OVERVIEW

The MPS20 is the ultimate “Pro-Consumer” portable piano for the home user, studio player, student, or pro gigging musician.

The MPS20 more than doubles the amount of pianos & organs found on the MPS10. Included are 24 pianos featuring Kurzweil’s newest “Pro Piano” program. With 100 rhythms & 10 drum kits, the MPS20 goes beyond conventional piano features including a built-in library of over 200 sounds taken from the PC3 series keyboard. Included are a variety of categories, each with their own custom default voice preset. These include, electric pianos, tone wheel organs, pipe organs, strings, vocals, orchestral ensembles, synthesizers, and many more to inspire creativity.

The MPS20 is Kurzweil’s first digital piano to feature the all new LK40 GH+ Graded Hammer “Escapement” Action Keyboard. The MPS20 keyboard grades the hammer weight in 4 zones, from heavier in the bass, to lighter in the higher octaves. The action also features an escapement, which reproduces the let-off and jack engagement of a real acoustic piano.

Other step-up features from the MPS10 include a new 2-Track sequencer with 20 song presets, and a new doublewide scrolling alphanumeric display. The MPS20 adds 6 “Favorite” voice presets, rich effects, selectable touch sensitivity, split, layer, transpose and 51 demo songs. In addition, Kurzweil adds a new “Variation” button, offering subtle voice changes to your existing sound.

The MPS20 comes complete with a built-in 4 speaker, 30-watt monitor system, stereo input and outputs, MIDI, and USB. The MPS20 is housed in an attractive matte black cabinet, and comes complete with a portable music rack. Add the optional furniture-style music stand, and you’re ready-to-go for either home or portable use.

SPECS

All specifications subject to change without notice.

Keyboard: 88-Note, Fully-Weighted, Graded Hammer-Action Keyboard (LK-40GH)
Keyboard Sensitivity: 10 selectable response levels
Display: Scrolling 4-character, dot-matrix LED
Polyphony: 64 note
Preset Programs: 200 expressive sounds including award winning Triple Strike Grand Piano, all taken from the PC3.
User Presets: 6, one-touch recallable “favorites”, providing quick access to customized selections.
General MIDI: No
Splits/Layers: Quick Split/Layer, easy access with adjustable relative volume
Transpose: Full transposition to any key, +/- two octaves
Tune: +/- 100 cents
Effects: Dual ambience and effect processors (reverberation and chorus). Rich and complex effects from the PC3 Series.
Drum Patterns: 100 pre-recorded interactive patterns in a variety of styles (incl. metronome)
Recorder/Sequencer: 2-track; 20 song capacity.
Demo Songs: 51 classic piano demonstration songs
Sound System: 30-watt 4-speaker stereo sound system
Audio Outs: Stereo left/right 1/4″ line outs (for connecting to external amplification)
Audio Ins: Stereo left/right 1/4″ line ins (for connecting external sound sources)
Headphones: (2) 1/4″ stereo headphone outs
MIDI I/O: In and Out connectors
USB: (1) port; “Plug and Play” USB functionality allows MIDI over USB for connecting to/from an external computer sequencer; no software driver needed
Pedals: (1) dual switch-type jack (single switch-pedal included);
(1) jack for optional single Expression pedal
Finishes: Dark Gray
Stand: Matching stand optional
Bench: Sold separately
Included Accessories: Power cable, Switch pedal
Dimensions: Instrument: 3.54in(H) x 51.6in(L) x 14.2in(D)
8.9cm(H) x 131.1cm(L) x 36.1cm(D)Stand (optional): 26.0in(H) x 51.2in(L) x 13.8in(D)
66.0cm(H) x 130.1cm(L) x 35.1cm(D)
Weight: 39.7 lb / 18.3 Kg
Power: 90-250V free voltage external power supply (incl.)
(DC Power jack – 15VDC, 2.5A)

IMAGES

FAQs

Basic Concepts & User Interface

Question: How can I delete tracks of a given song or erase a given song entirely on my MP20/MPS20? Answer:

To Erase Individual Song Tracks:

  1. Select the User Song to work with:-Press the [Rhythm] button.-Press [User] category button.-Use the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons to select: U1 - U20.
  2. Press the track button corresponding to which track you wish to erase - ex: [Track 1].
  3. Press [Record].
  4. Press [Play/Stop] to begin. Let the song run through its entire duration. Do not play on the piano keys.
  5. Press [Play/Stop] when the song end is reached.
  6. Press [Save] to store.
Note: This method only permits deleting Track 1 and/or Track 2. It does NOT permit deleting any Rhythm used in recording.

