Korg Forums

maphill · Full Member Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 217

Let's contrast the two to make the differences clearer. Please only post verified information, or questions, but not conjecture.

I will try to maintain this list and correct any errors.

Known Differences:

DIMENSIONS
- KRONOS mid-sized is 73 keys and "weighted". OASYS is 76 and synth-action. KRONOS does have 61 keys version. OASYS doesn't.

- KRONOS is smaller
KRONOS 88-key: 57.28” x 16.18” x 5.71” (1,455 x 411 x 145 mm)
KRONOS 73-key: 48.94” x 16.18” x 5.71” (1,243 x 411 x 145 mm)
KRONOS 61-key: 41.42” x 14.25” x 5.28” (1,052 x 362 x 134 mm)

OASYS 88-key: 57.40” x 19.06” x 5.31” (1,458 x 484 x 135 mm)
OASYS 76-key: 49.84” x 19.06” x 5.31” (1,266 x 484 x 135 mm)

- KRONOS is lighter
KRONOS 88-key: 50.71 lbs. / 23.0 kg
KRONOS 73-key: 44.75 lbs. / 20.3 kg
KRONOS 61-key: 27.56 lbs. / 12.5 kg

OASYS 88-key: 70.99 lbs / 32.2 kg.
OASYS 76-key: 56.44 lbs / 25.6 kg.

HARDWARE
- Atom Dual Core (KRONOS) vs. P4 2.8 (OASYS)
- KRONOS power consumption is 60W, OASYS is 130W
- OASYS had vents on sides, KRONOS does not and relies on holes for sliders, etc.

SCREEN
- OASYS has 10.4" TouchView 640x480 Display. KRONOS uses an improved 8" TouchView display with 800x600
- OASYS has pivoting screen, KRONOS doesn't
- KRONOS has improved graphics (more pictures of instruments, effects), but smaller font.

CONTROLS
- OASYS has physical pads, KRONOS doesn't, but has a pads screen page.
- OASYS has LED's around the Knobs and next to the Sliders. KRONOS doesn't.
- Many KRONOS buttons are smaller than their OASYS counterparts.
- KRONOS joystick is "shallower" and somewhat smaller
- KRONOS pitch/mod wheel has a round shaft, where the OASYS is rectangular

I/O
- KRONOS has 2 USB A Ports for storage, CDRW, etc. OASYS has 4 USB 2.0 Ports and CDRW.
- KRONOS has USB connection to computer (stereo audio / MIDI).
- KRONOS has 4 Individual Outs and 2 Main Outputs, OASYS has 8 Individual Outs and 2 Main outputs.
- KRONOS has 2 Inputs, OASYS has 4 Inputs (2 of which are Phantom Powered Mic Preamps).
- OASYS supports ADAT and Wordclock (via the EXB-DI card), KRONOS lacks this option.

MEMORY
- KRONOS uses 30Gb SSD, OASYS uses 40Gb HDD

SYNTHESIS
- KRONOS comes with 12 Gb of samples, OASYS comes (without optional EXs) with 1 Gb.
- KRONOS has long-sampled, 4.7G piano from SSD - SGX-1
- KRONOS has EP-1, Electric Piano Modeling Synthesis
- KRONOS has smooth sound transitions, even from prog to combi.
- KRONOS has 8 velocity zones per oscillator, OASYS only has 4 velocity zones per oscillator

- Polyphony
________KRONOS: _____OASYS:
SGX-1: --100 voices--------- 0
EP-1: ---104 voices--------- 0
HD-1: ---140 voices--------- 172
AL-1: ----80 voices --------- 96
CX-3: ---200 voices --------- 172
STR-1: ---40 voices --------- 48
MOD-7: ---52 voices --------- 52
MS-20EX: -40 voices --------- 48
PolysixEX: -180 voices ---------172

NOTE: Effect usage does not lower the polyphony on KRONOS as drastically as on the OASYS. It many cases, it does not drop on the KRONOS at all.

KARMA
- KRONOS KARMA is the same as OASYS - however, like the M3, drum track is implemented in all modes. (source: John Lehmkuhl )
- KARMA on the KRONOS is version 2.2.8, while the OASYS has stopped at 2.2.6 (only minor bug fixes are the difference)

SEQUENCER
- KRONOS sequencer is higher resolution (480 PPQN) and has M3's SysEx editor.

PROGS/COMBIS
- 96 new combis on the Kronos, and the other 384 are exactly the same as they were on the OASYS (source Stephen Kay)
- You can load OASYS Programs, Combis and Sequences into the KRONOS but NOT vice versa

FEATURES
- KRONOS has set list mode.
- KRONOS has current Korg support, OASYS support is closed down.
- On OASYS, you had to pay extra to unlock some engines/content. On KRONOS aLL DSP models and sample libraries are included. Nothing needs to be purchase or unlocked for the factory content. (source: John Lehmkuhl)
- KRONOS records audio in 24 bits, OASYS does 16 bits. NOTE: KRONOS internal sampling resolution is 16 bits.
- KRONOS can load stereo wav files, OASYS does twin mono.

Known Similarities

- MS-20Ex, PolysixEx, CX-3, AL-1, STR-1, MOD-7 synths are the same.
- Internal hardware/OS signal resolution is the same.
- ADCs and DACs are the same.
- Both have a fan.

Mark.

