Which USB audio interface to use with Kronos?

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Pandelume
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Which USB audio interface to use with Kronos?

Post by Pandelume »

I think the internal USB audio interface of the Kronos could be better replaced by an external one for sake of quality. I am thinking of the Steinberg UR 44, the MOTU M4 or the Audient iD 44. Anyone here to have used these interfaces with the Kronos and would comment on them? Or maybe other alternatives. I am using a Kronos2 61 and Win10.
enigmahack
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Post by enigmahack »

If you're only interested in recording the Kronos into a DAW or in your PC, then no. An audio interface is only going to add another point in the mix.

The reason I say this: The Kronos acts itself as an interface. When you record the Kronos into something like... Audacity, I've noticed that the waveform that is generated and recorded is *perfect* - It's a 100% accurate representation of the waveform output generated by the Kronos.

As soon as you add an external interface, unless you're 100% digital, there is going to be a degradation of quality no matter how small. No analog lines are ever going to be as 'accurate' as a digital signal, so if that's something that is important to you just keep the Kronos as the interface.

If, however, you're looking for more features like having a built-in mixer, or not needing to have your Kronos powered on while using your PC for audio... Then sure an interface makes total sense.
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Pandelume
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Post by Pandelume »

Yes i am using Audacity (and Reaper), so here it would be better to use the Kronos interface as you say.

But also i am using the Kronos for PC audio files (MP3, FLAC), and here i was hoping, that using an external interface like the Steinberg UR44 could provide a superior audio quality compared to the Kronos inbuilt audio interface. But maybe the difference would not be audible?!
enigmahack
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Post by enigmahack »

Pandelume wrote:Yes i am using Audacity (and Reaper), so here it would be better to use the Kronos interface as you say.

But also i am using the Kronos for PC audio files (MP3, FLAC), and here i was hoping, that using an external interface like the Steinberg UR44 could provide a superior audio quality compared to the Kronos inbuilt audio interface. But maybe the difference would not be audible?!
The Kronos already has a quite high-end DAC, outputs and such in general. I don't know what an interface would actually offer other than additional inputs.
Korg Kronos 88 2, Korg Kronos 73, Kurzweil K2600S
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GregC
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Post by GregC »

1 or 2 years ago, there was lots of glitch between Kronos USB and Mac OS audio. A direct connection.

IOW, when Apple did an OS upgrade, glitches started to occur with Kronos

There are dozens of posts on this.

So the workaround as I understood was to insert a Audio Interface [AI] between a Mac and Kronos.

It could also be, Apple later restored whatever audio packets they removed in their later OS ver. I gave up keeping track of all that since I had the AI

Another positive of Steinberg UR 44 is that they included certain Cubase tools for free. It seals the deal.
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