Hi Jules, and welcome to the warm and wonderful world of Kurzweil 1000s!
For info, don't forget the Facebook group as well; we have some techie type folks there who can help with your diagnostic results.
Regarding your problems:
You have a basic 1000 with the base set of ROMs. Go to the main master menu and go to: 'Show version' - I think it may be 28, but it varies on modules and keyboards according to version, so yours may be different (I only have the modules myself). With each different version of the OS, the number and order of the programs was changed. It could be that your 'missing' programs are just a function of the version of the OS. Remember that part of the OS is a set of instructions that reads the ROMs and comes up with the programs using the sound data stored there. So its not that the sound data is not on the ROMs, just the program data isn't there, if you see what I mean. If you find an equivalent RAM program in the various libraries on k1000.net, you can load it up and away you go. If you get the chance, please try to get your k1000 upgraded. Even a KXA upgrade will transform it wonderfully, and the full K1200 upgrade with the A&B ROMs and v.5 software is a thing of beauty!? :-)
Regarding programs not playable across the keyboard - this is correct! Choirs vibes, bass, brass and clarinets do not have an 8 octave range in the real world, so Kurz sensibly decided to keep the ranges within believable limits. Now obviously if you had a dedicated sampler you could get a single sound and play it throughout the keyboard range. However, you would find that the results could be strange and unwanted. For instance, a double bass note six or 7 octaves higher would probably sound like a banjo! Great fun for about 2 minutes, but you won't want to use it for authentic band arrangements. See what I mean?
Kurzweil was always about giving you the best and most authentic sounds, and the quality still stands up 30 years later. That's why I love mine (I have 11 modules, and wouldn't change them for anything), and they compare very well even with today's instruments.
Hope this all helps - have fun!
Best wishes,
David.
