Kurzweil K2000/2500 for alternate tuning

Subject: microtonal/JI capable samplers/synths

Some answers for Zhang:

1) What are the easiest (read: "user-friendly"), affordable
(read: "under $2,000") samplers/synths around that
are microtonal/JI-capable?
I am especially interested in samplers.
--HF: I'd recommend a Kurzweil K2000/2500. Not only can you can set up a few 12-note octave-repeating scales in the Intonation Editor, but you can edit the semitone and cent settings for nearly all of the 128 Midi note numbers in its Keymap editor, where you map samples to Midi notes. And you can create as many of these Keymaps as you like!
2) Are there ones that are capable of being programmed
independently of any computer?
What programming system(s) is(are) available for these
samplers/synths?
--HF: These instruments can be quite easily programmed from their large, easy-to-navigate screen. But if you download my free KTune ET/JI editor from my www.visi.com/~hfortuin, you can generate keymap values automatically, and then enter 'em into the Kurzweil's Keymap editor. The zipped bundle also includes some of the patches I've created, primarily in 19,22, and 31 equal.
3) Are these samplers/synths capable of storing how many
scale systems?
--HF:You can create as many of these Keymaps as you like, but possibly less than 5 (at a time) user-programmable Intonations.

In case you do decide on the Kurzweil, Starr Labs happens to have a brand
new K2000 VPR on the specials web page
http://www.catalog.com/starrlab/special.htm
for the very good price of $1200.

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Fred Kohler, 206 Raynor Ave, Victoria, BC, Canada V9A 3A2
phone:(250)388-7918 email:fred_kohler@bc.sympatico.ca
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