Korg Forums

TheWeed42 · Joined: 21 Jun 2011 Posts: 13

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade to my first "serious" keyboard, and I'm really liking the Kronos. The pianos are great, smooth sound transitions are amazing, and the pads are just killer-sounding. But, I got to play a friend's Nord Electro 3, and was blown away by the upright piano sounds.

Considering that 90% of the music I play (country/alt rock covers) was recorded on upright pianos, I'm now also considering a Nord stage 2. That's how important those sounds are to me. The Stage 2 also has a good organ and seems simpler to use with better realtime control IMO. But the Kronos kills it in every other area.

Here's my question: are there any good upright piano sounds on the Kronos? Can the SGX-1 emulate that? From all the demos I've heard, the Korg pianos are almost too squeaky clean. When I get a chance to try out a Kronos, where should I start looking for a trashy upright sound?

Thanks for the help!

franzlp · Full Member Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 193

Well how about this for an answer... if you buy a Kronos (which by the way is fully programmable) I would think that you could take a clean and high quality piano an trash it up via programming quite easily. It's much easier to do that. It just takes a little thought and patience. This would give you a chance to start mastering the instrument from a tech perspective. The Nord or anything else doesn't come close.

TheWeed42 · Joined: 21 Jun 2011 Posts: 13

While I'm sure that's true, does the Kronos actually have any upright-ish patches? I'm not going to buy either one without trying them, and I was hoping someone could suggest a few patches to try. Looks like there's one called "Upright Piano" but it's an HD-1 program.

Lando · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:45 pm Post subject:

Ye, trashing up for instance the German grand will never replace an actual upright sample, they sound different.

I don't have a Kronos yet so I cannot answer your question, but my guess is that no manufacturer have anything close to Clavias library. Just tried all their uprights on my new Stage 2 and it's quite amazing - everything from beautiful huge vintage uprights to beat up-bar pianos. Also included a sample of the piano I started playing on which was extremely fun and nice.

felsineus · Joined: 07 Apr 2011 Posts: 29

I'm also intrigued to know what's the better kronos'way to obtain a good upright. Of course, I think it's possible. My curiosity started when I saw on the manual a setlist picture and a slot named "Lady Madonna, upright piano".

CfNorENa · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:23 pm Post subject:

Randelph · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:01 pm Post subject:

TheWeed42 wrote:

Gargamel314 · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject:

Seems to me somewhere in the Triton Extreme, Triton, and M3 downloads section there's a pretty decent upright sample. I can't remember where exactly, off-hand. The included programs wouldn't be compatible with the Kronos, but the sample data definitely would.
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TheWeed42 · Joined: 21 Jun 2011 Posts: 13

TheWeed42 · Joined: 21 Jun 2011 Posts: 13

EXer · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:36 pm Post subject:

Don't forget the Kronos is also a sampler.

You can find samples of an upright piano and load them into your Kronos.

operaman · Full Member Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 100

shap · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:44 pm Post subject: Go try it

Don't know where you are located, but at least in the US the K61's can now be found on sales floors to try out. Granting that you may not want a semi-weighted action, that would at least let you try out the patch...

If you are in the US, call the biggest Guitar Center in your area. If you're not, then I'm afraid I don't know where to send you, but somebody else here probably will.

TheWeed42 · Joined: 21 Jun 2011 Posts: 13

shap · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:23 am Post subject:

I'm worried that this is going to sound snotty, which is definitely not how I mean it: if Ivory is your standard of reference, I think you're going to find that the Kronos blows you away.

I should have a K88 coming in early July, but there seems to be one on the floor closer by than I had thought, and I'ld be willing to breeze by and check out that patch. I'll be able to tell you how close it comes to the one on the corresponding Beatles recording, but that's still no substitute for listening with your own ears.

PM me and tell me a location, and I'll see if I can identify a dealer who has one in your area.
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