WK8 SE

The new WK8 SE is the most complete and powerful Arranger Keyboard made by GEM. In fact,
this unique instrument has been further improved, offering an astonishing array of updated
features that make it the ideal choice for professional musicians, either for live work or for 'one
man band' applications.

Generation.
The rational controls layout and the large graphic display (320 x 240 pixels) inserted in an
ergonomic panel with simulated briar finish offer a direct approach to the enormous power
contained in the WK8 SE.
The WK8 SE is a 32 part multitimbral instrument with 32 layers, 32 splits, 32 dynamic switches
and a 64-note polyphony.
The WK8 SE contains 24 MB ROM of PCM samples, including 1,016 presets plus 16 new piano
sounds with 'Damper Physical Model' from the Realpiano PRO2 library.
Navigation within this vast sound library is made easy by an operating system that can
'remember' your most frequently used sounds and styles (Last Selection Memory).
The next time you need these sounds, thay are only one button press away - with no
programming required.
In addition, the WK8 SE is fitted with a 8 MB battery backed D-RAM that lets you load and edit
stereo samples, improving the dynamics of the sounds.
The sample RAM can be further expanded, installing up to 32 MB of SIMM modules.
The WK8 SE can load PCM samples in a wide range of formats including Wave (PC), AIFF (Mac),
Sound Designer1 Akai®, Kurzweil®, Sample Vision and Standard Midi Sample Data Dump.
The powerful Edit Sound lets you manipulate the sounds with advanced editing functions, using
2nd and 4th order filters (12/24 dB/oct) with resonance control.
You can use up to 6 oscillators per voice on three layers, in combination with the Wave Vector,
that lets you play back the internal or imported samples in forward, reverse and alternate mode.
You can even use 6 segment envelopes to program time variant volume, pan and filter cutoff
curves.
The LFO also features a 'sync to MIDI' function. All editing functions are displayed on the large
graphic display.
The WK8 SE offers 64 new Realtime Performances, specially programmed to use the huge internal
sound and effects libraries to their fullest.
The Drawbar Performances let you play, while controlling in real time, the classic tonewheel organ
sound using the 8 sliders on the front panel.
The ROM of the WK8 SE contains a number of waveforms sampled directly from a vintage
Hammond® B3 which, combined with our authentic leslie® speaker simulation, offer a faithful
reproduction of the sound of this timeless instrument.

Effects Processors.
The WK8 SE features 4 programmable digital effects processors divided into 2 groups. Two effects
can be assigned to each track, with a choice of 24 reverbs and 32 modulation effects for each
group.
Reverb algorhythms include Hall, Concert, Chamber, Room, Vocal, Plate, Church, Mountains,
Falling and Early.
Modulation effects include Delay, Dubbing, Ping-Pong, Chorus, Ensemble, Phaser, Flanger, Pan
mix, Distortion, Pitch shifter, Rotary and Equalizer.

Styles.
The arranger section of the WK8 SE contains 192 ROM styles with 4 variation each and 32 RAM
styles, user-programmable or updatable from floppy disks.
Each style is made up of 8 tracks (Drums, Bass, Acc. 1/2/3/4/5/6).
The important 'Style Performance' function has been further developed: each style features now 8
Style Performances, that let you instantly reconfigure its orchestration.
Moreover, the WK8 SE offers 16 new 'RASS' styles, loaded in the flash memory of the instrument.
GEM's new 'RASS' (Real Audio Synchro Style) disk library developed for the new WK Series
instruments, allows you to use specially processed real audio samples which are synchronized
with the MIDI styles, creating the most authentic rhythm tracks ever.
As you change tempo, the RASS sample actually follows your changes exactly as though it was
another MIDI track ­ changing tempo appropriately.

Sequencer.
The WK8 SE contains a professional sequencer with 32 tracks, a capacity of 250,000 events/16
songs, 1/192 resolution, microscopic editing, groove quantize and background loading.
The WK8 SE's new operating system adds a series of interesting functions:
Autostore (automatic saving of modifications performed in 'Rec mode'); 'Direct from disk'
function that speeds up the playback of Midifiles stored on floppy disks and on the hard disk;
balance between melody volume and accompaniment volume.
The WK8 SE is compatible with a range of formats: DOC®, Disklavier™, Piano Disk™,
TUNE1000® and '.KAR'.
The WK8 SE is also compatible with Standard Midi Files (0, 1 and 1+lyrics), and with thousands of
GEM's SK/WK, SX/WX and GMX series songs.

Hard Disk / Disk Drive.
The WK8 SE can use an internal hard disk of up to 2 GB in capacity (2.5" - IDE interface), ideal
for quickly and securely saving and recalling vast amounts of data.
The WK8 SE comes complete with a pre-loaded hard disk containing an enormous variety of
software: over 200 songs in TUNE1000® format with lyrics that can be displayed, over 300 styles
and 60 MB of PCM samples.
The WK8 SE's 3.5" disk drive can format disks in expanded format (1.6 MB) and also MS-DOS
(1.44 MB and 720 KB).

