Kurzweil PC4 SE User manual

1
®
It’s the
sound
.
®
™
Part Number 910590-001
Rev. 001
GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Features of the PC4 SE
Sounds
2
Getting Started
is guide will give you a quick overview of the PC4 SE. For more details, download the PC4 SE
Musician’s Guide from www.kurzweil.com.
Features of the PC4 SE
Sounds
• FlashPlay technology utilizing 2GB of instrument samples including:
• Optimized German D and Japanese C7 Pianos, Triple Strike Piano, 73 Electric Piano,
Clavinets, Harpsichords, Celeste, Bowed and Hit Crotales, Vector Synthesis Waveforms
• Updated Rock, Synth and Orchestral sounds from Kurzweil’s PC4, SP6, PC3, and KORE64
• 10 Categories of Programs (Piano, E. Piano, Clav, Organ, Strings/Pad, Brass/Wind, Synth,
Guitar/Bass, Drum/Perc, Misc)
• KSR: Kurzweil String Resonance (Piano String Resonance Simulation)
• Piano programs support optional Half-Damper pedal for half pedaling
• KB3 Organ simulation with control of 9 drawbars
• Kurzweil’s highly acclaimed VAST Synthesis and FX engine
• FM: Classic 6 operator FM synthesis
• Arpeggiator with dedicated On/O and Tap Tempo buttons (up to 5 simultaneous in Multi Mode)
• CC Sequencer with dedicated On/O and Tap Tempo buttons (up to 5 simultaneous in Multi Mode)
• More than 4000 User IDs to save your own Programs and Multis
• 256 voices of polyphony
• 16 MIDI Channels for multitimbral applications in Program Mode
• 16 MIDI Tracks for recording in Song Mode
• 5 Zone MIDI Controller in Multi Mode

Quick Start
Controllers
3
Controllers
• 88-key fully weighted hammer action keyboard with piano like feel
• Control section with 5 assignable knobs, sliders, and buttons
• Assignable Variation button
• EQ button
• Transpose buttons
• Arpeggiator section with buttons for Arpeggiator Enable, Arpeggiator Latch, CC Sequencer Enable,
and Tap Tempo
• Pitch wheel
• Assignable modulation wheel
• 2 assignable switch pedal jacks (each jack can be used with a dual pedal for up to 4 switch pedals)
• 1 assignable CC pedal jack
Quick Start
Be sure to check the Kurzweil website at www.kurzweil.com for new sounds, documentation
and software updates.
Setting Up the PC4 SE
1. If your PC4 SE keyboard has been out in the cold during shipping, give it time to warm
up to room temperature before powering it on, since condensation may have formed
inside.
2. Place the PC4 SE on a keyboard stand or on a hard, at, level surface.
3. Connect the DC power adaptor to the PC4 SE DC Power jack.
4. Make sure your power outlet is compatible with the included power adaptor, then plug
the power cable into the power outlet.
5. Plug the included Switch Pedal into the SW1 (SUSTAIN) jack on the PC4 SE rear
panel.
6. If you have an additional switch pedal, plug it into the SW2 jack for Sostenuto control.
7. If you have a MIDI CC pedal (also known as a MIDI expression or volume pedal), plug
it into the CC (VOLUME) jack for volume control.

Quick Start
Powering On the PC4 SE
4
8. If you are using speakers, turn the master volume all the way down on your amplier
or mixer. Using standard (1/4-inch) audio cables, rst plug into the input jacks of your
amplier or mixer, then plug the other end of the cables into the PC4 SE AUDIO OUT
jacks. (Connecting in this order minimizes the possibility of static discharge damage.) For
a mono signal, only use the LEFT (MONO) jack, and leave the RIGHT jack unplugged.
Balanced (“TRS” or “Stereo”) cables are recommended if your mixer or amp supports
balanced inputs.
9. If you are using headphones, connect stereo headphones to the headphone jack on the
rear panel.
10. Move the PC4 SE VOLUME Slider all the way down.
Powering On the PC4 SE
1. Power on the PC4 SE by pressing the POWER button on the right rear panel.
2. If you are using speakers, turn up the volume on your amplier or mixer.
3. Slowly turn up the PC4 SE VOLUME Slider and play some notes to check the volume
level. (If you have a CC pedal plugged into the CC (VOLUME) jack, make sure it is set
to the maximum volume position).
4. If you are using speakers and the PC4 SE is not loud enough, turn up the volume on
your amplier or mixer.
5. If you are using a mixer and hear distortion, reduce the gain level on the mixer, or use
the mixer’s Pad button if it has one (a button that typically decreases the audio input level
by 20 dB).
6. After using the PC4 SE, if you are using speakers, turn the master volume all the way
down on your amplier or mixer before powering o the PC4 SE.
Auditioning PC4 SE Sounds
1. e PC4 SE starts up in Program Mode. Use the NAVIGATION buttons, ALPHA
WHEEL, or CATEGORY buttons to select a dierent Program. See PC4 SE Sounds on
page 14 for more details on selecting Programs or Multis.
1. To hear a Program Demo song for the current Program, press the KEYPAD and ENTER
buttons simultaneously.
2. To hear the capabilities of the PC4 SE, you can play the multi-channel demo songs. Press
the KEYPAD and 0/MISC buttons simultaneously to listen to a multi-channel demo
song.
3. To switch between auditioning Programs or Multis, press the PROGRAM or MULTI
Mode button under the MODE label to the right of the display.

