I almost sold my O to buy a K..

curvebender · Post by **curvebender** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:22 pm

Music lovers!

Today, I finally had the chance to spend some quality time with a Kronos 61, and I thought I'd share my impressions..

I immediately went for the SGX-1 and EP-1 sound engines, as those are the ones not present in the Oasys, and what can I say: they're nothing short of gorgeous! They are a joy to play, and there's much fun tweaking to do. Bravo Korg!

I loved the keybed, it felt smooth and solid at the same time, just my kind of synth action keys.

The display is obviously smaller than the one on the Oasys, but I got used to it surprisingly fast. Obviously, the future editor will probably make editing easier, if you feel the display is difficult to read.

The appearence of the Kronos is not exactly breathtaking: it looks and feels a bit cheap and plasticky, the wheel is flimsy, the knobs aren't the best out there, but still, it's better than I thought.

There's was a Jupiter-80 besides it which I didn't have a chance to try out for very long, but compared to the Kronos it looked and felt way more solid. I know, let's not compare the two.

So, on the way home I'm contemplating selling my Oasys, and then get a Kronos, the sound of those crunchy funky EP-s and lush celestial pianos still ringing in my head.

I come home, I remove the cover from my Oasys which I haven't touched in the past months (busy on other projects), and I am schocked!!

What a beauty! The finish, the feel, the rugged sturdiness hits me lika a brick in the head! What a fantastic instrument it is, how could I ever let go of it?.. The build of the Kronos is almost an insult to the Oasys. (Yes I know, there's a reason it costs one fourth of the Oasys.)

So, to sum it up: I still crave the SGX-1 and EP-1 (and future OS updates), but to say that Kronos is a cheaper Oasys is not true. The Kronos is a cheapo Oasys. It's almost like a bad chinese pirate copy of the Oasys..

If I find the funds, I'll will get a Kronos, I can't let go of those pianos, acoustic and electric. But I would be a damn fool to sell my Oasys to get one..

Thanks.

cello · Post by **cello** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:33 pm

What a heart-warming story!

OASYS was - and still is - the best instrument that Korg has produced. And your experience proves it - once you've had an OASYS, nothing else compares

For instruments costing the same (in the UK - £2500), it is amazing how much more solid the JP-80 is. Maybe next time you're in the shop, you should try it

I know, I know. Musn't discuss such things!

Anyway, congratulations on your moment of epiphany - and thanks for sharing!

curvebender · Post by **curvebender** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:40 pm

cello wrote:For instruments costing the same (in the UK - £2500), it is amazing how much more solid the JP-80 is. Maybe next time you're in the shop, you should try it I know, I know. Musn't discuss such things!

Oh I will try it, don't worry! Must check out it's electrical piano thingy..

I mean, to have an Oasys AND a Kronos is just plain silly.

Now, Oasys and a JP-80, well that's another story!

curvebender · Post by **curvebender** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:45 pm

Just to be clear on one thing: the subject says "I almost sold my O to buy a K", which is a bit misleading. I haven't tried to sell the O, god knows how much I would get for it these days..

But if I could sell it for a K61 and a JP-80, well I would!

Like that, I would get great sounds from both AND "built like a tank"-features from at least one of them!

AnthonyB · Post by **AnthonyB** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:13 pm

I dont think i would sell my Oasys for a Kronos, but as the months go by, and into the years, the KRONOS will be having far more attention from 3rd party developers (as well as 1st party!),

More goodies added with new OS versions (something like that happneing now i think), more users to share programmes, lots of projects from developers (Think KARO

), much larger user fanbase (theres already more youtube vids on KRONOS after a few months launch than the OASYS had in 5 years. Its cheaper, its got better pianos, and EP's, more RAM, Rhythms, etc etc, and *HARDWARE* apart (as well as other omissions like XLR mic/Pads/ etc etc, its a promising board for the future.

As for the OASYS, as far as professional developers are concerned (meaning KARO/KORG) There isn't much else (it seems) that will be inplimented into the OASYS. it is Closed now...... So what Does an OASYS user do?, Keep what he has?, hoping it doesn't break down?, or even HOPE Software developers do a u-turn and come back to the O????

Will OASYS users - (eventually) be forced to "upgrade" to a KRONOS (or some other brand) because of being totally "left-out" ???. totally Cheesed off?, always wanting that "KRONOS piano, and EP, Plus other new features......Well only an OASYS user will know that----- in time

Google search for KORG OASYS
531,000 results

And the KORG KRONOS
1210,000 results

If "KRONOS" wasnt such "obscure sort of name, the google results may have been much wider.

I'd eally love this KARO KSL though, one day

Tony

DennyC · Post by **DennyC** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:49 pm

I do indeed love my Oasys 76. However, the thought of selling it has crossed my mind. For me, the synth action is absolutely preferable over the hammer action. Even though I already have a K61 on order(back order), I will test them side by side as soon as they arrive. I might then revisit the possibility of..... but if that happens, I will be entertaining the prospect of the JP80. Cello has been kind enough to send some samples. I am hoping to hear the electric guitar patches and then I will struggle with a decision.