To Erase a User Song Completely (including Rhythm):

    1. Press the [Rhythm] button.
    2. Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons, select #351 "No Rhythm". Rhythm #351 is a 'blank'. (usually moving backwards through the list pressing [Prev -] several times, will get you there quickest).
    3. With rhythm #351 selected, press [Record].
    4. Press [Play/Stop] (you can press [Play/Stop] anytime after the start).
You will be prompted to "SAVE RHYTHM AS UX?" - where "X" equals the User Song number (1-20).
  1. Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons, select the User song to erase, for ex "U1".
  2. Press [Save] and the chosen User Song (U1 in our ex) will be erased completely.
Question: How do I enable a practice metronome in my MP20/MPS20? Answer: To enable a metronome click to practice along with:
  1. Press the [Rhythm] button.
  2. Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons to select one of the 5 available on-board metronome patterns (ID #301-305). For ex: #305 is a simple 1/4 note metronome (see the list of "Rhythm Patterns" on pg. 43 in the manual for details).
  3. To set the tempo, press the [Tempo] button, then, using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons, select your desired tempo (range= 20~300 bpm).
  4. Press [Play/Stop] to start the metronome.
  5. Press [Play/Stop] again to stop the metronome.

Usage Details

    • Adjust the Metronome Volume:-Press the [Rhythm] button.-Press the [Select] buttons to choose the "VOL:X" parameter (range= 1~9).-Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons to select the volume level.
 
  • Save Metronome as a Favorite:-Press & hold one of the six [Favorite] buttons for 2 sec. to store the current rhythm/metronome pattern and voice selection to that selected location.-The selection can be recalled at any time by pressing the same [Favorite] button again.

Product Comparisons

Question: What are the primary feature comparisons between our current Home Digital Pianos? Answer: Download the Kurzweil Home Digital Piano Model Comparison Chart here (.pdf format).

Rhythm Mode

Question: How do I enable a practice metronome in my MP20/MPS20? Answer: To enable a metronome click to practice along with:
  1. Press the [Rhythm] button.
  2. Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons to select one of the 5 available on-board metronome patterns (ID #301-305). For ex: #305 is a simple 1/4 note metronome (see the list of "Rhythm Patterns" on pg. 43 in the manual for details).
  3. To set the tempo, press the [Tempo] button, then, using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons, select your desired tempo (range= 20~300 bpm).
  4. Press [Play/Stop] to start the metronome.
  5. Press [Play/Stop] again to stop the metronome.

Usage Details

    • Adjust the Metronome Volume:-Press the [Rhythm] button.-Press the [Select] buttons to choose the "VOL:X" parameter (range= 1~9).-Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons to select the volume level.
 
  • Save Metronome as a Favorite:-Press & hold one of the six [Favorite] buttons for 2 sec. to store the current rhythm/metronome pattern and voice selection to that selected location.-The selection can be recalled at any time by pressing the same [Favorite] button again.

Song Recorder

Question: How can I delete tracks of a given song or erase a given song entirely on my MP20/MPS20? Answer:

To Erase Individual Song Tracks:

  1. Select the User Song to work with:-Press the [Rhythm] button.-Press [User] category button.-Use the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons to select: U1 - U20.
  2. Press the track button corresponding to which track you wish to erase - ex: [Track 1].
  3. Press [Record].
  4. Press [Play/Stop] to begin. Let the song run through its entire duration. Do not play on the piano keys.
  5. Press [Play/Stop] when the song end is reached.
  6. Press [Save] to store.
Note: This method only permits deleting Track 1 and/or Track 2. It does NOT permit deleting any Rhythm used in recording.

To Erase a User Song Completely (including Rhythm):

    1. Press the [Rhythm] button.
    2. Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons, select #351 "No Rhythm". Rhythm #351 is a 'blank'. (usually moving backwards through the list pressing [Prev -] several times, will get you there quickest).
    3. With rhythm #351 selected, press [Record].
    4. Press [Play/Stop] (you can press [Play/Stop] anytime after the start).
You will be prompted to "SAVE RHYTHM AS UX?" - where "X" equals the User Song number (1-20).
  1. Using the [+Next] and/or [Prev-] buttons, select the User song to erase, for ex "U1".
  2. Press [Save] and the chosen User Song (U1 in our ex) will be erased completely.
Question: What are the steps to record using splits/layers? Answer:

Recording Track 1

    1. Select the voice you want to use for Track 1. If you've saved a split or layered sound to Favorites, you can choose one of those.
    2. If you've enabled Rhythms for recording (see below under 'Usage Notes'), press the Rhythm button and select a pattern for your recording.
    3. Press [Track 1]
    4. Press [Record]
If you are using the metronome, it will count off one measure before recording begins (see below under 'Usage Notes').
    1. Press [Play/Stop] to begin the recording.
    2. Perform the song now.
    3. Press [Play/Stop] to stop the recording.
The Save button’s LED starts flashing and the display shows SAVE RHYTHM AS:(U1 – U20). These represent the user song locations. There are 20 available.
  1. Press the [+Next] button to select the User Song number (U1 – U20) to save to.
  2. Press the [Save] button. Your song is now saved in the above selected user songs location.

