Kawai K1 Vst Plugin

Nils Schneider has released a rompler that emulates the Kawai K1 Japanese classic synth from 1988. Nils' K1v features an 8-bit synthesis engine with 4 sources per voice, and a fully fledged MIDI implementation.

Supported Sample Formats (loads or saves) includeMID, MIDI, SysEx, SYX, syxExAudio DemosK1v Demo00Miscellaneous Information

Kawai

Nils’ K1v is a classic rompler that emulates the Kawai K1, a famous japanese classic from 1988.

  • VST AU K1v is a classic rompler that emulates the famous japanese classic Kawai K1 from 1988. Very accurate emulation of all parameters. Includes 768 presets with search capability, the original factory bank + all ROM cards.
  • FREE VST PLUGINS. Free Audio Plugins. VST Instruments. Drum machines; Drum kits; Single drums; Drum synths; Percussions.

Features:

Kawai K1 Vst Plugin
  • Very accurate emulation of all parameters.
  • Includes 968 Single presets and 384 Multi presets, the original factory bank + all ROM cards + all 200 Kawai PHm Pop Synth Module Singles. Organized in banks and with search capability.
  • Full editing support for both Singles and Multis.
  • Can import & export SysEx presets & banks from/to the original device.
  • Transmits & receives parameter changes via SysEx to act as an editor for the hardware or to be edited via external editors.
  • Available as VST 2 for Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
  • Resizeable User Interface.
  • Full automation support.
  • All 1352 presets can be edited and are stored as part of a project.

Furthermore, the plugin features a fully fledged MIDI implementation:

  • Understands SysEx messages like the original hardware which allows to update presets while running and even sends responses to the following SysEx requests: One block data request, All block data request & Device ID request.
  • Program Changes are supported including Bank Select.
  • Hold Pedal, Volume, Pan, Velocity, Aftertouch, Modulation Wheel & Pitch Bend.
  • See full MIDI specification here: https://www.nilsschneider.de/wp/nils-k1v-midi-implementation/

Synthesizer Engine:

  • 8-bit synthesis engine.
  • Four sources per voice:
    • 256 waveforms, 204 additive waveforms with 128 harmonics + 52 PCM wave forms.
    • DADSR envelope.
    • 8 velocity curves.
    • Coarse & Fine tune, adjustable key tracking, lots of modulation options.
  • AM (Ring Modulation) between Source 1&2 and 3&4.
  • Autobend.
  • 5 Key Scaling Curves.
  • One LFO with triangle, square, saw & random shape support.
  • Joystick for real-time control.

Latest Changes

v1.18:

  • [Imp] Implemented program change mode “Section” which switches the Single of a Multi Section while in Multi mode.
  • [Imp] Added a context menu to the preset list to copy/paste presets and send a preset to a K1 via MIDI.
  • [Imp] Added Bank Select MSB to fix not being able to select all PHm presets by Bank Select + Program Change.
  • [Imp] Added ability to control Joystick via MIDI control numbers General Purpose 1 and 2.
  • [Imp] K1v MIDI documentation is now available: https://www.nilsschneider.de/wp/nils-k1v-midi-implementation/

v1.17:

  • [Fix] Crash if auPlugin is destroyed before editor window that belongs to plugin (hello HostingAU).
  • [Fix] Crash in 64-bit plugin versions when restoring plugin state from DAW.

Kawai K1 Vst Plugins

v1.16:

  • [Fix] Keyboard shortcuts didn’t work in Mac AU and Mac & Linux VSTi versions.
  • [Fix] Wrong sysex response to “One Block Data Request” if requested preset was a Multi.
  • [Fix] Selecting a Multi via MIDI program change was off by one.
  • [Fix] Possible crash if parameters are edited in UI and via MIDI at the same time.
  • [Fix] Do not leave System page when switching between Single and Multi while System page is opened.
  • [Accuracy] Improved MIDI sysex compatibility to make K1v work with old Atari ST K1 editors that use undocumented “features”.
  • [Imp] Knobs can now be reset to default by double-clicking on them.
  • [Imp] Knobs now properly increment/decrement in single steps when being operated via mouse wheel.
  • [Imp] Implemented response to “All block data request” sysex message.

v1.15:

  • [Fix] Some Multis caused a crash when being loaded because the sysex parameter “Output” of a multi section has an invalid value. These invalid values are part of the K1 factory banks and confuse the K1 hardware, too and result in the output being “Left+Right”. K1v now sets them to L+R, too.

v1.14:

  • [Fix] Wrong number of presets (832 instead of 968) were reported to plugin hosts.
  • [Fix] MIDI notes could get stuck in some cases.
  • [Fix] Rounding issue in fixed key note number drop down menu that caused note B0 to be displayed although note C1 was selected.
  • [Imp] K1v now supports Multi presets. All factory Multi presets have been added for all factory banks, making up a total of 384 Multis, or 1352 presets in total.
  • [Imp] K1v now has a settings page to allow to specify the MIDI receive channel, disable/enable receive & send of SysEx and more.
  • [Imp] MIDI receive channel can now also be modified by sending an Omni-Mode-Off control change from a specific MIDI channel.
  • [Imp] Added ability to navigate through presets with cursor keys.
  • [Imp] Code optimizations to reduce overall CPU usage.