A a writer, that does translate to being an effects processor hog. That is the only reason a move has not been made already. For me, the thought of 24 insert effects....well, I've got to get a paper towel and wipe the drool off of this laptop.

worth · Post by **worth** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:21 am

i dont get it. Has the Oasys suddenly lost any of its functions ? If you are a musician then the fact that newer instruments have come on the market should not inhibit your ability to make great music. I just dont get it. A few years ago folks were ready to sell their wives (some are still trying to sell them ha ha !!) to get their hands on an Oasys because it was the ultimate workstation. Guess what , there is no ultimate workstation !! Dont tell me you are surprised ?????

You have a fabulous instrument where the only limitation is your creativity and determination to make great music.

Just go ahead and make great music . If you cant do it on an Oasys find another hobby

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:54 am

worth wrote: Guess what , there is no ultimate workstation !!

I think there always is an ultimate workstation ... it only can change when another workstation is released.

Rocness · Post by **Rocness** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:26 pm

michelkeijzers wrote:
I think there always is an ultimate workstation ... it only can change when another workstation is released.

What are you talking about , a ultimate workstation would depend on
the needs of the user not because something new came out .

for example , if my needs right now where to have a workstation with a great sequencer on it , I would choose a Fantom G because nobody to date has done a more beautiful and elegant sequencer built in to a workstation like the Fantom G .
The Fantom G has been out for a few years but still nothing new has come out to beat it .

Now if I wanted a poorly built out of date workstation with a tiny screen and uneven keys and buggy OS I would get a Kronos because nothing beats it at that .

So you see , just because it's new ,doesn't necessarily mean , it's better.

maphill · Post by **maphill** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:24 pm

Well,

There are the rumors that a SGX-1 and EP-1-based instrument will be introduced in January. That might be the perfect compliment for those who love there OASYS body but want to add the new engines.

Mark

curvebender · Post by **curvebender** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:03 pm

maphill wrote:Well,

There are the rumors that a SGX-1 and EP-1-based instrument will be introduced in January. That might be the perfect compliment for those who love there OASYS body but want to add the new engines.

Mark

Eeh, isn't that the SV-1?..

maphill · Post by **maphill** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:14 pm

curvebender wrote:
maphill wrote:Well,

There are the rumors that a SGX-1 and EP-1-based instrument will be introduced in January. That might be the perfect compliment for those who love there OASYS body but want to add the new engines.

Mark
Eeh, isn't that the SV-1?..

Perhaps the "SV-2"?

Mark

MrT-Man · Post by **MrT-Man** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:43 am

Yeah, the Kronos just made me sad... I want to upgrade for the new engines and features, but won't because I'd miss the big screen, big vector joystick and other aspects of the Oasys hardware (not to mention the unweighted keys on my 76), I'd very happily spend a few hundred bucks to upgrade my Oasys to the new engines, if that ever became an option (but I don't see that as very likely).

I'm going to skip the Kronos and hope that in 3-4 years Korg can come out with a more Oasys-like workstation at a price point that makes is economically viable for them to do so...

Kontrol49 · Post by **Kontrol49** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:02 pm

Never felt an ounce of sadness when the Kronos arrived,I'd already purchased an SV-1 for live work and also for my son to practice his piano lessons on..So kind of feel that between that and the Oasys(Now all the engines are unlocked)I have everything the Kronos has to offer..

The Only thing I wish for in a next generation workstation is a better sequencer,all these engines are great but its about time they worked on branching out the Sequencer to a more professional edge..

Its great that they are gearing the workstations to the Live performer with something like the setlist(which i think is a great move forward for them)but I would prefer them to release a standalone synthesizer with all these live additions and engines than simply add a half baked sequencer from the 90s generation and call it a "Workstation",to me thats showing they don't really take the needs of a Hardware user into full consideration given the options you have on other Hardware sequencers and some other brand Workstations.

its great that they have included software support,but how about those of us who would like to work inside the hardware domain only...I buy into Hardware for one reason only,not so I can utilise it to its full potential externally by software means because they failed to design it as a Hardware only system!When your designing a hardware workstation the needs of those should be primary,with software being secondary to the whole workstations philosophy,give it a decent spec sequencer to match its heavyweight engine count....Until Korg look at the needs of the hardware sequencer power user.

I doubt I will ever buy any workstation from them again,Loads of engines mean nothing if you have to make compromises on the sequencer.I feel so sad that the Oasys for me was crippled by a staple sequencer from the Trinity days!It just doesn't live up to its "Workstation" label

Davidb · Post by **Davidb** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:16 am

Kontrol49 wrote: The Only thing I wish for in a next generation workstation is a better sequencer,all these engines are great but its about time they worked on branching out the Sequencer to a more professional edge..

I doubt I will ever buy any workstation from them again,Loads of engines mean nothing if you have to make compromises on the sequencer.I feel so sad that the Oasys for me was crippled by a staple sequencer from the Trinity days!
It just doesn't live up to its "Workstation" label

+1
I agree completely.