The Front Panel
Automatic Power Saving
5
Automatic Power Saving
e PC4 SE has an automatic power saving feature (Auto Power O) that can automatically
power o the PC4 SE after a period of inactivity, in order to conserve electricity. e Auto
Power O feature is enabled by default. e default Power O Time is 8 hours, which will
cause the PC4 SE to power o after 8 hours of inactivity.
A count down timer warning will be shown in the display a few minutes before the PC4 SE
is powered o. At any time, touching any PC4 SE control or playing a note will cause the
PC4 SE to remain powered on, until the PC4 SE has been inactive for the set Power O
Time.
Auto Power O can be disabled in Global Mode. e Power O Time can also be adjusted
in Global Mode.

The Front Panel
VOLUME Slider
6
The Front Panel
BANK Buttons
TRANSPOSE Buttons
PITCH WHEEL and MODULATION WHEEL
EQ Button and VOLUME Slider
VARIATION Button
SAVE Button and EDIT Button
CONTROL Section
CHANNEL/PAGE Buttons
FAVORITES Buttons
Display
EXIT Button
NAVIGATION Buttons
ALPHA WHEEL
SPLIT and LAYER Buttons
MODE Buttons and USER Button
CATEGORY Buttons
ARPEGGIATOR Section
VOLUME Slider
e VOLUME Slider controls the volume level of the AUDIO OUT and HEADPHONE
jacks.
Display
e display is the main user interface for the PC4 SE. Use the display to view Program and
Multi names, controller assignments, and editing functions.

The Front Panel
ALPHA WHEEL
7
ALPHA WHEEL
In Program and Multi Mode, use the ALPHA WHEEL to navigate through the Program or
Multi list.
In Program Edit or Multi Edit Mode, use the ALPHA WHEEL to scroll through the list of
values for the currently selected parameter. Turn the ALPHA WHEEL counter-clockwise or
clockwise to select the previous or next value. Turn the ALPHA WHEEL slowly to change
the value by one increment, or turn it quickly to jump several increments.
NAVIGATION Buttons
e NAVIGATION buttons move the cursor in the display and allow you to select the
current parameter to be edited.
MODE Buttons
Press the MODE buttons to access PROGRAM, MULTI or GLOBAL Mode. See Modes on
page 17 for a description of each Mode.
CATEGORY Buttons
In Program Mode, the CATEGORY buttons allow you to select and browse Programs in 10
categories of instruments. Engaging the KEYPAD button allows you to use the CATEGORY
buttons as an alphanumeric keypad. e KEYPAD button is always on in Multi Mode, and
where needed for editing parameter values.
FAVORITES Buttons
e FAVORITES buttons can be used to instantly recall your favorite Programs and Multis.
To assign the currently selected Program or Multi to a FAVORITES button, press and hold
the desired FAVORITES button for a few seconds until the display indicates that the favorite
has been saved. Press a FAVORITES button to instantly select the stored Program or Multi.
BANK Buttons
e BANK buttons can be used to select dierent banks of favorite Programs and Multis. In
Program and Multi Mode, the currently selected Bank number and name are shown on the
display. To select Bank 1, press both BANK buttons simultaneously.

