Kurzweil Music Systems K2500X, K2500R, K2500 User's Manual

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K2500 Operating System V ersion 2.8

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(Live Mode)

Release Notes

Introducing Live Mode

Live Mode lets you do more than ever with your K2500, by turning the instrument into a powerful effects
processor for both internal and external sounds. With Live Mode, you can use the K2500’s incredible V.A.S.T.
capabilities to modify any signal in real-time through the sampling input. This means that you can plug
instruments, microphones, or even an audio device such as a CD player directly into your K2500, then work
magic with any of the V.A.S.T. algorithms. The modified signal will be available at the K2500’s audio outputs.

What Y ou’ll Need

First of all, you’ll need a K2500; Live Mode will not be available for the K2000. Since Live Mode takes
advantage of the way that the K2500 accesses its internal memory (which is different from the way that the
K2000 does it), this feature is only available for K2500 series instruments.

Secondly, your K2500 must have a sampling option, since Live Mode is actually a new sample mode. You’ll
use the digital or analog inputs of the sampling option to access Live Mode, and set input le vels and parameters
on the Sample page. Contact your Kurzweil dealer if you need the Sampling upgrade.

Also, when you are using Live Mode you’ll need to have 1 MB of available sample RAM. This is all the
available sample RAM that Li ve Mode requires, by the w ay, so there is no advantage to allotting more memory
for this feature.

Installing V ersion 2.8

Important Note: Back up your RAM objects before performing this installation. All RAM will be erased by

the Hard Reset at the end of the installation.
The complete procedure for installing the operating system and objects is included in Chapter 2 of the K2500

Performance Guide . For your convenience, here's a summary of the procedure:

1. Start the K2500

2. Press and release the Exit key while the "Please wait..." message is displayed. This brings up the K2500
Boot Loader.

3. Load the operating system floppy, then use "Install System" from the K2500 Boot Loader to install the ne w
operating system.

4. Replace the operating system disk (after you've installed it) with the factory objects disk, then use the Boot
Loader's "Install Objects" option to install the correct objects for your configuration.

1998, All Rights Reserved. K

trademarks of Young Chang Co. All other tr ademarks and r e gister ed trademarks are the property of their respective

owners. Product features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

urzweil is a product line of Young Chang Co. Kurzweil, K2500, and V.A.S.T. are

Part No. 910309

Using Live Mode

Object file versions and K2500 ROM configurations for V2.8 are as follows:
OBJ350.K25 for Base ROM

OBJP360.K25 for Base + Piano option
OBJO370.K25 for Base + Piano + Orchestral option
OBJC380.K25 for Base + Piano + Contemporary option
OBJF390.K25 for Base + Piano + Orchestral + Contemporary option

The Object files that accompany Version 2.8 software add two new keymaps, "197 LiveInputL" and 198
"LiveInputR", to your K2500. If you hav e pre viously used these locations for your own k eymaps, you must
move them before using Live Mode. (When you are using Live Mode, the K2500 also creates samples at
locations 197 and 198.)

5. When the installation is finished, choose "Hard Reset" followed by "Run System" from the Boot Loader.
While you won't normally need to reinstall the operating system or objects, you should still put the disks in

a safe place, just in case you may need them again.

Using Live Mode

The easiest way to use Live Mode is to use one of the programs pro vided with the objects for this release. Some
of the programs are optimized for certain applications (e.g., guitar cabinet simulations), while others are meant
to be used as templates. Complete descriptions of the Live Mode programs are at the end of this document.

Creating a Live Mode Program

1. Press the Sample soft button to bring up the SampleMode page.

2. Set the "Src" parameter for the source you are using.

For example, if you have plugged a microphone into the K2500’s HiZ sampling input,
choose "Ext". Be careful if you choose "Int", since you can inadvertently create a feedback
loop.

3. Set the "Mode" parameter to "LiveIn".

Two samples will automatically be created: "197 Live Input L-C 4" and "198 Live Input
R-C 4". The soft buttons on this page will be disabled when you set "Mode" to "LiveIn".

4. Edit a program to use one or both of the LiveInput keymaps (197 and 198).

For a stereo program (i.e., using both of the LiveInput keymaps) you must first set
"Stereo" to "On" on the EditProg:KEYMAP page.

5. Edit the program’s parameters (e.g., algorithms) for the effect(s) you want to use.

6. Play C4, then input the audio source that you want to run through Live Mode.

Hint: Set "VelTrk" on the EditProg F4 AMP page to 0 dB; otherwise the velocity with
which you strike C4 will affect your output. For alternative ways of triggering the sound
(e.g., with assignable controller buttons or pedals), edit the Control Setup.

You should now hear your V.A.S.T.ed audio source through the K2500 mix outputs.

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