Kawai K11 Digital Keyboard Synthesizer with Hardcase (pre-owned)

Condition: Very good with light signs of use. This K11 is supplied with a power adaptor, manual and a hardcase with a plush lined interior.

Released in 1993, the Kawai K11 is a classic ROMpler synthesizer that reflects the early evolution of General MIDI instruments. Built on the same sound engine as the tabletop GMega module, the K11 delivers a streamlined and performance focused design that made it popular with both live players and studio users during the 1990s.

While often compared to the earlier Kawai K4, the K11 takes a simpler approach, prioritising General MIDI compatibility, solid keyboard feel, and dependable performance. Its strengths lie in usable piano sounds, practical multitimbral operation, and a responsive keybed that has made it a favourite choice as a master keyboard.

Main Features

• 61 note velocity and pressure sensitive keyboard
• General MIDI compatible ROMpler engine
• 32 note polyphony with 32 part multitimbrality
• Dual oscillator architecture
• Dedicated drum processing with seven drum kits
• Dual digital high or low pass filters
• Four stage amp and filter envelopes
• Performance and Compose modes for live and studio use

Keyboard And Playability

The Kawai K11 features a 61 key unweighted keyboard with both velocity and aftertouch. Despite being unweighted, the keys feel solid and responsive, making the K11 well regarded as a master keyboard. Many players still value its comfortable action for controlling external MIDI gear.

Sound Engine And Character

At its core, the K11 is a dual oscillator ROMpler with amplitude modulation and digital filtering. It includes a selection of saw, square, triangle, and random waveforms, supported by a single LFO offering multiple shapes.

The onboard reverb effect adds space and depth, particularly benefiting the piano sounds, which are widely considered the strongest voices in the instrument. Drum kits are included and feature dedicated processing.

Front Panel And Controls

The front panel layout is simple and practical, designed for quick access during performance:

• Pitch bend and modulation wheels
• Increment dial for parameter navigation
• Volume slider controlling headphone and main outputs
• Back lit two line LCD display with 16 characters per line
• Mode selection buttons for fast operation

This straightforward interface makes the K11 easy to use both on stage and in the studio.

Connectivity And MIDI

The K11 offers flexible MIDI connectivity with two MIDI IN ports and two MIDI OUT ports, allowing it to function effectively in more complex MIDI setups. While it does not include MIDI THRU, the dual inputs and outputs compensate well for routing flexibility.

A serial interface is also included for direct connection to Macintosh computers of the era. For use with other systems, an external MIDI interface is required.

Performance Modes

The K11 includes two primary operating modes:

• Performance mode for live playing and layered setups
• Compose mode for multitimbral sequencing and arrangement

These modes make it easy to adapt the instrument to different musical situations, from stage performance to MIDI based composition.

Specifications

• Polyphony: 32 notes
• Multitimbrality: 32 parts
• Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity and pressure sensitivity
• Oscillators: Dual oscillators
• Waveforms: Saw, Square, Triangle, Random
• LFO: 1 LFO with saw up, square, triangle, random
• Filters: Dual digital high or low pass
• Envelopes: Four stage amp and filter envelopes
• Effects: Reverb
• Drum Kits: 7 kits
• MIDI: 2 IN, 2 OUT
• Sequencer: No
• Arpeggiator: No
• Memory:
  • Multitimbral memory: 32 GM, 32 preset, 32 user
  • Program memory: 128 GM, 128 preset, 128 user, 7 drum kits

Overview

The Kawai K11 remains a capable and historically significant ROMpler from the early General MIDI era. While its sound set is more limited than some contemporary synthesizers, its piano tones, solid keyboard feel, and flexible MIDI implementation ensure it still holds value for collectors, performers, and anyone seeking a dependable vintage MIDI controller with classic early 1990s character.