PC161 Overview

Discontinued Model
Downloads and support materials maintained here as a courtesy to owners.

Affordable Excellence

Kurzweil introduced the first Performance Controller keyboard, the PC88, back in 1994, receiving both critical and public acclaim. Now the PC161, Kurzweil's most affordable and lightweight PC model, continues the tradition of excellence. With breathtaking sounds, superior effects and impressive controller capabilities, the PC161 delivers the power of Kurzweil's popular PC1X in a lightweight, elegant 61 note enclosure.

It's the Sound....

The end result is the famous Kurzweil sound, which has made the entire PC series a resounding success. The many samples are impressive; they have been tuned, looped, noise-reduced, and processed with a level of expertise and precision found nowhere else in the industry. These include the Triple-Strike Piano, countless drum and percussion kits, Take 6 vocals, and built-in Orchestral ROM expansion. For those looking for even more sound choices, Kurzweil's optional Classic Keys sound ROM expansion adds a world class set of stunningly realistic "vintage" sounds.

It's the Effects...

The final ingredient to the PC161's sound is its effects processor, using the same technology found in our award winning KSP8 processor and K26 Series keyboards. Stated simply, the effects section in the PC series sounds better than most stand-alone effects processors. Reverbs decay noiselessly into complete silence. The many chorus, phaser and flanger presets are full and rich. Transparent compressors, authentic rotary speaker emulations, and realistic distortion presets are ideal for "vintage" sounds. And of course there are the effects algorithms unique to Kurzweil, like shapers and Laserverb.

It's the Control...

The PC161 offers comprehensive MIDI control, with multiple overlapping zones, inputs for dual switch and CC pedals, and a bank of assignable switches and knobs. Intelligent MIDI implementation, a full featured arpeggiator, and optional Super Ribbon controller make the PC161 an ideal controller whether you're on stage, in the studio or on your desktop.