Korg Forums

[spinoria]

Finally after all this time I had the chance to sit down with a Korg Kronos 88.

I must say the pianos are really great, both acoustic and electric pianos are really good.

I recently bought a Kurzweil PC3X and comparing with that I must say Kronos pianos are rellay good, at least on their own.
About the electric pianos I belive they are slightly better on the Kronos but the Kurzweil is also good.

About the orchestral sounds I know Kurzweil are the kings but I really think the Kronos orchestral sounds had some strengths as well and the could complement eachother really well.

The disappointment was the CX3 as I had expected after hearing demos. I don't want a CX3-clone. I want a hammond clone and those organ sounds are typical korg. To much low frequencies and to much high frequencies in the sound spectra and the leslie wasn't that good either.
I also have a Nord Electro 3 and that keyboard rules when it comes to hammond sounds but also the Kurzweil with the new leslie in OS 2.03 is better than the kronos.

In the synth section I didn't have all the time I wanted but I think the character of the synth sounds are very much like the Korg M3. The M3 is missing some of the cool FM sounds the Kronos had but for classic analog sounds I think the M3 compares well to the Kronos....

So.... will I buy a Kronos?
Probably not. I guess I wait a year or so and see if I can get a used one or maybe Kurzweil or Yamaha is releasing some new workstation before next summer.
A really nice workstation it is but it doesn't replace all my other keyboards (not yet anyway).
Maybe there will be more engines or improvements that will change my mind but I don't want to put to much trust in Korg after disappointments with my M3 ownership.
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Novation Ultranova, Korg M3 73, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Korg Poly 800 MK2, Korg Kaossilator, Korg Trident MK1, Nord Electro 3, Kurzweil PC3X, Kurzweil K2500X, Virus TI 61 , Alesis Micron, Kurzweil K2000, Kurzweil K2500R, Yamaha SK20, Hammond C3+ Leslie R22, PC running Brainspawn Forte with EMU Soundcard + IK Multimedia Sampletank 2.0 + Sonik Synth + Miroslav Philharmonik, Logic Mainstage

[jimknopf]

Thanks for the feedback. It is clear that such a first test can only give first impressions. Add that the Kronos sound engines offer much more than is obvious from the factory presets, and your judgement would probably vary after using the kronos for a while.

One correction:
The M3 has none of the three Kronos VA synth engines and can't compare at all here.

Concerning EP sounds I would disagree as much as concerning the CX3.

- the EPs play in a completely other league than the Kurweils, which can't even remotely compare, especially if you program your own EP sounds on the Kronos. The Kurzweil EPs are well programmed tiny 80s/90s loops, and sound like a lofi version of real EPs in comparison.

- a well programmed CX3 (not using the bad internal CX3 overdrive/leslie but one from the Kronos effect section, like the one here form dg-keyes: http://korgpatches.com/patches/kronos/dg-keys_b3_organ) smokes the Kurzweil B3 clone anytime as well from my view, even after the Kurz update. The Nord B3s still sound better, but the Kurz certainly is no challenge, sounding especially lame in the upper range.

Just my two cents.
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Kronos 73 - Moog Voyager RME - Moog LP TE - Behringer Model D - Prophet 6 - Roland Jupiter Xm - Rhodes Stage 73 Mk I - Elektron Analog Rytm MkII - Roland TR-6s - Cubase 12 Pro + Groove Agent 5

[spinoria]

It's true that you need more time to evaluate a workstation like the Kronos and it's possible that misjudged the electric pianos.

Also the different synth engines need more time to evaluate and to experiment, but I'm still disappointed with the CX3.
That patch you sent with the Perfect stranger intro is just what I'm talking about. Even if it's tweaked the sound screams "KOOOOOORRRGGGRRRR".
No way near the Nord Electro 3.
If it's better or worse than the Kurzweil I can agree that opinions can vary.

I hope there will be more improvements of the CX3 engine or maybe a new Hammond engine.
That could be what is making me buying a Kronos.
Anyway I hope I will get a chance to try it more later on.
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Novation Ultranova, Korg M3 73, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Korg Poly 800 MK2, Korg Kaossilator, Korg Trident MK1, Nord Electro 3, Kurzweil PC3X, Kurzweil K2500X, Virus TI 61 , Alesis Micron, Kurzweil K2000, Kurzweil K2500R, Yamaha SK20, Hammond C3+ Leslie R22, PC running Brainspawn Forte with EMU Soundcard + IK Multimedia Sampletank 2.0 + Sonik Synth + Miroslav Philharmonik, Logic Mainstage

[apex]

[mchimowycz]

I too must agree about the quality of the CX3 sounds. At present I am still using my Nord Electro3 for B3 Hammond sounds. Im sure there are tones of that quality somewhere in the CX3 but I cant find them and end up with distorted, overdriven sounds each time. However, cant fault the other engines in the Kronos - superb!!

[michelkeijzers]

[PinkFloydDudi]

[Fred S]

Seems the Nord is very popular for Hammond sounds, but I don't get it. Whenever I hear the Nord, I immediately know its a Nord. If it's that good, I would be wondering whether it's a Nord or a real Hammond. Not saying it doesn't sound good, it does. Just not that authentic IMO. Regarding the Kronos, I don't hear the CX-3 sounding any further from authentic than the Nord. For my money, the XK-1/3 is the closest emulation to the real thing, and the CX-3 will do in a pinch. That said I am surprised the Kronos Leslie emulation isn't better.
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Yamaha S90es, Hammond XK-1, Kronos 88, Gibson Les Paul, American Deluxe Strat, Taylor accoustic, Vox amp, Motion Sound Pro 145, KC-550s x2, a bunch of plugins, and a Kawai grand.

[NuSkoolTone]

FWIW, I've been trying to tweak the CX3 too. It sounds great for the jazz stuff, but so far falls a touch short for the rock stuff. I'm going to try those DG organs, and see if they get me closer. Are there any practical application guides besides the manual?

I wish there was a way to send the CX-3 through the amp models of the MDS! The distortion model on the Electric Pianos is great!
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Korg: KRONOS 73, M50-61, 01W/r
Yamaha: Motif XS7, FS1R
Kawai K5000S, Roland JD-990 w/Vintage Synth

[SanderXpander]

I don't really like my Nord Stage's organ, though the overdriven leslie sound it gets is pretty strong. I suppose it's ok for smearing type sounds. It just never really seems to cut through the mix. Unlike my older XB1 which cuts through anything but sadly has a really crappy leslie sim. I have good hopes for the CX3, but if the leslie doesn't cut it there's always the Ventilator.

[PinkFloydDudi]

[EvilDragon]

[Fred S]

[spalding12]

good to read the comparison threads, of course
opinions will always vary
i hope that he will give KRONOS another chance at some time in the future
thanks for the thread