KAWAI Gmega / K11
Related Models

K1 series

KAWAI K1 is one of KAWAI's best-selling synth with additive and PCM synthesis.
The synthesis engine is not so relevant, but just K11 uses K1's housing.

KAWAI K1
KAWAI K1 (1988)


K4 series: DMS

KAWAI K4 is their first fully-PCM synth with 16bit DMS engine. K4 has 32 oscillators and seemingly 2MB ROM.
It has more synthetic waveforms, while Gmega/K11 center more on accoustic instrument samples. There are less filters compared to Gmega, but K4's filter often sounds more powerful.


KAWAI K4
KAWAI K4 (1989)


PCM playbackers

KAWAI XS-1 and its keyboard version KC10 are earlier versions of KAWAI's Desk Top Music Module. It uses PCM and DC waves but has no filter.

Gmega LX (XC-3) is a 28-polyphonic module with 4MB ROM. It's actually different from Gmega - Gmega LX is a PCM playbacker without a filter. KC20 is the keyboard version of Gmega LX.
There is also GMouse XC-1, a compact version of Gmega LX.


KAWAI XS-1
KAWAI XS-1 (1991)

KAWAI Gmega LX XC-3
KAWAI Gmega LX (1993)

KAWAI GMouse XC-1
KAWAI GMouse XC-1 (1994)


K5000W

K5000 series is the most advanced additive synthesizer, and K5000W has also a GM/PCM synthesizer built-in. This seems to be the latest version of KAWAI's DMS engine.

K5000W's GM section has 32-polyphony with over 300 waveforms in 4MB ROM (I hear). The Ring Modulator is still present, but the routing options including Filter Link are omitted. More effects are available.

KAWAI K5000W
KAWAI K5000W (1997)


Competitors

It seems that in releasing Gmega/K11 KAWAI tried to survive the GM era of the synthesis world. They may have thought Roland Sound Canvas as the competitor.

KAWAI tried to supersede Sound Canvas by implementing more synthetic functions and more PCM ROM. All Sound Canvas series have only limited editability and no nonlinear functions. SC-55 has just 3MB ROM and SC-55mkII has 4MB with compressed data.

It's my impression that YAMAHA TG300 may be the closest competitor of Gmega/K11.
It's a GM module with full editability. The synthesis engine is close to that of XG standard (see YAMAHA MU10 page).

TG300 has 6MB ROM and the sound quality is higher than MU10 and others. While it has no nonlinear synthetic functions, its sound quality reminds me of Gmega/K11.

YAMAHA TG300
YAMAHA TG300 (1994)



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3. 28. 2004