View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
ElevenPhingahz Junior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2018 Posts: 56
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:45 pm Post subject: Austrian Grand |
|
|
I know this topic has been kicked down the forum road many times but I'm debating on getting it & wanted to know what the KK sages that already own it think. I like the demo (although hard to fully hear sustain with the demo fade, etc) but slapping down $250.00 of hard earned dough has made me tap the brakes some. I know it's subjective but what do the guys who've been playing the full version say...
Thanks. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KK Platinum Member
Joined: 13 Oct 2016 Posts: 1422
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi there,
It's actually an interesting topic for me, as it's been a while since I tried the demo. I keep only a couple of demos on my K2 and the Austrian grand is one of them. Still haven't purchased it, but it could happen at some point. Reading your thread I just retried it again and enjoy it even more now since I did my last little mod on my K2, namely reduce the height of the sharps one millimeter for optimal performance, but I digress.
I mainly play classical piano, so that is why at some point I might add the Austrian Grand. BTW the GrandStage, which uses the same SGX-2 engine, is equipped with an additional new Italian Grand, but from the info I got from Korg in my neck of the woods it seems unlikely they will offer it for the Kronos in the future, so the Austrian is becoming a bit more interesting to me for that reason as well.
IMHO the weaknesses of the Austrian are : 1) it doesn't have a real una corda separate set of samples and 2) you can hear a few keys sounding a bit out of tune depending on the selected set, even though they are not annoying that much at all.
One aspect I find that can be perceived either as a pro or con depending on the player/pianist is that its dynamic range is not as wide as the Berlin and more comparable to the German and Japanese grands, which were created at around the same time. But it also makes it easier to control compared to the Berlin Grand, which calls for additional playing precision.
Finally, IMHO the strengths of the Austrian are : 1) its distinctive timbre in the different registers compared to the other pianos and 2) the extra low keys as on the Bösendorfer Grand Imperial. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ElevenPhingahz Junior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2018 Posts: 56
|
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 3:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
Cool reply, thanks KK. The AP timbre seems like it's just bright enough to cut through the dense underbrush of a live band yet warm enough for intimate solo work. The "out of tune" factor gives a feel of authenticity IMHO, my RD-800 also has the tune drift for some reason.
What's odd to me is there are hardly any youtube vids of the KK Austrian Grand, I figured if it was something Korg was pushing / selling there would be some kind of endorsement vid by a name artist. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dzeykery@gmail.com
Joined: 02 Dec 2016 Posts: 3
|
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 3:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
I say the korg samples are WAY to overpriced, only way KORG will come to senses is not buying them. Single piano sample should not cost more that 49$ and even that would be expensive and the most that it should cost.
Instead of buying piano sample I rather saved some money and bought nord electro and use it connected trough midi with my korg kronos. It works like magic, and you have bunch of really great sounds free to use. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GregC Platinum Member
Joined: 15 May 2002 Posts: 9451 Location: Discovery Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
|
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
dzeykery@gmail.com wrote: | I say the korg samples are WAY to overpriced, only way KORG will come to senses is not buying them. Single piano sample should not cost more that 49$ and even that would be expensive and the most that it should cost.
Instead of buying piano sample I rather saved some money and bought nord electro and use it connected trough midi with my korg kronos. It works like magic, and you have bunch of really great sounds free to use. |
I agree with you. Korg, as author of their samples on their shop, that have been available for sale for some years, could afford a serious price drop.
Korg has not produced or authored any new samples or programming for Kronos for some years. While Korg Kronos sound products are high quality, I think its unfortunate that they have ceased new sound development.
If I were the Korg president, I would show more development interest in my $3000 ( or $3500) workstation product.
Reducing prices on the Korg Kronos sound software would be good step. The business proposition that some sales at a reduced price is better than next to no sales at an inflated and old price.
Like you, I had my requirements, went to a 2nd board plus diving into VST's.
Its good to have multiple choices that are high quality. _________________ Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams
https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ElevenPhingahz Junior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2018 Posts: 56
|
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
Agreed, the price is very steep especially for a working musician who's on a tight budget. I really don't want to bring two boards to a gig, that was the whole point of getting an "all in one" machine like the KK2. It surprised me that the Grand Stage includes the Austrian Grand, you'd think since the Austrian is several years old its would be part of an available free update. Nord (and a few other pro boards) has free sounds available to their customers on their website.
Not complaining, I understand that's the nature of business just wondering. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GregC Platinum Member
Joined: 15 May 2002 Posts: 9451 Location: Discovery Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
|
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
ElevenPhingahz wrote: | Agreed, the price is very steep especially for a working musician who's on a tight budget. I really don't want to bring two boards to a gig, that was the whole point of getting an "all in one" machine like the KK2. It surprised me that the Grand Stage includes the Austrian Grand, you'd think since the Austrian is several years old its would be part of an available free update. Nord (and a few other pro boards) has free sounds available to their customers on their website.
