Power the Stage with Kurzweil
Melding expressive sound, immediate control, and rock-solid reliability, the Kurzweil SP8 Stage Keyboard is teeming with the company’s legendary DNA, providing you with a powerful instrument built for the modern stage. Anchored by Kurzweil’s legendary V.A.S.T. engine and FlashPlay architecture, the SP8 delivers instant access to nearly 2GB of premium samples — including iconic German D and Triple Strike pianos, classic tine electrics, KB3 ToneReal organs, Virtual Analog synthesis, and a 6-operator FM engine — all with zero loading time and 256 voices of polyphony. The 88-key, fully weighted hammer-action keybed authentically re-creates the playing feel of an acoustic piano, while 37 physical controllers, a 5-zone Multi Mode, professional-grade effects, and 32-bit D/A provide the tools to own any stage or studio environment. From one-touch Favorites and a high-resolution color LCD to onboard arpeggiators, step sequencers, and a Mac/PC/iOS editor suite, the SP8 is purpose-built to keep your focus on your performance. Sweetwater and Kurzweil have been respected partners since the beginning, and the SP8 is quite possibly the brand’s most inspiring Stage Keyboard yet!
A universe of sound at your fingertips
At the core of the SP8 is Kurzweil’s legendary V.A.S.T. engine, blending authentic acoustic realism, deep synthesis, and hands-on control into a single, expressive platform. Fueled by FlashPlay architecture, the SP8 houses a massive 2GB factory library, spanning the expressive German D and iconic Triple Strike pianos, classic tine electric pianos, cinematic bells, and signature Kurzweil textures. Every one of the 1,000 factory programs and 200-plus Multis is voiced for maximum realism, while 256 voices of lightning-quick polyphony ensure complete creative freedom. Additionally, the KB3 ToneReal organ engine yields real-time drawbar, rotary, and percussion control, and you get advanced Virtual Analog oscillators derived from Kurzweil’s legendary VA1 concept synth and a 6-operator FM engine capable of loading original FM SysEx files. On top of that, Kurzweil String Resonance adds a final layer of natural depth to your piano performances, faithfully emulating the harmonic vibrations of undamped strings. Lastly, a studio-grade effects suite — complete with reverbs, delays, choruses, 3-band EQ, and compression — certifies a polished, stage-ready sound in every performance scenario.
The complete performance package
Players with a craving for an authentic piano experience will feel right at home on the Kurzweil SP8, thanks to its 88-note, fully weighted, graded hammer-action keybed, which is bolstered by adjustable velocity settings that adapt seamlessly to any playing style. This Stage Keyboard’s 5-zone Multi Mode goes well beyond conventional splits and layers, enabling deep sonic combinations with fully customized controller assignments across each independent zone. You also get a flexible array of 37 physical controllers per zone, including programmable knobs and buttons, a pair of wheels, and multiple pedal inputs, giving you comprehensive hands-on command. As for connectivity, premium 32-bit D/A converters feed crystal-clear audio through balanced 1/4-inch TRS outputs with automatic mono switching, while a dedicated 1/4-inch stereo Headphone jack keeps monitoring private. Rounding out the package, a 1/8-inch stereo live input lets you pull external audio — backing tracks, vocals, or any other source — directly into your mix and shape it in real time with the SP8’s onboard effects.
Replete with rhythm, texture, and expression
Jam-packed with creative tools, the SP8 features five independent programmable arpeggiators, delivering ear-grabbing rhythmic depth and dynamic movement across all sound layers simultaneously. Additionally, five MIDI CC Step Sequencers sculpt evolving textures and animated pulses, adding expressive sonic movement and intricate rhythmic control to your sounds in real time. For groove-based workflows, five simultaneous MIDI sequence players let you independently trigger and sync patterns, pull from the built-in library, or import your own for boundless creative flexibility. You also get intuitive Split and Layer features, enabling you to build intricate arrangements by assigning different voices across keyboard ranges or stacking programs for richer, more complex textures. Lastly, courtesy of customizable Transpose buttons, shifting your playing to any key on the fly is always just a press away.
Kurzweil SP8 Stage Keyboard Features:
- 88-key Stage Keyboard with fully weighted hammer-action keyboard
- 2GB of factory sounds powered by FlashPlay technology
- 1,000 factory programs organized into 10 intuitive categories
- 200+ factory Multis for complex splits and layers
- 4,000+ user locations to store your own Programs and Multis
- 256-voice Polyphony
- German D and Triple Strike Pianos
- KSR — Kurzweil String Resonance, for rich, realistic piano response
- KB3 ToneReal organ modeling, with front-panel knobs acting as drawbars
- Classic 6-operator FM synthesis
- Classic tine electric pianos, clavinets, harpsichords, and celeste
- Bells, glockenspiel, bowed and hit crotales
- Vector Synthesis waveforms and classic Kurzweil textures
- Updated sounds drawn from the K2700, K2088/61, PC4, and iconic Kurzweil instruments
- 5 assignable knobs with 3-position Shift (15 virtual knobs total)
- 5 assignable buttons with 3-position Shift (15 virtual buttons total)
- Programmable Variation button
- Pitch wheel and assignable modulation wheel
- Tap Tempo with programmable tempo control
- Dedicated Transpose buttons (semitone or octave)
- 5-zone MIDI controller in Multi Mode for splits and layers
- Arpeggiator, CC Sequencers, and Riffs, with dedicated front-panel buttons
- Up to 5 simultaneous arpeggiators or CC sequences in Multi Mode
- Built-in Riff and Metronome — always ready when you are
- Audio input with FX for line, instrument, or mic sources
- 2 assignable switch pedal jacks, supporting up to 4 switch pedals
- Half-damper pedal support for expressive piano techniques
- 1 assignable continuous (CC) pedal jack for volume, wah, and more
