K-Sounds Volume 1 Piano Library Released

Sound Designer Keven Spargo announced K-Sounds Volume 1, a sample library devoted to a stereo velocity-switched Kawai EX concert grand piano and an assortment of FM electric pianos. Currently tailor-made for Kurzweil samplers, this CD-ROM library may be released in other formats in the future.

The stereo grand piano portion of the disc offers nine two-velocity configurations ranging from 30.5 to 86.4 Megabytes. Additionally, eight single-velocity configurations for each velocity level are provided, ranging from 14.9 to 60.5 Megabytes. Dozens of programs are provided, catering to a wide variety of styles and musical needs. Each program features multiple real-time controller assignments, typically cutting bass EQ and altering simulated acoustics. For users with KDFX, most of the grand piano programs feature an, all-new emulation of sympathetic string resonance. In addition, special programming provides enhanced sustain, accurate release times, and linear polyphony prioritization, features frequently omitted in other sample libraries. Soft pedal emulation is also provided, as are mono keymaps and mono versions of many programs.

The FM electric piano portion of this library uses both true FM synthesis and up to eight-velocity stereo multisampling. Extensive real-time control is also provided, typically over detuning and changes in timbre, as well as reverb, chorus, and delay.

Spargo provides dozens of online audio demos, as well as the MIDI files which created them, allowing users to compare the response of their existing sounds to the demos created for K-Sounds Volume 1.

Minimum 16Mb RAM required (except for true FM electric pianos); 96Mb required for some files. Please note minimum operating system requirements: K2000: Version 3.87; K2500 version 2.88 (units without KDFX) or 4.21 (units with KDFX).