[ATTACH=CONFIG]195330.vB5-legacyid=3515[/ATTACH]The Kurzweil name has long been legendary among musicians across virtually all musical genres. The company is known among true aficionados for their cutting-edge sound modeling techniques, as well as for creating some of the most desirable and eloquently playable instruments available.
This recently-released video features interviews with company founder/inventor Ray Kurzweil, R&D Director Hal Chamberlin, and Associate R&D Director Tim Thompson. Kurzweil, an inventor who has made his mark in a diverse range of research, educational and technology circles, talks about the company’s early inception, inspired by a challenge from long-time friend Stevie Wonder.
“We would talk about lots of different technology issues, having to do with blindness and with music,” Kurzweil recounts. “In 1982 he was showing me his new studio, Wonderland, and he was lamenting, ‘you know, we’ve got these acoustic instruments, 19th century technology, that create these wonderful sounds, and then we have these computerized instruments where I can play something and the computer will remember it, and I can edit and have such powerful control over the parts. Wouldn’t it be great if I could apply that powerful control to these beautiful sounds of choice?’ And I thought about that and felt it would be feasible to accomplish.”
The rest, as they say, is history. With Wonder’s input and support, Ray Kurzweil and company spent several years working to create what would become the Kurzweil 250, recognized as the first electronic keyboard that could truly capture the sounds of an acoustic instrument.
The video offers an insightful look into the genesis of one of today’s most respected and renowned musical instrument manufacturers.
[media=youtube]HpfPyOD1Gks[/media]
That’s a fun video. I have owned a bunch of Kurzweil keyboards over the years and they have been really forward thinking about a lot of things. Ray’s coming and going and the company’s ebbs and flows are interesting – as far as I know, Ray is not a musician, and was absent from Kurzweil for 15 or 20 years until coming back recently. Kurzweil almost didn’t make it – the period from about 2003 – 2006 and difficulties with financing of their several parent companies put more than a few nails in their coffin.
I’m glad they’re back and healthy. I own a PC3X that came out post-apocalypse (2008), and some of the sounds are truly stunning. Unfortunately, some of the VAST architecture’s structure they created 30 years ago hasn’t faired well compared to user interfaces designed to take advantage of more computing power that’s available now. I’m hopeful that they can eventually get both halves right – great sounds as well as great usability. For a dial and play stage instrument with emphasis on acoustic and electric pianos and orchestral stuff, there isn’t anything better than the PC3 series. For casual editing, there’s a lot of room for improvement.