So the East York Audio company allegedly made a software version of the legendary Kurzweil K2000/K2500:

https://eastyorkaudio.com/



But something seems to be fishy:

1. I found no mention of this company in the net.

2. Their website doesn't specify their location.

3. Download links on their website (to download demo) don't work (Error 404).

4. The price is... $19.91 - too good to be true.


Is it a legit company or is it scam?

 

The VAST engine code is still very alive in current Kurz products. Zero chance that goes commercial in a VST without YoungChang on board. And what are the chances YoungChang is gonna launch a website that looks like.. well, that. The domain was purchased nearly three years ago. It's common practice to buy names years in advance of launches... it is not common practice to sit on a domain for 3 years only to launch with a layout straight out of the "I Just Graduated from Geocities University" book. Not if you're a legitimate company anyway.

So no. Absent sledgehammer to face clarity, I would lean towards scam.

Also, waybackmachine shows this same page 'launching' for nearly that 3 year span.

 

Unfortunately it seems like a scam (404) unless proven otherwise.

Too bad. The k2000 being one of the only synths that has yet to be emulated as a vst.

And no, I don't consider UVI's pitiful attempt with the k250 as relevant.

 

OK, it appears that this "plugin" had its page on KVR, but it has been already removed. That tells much.

 

pure scam

 

The will by some to scam the ignorant and to reap an ill gained reward is V.A.S.T.

 

as long as they're recreating the original, and not the newer versions, it has been long enough that no patents would still apply and the only concern would be trademark infringement

(not that I think they're selling a viable product but I do wish someone would make this. (and make me better at v.a.s.t while they're at it, it's too weird))

 

Last edited: Jun 20, 2025 at 7:56 AM

I wouldn't be too sure about that even if the K2000 is more than 30 years old. Don't forget that Kurzweil and its parent company (Young Chan) are still in business.

Maybe Arturia can manage to get the relevant permissions and develop a real K2000 emulation.

Or even better:
Just like Roland, Yamaha and Korg, Kurzweil themselves could manage to develop a VST version of the K2000. That would be awesome.

 

^ because of all the interest, maybe "scam" is too strong of a word. There is surely no $19.91 K2000 at the end of the emulation rainbow; but calling something a scam implies some nefarious intent. Maybe they did get some kind of cease and desist notice because of the trademark concerns you guys are mentioning.

None of the download links work, and without testing it with a valid card we don't know if it would even function to take someone's money.

 

I wish there was a real emulation of the DSP and you could just load the rom, that would be amazing

 

Yes but patents are not copyright. Copyright is a minimum of 70 years. So yes the original k2000 is old enough the utility patents are expired. However I'd be very curious to see how one would emulate a proprietary system that perfectly interacts with the original hardware without using a single line of code from the original.

No 3rd party is going to make a true 1:1 VST version simply because it would be a stupidly complex and expensive task not worth the return for anyone but Kurz/Change. There is a reason companies like Arturia can churn out 300 gazilllion 'unique' 'emulations'.

Reaktor or Falcon are probably the best bets to scratch the VAST workflow itch with software. Though I'm not sure they have Pong....

 

Please step up...we all could use a hero!

Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant

 

This makes it sound unlikely.

You: what chipset was used in the kurzweil k2000 and k2500 synthesizers?
ChatGPT said:

Spoiler

The Kurzweil K2000 and K2500 synthesizers used a custom-designed V.A.S.T. (Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology) engine, and the core chipset varied slightly across the two models but had significant commonalities. Here’s a breakdown:

Kurzweil K2000 Chipset:

• Main CPU: Motorola 68000-series (typically 68000 or 68EC000 at 16 MHz)
  
  
• Custom DSPs:
  
  • Kurzweil used custom ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) to implement the V.A.S.T. synthesis engine.
    
    
  • These included proprietary chips for digital signal processing, envelope generation, modulation, and effects.
    
• RAM/ROM:
  
  • User RAM expandable up to 64 MB with SIMMs.
    
    
  • ROM for operating system and sample storage, including optional ROM blocks for expansion.
    

Kurzweil K2500 Chipset:

• Main CPU: Motorola 68000-series, upgraded over the K2000.
  
  
• V.A.S.T. Engine: Still based on Kurzweil’s proprietary custom DSP ASICs, likely a newer generation or clocked higher than those in the K2000.
  
  
• KDFX Effects Option:
  
  • If equipped, the KDFX board included a Motorola DSP563xx chip (or similar), offering more advanced multi-effects processing.
    

Summary of Chip Architecture:
Synth CPU DSP Effects Processor
K2000 Motorola 68EC000 Kurzweil custom ASICs Basic internal FX or none
K2500 Motorola 68EC000 (or similar) Updated Kurzweil ASICs Optional KDFX (Motorola DSP563xx)
These chips powered Kurzweil’s renowned flexible synthesis architecture, which allowed deep modulation routing, custom DSP algorithms, and multi-mode layering, even back in the early 90s.

If you're looking to emulate or understand the architecture for plugin development, the V.A.S.T. system is more about how signals are routed and processed than about any off-the-shelf chipset Kurzweil used.