Recording Track 2

    1. Select the voice you want to use for Track 2. If you've saved a split or layered sound to Favorites, you can choose one of those.
    2. Select the desired User Song to record to:-Press the [Rhythm] button.-Press the [User] button (the button on the upper right hand side on the far end, above "Demo")-Press [Prev-] or [Next+] to navigate to the desired song (U1 through U20).
    3. Press [Track 2]
    4. Press [Record]. The display shows the RECORD READY message.
    5. Press [Play/Stop] to begin the recording.
    6. Perform the second track of your song now. Track 1 will be playing while you are recording Track 2.
    7. Press [Play/Stop] to stop recording.
Similar to before, the Save button’s LED starts flashing and the display shows SAVE RHYTHM AS:(U1 – U20). You can now save your song to the same User Song location, or choose a new location if desired.
  1. As needed, press the [+Next] button to select the User Song number (U1 – U20) to save to.
  2. Press the [Save] button. Your song is now saved in the above selected user songs location.

USAGE NOTES Enabling Rhythms while Recording
  1. Press the [Function] button to enter Function Mode.
  2. Press the [Select] ▲ and ▼ button to step through the list of parameters to locate REC RHYTHM.
  3. Press the [Prev-] or [+Next] button to change the value to ON (the default setting for the REC RHYTHM parameter is OFF - when set OFF no backing rhythm will be triggered).
  4. Press the [Function] button again to exit Function Mode.
Using the Metronome while Recording
  1. Press the [Function] button to enter Function Mode.
  2. Press the [Select] ▲ and ▼ button to step through the list of parameters to locate METRO.
  3. Press the [Prev-] or [+Next] button to change the value to REC (heard only during recording) or ON (heard during recording and playback). (the default setting for the METRO parameter is OFF - when set OFF no metronome will be triggered).
  4. Press the [Function] button again to exit Function Mode.

Troubleshooting

Question: How can I restore my MP20/MPS20 to its factory defaults? Answer: Note: Performing a Hard Reset will delete all user-recorded songs and will restore all parameters to default values. This action cannot be undone. There are two methods:

Power Up Method:

  1. Hold the C8 key down while switching on the power.
  2. Continue to hold C8 down until you see "RESETTING" (scrolling) in the display then release.

Function Menu Method:

  1. Press the Function button.
  2. Press either Select [Up] or [Down] buttons to move through the function menu (forwards and backwards) and locate the Hard Reset parameter:The display will show (scrolling): "Hard Reset?"
  3. Press [Next+].The display will show (scrolling): "Confirm?"
  4. Press [Next+] again to perform the reset.
Via either method, the unit will then erase its user memory, restore all factory settings and reboot.
Question: I am having difficulties getting my Windows PC running Vista/Win7/8 to output MIDI to my Kurzweil via USB. Do I need to install a driver? Answer: No. The current line of Kurzweil products have a standard class-compliant USB-MIDI implementation. They do not require the installation of any additional drivers. Some background to be aware of: Microsoft has been steadily REMOVING MIDI FEATURES from Windows since Vista. In Windows XP, Microsoft provided a MIDI Mapper control panel which allowed end users to select a MIDI output device. Since Vista this has not been available. As such, certain apps (like Windows Media Player - WMP) can no longer play MIDI songs triggering external MIDI devices because WMP is only routed to the internal Microsoft GS Synthesizer. This means the MIDI app you choose to use must natively offer its own built-in MIDI mapping abilities OR you could possibly install a 3rd party MIDI mapper whose purpose is to replace the MIDI routing abilities removed from Windows. Fortunately, these days, most commercial MIDI software products for PC, such as Cubase or Cakewalk, have a configuration screen which includes the MIDI device mapping necessary to route to an external MIDI device.

DOWNLOADS

User Manuals

MPS20_User_Manual-3.4 MB
Owner’s Manual (English)
2012-4-18

MPS20_Manuel_FR-2.4MB
Owner’s Manual (French)
2012-4-18

OS Updates

MPS20-V226-Update– 2.8MB
.KUF file (O/S v2.22.1239; Objects v1.00.21; Boot Loader v1.57);
Read Me (installation instructions and revision history)
2014-02-11

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