Kronos X as replacement DAW

[KJandKT]

I have ProTools 7.4 and Power Mac Dual 2.0 Ghz (PPC). I used to have a Roland 1880 and loved having everything together in one place with no driver, software issues, etc.

I have heard that the Kronos has exceptional A/D and D/A as well as EFX.

I would like to get away from the computer DAW thing..upgrading software, computers, latency etc... and thought about using the Kronos as a replacement DAW. If I needed to do a lot of editing on a track (like pitch correction) I could export the .wav into ProTools 7.4 clean it up and import it back into the Kronos. Also, I would benefit of course from all the Kronos has to offer.

I have read the manual and watched whatever videos I could but would like to ask some the experts here that own a Kronos X - how would it be to use it almost exclusively in the studio? I have a PA-600 and Yamaha Motif XS that I would sync with it to dump tracks into the sequencer and then sing through something like a TC Voice live into the Kronos for lead and harmony vocals.

I have questions like - Is the multi-track recorder and mixer fairly easy to use? Can you insert multiple effects on each track? Can you only use two sends or is there a way to use more? Is it pretty easy to use or would it be really tedious?

There really is nothing anymore like the Korg or Roland all-in one- DAWs except the Tascam DP-32 which you can't insert dynamics on recorded tracks and doesn't do any automation otherwise I would look at that and I don't want something used...want something with a warranty.

I appreciate your input!

God bless

[ed_f]

I have ProTools 7.4 and Power Mac Dual 2.0 Ghz (PPC). I used to have a Roland 1880 and loved having everything together in one place with no driver, software issues, etc.

I have heard that the Kronos has exceptional A/D and D/A as well as EFX.

I would like to get away from the computer DAW thing..upgrading software, computers, latency etc... and thought about using the Kronos as a replacement DAW. If I needed to do a lot of editing on a track (like pitch correction) I could export the .wav into ProTools 7.4 clean it up and import it back into the Kronos. Also, I would benefit of course from all the Kronos has to offer.

I have read the manual and watched whatever videos I could but would like to ask some the experts here that own a Kronos X - how would it be to use it almost exclusively in the studio? I have a PA-600 and Yamaha Motif XS that I would sync with it to dump tracks into the sequencer and then sing through something like a TC Voice live into the Kronos for lead and harmony vocals.

I have questions like - Is the multi-track recorder and mixer fairly easy to use? Can you insert multiple effects on each track? Can you only use two sends or is there a way to use more? Is it pretty easy to use or would it be really tedious?

There really is nothing anymore like the Korg or Roland all-in one- DAWs except the Tascam DP-32 which you can't insert dynamics on recorded tracks and doesn't do any automation otherwise I would look at that and I don't want something used...want something with a warranty.

I appreciate your input!

God bless

I think the Kronos is awesome.. but.. wouldn't give up the DAW

[Sam CA]

Kronos does NOT have "exceptional" A/D converters. They're good for a keyboard. An exceptional converter alone would easily cost upwards of $7k or more.

No workstation is a replacement for a DAW. Though, If you're a hardware type of guy and like to touch knobs and sliders and physical buttons, and if you work with just a limited number of audio tracks then you can do all that in Kronos just fine. (Assuming you don't have to do whole lot of editing). Of course you can do a lot more than that with Kronos, but it's very time consuming. Same thing goes for midi editing.

Obviously you do whatever works for you, but I highly recommend for you to upgrade to PT11 and use the best of both worlds.

[danmusician]

Kronos does NOT have "exceptional" A/D converters. They're good for a keyboard. An exceptional converter alone would easily cost upwards of $7k or more.

No workstation is a replacement for a DAW. Though, If you're a hardware type of guy and like to touch knobs and sliders and physical buttons, and if you work with just a limited number of audio tracks then you can do all that in Kronos just fine. (Assuming you don't have to do whole lot of editing). Of course you can do a lot more than that with Kronos, but it's very time consuming. Same thing goes for midi editing.

Obviously you do whatever works for you, but I highly recommend for you to upgrade to PT11 and use the best of both worlds.

+1

The advantage of the computer based DAW for editing and manipulating sound cannot be overstated. Just because you CAN do everything in Kronos doesn't mean you should. If your budget only allowed for the Kronos that would be one thing.

In my case, I do the work in DP on the Mac and then transfer my songs to the Kronos to take on the road.

[Corgy]

Depends on what you are doing with your DAW.

If you are recording your live playing on the Kronos track by track and 16 midi and 16 audio tracks are sufficient for this ... well, give it a try ... why not.

But if it comes to a real recording, mixing, and mastering where you will have to optimize audio tracks, messing around with midi notes and data, getting some vocals or other material ironed out and very soon you will miss a decent interface and all those handy plug-ins of your DAW badly.

Just pick out some single notes on a Kronos midi track for correction or move a midi block around, copy and paste it somewhere ... and you know what I mean.

[SanderXpander]

I know some folks do use the sequencer intensively but I would go crazy even trying to do a small project on it, being used to my computer. I guess if you'd just want to play and layer a few parts it'd be quicker but the first time you needed to edit anything at all you'd lose whatever time you gained in the beginning. Since I don't use the sequencer at all I don't mind the lack of updates but I pity anyone who has to use the event list to edit his midi parts.

[KJandKT]

Thanks for the replies...since I don't have a Kronos I wanted to see if it fit my needs before buying one. I wanted to simplify things...doesn't sound from you guys that it would do that. Too bad because probably with a VGA out, mouse ability, piano roll editor and a few things like that it could be a very good all-in-one solution for minimal expense on Korg's part.

There are no comprehensive all-in-one solutions on the market right now like were in the past (Akai, Roland 2480, etc.)


Thanks very much for the input...very helpful!

