Gate 1 and gate 2 difference?

[wadeal]

I actually own a kross but there seem to be more kronos owners and both synths share these features.l have therefore posted here in the hope that more people might be able to provide an answer to my question. I have used both gate 1 and gate 2 settings in the effects to gate a reverb and a flanger and I can't hear any obvious difference between 1 and 2. The explanation of the difference is the same in the kross manual as the kronos - unfathomable. Can anyone explain the difference with some settings that provide a clearly audible idea of how these two settings differ.

[HardSync]

Can't help with an audible version this morning, but I can try to explain the difference.

Basically, the difference between the two is whether keys are being held down or not. Gate 1 will only re-trigger once you release all keys and then press a new key. Gate 2 will re-trigger with every new key press, regardless if you're already holding down other keys on the keyboard. Note that these two AMS sources are not audio based controllers that measure signal input. If you need that, then you're better of using the Stereo Gate effect... maybe...

I don't think you'd hear a great deal of difference when using these Gate1 and Gate2 AMS sources for reverb or flangers, specifically on the Wet/Dry mix and depending on how you're playing. It's probably better suited to re-triggering LFOs to restart their phase or re-triggering envelopes, etc.

For the flanger, though, you could probably use Gate1 or Gate2 in conjunction with the Common FX LFO so that the flanger sweep restarts accordingly.

Anyway, I hope that all makes sense.

[wadeal]

Much obliged.

It is the bit about the gates triggering while hands are still on the keys that I was missing and I can now see why I wouldn't notice much difference on the effects that I used.

Your explanation makes it Crystal clear.

Many thanks. I read and re-read the manual and this has been driving me nuts.

[danatkorg]

Much obliged.

It is the bit about the gates triggering while hands are still on the keys that I was missing and I can now see why I wouldn't notice much difference on the effects that I used.

Your explanation makes it Crystal clear.

Many thanks. I read and re-read the manual and this has been driving me nuts.

The description in the Kross manual seems a little obtuse, I agree. The description in the Kronos manual is quite different, and might help to reinforce the description above:

* * *
Gate1 and Gate1+Damper

Gate 1 is triggered by a new note after all notes have been released, such as at the beginning of a phrase. Gate 1+Damper is similar, except that it is triggered by a new note-on after all notes and the damper are released.

You can use this to reset the Common LFO and Common Step Sequencer. For instance, to create an effect similar to the per-voice LFO and Step Sequencer’s Key Sync Off setting, use Gate 1 + Damper as the reset source.

Gate2 and Gate2+Damper

Gate 2 is similar to Gate 1, but it triggers with every new note-on, even in the middle of a legato phrase. Gate2+Damper includes the damper pedal in the equation, as shown in the diagram below.

Note: When used as a reset controller for Common LFO and Common Step Sequencer, Gate2 and Gate2+Damper will have the same effect.

[wadeal]

Thanks for your feedback Dan.

It is really helpful to get a response direct from the "horse's mouth", so to speak.

I'm sure that Korg values it's customers, so, I'll take this opportunity to provide a bit of feedback and hopefully some constructive criticism, if I may.

"Obtuse" is not quite the word I would use to describe the Kross manual.

The manual and parameter guides weren't written by a Japanese designer whose first language clearly isn't English (as was typically the case with most synths in the 80's), but (for the Kross at least) they are poor.

In my opinion, they really undersell what would actually be a fantastic synth - if it were double the price.

I post quite regularly on the Korg Kross Facebook page.

I have some knowledge of LFOs, MIDI, Oscillators etc, and have taken the time to fight with the manual and the parameter guide and just about understand the synth's workings. I therefore get questions about how to do X,Y and Z on the Kross. In fact, the reason I have asked about the gate settings here is because I am in the process of putting together a series of Youtube videos on AMS and DMOD for the good people on the Kross Facebook page - in an English that I feel that the manual should have been written in.

I am not a teacher, software designer, developer, or programmer. Like most of your customers I am a musician (I'm actually a professional guitarist), but I know more than the average person about the workings of synths - having read widely about them over the years and fought with Cubase, VSTs, sampling and fairly advanced MIDI set ups trying to link up my guitar FX and while messing with synths.

The problem with the Kross is, that if I am struggling with the manuals and needing to "translate" them for others (including the workings of best feature, which is AMS),it strikes me you might need to take a good look at the way your manuals are put together.

Indeed, before you let them lose on the public I suggest you get some dummy like me to ask your "tech" writers some stupid questions - "like what does this mean in English?", "what does this function do" and "where and how can I use it?

I get the feeling that your manual writers are too close to the technical workings of the product and have over-estimated the knowledge of the average user, making the writing style way too "tech".

In the case of the Kross, this matters enormously, because I have seen it described as an "entry level workstation". The manual and parameter guide don't reflect this at all.

Read some of the posts on the Kross Facebook site and you might realise that the poor manual could be costing you sales, as the users clearly aren't going beyond the pre-sets - simply because they are musicians who can't figure out how to, from the manual.

The video manuals are fantastic, but they only do half the job.

At the very least, I think you should add a guide that talks about what an oscillator, filter and LFOs etc do in a language that musician's can understand.

I hope that you find this a useful critique, because I love my Kross.

Regards

Wade A Lowther (Nottingham, England)

[danatkorg]

Thanks for your feedback Dan.

It is really helpful to get a response direct from the "horse's mouth", so to speak.

I'm sure that Korg values it's customers, so, I'll take this opportunity to provide a bit of feedback and hopefully some constructive criticism, if I may.

Hi Wade,

I didn't have anything to do with the Kross manual - I only work on the Kronos, which as noted above is different - but I'll pass that on to those who do.

- Dan