Korg Forums

[tomto66]

Question - I'll post the question first and then explain why I'm asking.

Can you do something similar to Kronos, but only in software on a PC? If so, what soft do you (or would you use):
- Engines/sounds - not a problem as there's plenty of VST synths
- Equivalent of combi's: different zones, sounds/timbres triggered by velocity and programmed by keyboard zones: if there software that allows this (using VSTs as sound engines)
- Set lists.
- RPPR ?
- Equivalent of Karma: i.e. intelligent and programmable phrase/pattern generators. I'm mainly looking for this functionality for drums. What would also work is software drum arranger-like functionality (basic beats, fill-ins, intro's and endings)
- Chords/patterns triggerable by means of hardware pads like the Nanopad
- Facility to easily switch equivalent of karma scenes (by means of e.g. programmable buttons on a midi keyboard controller?)

Any clue?

Reason I am asking: I have a peculiar use case: I provide music for improv shows, including improvised musicals. I need "programmed" stuff, but not rigidly programmed (not sequenced stuff) - because I never know e.g. how many choruses or verses a singer is going to do, or where they will decide to do a bridge. Kronos is a great tool for me - I have tons of combi's I programmed for this kind of improvisation.

I need to play festivals in Sweden, Finland & Greece this Spring. Just shipping the keyboard from Belgium to Sweden takes several days and costs over 500euros - that's just not an option. Reason is that the Kronos is too large/heavy to take as luggage on a plane - it needs to be transported by the likes of DHL (or so the airlines overhere tell me). My K88 is over 5 years old now - so I am wondering if my next setup should be a ligher, more manageable Midi 88 keyboard (weighted), nanopad or similar and software... but no idea how that would work.

Any ideas?
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

[mm-pro]

Native instruments Komplete & one of their NKS keyboard controllers.
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Korg Gear: (2) Kronos, PS3100, (2) MaxiKorg, PE1000, Z1Ex, MS20M,(2) OASYS-PCI, Synthe Pedal, Wavedrum WD-1, Prophecy, SQ1, 2600FS, M3M

[tomto66]

@mm-pro: does Komplete do all of that ???
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

[mm-pro]

Well there is no real match to Karma, but the library has tons of drum loops and pattern based loops for other instruments. You would probably need a host like Mainstage to really get all the layers & spits. There really is no direct equivalent, but I think with the synthesis & sampling library Komplete comes with, it is the closest thing in a package. The integration with their mk2 controller line makes it feel more like a hardware instrument.
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Korg Gear: (2) Kronos, PS3100, (2) MaxiKorg, PE1000, Z1Ex, MS20M,(2) OASYS-PCI, Synthe Pedal, Wavedrum WD-1, Prophecy, SQ1, 2600FS, M3M

[mm-pro]

The pad controller would have to be another USB controller, but there are tons of them out there in the marketplace.
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Korg Gear: (2) Kronos, PS3100, (2) MaxiKorg, PE1000, Z1Ex, MS20M,(2) OASYS-PCI, Synthe Pedal, Wavedrum WD-1, Prophecy, SQ1, 2600FS, M3M

[tomto66]

OK so I need to add somthing like mainstage in. Will that allow me to easily change e.g. drum patterns? Without need of keyboard or mouse? Or can I map/program mainstage functionality onto e.g. Kontrol S88 keyboard physical buttons?
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

[tomto66]

Oh - and Mainstage seems like an apple only product - I'm a PC guy... any alternatives?
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

[mm-pro]

There are definitely PC vst master host programs, but I am not directly familiar with them. NKS controllers integrate well with Logic & Mainstage, but I have never tried running either Komplete or Komplete Kontrol on my PC and don’t know if they integrate as well in PC-land. Hopefully someone here has experience with that.
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Korg Gear: (2) Kronos, PS3100, (2) MaxiKorg, PE1000, Z1Ex, MS20M,(2) OASYS-PCI, Synthe Pedal, Wavedrum WD-1, Prophecy, SQ1, 2600FS, M3M

[Derek Cook]

If you've never looked at it, Cantabile is well worth checking out. I have made "Combis" in Cantabile which are a mix of external instruments (like Kronos) and VSTis like UH-E DIVA and Omnisphere

If you are interested, I have written some guides on how I built my gig rack (to host Cantabile) and how I set up Cantabile as the hub of my rig

• Building a Gig Rack
  
• Setting up and Using Cantabile as a Live VSTi Host and MIDI Processor

I hope that somebody finds the guides useful as an example of how you can integrate a PC and live host into your keyboard rig. I also know some people who are now using just VSTis and MIDI controllers - i.e. no hardware synths!

These guides are also available via my x.factory Guides Page along with my other guides.
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Derek Cook - Java Developer



Follow kronos.factory development and submit ideas over at the kronos.factory Trello Board

My Echoes Music Website
My Carreg Ddu Music Website

[19naia]

Some people run OSX on PC. There are videos showing how on youtube.
Had a friend who runs and swears by only using Linux ever again, on his apple and another friend who offered to set a computer up for me wth Linux, OSX and windows all on the same PC where i could just switch OS when i wanted.

Not sure what kind of complications can come up but likely to happen if the hardware does not come close enough to what apple uses. I read stories of Final cut not working on someone’s PC based OSX and possibly other apps.
Good thing is you can always wipe OSX off the PC and restore to Windows as long as it is not too much trouble for all your files and personalized content to be saved and put back in place.
I am not savvy enough to dare on my own or on a computer where i already have a lot of work and files residing

[Xenophile]

Look into what people are doing with Ableton Live.

[tomto66]

Derek! Thx for the cantabile posts! That comes pretty close to what I have in mind - just with one Midi 88key keyboard then. Still not sure on how to replace karma or RPPR though ... And I'd hate to have to drag a Cantabile box like yours on a plane too. I would assume that in a setup that does not (like yours) have to cater for 2 keyboards (sound engines), none of that would be needed?

Great thing about the Kronos is that everything is there at your fingertips, all buttons and functionality, no cables involved... Pity the darn thing is so heavy - Maybe I should consider a 61 key version combined with a lighter 88 key midi keyboard ???
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

[Derek Cook]

Hi,

Assuming you went for sound via VSti only (I know people who are doing that) a lighter setup would be a good laptop, and USB sound module that you could put in a carry bag. I guess you could then hire a keyboard in wherever you are going. Keep it all USB and have different drivers for a range of keyboards loaded.
_________________
Derek Cook - Java Developer



Follow kronos.factory development and submit ideas over at the kronos.factory Trello Board

My Echoes Music Website
My Carreg Ddu Music Website

[tomto66]

Yeah Derek, that was sorta what I had in mind. For most festivals they have a semi-decent 88key keyboard available anyway - just not the sounds & the programming I need. Thx for the suggestions - much appreciated!

How would you go about the equivalent of scene switching in Karma (for like drums) in Cantabile?
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

[Derek Cook]