Korg Forums

yeloop · Junior Member Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 93

Hi Guys,

I've just posted this in the M3 forum, but I thought it would be interesting to see what people in the Kronos forum think!

I've been waiting for a while for my Kronos 73 to arrive in Australia, but today I happened to play a Nord Lead 2x and kind of fell in love with it. It has this amazingly raw analog-y sound and a very cool pitch bender that you can use as vibrato...

One of the main reasons I was interested in the Kronos was (apart from the pianos and the great "modern" synth sounds) some of the analog emulations that some of its synth engines offer.

After today though, I'm thinking that for the same price as a Kronos, I could get a brand new M3 (they are very cheap in Australia now... the 73 note version was something like $4,200 and can now be found for $2,499) AND one of these Nord lead 2Xs...

What do you think?
I'd love to hear from people who looked at Kronos but chose a different option such as this...

Cheers and looking forward to some thoughts!
Mike

Slovenec · Full Member Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 170

I agree that the Nord is a great instrument and the M3 is nice also.

However, wait just a little longer and get the Kronos. It will offer much more power and versatility as a single instrument with those 9 synthesis engines, vastly superior pianos, 3 different VA synth engines, superior effects and all in the one instrument.

The M3 only has 1 form of synthesis (2 if you add the Radias expansion board) and, besides it's currently superior sequencer, offers much less of everything that the Kronos has.

You won't regret waiting. I played the Kronos for the 1st time today and I wouldn't ever go back to wanting an M3 or other older Korg instrument. This keyboard is now the way of the future.
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EvilDragon · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:52 am Post subject:

Too bad Nord Leads are quite limited in comparison to Kronos' synth engines.

GregC · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:19 pm Post subject:

I assume u can afford the K.

Note that many M3 owners are selling theirs.

While the M3 has 1 or 2 features not found on the K, the K has a long list of strengths over the M3 plus the Lead.
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aron · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject:

Forget that Nord Lead and pick up a used JP-8000.

It's a synth that sounds like a synth. It does all of the fun sounds you want out of an analog type synth. Fat basses, arpeggiators, motion control, crazy synced oscillators, feedback oscillation, filter sweeps, beautiful pads and way more. I like the Nord too, but the JP is something I've been looking for a long time.

It's what I thought the Jupiter would be. Immediate control, synth sounds and nothing but fun.

Then go out and buy the Kronos with the money you saved.
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ScoobyDoo555 · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:38 pm Post subject:

Go for it. If you like it enough to post on the Kronos forum, you've probably almost made up your mind anyway.

Either way enjoy whatever machine you end up with.
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Vlad_77 · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject:

Slovenec · Full Member Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 170

I too remember lusting over the JP8000 when it was released in 1997 and then the JP8080 when it came out in 1998. These instruments truly are a lot of fun to play. I was however put off by the average action of the 49 note non aftertouch velocity sensitive keyboard and the small 8 note polyphony. The Nord 2X has more polyphony. However, the JP sounds were outstanding (and still are of course!) and there's a stack of real time control.

Another synth from that time period that I liked was the Yamaha AN1X which had a fantastic sound all of it's own and a better aftertouch sensitive 61 note keyboard. it didn't have the amount of real time control offered by the JP though.

In the end, I bit the bullet, saved up the extra and purchased an 18 voice Korg Z1 (that I now regret selling although I sold it at a good price at the time).

Seriously though, getting back to the original them of this post, get the Kronos. You won't regret it.
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yeloop · Junior Member Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 93

Thanks guys, some interesting advice!

Much appreciated.

I've also played the Nord WAVE, which is very interesting - combining sampling with real time synthesis, and again with a lot of knobs to control the sound manually.

I'll have to have another think about what I do.

My current Triton Extreme is still great - perhaps I should hold onto that and add the Nord, rather than selling it for a Kronos only...

aron · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:35 am Post subject:

Most of the Nord models have that antiquated interface with horrible display. The first time I played one I thought... what a terrible interface. The sound however was good - but very little effects.

Myself, I don't like that lever. I like wheels!

Good luck on whatever you choose. It's nice to buy new things!
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synthguy · Platinum Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 661

While the Nord is an okay synth, I agree that the JP-8000 is a better choice to me. You get something of the original Jupiter-8 flavor for like 1/15th the price. But the VAs I really dig are the AKAI Miniak, Alesis Ion, the Virus - at least the C and later with the Moogish filter, and Radias. In fact, the Radias is such a chameleon, and can stack six oscillators and four filters, that I think it's the most underrated of the current VAs out there.

Oh, and I have to agree on the Z1, superb synth even if the reverb is a little yucky.
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SanderXpander · Platinum Member Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 7860

I don't know the Nord Wave that well, but the whole point of their line in general is that you actually don't need the screen for very many things. Preset names are the bulk of it. There is a knob, switch or lever for 90% of the other things, and with so many rotary dials and led faders a lot of it is instantly visible. Honestly, the thing I like MOST about my Stage Classic is the interface. It's by far the quickest-to-program digital machine that I have. Including a Karma, Triton Extreme/Moss, Roland RD170, Hammond XB1, Roland AX-synth, Novation A-Station, Roland JX10, Roland AJ2 and various softsynths.

aron · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:09 pm Post subject:

SanderXpander · Platinum Member Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 7860

I realize that this is getting somewhat off topic, but I can't for the life of me understand why you seem to want less buttons? Because that is the only reason why you would get a bigger screen; less buttons and more menus. Basically, on the Nord, the panel is gicing off so much information it acts like the screen would on other digital devices.

EXer