Will Kronos Ever Receive A Sequencer Update?

[cello]

I didn't hear it - it is only my opinion that Korg have decided not to spend the money to do it.

This opinion comes from the OASYS community who pleaded with Korg to upgrade the OASYS seq. They never did.

When the Kronos was released only the resolution had been changed in the seq. That was when (in my view) Korg took their decision. That would have been the easiest and most cost effective time for Korg to improve the seq from the OASYS to a new one on the Kronos as they were changing the OS anyway to accommodate new parameters, SSD, more RAM, etc.

Again it is my view that this would be an expensive time to upgrade the Kronos seq. So if they didn't decide to do it when it was cheaper they sure as anything won't do it when it is more expensive!!

[GregC]

I didn't hear it - it is only my opinion that Korg have decided not to spend the money to do it.

This opinion comes from the OASYS community who pleaded with Korg to upgrade the OASYS seq. They never did.

When the Kronos was released only the resolution had been changed in the seq. That was when (in my view) Korg took their decision. That would have been the easiest and most cost effective time for Korg to improve the seq from the OASYS to a new one on the Kronos as they were changing the OS anyway to accommodate new parameters, SSD, more RAM, etc.

Again it is my view that this would be an expensive time to upgrade the Kronos seq. So if they didn't decide to do it when it was cheaper they sure as anything won't do it when it is more expensive!!

sounds like a business decision to me

not difficult to understand

[dfahrner]

I don´t think the first part of that reasons is valid...It´s not that difficult to merge those features because you have layers of software in an OS that unify the underlying hardware.

It's almost certain the code for Oasys/Kronos/M3 was done in a Integrated Development Environment and they all have different sets of hardware they can compile to. Yes I'm sure tweaks and testing would be needed, but..."

Saxi and NuSkool, you're right, it's probably not that difficult from a programmer's perspective, but as I'm sure you know, and other non-technical forum readers may not realize, there's a lot more work/time/expense involved in making changes to major released software products than just recompiling the code. Anyway, I think we all agree that the bottom line for Korg is probably the bottom line: they've decided that other projects will give a better return on investment...

df

[rob314159]

I wonder if there will ever be a decision to go open source with these interfaces. I don't know if it's possible to easily draw a line between proprietary business that you would like to keep a hold of versus things like a sequencer, which I would imagine a couple of us might entertain the notion of dabbling in and possibly constructing something useful for the community.

[Saxifraga]

I just want to remark that I don´t bring this topic up all the time. It´s other forum members that do that. I just take the freedom to comment on what is written. (And I don´t have double/tripple/etc. accounts to be clear.)

[Kevin Nolan]

I just want to remark that I don´t bring this topic up all the time. It´s other forum members that do that. I just take the freedom to comment on what is written. (And I don´t have double/tripple/etc. accounts to be clear.)

We'll believe you on the multiple account point - but I for one will be suspicious if I see posts from "oboeifraga" or "clarinetifraga"

[pressrecord@hotmail.com]

If you like hardware sequencers (don't want to use a computer for sequencing), you can't beat an Akai MPC (various models) for any type of music. Any kind of sequencing updates Korg would ever provide would never match the sequencing tool that an MPC is. And on the used market now, the prices have finally come down considerably.

[Kevin Nolan]

Could you mention a few of the features of the MPC and why its good for MIDI sequencing (I'm genuinely interested and no nothing about the MPC's)

[pressrecord@hotmail.com]

Roger Linn (designer of the Linn drum machine back in the 1980's) consulted for Akai. The result of their collaboration was an extraordinarily logically organized series of hardware sequencers known as the MPC line of sequencers. Rather than list the many features of each model, which may or may not be of interest to you, the main point is they are very simple to use and yet extremely feature rich. They also sample. If you write songs and want to have separate intro, choruses, verses, etc. sequences and chain them together and have rock solid midi timing, and you don't mind using a hardware sequencer, there are no better hardware sequencers. And some models have 4 midi outputs, so you can trigger lots of sound modules (daisy chain the sound modules). I have had a dozen sound modules being triggered plus the internal MPC sampler all going at once with zero discernable midi slop.

Most web searches will show that MPC's are closely associated with hip hop and rap music, but of course you could write a symphony on them. Alanis Morisette's producer used MPC2000's to sequence parts on her biggest selling albums. Rupert Hine (producer of the Fixx) used to use them. They are for any kind of music.

Maybe the most practical of the discontinued models today would be the MPC 2000XL with a built in card reader and the MPC4000, which has usb. About the MPC 4000, web searches will mention bugs, but look at how old those posts are. To their credit, Akai kept updating the OS and fixed the bugs. I have had a 4000 for about three or four years and for me it is a sequencing/sampling dream come true. I have never had a single crash or lost a single note of music on that thing!

