Kronos vs Access Virus

[SanderXpander]

Yes.

[nowtime]

Can any Kronos & Virus TI2 owner tell me which synth can make better pads sounds?

I find them both equally fantastic for pads. Sorry! You're going to have to get both.

[QuiRobinez]

Can any Kronos & Virus TI2 owner tell me which synth can make better pads sounds?

in my opinion for pad sounds the best synth order would be:

1. Spectrasonics Omnisphere: VST / AU instrument, but it's the absolute top for Pad sounds
2. Korg Kronos: especially when using the wave sequencing and vector functionality you can create pads that are really good
3. Virus TI: also good for pads, but these are more regular kind of pads
4. Kawai K5000S: Very hard to program but if you master additative synthesis you can create some very interesting pad sounds.

[SanderXpander]

Summary:
Depends completely on what kind of "pads" you want. E.g. my old JX-10 is super limited compared to all of these but creates amazingly warm pads that I can't match with my other gear.

[mathieumaes]

I couldn't say the Virus sounds better (well, maybe a little) but it's so much easier to operate - this was the key info I wanted to share in this post. Kronos doesn't stop at doing analog synthesis, it gives a broader range of sound capabilities. The Virus - while still having a very feature-rich sound engine - is much easier to operate and provides (imo) better live control of the sound.

btw @QuiRobinez:
Did you manage to get the USB connection working ? Can't seem to control the Virus directly with the USB connection to Kronos. It works fine on my PC, but I need an old-fashioned MIDI cable to connect it directly to my Kronos. Same goes for the audio output.

I also discovered a few weird glitches:
I had program and bank changes disabled in the global section, because I don't want my other gear to change patches on my Kronos. However, the option also seems to disable outgoing program changes. So, the "EXT" channels in Combi mode didn't change the program of the Virus unless I re-enabled the option.

I can't seem to get the program change to work at all in Sequence mode. I set one of the tracks as "EXT2", set a proper program and bank, but the Virus doesn't receive a program change, not even when in Set list mode... Haven't been able to figure that one out!

[QuiRobinez]

btw @QuiRobinez:
Did you manage to get the USB connection working ? Can't seem to control the Virus directly with the USB connection to Kronos. It works fine on my PC, but I need an old-fashioned MIDI cable to connect it directly to my Kronos. Same goes for the audio output.

that doesn't work directly to the kronos, the virus ti usb connection is completely controlled by the access driver, also the audio transfer over usb is non standard for a virus ti, that's why it also work with your current asio driver. So a midi cable connection to the kronos is the only way to do it as far as i know.

I also discovered a few weird glitches:
I had program and bank changes disabled in the global section, because I don't want my other gear to change patches on my Kronos. However, the option also seems to disable outgoing program changes. So, the "EXT" channels in Combi mode didn't change the program of the Virus unless I re-enabled the option.

This is normal behavior and documented in the kronos parameter guide. If you disable program and bank changes in the global menu then all program and bank messages in the kronos are filtered.


The way i would set it up is to set the global channel on the virus to 2 instead of 1, that way you can select programs on your kronos without effecting the virus ti.

Then if you want to change programs on the virus ti in the kronos sequencer you give two program changes:
- first a Multi program change where you can select the Multi that holds a maximum of sixteen TI programs
- optional you can send program changes to the Multi and that way select or change programs in that Multi if you want to use a lot of different ti sounds during your song. Otherwise you could use the predefined multi on your TI

Now the only thing that you have to keep in mind is that you never use midi channel 1 in the Multi on your TI, as long as you use 2 - 16 you can use those midi channels on your kronos in the sequencer to sent the program changes to on your EXT channel.

I can't seem to get the program change to work at all in Sequence mode. I set one of the tracks as "EXT2", set a proper program and bank, but the Virus doesn't receive a program change, not even when in Set list mode... Haven't been able to figure that one out!

that should work, as long if you use the correct midi channel and correct bank and program numbers.

Also check the settings Prog Change and Multi prog change in your TI config Menu, they should have the value: enabled.

[jeremykeys]

Not tha t I use Kharma a lot but I think that calling it an Arpegiator is a big mistake. I don't know what else to call it though. To me, it's kind of like comparing the AL-1 step sequencer to the main sequencer. They're both called sequencers but then again a Chevrolet Cruise and a Bugatti Vehyron are also both called automobiles. Yes, they will both get you somewhere but they are not the same.

[danatkorg]

You can set the knob mode to "snap", "jump" and "relative". Kronos kan only "jump" the controls.

In fact, the Kronos controls can either jump or catch. See the manual for details.

For instance, if you wish to "write" a program, it asks for confirmation. The hardware keys (write, exit, enter, ...) don't work in the confirmation dialog,

Exit does work, actually. Enter does not, since it's used for other purposes in the various fields.

3. The editor
The official editor is of absolute no use to me, as it doesn't add anything to the control. It does nothing more then replicate the touch screen while there's so much potential.

Sounds like you might want to read the manuals, and discover the other things that the Editor does. Hint: it's a librarian too. Even for the editing functions, the editor often (though not always) combines controls to show more at once than the Kronos touch-screen. Of course, unlike smaller instruments such as the Virus, the Kronos actually has a very large screen already; a computer editor makes less of a difference in this regard (as you yourself point out).

[slowtrain]

Dan, is there any chance the Kronos will ever work as a VSTi with 64 bit DAWs (like with an OS update), or is it a matter of the Kronos having a 32 bit computer inside? Thanks, -Jim

[SanderXpander]

If you buy the upgrade to full MidiQuest (the software the editor is based on), you get 64-bit functionality. So I think it's just a matter of contract negotiation? Of course, that's me presuming stuff, I'd love a comment from Dan!

[jeremykeys]

Can any Kronos & Virus TI2 owner tell me which synth can make better pads sounds?

I Don't know the Virus but I've heard great things about it.
The thing for me is that if I want a pad sound, I can just just look for Pads in Combi mode and find a great start right there on my Kronos. I've made a ton of pad sounds: some are very gentle and subtle while other are just great swirling messes of colour. It all depends on the sound that fit the song that I'm working on.

[Corgy]

Can any Kronos & Virus TI2 owner tell me which synth can make better pads sounds?

Yes I can, both are great. I use them each day together.

Just an example. If you look for a really vintage smooth analogue pad layer, you just can use or change one of those Polysix presets. Out of curiosity I tried to "copy" a Polysix patch to my Virus. I got it quite close, but the Kronos had more warmth. Why, ... it was the chorus of the Polysix that made the difference.

On the other hand, if you are using those PWM oscillators, Grain oscillators, or Formant oscillators of the Virus, you can create pad sounds that are not feasible with the Kronos synths.

At the end, it's a question of style of music and personal taste, but if you can afford it, use/try both and take what fit's better to your track.