What's your Lower Tier if your Kronos is an Upper Tier?

Broadwave · Post by **Broadwave** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:17 am

My bottom board is an XV-88 (used as a controller) with the K61 above that.

Luckily, I got the XV for a stupidly cheap price after I realised that I should have bought a Kronos 88 in the first place, but it's a nice combination that I'm happy with... for the moment.

I'm still trying to decide if I should get a K88 though.

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:53 pm

The Kronos 73 is my Main board which I use with a Motif XS7 that used to be my "Main" (Motifs SUCK as controllers IMO Stupid "Master mode")

FWIW, I'm a former EX5 owner which I let go for all the known issues.

To be honest, other than the Hammond SK1 (Still trying to get Kronos Organ to rival it) the only other board that seemed it may compliment the Kronos was a Roland V-Synth. At least Sonically. That new Prophet 6 sure looks tasty if you can justify it! Was never a Nord fan so...

Maybe the Roland FA series might be cool? Has some superNatural sounds and looks pretty decent.

Part of me wishes OpenLabs was still around with a modern keyboard that put Windows under the covers receptor style and offered a VSTi workstation that was as seamless as the Kronos.

I'm DYING to replace my Motif, but really the Kronos is the only keyboard that's really worth having for the past couple of years IMO.

I detest the idea of having two of the same keyboard, but that's just me.

If I was using strictly as a controller my Kawai K5000s (GREAT sounds, but B & B not so much) has one of the sweetest keybeds I've EVER touched!

In the meantime, I'm kinda waiting for a non-crippled Integra keyboard or for when Yamaha actually releases something serious again. Possibly Novation if they ever expand beyond the "bedroom" market.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:53 am

Since quite some time I have the following strategy:

- My latest bought (most modern) keyboard on the upper tier
- My previous one on the lower tier.

I normally get all my sounds from my most modern keyboard ( so the lower tier keyboard is the slave).

Currently on stage, my upper tier keyboard is a Kronos, my lower is a Triton Extreme.

I use my M50 at home as lower tier keyboard, which was before my upper tier keyboard, but since it has no aftertouch I don't use it on stage anymore.

Before that The M50 was upper tier, Extreme lower tier.
Before that Extreme upper tier, N264 lower tier.
Before that N264 upper tier, X5 lower tier.
Before that X5 upper tier, Kawai K4 lower tier (quite a big mistake to buy the K4 btw).
Before that only a K4 (you have to start somewhere).

Mighty_Ferguson · Post by **Mighty_Ferguson** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 4:31 pm

Using a Roland VR-700 as a bottom board. I'm using it as a controller with all sounds coming from the Kronos2 61 on top. The VR-700 has 76 waterfall keys and physical drawbars, and after jumping through quite a few hoops I've got its drawbars controlling the Kronos CX-3 drawbars. I can also use the VR-700 internal sounds in a pinch if something goes wrong with the Kronos.

Derek Cook · Post by **Derek Cook** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:11 pm

danatkorg wrote:my lower tier
is also
a KRONOS

Now, why does that not surprise me?

-----

Thanks for all the comments, everybody; plenty of options to check out there.

I'll probably stick with the EX5 for this year, and, assuming the gigs start giving me a good income for toys, it might well be another Kronos. I'm planning on getting all of my soft synths onto a new laptop as well.

EXer · Post by **EXer** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 11:49 pm

EX5 in the studio, EX5R + master kb (RD-700) on stage.

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:56 am

I use the Casio PX-5S. When paired with my Kronos, it's just a controller. The PX is awesome because you get a VERY light keyboard - 24 lbs - but still have a wonderful 88 key weighted keybed. I use it alone for smaller gigs.

Roadman · Post by **Roadman** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:50 pm

Depends what your doing, but I work live, and recently wtarted using kronos 61 as top board, on bottom and use a yamaha mox 8, acts as stage piano, good piano and Rhodes sounds, but also has good range of yamaha sounds from Motif etc. it's very light, for weighted keys board, and reasonably priced

Bachus · Post by **Bachus** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:53 am

If i get my Kronos 88, my upper tier will be a Tyros 5...

M-Prod · Post by **M-Prod** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 7:42 pm

A Roland RD700 GX. Amazing weighted keys, but still i cannot get it to connect to the kronos as it connects to it's own pianos. Although the sounds of the kronos are superior, i often prefer playing (piano) on the RD700gx itself.

M-Prod · Post by **M-Prod** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:13 pm

EXer wrote:EX5 in the studio, EX5R + master kb (RD-700) on stage.

Hi EXer
What are your settings for velocity in both the kronos and RD?

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:25 pm

M-Prod wrote:A Roland RD700 GX. Amazing weighted keys, but still i cannot get it to connect to the kronos as it connects to it's own pianos. Although the sounds of the kronos are superior, i often prefer playing (piano) on the RD700gx itself.

Use to have the rd700GX1 and loved its feel. You should be able to use "setups " to access the Kronos and either mute or turn off the RD sounds

I enjoyed using the RD setups when I had multiple boards/modules some yrs ago.

Miguel Pinheiro · Post by **Miguel Pinheiro** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:52 am

I use a Korg X5D under my Kronos 61. Why?? Because of AI2 Engine of Course.

I would (REALLY) appretiate if Korg released AI2 patch of multisamples or something similar to have those amazing sounds back again. I play in a Nightwish cover band so I need the AI2 strings for emulating the songs perfectly.

I also own a Casio Privia PX150. I use it for controlling Kronos' pianos. Amazing keyboard action and it is very light too.

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:09 pm

VAX77

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 7:15 pm

Miguel Pinheiro wrote: I play in a Nightwish cover band so I need the AI2 strings for emulating the songs perfectly

Nightwish cover band? Wow! Can't believe there's a market for that! Awesome bro!