The Front Panel
TRANSPOSE Buttons
8
TRANSPOSE Buttons
e TRANSPOSE buttons can be used to change the tuning of notes played on the PC4 SE
keyboard in semitones (also known as half steps). e current transpose amount is shown in
the display. Press both TRANSPOSE buttons simultaneously to reset the transposition to 0.
PITCH WHEEL and MODULATION WHEEL
Use each wheel to respectively perform pitch bends or vary the modulation amount. e
MODULATION WHEEL will perform an assigned modulation for each Program or Multi.
e name of the current assignment is shown in the display when the wheel is moved.
VARIATION Button
Pressing the VARIATION button will perform an assigned variation for each Program
or Multi. e name of the current assignment is shown in the display when the button is
pressed.
e VARIATION button will typically modify the sound by adding an orchestral string
section or synth pad layer, or enabling an eect.
For KB3 Organ Programs, the VARIATION button controls the Rotary Speaker speed,
changing between fast and slow. e display shows “KB3” when a KB3 Program is selected.
CONTROL Section
e CONTROL section is used to control various Program and Multi parameters.
In Program Mode: e knobs, sliders, and buttons control synthesis and FX parameters
for the current Program. Controller assignments can be adjusted or set to user-assignable
parameters in Program Edit Mode.
In Multi Mode: e knobs, sliders, and buttons typically control Zone volume, synthesis
and FX parameters for the current Multi. Controller assignments can be adjusted or set to
user-assignable parameters in Multi Edit Mode.
In Program and Multi Mode: When a KB3 Organ Program is selected, the knobs and
sliders behave like Organ drawbars, and the buttons control various Organ functions. e
display shows “KB3” when a KB3 Program is selected.

The Front Panel
EQ Button
9
EQ Button
On the main Program and Multi Mode pages, turn on the EQ button to view and control
the Master FX parameters, which can apply EQ and compression to all audio produced by
the PC4 SE.
When viewing the Master FX parameters, use the Switch 1 button to enable/disable the
Master EQ, and use the rst 4 Knobs in the CONTROL section to control the 4 on screen
Master EQ parameters.
When viewing the Master FX parameters, use Knob 5 in the CONTROL section to control
the Master Compressor. When the knob is all the way down, the compressor is disabled.
Turn the knob up to enable the compressor and increase the compression amount.
Note: To set your Master FX settings as default settings to be applied when the PC4 SE is
powered on, you must enter and exit Global Mode, or select the desired settings on the
Global Mode Master FX page, then exit Global Mode to save the settings as defaults.
When viewing the Global mode Master FX page, turn on the EQ button to control the
parameters with the CONTROL section knobs and buttons as described above.
Turn o the EQ button to return the CONTROL section knobs and buttons to their
Program or Multi assignments.
ARPEGGIATOR Section
Use the ARP and LATCH buttons to control the PC4 SE’s Arpeggiator.
Use the CC SEQ button to turn the CC Sequencer On or O.
Use the TAP TEMPO button to set the tempo of the Arpeggiator and CC Sequencer, the
rate of tempo synced FX (such as Delay), or the tempo of the current Multi or Song. To set
the tempo, press the TAP TEMPO button a few times at the desired rate. You can also set
the tempo by pressing the TAP TEMPO button, then adjusting the tempo with the ALPHA
WHEEL, or by using the KEYPAD buttons to type a numeric value followed by pressing
ENTER.

The Front Panel
SPLIT and LAYER Buttons
10
SPLIT and LAYER Buttons
Use the SPLIT button to quickly create a Multi where keys in dierent ranges of the
keyboard play dierent instrument sounds.
Use the LAYER button to quickly create a Multi where dierent instrument sounds are
layered in the same key range, so that keys in one range of the keyboard play multiple
instrument sounds at the same time.
e Split and Layer functions allow you to quickly create Multis without using Multi Edit
Mode to congure Zone key ranges, Programs, and volumes. After creating and saving a Split
or Layer Multi, you can edit additional Multi parameters in Multi Edit mode.
SAVE and EDIT Buttons
ese buttons are used when editing Programs or Multis to create User sounds. In Program
Mode, press the SAVE button to save a User Program with the current controller settings.
EXIT Button
In Program Edit Mode, Multi Mode, or Global Mode, press the EXIT button to return to
Program Mode. In Multi Edit Mode, press the EXIT button to return to Multi Mode.
USER Button
Press and enable the USER button to access previously saved User Programs or Multis. Press
and disable the USER button to access all Programs or Multis (Factory and User).
CHANNEL/PAGE Buttons
Use the CHANNEL/PAGE buttons to change the current MIDI Channel in Program Mode,
or the current page in Program Edit, Multi Edit, or Global Mode.