God bless

[SanderXpander]

I don't think any of those recorders ever offered good midi editing, but I could be wrong. I understand why an all in one product is nice, but really, a modern properly tweaked pc with a good DAW and perhaps Kontakt or Omnisphere kicks the ass of any synth or hardware recorder any day, for studio work.

[ed_f]

I don't think any of those recorders ever offered good midi editing, but I could be wrong. I understand why an all in one product is nice, but really, a modern properly tweaked pc with a good DAW and perhaps Kontakt or Omnisphere kicks the ass of any synth or hardware recorder any day, for studio work.

totally agree.

[Corgy]

Just a suggestion from me ...

whereas the Kronos is not a suitable replacement for a decent DAW environment, it is an inspiration for any composer and musician ... well, as far as she or he is a keyboard/piano player ...

Go and check out a Kronos by yourself - get some programs/combis under your fingers and don't be surprised too much, when you end up jamming ... jamming ... jamming ... that's why folks love this babe

[jeremykeys]

I've been using the sequencer and audio recording extensively on my Krorns but I have to admit that editing is a pain. Tight now I'm in the process of upgrading my studio so that I can record multiple tracks at the same time. I'm going to be running Cubase on a PC with a Presonus Studiolive 16.4.2 mixer.

For home recording and doing the one man band thing, the Kronos is great but I wouldn't want to record a whole band with it since it only has 2 inputs.

[Sam CA]

Kronos is what it is...a Keyboard workstation and it's a great piece of gear especially for live performance.

Kronos or any other keyboard hardware for that matter is never a solid recording solution. I don't care if you want to hook up a wall sized TV to it, it's still extremely limited in many ways when it comes to recording and editing. Sometimes you have that idea and you just want to get it going but instead you'll find yourself pressing whole bunch of buttons and constantly moving from one screen/menu to another, and still not be able to see the whole pic. Just little things at a time. This is not exactly inspiring for me. I would only use a workstation or arranger keyboard to record a quick idea. Then later on, move that to ProTools/Sibelius and take it from there.

Many tried to come up with high priced all in one solutions, but as far as I know all of them went bankrupt. It's a waste of money to buy a Keyboard as a primary recording workstation, unless you just want to record small projects every once in a great while.

[Niarf]

Kronos' sequencing is so bad e.g for midi : it's midi event edit like on my old X3 and I thought it was the same editing on the Krome : Midi piano roll, but not... Big lack. A daw accelerate a lot of processes =)

I want to do live songs and I wish to buy an Elektron Octatrack, I can't test one in my near store, but I think it's the best thing like my Foot Controlled KP3+ but it's not midi and I have some issue by playing straight, need to make a few tries...

CyA

[kompozer]

So I may be the lone voice of dissent. I do all of my recording now with my Kronos, two studio monitors, and a set of headphones. Audio tracks consist of guitars, bass, percussion, and sometimes vocals.

For me it's a great all-in-one. Before that, I had a Yamaha AW1600 and before that a Korg D3200. I love all-in-one boxes. I used Cubase for years, dating back to the early 1990s, and even Pro 24 (the predecessor to Cubase in the 1980s), and I do not miss the fuss of computers at all. I've had Ataris and Macs -- all long gone now.

Yes, all-in-ones have many limitations, but limitations can also be freedoms. Who needs detailed editing? If you don't like the part, just play it again. Small MIDI event tweaks are no problem on the Kronos. It has way more FX than I'll ever need. In many ways it is overkill. All I need are usually 8-10 MIDI tracks and 8 audio tracks, and this is for very complex film-type orchestral music. I write most of my music out by hand with pencil on paper, then sightread the parts into the Kronos onto MIDI tracks or audio tracks (depending on the instrument). If I screw up, I erase and re-record. Simple.

The only thing I don't do in the Kronos is final mastering. I always hire that out.

So yes, the Kronos is a very capable PC DAW replacement as long is it fits your workflow. If it does not, stick with the PC.

P.S. I do agree that the Kronos as a DAW replacement works best for one-man bands. I would not care to record more than one or two musicians at once with it.

[Sam CA]

So I may be the lone voice of dissent. I do all of my recording now with my Kronos, two studio monitors, and a set of headphones. Audio tracks consist of guitars, bass, percussion, and sometimes vocals.

For me it's a great all-in-one. Before that, I had a Yamaha AW1600 and before that a Korg D3200. I love all-in-one boxes. I used Cubase for years, dating back to the early 1990s, and even Pro 24 (the predecessor to Cubase in the 1980s), and I do not miss the fuss of computers at all. I've had Ataris and Macs -- all long gone now.

Yes, all-in-ones have many limitations, but limitations can also be freedoms. Who needs detailed editing? If you don't like the part, just play it again. Small MIDI event tweaks are no problem on the Kronos. It has way more FX than I'll ever need. In many ways it is overkill. All I need are usually 8-10 MIDI tracks and 8 audio tracks, and this is for very complex film-type orchestral music. I write most of my music out by hand with pencil on paper, then sightread the parts into the Kronos onto MIDI tracks or audio tracks (depending on the instrument). If I screw up, I erase and re-record. Simple.

The only thing I don't do in the Kronos is final mastering. I always hire that out.

So yes, the Kronos is a very capable PC DAW replacement as long is it fits your workflow. If it does not, stick with the PC.

P.S. I do agree that the Kronos as a DAW replacement works best for one-man bands. I would not care to record more than one or two musicians at once with it.

You said it yourself!!! Kronos is ok for small midi/Audio editing. Unless you have whole lot of free time on your hand to keep editing velocity values and keep inserting different articulations on the same channel (that's if those articulations even exist in Kronos)... For thick arrangements or anything that requires detailed work, Kronos is definitely the wrong choice.

Who needs editing???........ Everybody does. You do too!