Korg Forums

[BarlesChukowski]

First off, again I just want to say I really appreciate anybody taking the time to give me some honest advice here.

I'm a noob to workstations, my only experience with creating music at all is putting together some tracks on Reason years ago. I recently decided I want a keyboard that I can eventually make some music on, while at the same time noodling around on it for fun. But the more I read about the Kronos, the more I'm thinking this thing might be way over my head and actually reduce the fun factor. That said...

--I can afford it, though saving money is still a consideration

--I can accept not figuring out a big chunk of the Kronos IF I am able to master basic sequencing, tweaking presets, etc., by no means am I looking to use this thing like a professional musician or even an advanced amateur

--I know DAW would be an option, but I really like the idea of doing the creating on a nice instrument, at least at first, so I'm pretty set on getting a workstation, also for performance at some point

--looking for the best semi-weighted keys out there (most interested in great synth sounds)...also willing to pay for an instrument that simply sounds better than most

So all this said, should I A) go for the Kronos, or B) is there a better option for what I'm looking to do? Again, I can afford the Kronos, and am willing to put the time into it, but in all honesty I don't see myself figuring out a big chunk of it.

If B, what would you recommend?

Since black Friday deals will be coming up in about a month I'm looking to get the f*ck up out of this rabbit hole quickly and have a plan to buy. TY for your help...

[pete.m]

I don't think you'll be making too big a mistake by buying the Kronos.

You'll find it fairly easy and rewarding to master all the sequencing and sound-tweaking that you're after, but you'll also find that it has more than enough depth to keep you interested as you go deeper. There is potentially way more to learn than you might feel comfortable about at the moment - for example, the complexity involved in getting into the deeper side of synthesis with all the different synth engines - but you can move on to them when you are done with every thing else, and in any event you don't need to know that stuff to make full use of the Kronos. Even if you don't know how to do the deeper side of synthesis, it is still easy enough to tweak anyway and to come up with something that interests you. When it comes to electronic music, technical knowledge is not necessarily a bar.

For myself, I can say that using the Kronos became easy for me to use for all the sequencing, sampling and synth work I want to do after only a short period of time. After several years, I haven't run out of possibilities with it, but there are still plenty of aspects to it that that I haven't properly touched on yet - Karma, RPPR, and some of the deeper aspects of synthesis. As time has gone on, I've gradually delved deeper at my leisure, but not knowing some stuff has never been an impediment.

It's a pity you probably won't have chance to try out the weight of the keyboard for yourself. As someone who started with synths before moving on to piano as well, that's never been an issue for me. If you're coming from the other way around, then I can understand that you might experience it differently. But I've always found it good to play on - frankly, I'm too engaged with the creative side of what I am doing at any given moment to be thinking too much about the action.

The money issue of course needs to be considered. The resale values of the Kronos hold up pretty well, and so I don't think you'll have too many worries there. Some retailers offer a returns policy if you're not happy, anyway.

I'd say - go for it, and I hope you have lots of fun. I'm biased, though.

[GregC]

it appears you are thinking 61 ?

Short answer, given your newness to these instruments, 1 thought/alterntive is to start with Krome. I don't have deep dive knowledge on Krome. There is a separate forum in case you want to check it .

Krome will keep you busy 2-3 years. In that time, new products/other possibilities will occur.

Disclaimer, I am not an impulse type buyer of expensive products

In addition, you mentioned Black Friday deals. That will not necessarily apply to Kronos and your US retailer who works on tiny profit margin.

Also, running into the herd of holiday shoppers is not advisable this year. C-19 has changed the retail landscape.

Retailers are enjoying holiday type Sales activity since the summer. And are not wheeling dealing like they use to- because they don't need to.
_________________
Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams
https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994

[Musicwithharry]

The Kronos is certainly worth the price of admission. It is a monster synth and most users are very happy with their purchase of the Kronos. The 61-key is semi-weighted and the 73 and 88-key units are weighted. That may or may nor work for you.