Built-in SCSI interface.
Thanks to the built-in SCSI interface - compatible with Zip 250® and Jaz (1 and 2 GB) - you
can quickly and securely save and recall vast amounts of data.
In addition, the 'Multicopy' function lets you back up data from the internal hard disk to SCSI
devices and viceversa.

Master Keyboard.
The WK8 SE is a powerful master controller keyboard complete with aftertouch. A comprehensive
series of connectors (2 MIDI In, 2 Out, 2 Thru and 3 programmable pedals) allows powerful real
time control over any type of external unit with access to 32 independent MIDI channels.

Audio/Video Interface with Vocal Processor.
Using the built-in Video Out, you can connect most types of TV or video display to the WK8 SE to
view song score, chords and karaoke style lyrics.
In addition, the internal Vocal Processor (whose audio quality has been further
improved) allows up to 4 harmony lines to be added to any sound source connected to the
instrument's Audio Input, creating extraordinary vocal harmony and overdubbing effects in real
time - a 'must have' feature for the modern 'one-man-band'.
The Vocal Procesor has 3 operating modes - Chord (harmonizes input to fit the chords played in
Style mode), Vocoder (harmonizes with the notes played in real time on the keyboard) and
Unison (adds up to 4 notes to the voice with user specified tunings).
The Vocal Processor function can be controlled directly from the WK8 SE sequencer, allowing one
of the sequence tracks to control the harmony notes.

Amplification.
The versatile internal 2-way 4-speaker 25W + 25W stereo amplification system is further
enhanced by our new 'Bass Boost' feature which delivers the fat, pumping bass essential to
modern music styles while bringing out the warmth and power of the more traditional sounds
But the WK8 SE also adds a completely new dimension to your music: our amazing new 3D
Stereo Enhancer "opens out" the sound of the instrument with sparkling clarity, giving a refreshing
new depth and character to each and every sound.

Technical Specifications WK8 SE.

Keyboard
61 keys with dynamics and aftertouch
Polyphony
64 notes max.
Sounds
1019 sounds + 16 piano sounds (PRO2 library).
Operating mode
Full keyboard, Upper/Lower, Multi
Controls
Track ball (pitch, modulation), 3 programmable pedals, 10
volume sliders (8 multifunction sliders), 8 function keys
(F1...F8), Dial. Transpose, tuning, touch sensitivity.
Pads
4 programmable pads
Single Touch Play
8 per style
Performances
64 real-time editable
Edit
Track edit - 32 tracks (On/Off, volume, effects send, transpose,
octave, detune, pan, volume pedal, damper).
Display
320x240 graphic LCD (backlit)
Styles
192 ROM styles + 32 programmable x 4 variations, 8 tracks
(drums, bass, acc 1/2/3/4/5/6). 32 style locations on Flash
Memory (for future updatings via Operating System). 16
'RASS styles
Style Controls
Start/Stop, Intro, Ending, Key Start, Var 1-2-3-4; Fade In/Out;
Fill <; Fill ><; Fill > (Tap Tempo); Arrange On/Off; Arrange
Memory; Lower Memory; Arrange Mode/Split; Tempo Lock,
Style Lock; Harmony On/Off; Harmony Type; Bass to Lowest.
Digital Effects
4 processors divided into 2 groups (24 reverbs + 32
modulations for each group); 3D Stereo Enhancer
Sequencer
16 user songs (32 tracks), song style mode. 32 programmable
styles.
Disk Drive
Load, Save, Erase, Copy, Move, Format (720 KB - 1.44 MB -
1.62 MB), 'Load while Playing', 'Play All Songs'. Direct to Disk
(Midifiles). Compatibility: DOC®, Disklavier™, Piano Disk™,
TUNE1000®, '.Kar'; Standard MIDI Files type 0, 1 and 1 +
lyrics; WK4, GMX, WX/SX and RASS formats.
Compatibility
DOC®, Disklavier™, Piano Disk™, TUNE1000®, '.Kar';
Standard MIDI Files type 0, 1 and 1 + lyrics; WK4, GMX,
WX/SX and RASS formats.
Hard Disk
WK8 MEGASTATION can manage up to 2 GB internal hard
disks (2.5" - IDE interface). The built-in hard disk contains
over 200 songs, 300 styles and 60 MB of new PCM samples.
MIDI
32 channels, common channel, 32 tracks local On/Off, external
clock, General Midi On/Off, channel lock, dump.
Connections
L/R output, Aux 1/2, stereo inputs with volume control,
Audio/Video interface, computer host (PC1, PC2, Mac), 2
headphones, volume pedal, 3 programmable pedals, dynamic
pedalboard, 2 MIDI In, 2 Out, 2 Thru. SCSI interface
(compatible with ZIP 250® e JAZ (1 and 2 GB).
Amplification
25W + 25W; 2 ways; 4 speakers; Bass Boost.
Dimensions (LxHxD)
1100 mm x 150 mm x 390 mm.
Weight
15,5 Kg