EPIK4 is a synth refill based on the sounds of KAWAI K4 synthesizer from the late 80s.

The KAWAI K4 was released in 1989 as a competitor to the Roland D-50.
In this point of view, EPIK4 can be considered as a sister of DEEPFLIGHT, but while the Roland D-50 has a warm analogue character, the K4's digital filter gives you fuzzy but still warm sounds.

Please note that EPIK4 is not a software emulation of the KAWAI K4 synthesizer! It is a sample based library. The synthesizer we used was only a raw material: the recorded samples were the starting points. We have exploited the specific features of REASON and created a vivid, live sounding library.

    Download EPIK4 manual

 

 

Refill features

Contents

• K4 Combinator bank: 128 patches (for instant inspiration)

• K4 NN-XT Bank: 288 patches (for everyday use)

• K4 NN-19 Bank: 226 patches

• Rex Loops: 14 Octo Rex sets & 112 rx2 melodic loops (for KLP)

• samples: 1138 wav files in 24 bit resolution (1.3 GB in total)

Sound categories

NN-XT bank: • [All Layers] • K4 Arp & Short Key • K4 Atmosphere & Pad • K4 Bass [poly] • K4 Experimental & FX • K4 Key & PolySynth • K4 Lead [poly] • K4 Monosynth • String & Orchestral

Combinator Bank: • K4 Arp & Rhythmic Sequence • K4 Atmosphere & Pad • K4 Bass • K4 Experimental & FX • K4 Key & PolySynth • K4 Lead • K4 String & Orchestral

    See the patch list of EPIK4

Extensive editing techniques

We used multiple velocity layers, multi-layering, alternate triggering and sample start offset to achieve fat and responsive synth sounds. In general, the modwheel controls the filter modulations and aftertouch adds vibrato effect.

Most of the patches are velocity sensitive and have been designed to live performers, so a good remote compatible midi keyboard (with modwheel, control knobs and aftertouch) is higly recommended.

 

 

Requirements

EPIK4 requires Reason 6.5 or more recent version. The NN-XT bank will work both in Reason Essential and in the previous versions of Reason, but most of the Combinator patches won't load.

 

 

Credits

Andras Haasz: main idea, recording & editing, sound design, artwork

Patrick Maerker: demo song

Samuel Haasz: consulting editor

All samples were recorded and processed by PinkNoise Studio in 2016.