You might find another model that suits your interest and budget better, but if interested, you could start by looking at the MPC2000XL with the factory card reader (not the version with the zip drive built in) and the MPC 4000 (dark blue colored one-- the 2nd version).

If my Kronos would someday have a sequencer like the MPC, I would be incredibly happy, but after waiting since the T-series from the 80's, I have given up on Korg when it comes to providing an excellent AND easy to use AND feature rich sequencer. And that is where for me the MPC comes in to fill that role beautifully.

[Bertotti]

How dose the mpc compare to maschine?

[pressrecord@hotmail.com]

Maschine doesn't work by itself, right? You need to connect it to a computer (I guess). On their website it does say it can do "MPC style live recording"-- but I am not sure what that means. But from what I read, it looked like a really cool system with a lot more flexibility than an old MPC because it connects to a computer.

The older MPCs are standalone devices. The newer ones are made to interface with computers.

Some say the midi timing of the MPCs are better than the timing of computers. Some don't hear a difference. There are many variables to consider.

Anyone who is very satisfied with using a computer for sequencing doesn't need an MPC. In general, people who use MPCs are composers who just don't feel that computers inspire them to make music. And they don't want the technology to get in the way of their creativity.

What I do when I think something might work for me is to get different perspectives from people. Then if I decide to get something, wait for one in good shape with a really good price, so I can sell it if it doesn't work for me.

With my first decent keyboard back in the 80's, I got so spoiled by the amazingly easy-to-use Ensoniq VFX-SD (then the later version, the Ensoniq SD-1) sequencer built into the keyboard. But if you program some busy drum sequences, they lose their timing. For me it took the MPC4000 to get that ease of use back again. And no timing troubles.

[Bertotti]

I think maschine will work standalone but I don't know. I only just started googling this stuff and listening to vids and clips.

[Kevin Nolan]

Roger Linn (designer of the Linn drum machine back in the 1980's) consulted for Akai. The result of their collaboration was an extraordinarily logically organized series of hardware sequencers known as the MPC line of sequencers. Rather than list the many features of each model, which may or may not be of interest to you, the main point is they are very simple to use and yet extremely feature rich. They also sample. If you write songs and want to have separate intro, choruses, verses, etc. sequences and chain them together and have rock solid midi timing, and you don't mind using a hardware sequencer, there are no better hardware sequencers. And some models have 4 midi outputs, so you can trigger lots of sound modules (daisy chain the sound modules). I have had a dozen sound modules being triggered plus the internal MPC sampler all going at once with zero discernable midi slop.

Most web searches will show that MPC's are closely associated with hip hop and rap music, but of course you could write a symphony on them. Alanis Morisette's producer used MPC2000's to sequence parts on her biggest selling albums. Rupert Hine (producer of the Fixx) used to use them. They are for any kind of music.

Maybe the most practical of the discontinued models today would be the MPC 2000XL with a built in card reader and the MPC4000, which has usb. About the MPC 4000, web searches will mention bugs, but look at how old those posts are. To their credit, Akai kept updating the OS and fixed the bugs. I have had a 4000 for about three or four years and for me it is a sequencing/sampling dream come true. I have never had a single crash or lost a single note of music on that thing!

You might find another model that suits your interest and budget better, but if interested, you could start by looking at the MPC2000XL with the factory card reader (not the version with the zip drive built in) and the MPC 4000 (dark blue colored one-- the 2nd version).

If my Kronos would someday have a sequencer like the MPC, I would be incredibly happy, but after waiting since the T-series from the 80's, I have given up on Korg when it comes to providing an excellent AND easy to use AND feature rich sequencer. And that is where for me the MPC comes in to fill that role beautifully.

So the MPC doesn't offer anything in particular MIDI wise and is targeted at sampling / Hip-Hop? Whatever the extra features on the Krome and M3 sequencers, the Kronos and OASYS sequencers are EXTREMELY capable - 16 MIDI tracks and 16 Audio tracks, extensive GUI based interaction and editing, tight interaction with the control surface including automation via the faders. I doubt if any of the MPC series compete in anyway with all of that.

You may like the MPC series but you cannot claim that that series are superior to the Kronos / OASYS sequencer - I'd argue it is the other way round.

Kevin

[kingy10kingy]

I liked the Fantom G8 sequencer a lot despite it being a very restrictive synth in general.

[hammondcuni]

I had never payed attention to Fantom G specs and youtube videos until recently.. That sequencer sure looks nice... But no SSD though..