A New Kronos?

[Jan1]

Strange that the new updated limited edition KRONOS still is nowhere to be found, not on KORG's site, not in any of the music stores I know.

I still wonder about the shiny workstation shell in the prototype wall @NAMM: it looks like a Krome successor, only the release of the KROME EX was in 2019, which is relatively recent.
If it is a new Chrome I think it may be like what the MODX is to the Montage: selected (and maybe further developed) engines of the KRONOS in the mid range.
But, why not a 76 key version?
If I look at the sales rank at Thomann the 76 and 88 keys versions of the Fantom outsell the 61 keys version by a wide margin.

[GregC]

Strange that the new updated limited edition KRONOS still is nowhere to be found, not on KORG's site, not in any of the music stores I know.

n.

possibly a phone call to your local dealer will be informative.

Sometimes Sweetwater gets a signal on availability for example.

Its possible Korg might be including an exS with that Limited Edition.

I vaguely recall that a Korg product specialist hinted at that during a NAMM video.

[Jan1]

Strange that the new updated limited edition KRONOS still is nowhere to be found, not on KORG's site, not in any of the music stores I know.

n.

possibly a phone call to your local dealer will be informative.

Sometimes Sweetwater gets a signal on availability for example.

Its possible Korg might be including an exS with that Limited Edition.

I vaguely recall that a Korg product specialist hinted at that during a NAMM video.

KORG will be including an extra EXS library with the new KRONOS, only which one was not sure yet at the time of the announcement.

For what it’s worth I have no plans of buying this new Kronos any time soon since I recently spent already 3000 Euros on a Fantom (which I really like a lot), but it is more out of interest that I wondered about this new Kronos.
I also need a new computer so for the time being I am out of a budget to make an expensive purchase.

And as far as the criticism on KORG’s KRONOS is concerned, I find all KORG’s workstations intuitive, flexible and easy to use because of the logical way everything is organized, in spite of the sometimes small display in relation to the number of options available on that screen.
And the KORG KRONOS has one big advantage: streaming from disk, something the Fantom (and Montage) probably will never have.

Having said that, the GUI on my Fantom is simply fantastic, and all the sequencer needs is for Roland to expand it (although I have to add that for pianoroll editing the screen is really too small).
And the keybed of my Fantom 8 is fantastic, the best I have come across in any workstation.

[GregC]

I agree.
I use to own Rolands stage piano - the Rd700 models. Great feeling key bed and action.

The Roland 88 key bed design is the best. IMO. I think Roland names it PHA-4 or something similar. Roland also knocked it out of the park with the display on the Fantom.

[Poseidon]

...The Roland 88 key bed design is the best. IMO. I think Roland names it PHA-4 or something similar...

It's PHA50 ( Roland Fantom 88 ), PHA-4 is found in cheaper models, for example in RP501R Piano. And RD-700 has older keybed, PHA II or III.
All those keybeds are enjoyable for me, but I don't like the Roland Ivory feel-G key found in FA08 workstations. Of course, other people may be OK with the action and like it. It's just my opinion.

[Bachus]

...The Roland 88 key bed design is the best. IMO. I think Roland names it PHA-4 or something similar...

It's PHA50 ( Roland Fantom 88 ), PHA-4 is found in cheaper models, for example in RP501R Piano. And RD-700 has older keybed, PHA II or III.
All those keybeds are enjoyable for me, but I don't like the Roland Ivory feel-G key found in FA08 workstations. Of course, other people may be OK with the action and like it. It's just my opinion.

All these manufactorers have top keybeds in their class A products..
Lower end products often lack this..

At the high end market, Roland allways seems to be slightly ahead of the competition, where it comes to high quallity keyfeel

[janrhansen]

...The Roland 88 key bed design is the best. IMO. I think Roland names it PHA-4 or something similar...

It's PHA50 ( Roland Fantom 88 ), PHA-4 is found in cheaper models, for example in RP501R Piano. And RD-700 has older keybed, PHA II or III.
All those keybeds are enjoyable for me, but I don't like the Roland Ivory feel-G key found in FA08 workstations. Of course, other people may be OK with the action and like it. It's just my opinion.

All these manufactorers have top keybeds in their class A products..
Lower end products often lack this..

At the high end market, Roland allways seems to be slightly ahead of the competition, where it comes to high quallity keyfeel

Thats highly up to a personal opinion on how you like your "optimal" keybed action. I bet you there is just as many musicians that will choose a Yamaha or one of the other Major brands over the rest of the crowd any day no matter the build in sound, but just because of how the keys are. And then there is of cause those strange people who for some reason think a Nord grand with a std Fatar Piano keybed is great to play on, wich is the only thing I don't get, cause if there is anything Fatar is not known for, its making quality keybeds ootb. Modded they can be ok, but afaik Nord don't mod anything. Personly I like the Korg RH3 keys. They feel solid. They are a bit heavy in the bottom if I should say anything. They actually remind me of the old Roland RD keys, back when Roland made Piano keys that actually felt like a solid wooden Piano key. (RD 2-300)

[Narioso]

Is it Fatar on Nord Grand - their homepage says

"88-note Kawai Hammer Action with advanced triple sensors "

From my MP7SE manual that might be the same keybed
"The MP7SE’s Responsive Hammer III (RH III) keyboard action recreates the distinctive touch of an acoustic grand piano, with
its realistic movement and accurate 3-sensor technology providing a smooth, natural, and highly responsive piano playing
experience. "

That is $1500 stage piano.

Going up to $3000

The newer with longer wooden keys are called from MP11SE manual
"The MP11SE utilises Kawai’s highly-regarded Grand Feel wooden-key keyboard action, which draws upon 90 years of acoustic
piano craftsmanship to provide an exceptionally realistic playing experience."

I think Kawai make their own stuff. And probably licensed the RHIII ones for Nord Grand, keeping the latest technology for themselves.

So maybe no to confuse with Fatar in this case, and bashing Nord Grand for that.

I watched Jordan Rudess in action and he has no other keybed on his signature Kronos as far as I understand.

Just putting things in perspective how awful Kronos keybed is.....


---successor to Kronos....

Maybe soon it will be cool to release having KingKorg, Prologue and Wavestate engines inside - which came after Kronos was released I think.

Reading up on Kronos some time ago it said something like 9 synth engines inside, or so.