent of Darwin Grosse or his agents. The text contained in this and all subsequent tutorial documents is the property of Darwin Grosse Productions, and is to be distributed freely to users of the Kurzweil K2000 synthesizer, and all similar or compatible synthesizers. This text cannot be sold, distributed with any product, or distributed as a part of any commercial product or compilation without the expressed consent of Darwin Grosse or his agents. In order to present this text, related tutorial documents and the provided .KRZ files to the appropriate audience, I specifically allow the following distribution: - This text and related files may be distributed via the Internet maillist for Kurzweil K2000 owners (currently designated K2000@american.edu). - This text and related files may be distributed freely at any non-commercial FTP or WWW site. Non-commercial - in this specific case - represents a site that does not charge for the privilege of transferring files or text. - This text and related files can be distributed on commercial sites with the following restrictions: 1. No charge, other than the standard hourly rate, may be charged for access to these files. 2. The contents of this document may not be changed, censored or otherwise altered. 3. The copyright and trademark notices contained in these documents may not be removed or altered. 4. This document may not be reproduced in printed form for any purpose other than personal and individual use by a synthesizer user without the consent of Darwin Grosse or his agents. Finally, the notices: For this, and all related documents, please note the following: Kurzweil, K2000, K2k and VAST are, or are considered to be, the trademarks and property of Young Chang America, Inc. Moog, SCI and Sequential Circuits, ARP, Oberheim and related product IDs are, or are considered to be, the trademarks and property of their respective, current owners. Yamaha, Roland, Emu and related product IDs are, or are considered to be, the trademarks and property of the respective companies.