v1.13:

  • [Fix] Drop down menus were hard to read on Linux because of the font being too tiny.
  • [Accuracy] Key Scaling => Envelope Time modulation did not affect Decay but only Attack, causing some Singles to sound incorrect when compared to the K1 hardware.
    This change fixes the Single ‘KillDa Mix’ and others, mostly Pianos.
  • [Imp] All 200 PHm presets are now part of the plugin, causing it to have a total of 968 presets built in.
  • [Imp] Single selection screen has been reworked, for easier navigation it now includes a dropdown to select the Bank and has more navigation buttons.
  • [Imp] Plugin Logo has been reworked to match the K1 hardware logo. Furthermore, the KAWAI logo has been integrated as Kawai gave official permission for the plugin.

v1.12:

Kawai K1 Vst

  • [Fix] One-shot waveforms (drums & others) were played looped.
  • [Fix] Mac AU version crash when saving the plugin state (100% crash in Digital Performer 10).
  • [Accuracy] Velocity Curves are now properly implemented and very closely match those of the K1 hardware. If you are interested in details, feel free to visit the K1 development blog at
    https://www.nilsschneider.de/wp/category/private-programming/kawaik1emulation/

v1.11:

Kawai K1 Ii

  • [Fix] Website-Links (Donate & Logo) did not open under Linux.
  • [Fix] Some presets failed to export as Single Sysex.
  • [Imp] The LCD font has been replaced. It now contains a font that is a 100%
    perfect recreation of K1′ original font. Many thanks to Craig Stainton,
    a very talented artist specialized in Logo & Typeface creation. Feel free to
    visit his websites:
    https://www.instagram.com/vrr3.graphic/
    https://www.fontspring.com/foundry/selfbuild-type-foundry?sort=recent

v1.10:

  • [Fix] Joystick behaviour was incorrect after opening editor and never resizing it.
  • [Imp] Nils’ K1v is now available for Linux as VSTi plugin. Available are debian & rpm packages for i686 and x86_64 architectures The packages install the VSTi to /usr/local/lib/lxvst/.

v1.09:

Kawai K1

  • [Fix] Omnibus loop waveforms now always start from beginning when a note is pressed.
  • [Fix] Redraw issue caused multiple Source buttons to stay in highlighted state.
  • [Fix] Source parameters were not updated when switching AM mode to/from REV.

v1.08:

  • [Accuracy] PCM waveforms cannot play a lower frequency than 25.6Hz and are pitched up one octave when a note that is too low is triggered.
  • [Accuracy] Fix Single Cycle Waves with notes below C-2 were clamped and played as C-2 although hardware can go down to C-4 if keytrack is off.
  • [Note] The two change above fix some Singles being incorrect when compared to the hardware, for example iA-8 GongOfKngs.

v1.07:

  • [IMP] Window size is now preserved by storing it as part of the plugins data chunk.
  • [FIX] Audio pops/clicks when a voice begins, even more present if decay time was greater than zero.

v1.06:

  • [FIX] Fix very large UI on hosts like Orion because Orion claims to support resizing but then fails when being asked to resize.

v1.05:

Kawai K1v Free Vst Plugin

  • [FIX] Fix possible crash when changing patch by program change while UI is closed.
  • [CHG] Shrink default UI size to 1024×576 to give smaller screens a chance to reach the resize handle.

v1.04:

  • [Accuracy] LFO behaviour didn’t completely match hardware behaviour, especially for higher speed values.
  • [IMP] Window size is remembered when the plugin editor is closed and reopened.
  • [FIX] In Solo mode, audio clicks were audible when playing a note while another one was still playing.
  • [FIX] Audio processing could lead to clicks/pops in some hosts. I personally didn’t experience this so feedback & if possible a recording of the issue would help. Thanks.

Kawai K1 Editor

v1.03:

  • [IMP] SysEx Parameter Changes are now fully supported
    • They are sent, which allows the plugin to edit a real hardware in realtime.
    • They are recognized, which allows the plugin to be edited via external/existing editors.
  • [FIX] UI crashed on second opening after using the Source Mix Joystick.
  • [FIX] Reaper specific: Keyboard Shortcuts 1,2,3,4, E and C intercepted entering text to input fields (search box in Play Mode, preset name in Edit Mode).
  • [FIX] In Solo Mode, releasing a note always stopped all voices if the note being released was not the one being audible.
  • [FIX] MIDI control changes Hold Pedal & All Notes Off didn’t work.
  • [FIX] UI did not update if the current preset was changed via MIDI Program Change.

v1.02:

Kawai K4 Vst

  • [IMP] Added ability to import SysEx from .mid files.
  • [FIX] Do not fail import if a .syx or .mid files contains K1v presets + other sysex data that has no K1v relation.
  • [FIX] SysEx received via MIDI always overwrote first 32 singles. It will now correctly overwrite either 1-32 or 32-64, 65-96 (ROM Card 1-32) or 97-128 (ROM Card 33-64) depending on the SysEx dump.

v1.01:

  • Initial release.
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