Registered: 05/26/03
Posts: 31
Loc: stuart, fl - usa
My first Technics keyboard was a KN800 and it had it's share of quirks, but my next Technics was a KN1000 (stil have and use it), wasa giant step forward and great improvement. Then I bought the KN2000 (still have and use) and I thought that was everything I could want. As newer models became available, I kept thinking that every two years or so there would be a newer / improved model. Then the KN7000 and I waited until last April and could not resist the desire to have that incredible giant step forward in all that it had to offer and especially the SD card. It will probably take the rest of my life to exhaust my use and uses for this fantastic sounding instrument. It won't wear out ( my others did't) and it will challenge my playing and creative juices for as long as I live.
I would appreciate it if someone could respond with the actual historical lineage of the keyboards from the KN600 - 800 up to the KN7000. Year intruoduced with model number. What a story of advancement in a short number of years. Hats off to the people who worked in the MusicalInstrument Division of Technics/Panasonic.
Registered: 06/28/01
Posts: 2792
Loc: Lehigh Valley, Pa.
I never knew of the AX5 AX7 AC1200 WSA1 or any of the KC MB Panasonic series. Were, or are these lower end priced models? Were they sold around the World?
Looking at the way Technics numbered their series, it was kind of strange. Example: Who would think that the KN1600 was a newer more advanced model then the KN2000.
Registered: 01/16/02
Posts: 2330
Loc: North Yorkshire UK
Hi Larry, I believe the AX5 and AX7 were PCM Synthesizers rather than Arranger keyboards. The AC1200 was an MIDI controlled sound module version of the KN1200 keyboard. It also had a sort of 'Nickname' which escapes me at present - anyone remember it?? The WSA1 was a 'Work Station' again more of a Synthesizer than an arranger keyboard.
The AX were amongst the first affordable PCM sampled keyboards, at the time when Yamaha were still using low operator FM synthesis as their sound generators, and the sounds were a huge step up in quality in relative terms at that time.
The AC1200 was just a KN1200 in a box without keyboard or speakers and was quite popular.
The WSA1 was an attempt to break into the synthesiser market with an interesting acoustic modelling approach. It still has some followers today but mainly gave us the trackball on the 6000/6500.
The Panasonic KC were entry level "Christmas Present" type affordable keyboards to get kids interested in music.
The numbering is quite logical since the 1600 is a mid range board, successor to the 1500, which was a successor to the 901. In the same way the 930 succeeded the 920 which succeeded the 701.
The 1600 was five years after the 2000, which was a top model, so a different series of numbering, and although by then it had caught up with a lot of features, and overtaken some, the 2k still had the solid construction and better overall speaker system of the top models.
Originally posted by Bill Norrie: I believe the AX5 and AX7 were PCM Synthesizers rather than Arranger keyboards.
They did have accompaniment if I remember correctly, so they were arrangers with a very small amount of synthesis on board, laughable by todays standards but absolutely ground breaking at the price then
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bill Norrie: [B]Hi Larry, I believe the AX5 and AX7 were PCM Synthesizers rather than Arranger keyboards. The AC1200 was an MIDI controlled sound module version of the KN1200 keyboard. It also had a sort of 'Nickname' which escapes me at present - anyone remember it??
Hi Bill, was it SMAC, (the c sounding as a K)? Regards. Walter.
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It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing!!!
Walter, Your date of 1982 for the first Kn board has me a bit puzzled. Way back in 1978 I attended a demonstration concert given by Alan Haven on then new JVCM1210 organ. A superb player and a brilliant organ for the time. At the interval, the presenter who was from Technics (which made me assume at the time that the JVC was a Technics product under another name) came on stage with a keyboard which was suspended from a strap over his shoulders rather like an accordion(so it must have been pretty lightweight). The accompaniments and sounds coming from this instrument were amazing (again for the time) and when the Technics man finished the instrument was placed on a stand at right angles to the organ and Haven played piano from it while playing the organ. I don't think JVC ever produced another organ, but the point of my rambling is, would 1978 not have been the year of the first Technics keyboard?
well, it's Taiyo's date because the list came from their web site. They missed out the KN1000 in 1991 by the way.
JVC were pioneers in PCM sampling and recording, I believe some of the first digital master tape recordings released on CD were made on their professional recorders. It's probable the Technics arm of Matsushita bought some of their technology or patents when they stopped making organs, or there was some other link between the companies. Thus Technics would have had a lead in PCM technology while Yamaha had the patents on FM synthesis.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ogre: [b]Walter, Way back in 1978 I attended a demonstration concert given by Alan Haven on then new JVCM1210 organ.
I owned one of these, it's claim to fame was Hammond type drawbars, but the sound was thin and I only kept it a few weeks. I have a couple of Alan Haven LP's, I am sure I heard him in Harrogate once. Thanks Alec for the memory jog, I could not remember where I got the list. Walter.
[This message has been edited by Walter McLaren (edited 02-28-2004).]
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It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing!!!
Technics, Panasonic and Matsushita are the same company and always have been, Taiyo is just the German importer. Nothing to do with too many companies, and nothing to do with power struggles.