(Edited to included additional information, thanks all who contribute)

maphill · Full Member Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 217

11. Kronos sequencer is higher resolution than Oasys.

Link · Junior Member Joined: 07 Nov 2009 Posts: 60

orpheus2006 · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject:

12. Kronos has a solid-state HD, Oasys has a spinning drive.
13. Kronos has Korg support assured for the next 2-3 years, Oasys support is closed down.

As to the fan: not sure about the CPU heat, but a SSD will probably emit less heat.
_________________
www.soundcloud.com/orpheus2006
.............................................................
Korg M3-88 w/ EXB-Radias, Yamaha Motif Rack w/ PLG150-AN & PLG150-DR, Novation A-Station, RME Multiface II Audio Interface, Thinkpad T60 Notebook w/ Sonar X3 and various VSTi, Event TR8 monitors, Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones

SpIdErWeB · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:43 pm Post subject:

14. Kronos does have 61 keys version... Oasys doesn't

15. Kronos does have EP-1, Electric Piano Modeling Synthesis

orpheus2006 · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:46 pm Post subject:

16. Kronos is listed as the 1st workstation on this forum, Oasys is the 2nd. Wink

_________________
www.soundcloud.com/orpheus2006
.............................................................
Korg M3-88 w/ EXB-Radias, Yamaha Motif Rack w/ PLG150-AN & PLG150-DR, Novation A-Station, RME Multiface II Audio Interface, Thinkpad T60 Notebook w/ Sonar X3 and various VSTi, Event TR8 monitors, Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones

bobbybee · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

Questions:

5. Do Kronos/Oasys differ in their Karma version/control (aside from the pads)?
6. Aside from the EP-1 and SGX-1 engines, are the presets/combis identical?
7. What is the difference between the PCM RAM and the SSD? In other words, can samples be stored "anywhere", and it doesn't matter due to VMT, or are there limitations?
8. Can the SSD be upgraded?

SpIdErWeB · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject:

17. Kronos does have 800x600 Display, Oasys does have 640 x 480 Display only

realkuhl · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Kronos vs. Oasys

Quick answers -

1) KRONOS has a "pads" page where there are 8 long columns that each represent a pad. If you play from bottom to top of a single column, you are triggering the keys (the keys you are hitting are displayed in the column you are hitting) with different velocities - softer (bottom) to harder (top).

2) KRONOS does have a fan.

3) KARMA is the same as OASYS - however, like the M3, drum track is implemented in all modes.

4) ALL DSP models and sample libraries are included. Nothing needs to be purchase or unlocked for the factory content. Future content.... ???

Very Happy

You are all going to love this instrument.

maphill · Full Member Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 217

Thanks Realkuhl.

Could you tell if the fan was quieter than on Oasys? Where are the vents located?

Can you comment on whether it has the position lights for the rotary encoders and faders?

Thanks,
Mark.

davidnaggar · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject:

More Questions:

Oasys "sounds" much better than the M3. Are there compromises (or improvements) in the Kronos that make it sound worse/same/better than the Oasys?

Is the RH3 action less fatiguing to play than the RH2?

maphill · Full Member Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 217

Original post updated with more information.

Keep it coming,
Mark.
_________________
Korg KRONOS 73, Trinity Pro, Monotron,
Roland FA-06 and Fantom 6, Roland TDK-15
Big Knob, Sonar (Previously, OASYS 76)

Sina172 · Platinum Member Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 1194

realkuhl · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:49 pm Post subject:

Official Video Release from Korg:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1o2Woa8PBk&feature=related

If you have 54 min..... video of Official Introduction the night before the show opened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHV3rnkGt3E&feature=watch_response_rev
_________________
John "Skippy" Lehmkuhl
Composer, Engineer, Independent sound designer (Korg, Spectrasonics, Camel Audio, Native Instruments and many others)
Sound designer / Rhythm Monkey

Custom Sounds and Free Video Tutorials for
Virtual Instruments: www.pluginguru.com

My comments and opinions are not official statements from Korg Inc. I'm not official !!

SpIdErWeB · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject:

- Kronos power consumption is 60W only, Oasys does need 130W

- Kronos is smaller
Kronos 88-key: 57.28” x 16.18” x 5.71” (1,455 x 411 x 145 mm)
Kronos 73-key: 48.94” x 16.18” x 5.71” (1,243 x 411 x 145 mm)
Kronos 61-key: 41.42” x 14.25” x 5.28” (1,052 x 362 x 134 mm)

Oasys 88-key: 57.40” x 19.06” x 5.31” (1,458 x 484 x 135 mm)
Oasys 76-key: 49.84” x 19.06” x 5.31” (1,266 x 484 x 135 mm)

- Kronos is lighter
Kronos 88-key: 50.71 lbs. / 23.0 kg
Kronos 73-key: 44.75 lbs. / 20.3 kg
Kronos 61-key: 27.56 lbs. / 12.5 kg

Oasys 88-key: 70.99 lbs / 32.2 kg.
Oasys 76-key: 56.44 lbs / 25.6 kg.

- Kronos comes with 12 Gb of samples, Oasys comes (without optional EXs) with 1 Gb.

- Kronos does sample and record audio in 24 bits, Oasys does 16 bits

- Kronos does have 8 velocity zones per oscillator, Oasys only does have 4 velocity zones per oscillator

- Oasys does have LEDs on faders and pots, Kronos doesn't