Kronos Hack- DI Out on rear panel

keyboardcook · Post by **keyboardcook** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:23 pm

Yeah. The NUC looks good. I reckon that would be the safest bet.

Post by **Sharp** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:27 pm

keyboardcook wrote:I'ver done this sort of mod in the past, building x86 architecture into boards and fitting touchscreens to them- about 12 years ago. Hmmm. Think someone copied my idea??

Anyway, from experience the one thing I would say is keep in mind upgrade ability. As machines get faster etc etc.

What about looking at a nano PC inside the unit and a touchscreen on top. No big hole to cut that way, just a small hole for screen interface. It would ultimately give you more power, and would also give you the option of building in your audio card.

I'm sure if you dug deep enough into the access you could find 2 amps of a 12v signal to run it all!!

Yes, that's something I was also thinking about. I've built a few digital signage displays for local factories here so I'm using Intel NUC mini PC's quite a bit for my installs. They get has hot as hell though. MicroATX is an option too with far more flexibility.

For mounting the screen I was looking at either cutting a rectangle out of the surface of the VIRUS or copying what KORG did with the OASYS.

So tempting.

Regards
Sharp.

keyboardcook · Post by **keyboardcook** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:35 pm

Or look for a car screen that would be an easy modification.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:53 pm

keyboardcook wrote:
SanderXpander wrote:Do you have some kind of ground lift or phantom power protection going on? Just wondering what the benefit is since the regular Kronos outputs are already balanced.
Ground lift switch underneath.

Phantom protection is there as normally is a passive DI box as the transformer secondary doesn't run the primary.

Benefits of DI boxes?

Balanced jacks are all well and good.
A) On a long run across a stage, you will need very long leads, or specialist female to male jacks. Either ways, leads specific to one task
B) XLR's are usually in abundance, not specialist. Daisy chain to required length.
C) DI boxes allow you to split the signal- one to desk, one to backline
D) Low impedance signals generate less magnetic field, so extremely low risk of hum over greater distances.
F) I now have less leads to carry/maintain.worry about.
E) Just in this case, I love having the solid connection at the back panel of the Kronos. On a busy stage, having someone stand or trip on your jacks can be damaging. At least with the bigger locking XLR, the risk to danage of the keyboard internals is nullified.

Thanks, I use a DI myself for these reasons, but was wondering how you built yours. E.g. can you still split the signal? It looks like you only have XLR outs now. I also would strongly suggest NOT using locking XLR connectors. While I agree it's bad if someone trips on your lead, it's a lot worse if it's locked to your board and the whole thing keels over. I'm speaking from experience here.

keyboardcook · Post by **keyboardcook** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:50 pm

SanderExpander. No effect on normal usage. It is as though the DI box is in the normal chain, just built in to the machine. Faster set ups, faster break downs. Gets pretty hectic round my neck of the woods gig wise.

I connected the inputs of the components and the transformers directly to the out pins on the PCB that contains the audio jack, so quite literally the output is parallel, and behaves no differently than any DI.

The added benefit of the transformers protects the board from phantom power, and the warmth also of quality transformers.

I remember there being a discussion here some tome back as to Korg's decision not to include XLR outs on the Kronos, and the decision was pretty unanimous that it was a cost factor thing. After all, they put them on the SV1.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:44 pm

Cool! Resale value aside, it seems pretty practical to me!

BSV73 · Post by **BSV73** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 10:22 pm

keyboardcook wrote:Thought I would share. Have been wanting to do this since day one, but had to wait till my warranty expired!!!

Used an EMO E525 for the transformers and parts.

More hacks on the way!!!

I love it!

A tutorial on how you did it would be interesting...

What's the next mod?

keyboardcook · Post by **keyboardcook** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 10:36 pm

I took tons of photos, so a tutorial is imminent.

Next Project is ........ Sorry. Spoiler alert. But very soon.

Don't want to say anything in case it fails!!!

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 2:45 am

Nice mod. When playing live I ALWAYS use a DI and I NEVER use the sound guy's DI's. I bring my own and only use my own. This one:

If it were smaller I'd consider doing the same. Props!

-Mc

BSV73 · Post by **BSV73** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:40 am

Keyboardcook,
The 'warm' from the added transistor you mentioned, is this something you have noticed?

keyboardcook · Post by **keyboardcook** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:35 am

McHale: I' be putting together an instructional. The EMO E525 I used was bigger that the JDI. Once I got done with it, I had it well shrunk!!

BSV73: Use a cheap DI on a big system and you WILL notice a roll off of depth and clarity without doubt. The best way I can demonstrate this to you in a smaller environment is get you to use really cheap leads- the molded type with silver foil as the conductor, not wire- and get you to run it at a distance. You will see a change in character to your sound.

The concept here utilizes the same theories- magnetism, shielding and current flow.

I guess I should also point out that to have used cheaper transformers would have been to risk introducing a magnetic shield inside the keyboard chassis, as the cheaper trannys are not shielded with a cover.

There is a lot of information on the Jensen website if you want to pursue it.

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Kronos Hack- DI Out on rear panel

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