Other folks say that the Krome is a good instrument. I am not sure exactly WHERE the Krome lies in Korg's stable. It seems out of place to me. It is a fine instrument but does not have many features that I would think should be on a synth in the 'mid range' category. The 61 and 73-key units are synth action and the 88-key is weighted.

The Kross-2 is also available. It has two versions (61-key synth action and 88-key weighted). It lacks the touch screen and expanded RAM that the Kronos and Krome have, but it adds the ability of audio recording and can be used as a USB audio interface (which the Krome cannot do). It is very portable and can even run on batteries.

I am fan of the Kross; I have 4 of the original Kross-1 units (two are 61-key and two are 88-key). They work well for my situation (live and in the studio).

One cannot really compare the Kross and Krome to the Kronos. The Kronos is the flagship and offers features/libraries/expandability that the other Korg units simply do not have. The Kronos should have everything available to it; again, it is the flagship.

The Kross also has an editor that allows you to program it from your computer. That is how I program mine and it works very well.

The price of entry for the Kross-2 is around $800 for the 61-key and the 88-key goes for $1300 USD.

Another option for you might be the PA series arrangers. They features not only a synth engine, but also has built in rhythms/sequencer/KAOSS pad effects, and other things that work well. The PA700/PA1000/PA4X all feature the larger touch screen and are a breeze to work on. I have the PA700 in my studio as well and it is one of my favorite units out of all of the ones I have in my studio (23 synths in my studio). I get A LOT of work done on the PA700. The PA700 prices out at around $1500 USD. The PA100 prices out at around $2200 USD. The PA4X starts at around $4000 USD.

I am not the type of guy who trades his gear after only a few years. I have pieces in my studio that are 30 years old (Ensoniq stuff) and much of it is at least 5 years old. The PA700 is 3 years old and I still am finding things out about it. The same with the Kross 1. The Kross-1 came out around 10 years ago, I believe, and is still relevant for what I do. The Kross-2 came out a few years ago.

If you look at my signature, you will see synths from many different brands. Ensoniq and Korg are my favorites and both brands are well represented in my studio and live. Korg really seems to get it right though and I enjoy playing them.

It looks like you have a bit more research to do

Grace,
Harry
_________________
Alesis Vortex Keytar, Alesis QS6.2, Alesis QSR, Alesis SR-16, Behringer Deepmind-12, Ensoniq Avista 7600, Ensoniq VFX, Ensoniq VFX-SD, Ensoniq SQ1+, (2) Ensoniq SQ-R+/32, Korg i3 (2020 Version), (2) Korg Kross 1-61, (2) Korg Kross 1-88, Korg Minilogue XD, Korg Minilogue XD Module, Korg M50-61, Korg PA700, Korg X5DR, Korg Z3, Lowrey EZP3, Roland D-05, Roland E-09

[GregC]

[bpoodoo]

Kronos is the flagship, but if Kross and Krome are also on the table, my preference would be Kross. A glaring omission in the Krome as a workstation is its inability to playback a sequence and write a .WAV file (using an internal recorder). The Kross can do this. In fact, the more I look at Kross, the more I would recommend it and choose it for myself. If price is no consideration, Kronos. For best features for the price, Kross. IMO.
_________________
bpoodoo
Triton Extreme 88 w/MOSS
In the Attic: Casio CZ-101, Roland MT-32, Yamaha RX-21
Gone but not Forgotten: Ensoniq VFX-SD, Roland Super JX-10

[GregC]

[Musicwithharry]

[Musicwithharry]

[BarlesChukowski]

Originally I had basically decided on the Krome, but the more I looked into the Kronos it seemed like it was worth the extra 2K.

I think the above reassurance was what I needed, so much appreciated. Kronos it is. YOLO.

Last year GC had a $500 off Black Friday deal on every version of the Kronos, probably wishful thinking they will have it again this year, but hoping some deal will emerge that will help me save money on the Kronos + other gear.

Cheers!

[janrhansen]

[GregC]

[Docflick]

[quote="janrhansen"]