Use the kronos as an entertainment keyboard

bguenthe · Post by **bguenthe** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:29 pm

Hi,

I started to play keyboard some years ago. I had a Yamaha PSR320, started the classic way to play a keyboard: The left hands played the chords, the right hand the melody. And I ofen used the build in styles. After 5 years of playing I stopped for somes years.

This spring I decided to reactivate my old hobby. After some research I bought the Kronos, aware that it is not a keyboard. I thougt that it is possible to create my own "styles" using karma and drum tracks. But unfortunately it is not that easy. So my question is. Can someone give me some advice how to start in creating "styles"?

I have a lot of sheet musik at home, that uses often styles (e.g reggae, bossa nova, country, and so on) and for practise I want to use it.

Thanks in advance

Bernd

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:38 pm

Careful copying from the preset patterns should get you acceptable patterns for many styles already. If you find a combi with nice bossa drums, just copy those to your own combi.

The main thing missing for standard "arranger" features are the intro/ending and fills (that automatically lead to a variation on the pattern).

1jordyzzz · Post by **1jordyzzz** » Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:43 pm

i'm afraid that you cannot define "style" in kronos.. it has karma, which is a complex arpeggiator, but you cannot create styles like those at aranger keyboard..

i had a kronos and a psr s910, so i know what i said..

Stevesan · Post by **Stevesan** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:46 am

Theoretically what you suggest could (partly) be done using midi programming. That is, you can program a midi file with basic accompinement and program changes. However, as stated above, intros, fills and endings are an important part of the arranger keyboard/workstation basic functionality which the Kronos does not offer.

I'm not an expert on Karma (far from actually) but some of the latter functionality may also be possible to add using Karma and the hardware buttons for it.

However, all this hazzle would be a real turnoff.

I suggest you face the music (pun intended!) and go for a Roland Bk-7m backing module unit. It's pricy, but it will give you what you need without actually buying an arranger keyboard.

csteen · Post by **csteen** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:19 am

A much better and less pricey option than the Roland would to simply use the Band in a Box software which turns the kronos into a full blown and programable arranger.

AdDeRoo · Post by **AdDeRoo** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:40 am

Karma on Kronos can do some, but you'll have 4 'tracks' only + the Kronos drumtrack, and you'll have to use to standard patterns available in Kronos, or buy the Karma software for Kronos to create your own. I don't have the Karma software (yet), since it seems pretty complicated, and still will not replace an arranger, which indeed has multiple fills, intro's, endings, and multiple style patterns. Karma has its own merit.

Being a long-time arranger user, I decided to keep my old Korg PA2x which still does a very good job, especially given its flexibility to build your own custom styles using midi-files. The Roland mentioned seems to be an option as well.

Band-in-a-box is wonderful software, but it depends if you want to play 'live' or create songs with software.

runningman67 · Post by **runningman67** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:03 pm

SanderXpander wrote:Careful copying from the preset patterns should get you acceptable patterns for many styles already. If you find a combi with nice bossa drums, just copy those to your own combi.

The main thing missing for standard "arranger" features are the intro/ending and fills (that automatically lead to a variation on the pattern).

Spot on .

ronnfigg · Post by **ronnfigg** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 12:11 am

There are a wealth of MIDI files (SMF-file extension .mid) either to buy our for free. You could download some, load, them into the Kronos Sequencer and jam along with those. Nice part about that is you will have a full arrangement- intros, fills, breaks, endings, etc. Learn how to edit them and you can have some custom arrangements. The SMFs you buy are usually a little better than the free versions. Tran Tracks and MIDI-Hits have some nice stuff. You can edit them, save them in the native Kronos format and have some great songs to play along with.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 6:48 am

Btw if you don't mind using a laptop there is also the One Man Band software for like 50 bucks, with literally thousands of freely downloadable styles from Yamaha keyboards.

worth · Post by **worth** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:09 am

you are trying to use a bull dozer to crack a nut. Simply buy another arranger keyboard and have fun making music without having to learn the complexities ogf karma. Lots of people are talking theorectically of what can be done on the Kronos but have a look around the forum and you will see many many seasoned musicians struggling to make karma do exactly as they intended.

I have the Korg PA1X.if you want an aranger with full workstation capabilities you wont go far wrong with a korg arranger

NavidSyed · Post by **NavidSyed** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 12:11 pm

worth wrote: Simply buy another arranger keyboard and have fun making music without having to learn the complexities of karma.

I completely agree I have Korg Micro Arranger with Korg KRONOS, a very cheap full blown arranger solution with KRONOS sounds if needed, micro arranger is a Korg Pa50 with small keys...

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:13 pm

I think it is perfectly possible using KARMA (drum track is mostly useless though), as long as you don't want it to play very specific things. The thing about Karma is it is more like working with other musicians open to suggestions, rather than directing every note. It's particularly useful for drum tracks although getting it to use the right sounds in a drum kit is sometimes frustrating (resorting to note mapping and multiple timbres with different note ranges).

You won't get features like fill-in or endings though, you have to improvise those somehow.

ronnfigg · Post by **ronnfigg** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 3:28 pm

Worth- I was originally going to post your same sentiments, but since the OP already bought the bulldozer...
I think some people who have purchased a Kronos have gotten in over their head. but that is their perogative.

JPWC · Post by **JPWC** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 4:00 pm

The Korg microarranger is a pretty cool little keyboard, and works fine with the Kronos.

But.....I never play mine, or my PA500 either. Arrangers are sort of like playing the radio compared to the interactive nature of Karma.

I approach Karma like it's my new band and these guys are excellent, world class, musicians, much better than me. Only they are really pig-headed and will only play certain styles of music. I don't think they like Country, or Western, and Folk music, well forget.

When I run out of musical ideas, you know, where you feel like your playing the same chord progression over and over, I open a music book and try and playing a song using Karma, and let the combi take me to new sonic grounds. You should hear my symphonic version of the Theme from Gilligan's Island, takes people a few moments to recognize the song.

Arrangers have their place, and I long for a PA2x, or that expensive Yamaha thing, but don't give up on Karma, it can take you places no other technology can. And with the sound of Kronos, look out.

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 4:07 pm

Are you planning on using the keyboard to play along with pre-recorded songs or tracks?