Not complaining, I understand that's the nature of business just wondering. |
Grand Stage is new product. Korgs priority is selling that new product.
No surprise it has the austrian grand. They want that stage piano to have it all.
That addition to the GS was next to no cost, I bet.
The business side for a working musician has been very tough for some decades. I couldn't do it. Hope you do great. _________________ Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams
https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
runningman67 Platinum Member
Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Posts: 1663 Location: Manchester UK
|
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
dzeykery@gmail.com wrote: | I say the korg samples are WAY to overpriced, only way KORG will come to senses is not buying them. Single piano sample should not cost more that 49$ and even that would be expensive and the most that it should cost.
Instead of buying piano sample I rather saved some money and bought nord electro and use it connected trough midi with my korg kronos. It works like magic, and you have bunch of really great sounds free to use. |
I agree. too expensive, I have my iPad USB'd with the camera connection kit playing through my Kronos and using the Kronos effects. iSymphonic, Waldorf Nave, Animoog, Garageband and they have some quality sounds for a bit of variation. _________________ https://m.youtube.com/user/1967runningman |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ElevenPhingahz Junior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2018 Posts: 56
|
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 1:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'll probably pass on spending $, seems to be an old "cash cow" Korg will keep in the pasture as long as somebody's willing to cough up.
The board has some good APs already & I'll try to tweak... that being said, why doesn't the KK2 have a good (or decent) upright? For the price tag you'd expect a really good one. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
keego Senior Member
Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 329 Location: Liverpool UK
|
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.kronoscopie.fr/austrian-upright.html _________________ Current Arsenal:
Kronos 61, Kurzweil PC3K6, Nord Stage 3, Yamaha MOXF8, Muse Receptor 2+, Mainstage
Previous:
Korg:X5D,Wavestation, N364, Trinity,Triton Classic,Triton Studio, Korg M3 61 w/ EXB-Radias
Ensoniq:TS12, SD1, ASR10
Roland:XP10, JD-800, Roland XV88, A90ex
Kurzweil:K2500RS, K2661, PC3
Nord: Electro 3 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
danmusician Platinum Member
Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 875 Location: Southern PA
|
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I purchased the Australian Grand years ago. I never use it. If I could will it to one of you, I'd be happy to do so. _________________ Kronos 2 88, Kronos Classic 73, PX-5S, Kronos 2 61, Roli Seaboard Rise 49 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ElevenPhingahz Junior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2018 Posts: 56
|
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 10:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the link Keego, tried to load it but no dice, oh well. Yup Danmusician, I'm not too surprised you didn't really use it. It just wasn't pushed very hard as a selling point for Korg but appreciate your kind gesture... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kronoSphere Platinum Member
Joined: 04 Jan 2012 Posts: 698
|
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 9:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
And Korg has not even updated the koronos drums patterns for years...
And we still cannot test each of them and listening to at the same time the current song we are workin' on.
These drum patterns are useless because they have been perhaprs created by an enginner and not a musician. All of these drum patterns are full of useless not... : Simplicity must be the nerve of a moving drum pattern.That's it ! _________________ trees are going fast.
https://www.lairdeparis.fr
Current Gear : Kronos 88 / Seaboard Rise / Triton Extreme / Sequoia / Motif Rack XS / TC Helicon voicelive rack /Awave 11 / Audio & VSTi plug-ins connected /wide touchscreen / iPad Pro 512. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GregC Platinum Member
Joined: 15 May 2002 Posts: 9451 Location: Discovery Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
|
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 11:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
kronoSphere wrote: | And Korg has not even updated the koronos drums patterns for years...
And we still cannot test each of them and listening to at the same time the current song we are workin' on.
These drum patterns are useless because they have been perhaprs created by an enginner and not a musician. All of these drum patterns are full of useless not... : Simplicity must be the nerve of a moving drum pattern.That's it ! |
Have said it often, the K is EOL IMO. Korg has done no new programming for the K for years. They are the high level experts so I miss all that potential talent.
So much could be done with Kronos drums. That instrument potential has been barely touched, IMO. I have gotten a lot out of Karma drums.
Fortunately, there are many very good alternatives on other platforms. _________________ Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams
https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ElevenPhingahz Junior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2018 Posts: 56
|
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The funny thing is seasoned pros like Jordan Rudess, Herbie Hancock & Jack Hotop are in the Korg orbit all the time, couldnt someone like them endorse the Austrian or other Korg merch?
My point being with artists at that caliber at Korgs disposal there seems to be a disconnect with those type of name musicians & the stuff being hawked on the Korg website. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|