KRONOS Relaunched!

[stuartpryer]

Hi,

Yes. You are correct, those expansions have to be purchased for Kronos 2 or earlier. But the new OS suggests support for all the Kronos models will continue...

Stu

[ITguy54]

If they're not planning on the actual launch until May, that means we're looking at 2026, maybe even 2027 before the Kronos 4, i.e. an actual new version with a substantial feature set improvement that would make selling my Kronos 2 worthwhile. Nonetheless, as annoying as I find the "3" label, I see this as good news overall since with a newer motherboard a K4 is now actually possible.

Why is the “3” label annoying? There was the original Kronos, the Kronos X, and then the Kronos 2. All three are substantially the same with some tech improvements. That’s exactly what has happened with the “3”. Is “2” an annoying label as well? Why would there be a “4” as soon as 2027? The next step would be a new platform, with a new name, like what happened when the OASYS was replaced with the Kronos.

[ChrisDuncan]

Why is the “3” label annoying? There was the original Kronos, the Kronos X, and then the Kronos 2. All three are substantially the same with some tech improvements. That’s exactly what has happened with the “3”. Is “2” an annoying label as well? Why would there be a “4” as soon as 2027? The next step would be a new platform, with a new name, like what happened when the OASYS was replaced with the Kronos.

It's worth noting that I haven't been a Kronos guy from the beginning like a lot of you. I started with what ended up being the latest & greatest Kronos 2, so I wasn't around for the evolution from Kronos to X to 2.

My annoyance was that this upgrade, in the software world, would at best be a dot release, e.g. Kronos 2.1. It feels like Kronos 3 is massively overstating the difference in the new product. They had to change the motherboard because the old one was no longer available. It's not like they added any significant new functionality.

That said, it's also possible that I just don't know what I'm talking about (wouldn't be the first time). Were the upgrades to X and 2 equally trivial?

[Kevbo]

Why is the “3” label annoying? There was the original Kronos, the Kronos X, and then the Kronos 2. All three are substantially the same with some tech improvements. That’s exactly what has happened with the “3”. Is “2” an annoying label as well? Why would there be a “4” as soon as 2027? The next step would be a new platform, with a new name, like what happened when the OASYS was replaced with the Kronos.

It's worth noting that I haven't been a Kronos guy from the beginning like a lot of you. I started with what ended up being the latest & greatest Kronos 2, so I wasn't around for the evolution from Kronos to X to 2.

My annoyance was that this upgrade, in the software world, would at best be a dot release, e.g. Kronos 2.1. It feels like Kronos 3 is massively overstating the difference in the new product. They had to change the motherboard because the old one was no longer available. It's not like they added any significant new functionality.

That said, it's also possible that I just don't know what I'm talking about (wouldn't be the first time). Were the upgrades to X and 2 equally trivial?

I couldn't agree with you more. This "Kronos 3" is nothing more than a Kronos 2.1. For anyone to believe anything other than that is just fooling themselves. And Korg is no dummy. They are going to do what they can to market it as a new release. They kept focusing on load time, and although that is a significant improvement, it, by no means, constitutes the name Kronos 3.

[ITguy54]

Why is the “3” label annoying? There was the original Kronos, the Kronos X, and then the Kronos 2. All three are substantially the same with some tech improvements. That’s exactly what has happened with the “3”. Is “2” an annoying label as well? Why would there be a “4” as soon as 2027? The next step would be a new platform, with a new name, like what happened when the OASYS was replaced with the Kronos.

It's worth noting that I haven't been a Kronos guy from the beginning like a lot of you. I started with what ended up being the latest & greatest Kronos 2, so I wasn't around for the evolution from Kronos to X to 2.

My annoyance was that this upgrade, in the software world, would at best be a dot release, e.g. Kronos 2.1. It feels like Kronos 3 is massively overstating the difference in the new product. They had to change the motherboard because the old one was no longer available. It's not like they added any significant new functionality.

That said, it's also possible that I just don't know what I'm talking about (wouldn't be the first time). Were the upgrades to X and 2 equally trivial?

I couldn't agree with you more. This "Kronos 3" is nothing more than a Kronos 2.1. For anyone to believe anything other than that is just fooling themselves. And Korg is no dummy. They are going to do what they can to market it as a new release. They kept focusing on load time, and although that is a significant improvement, it, by no means, constitutes the name Kronos 3.

Then by your logic, the Kronos 2 should have been called the Kronos 1.2. For anyone to believe anything else, they’re just fooling themselves.

[ITguy54]

What you complainers are really saying is this: Korg should have a new platform other than Kronos, by now.

[ChrisDuncan]

What you complainers are really saying is this: Korg should have a new platform other than Kronos, by now.

Actually, what I'm really saying is this: be honest.

1. The Kronos was discontinued but is now available for purchase again. Rejoice!
2. We've released Kronos 3, which has significant feature upgrades from the K2.
3. We've released a new platform, the WhatComesNext, V1.

The release of the K3 falls under category 1. The 3 implies a new product. It's not. This is the same feature set with some updated internals that allow them to sell it again. And that's fine, there's plenty of reason to rejoice. Just tell it like it is. The marketing bs makes everyone roll their eyes.

I expect sometime in the next year or two that category 2 will become true, regardless of name, at which point it will be a new product.

I don't anticipate category 3 anytime in the foreseeable future. The Kronos is so full featured that it's hard for me to even envision what a new platform would be.

I'm not upset in the slightest by the re-release of the Kronos. I think it's great that they're keeping it alive, because it's a world class machine. I merely disagree with them pretending that it's a new product.

[ChrisDuncan]

Then by your logic, the Kronos 2 should have been called the Kronos 1.2. For anyone to believe anything else, they’re just fooling themselves.

This speaks to my previous question, which you didn't answer.

Were the X and 2 releases equally trivial, i.e. the hardware changed but the feature set didn't?

If so, I would agree with 1.2. If not, then the X and 2 were justified.

[ChrisDuncan]

I couldn't agree with you more. This "Kronos 3" is nothing more than a Kronos 2.1. For anyone to believe anything other than that is just fooling themselves. And Korg is no dummy. They are going to do what they can to market it as a new release. They kept focusing on load time, and although that is a significant improvement, it, by no means, constitutes the name Kronos 3.

It's a lot like what Roland did with the Fantom last year. I have a regular Fantom 7. They released a new OS update, but it cost money, ~$200. It included the Enzyme plugin that cost, wait for it, ~$200. The OS update beyond that was trivial in terms of functionality. I had already decided that I didn't want Enzyme because I had no use for it. But to keep the OS up to date, I spent the money. (Roland didn't score any points with this move).

Not long after, Roland announced a "new product," the Fantom EX. It's not a new product. It's just an x.1 update to the existing OS, and forces you to buy another sound library. Roland acknowledges that there is zero difference between their "new" Fantom EX product and my updated Fantom 7, except for having EX on the label.

If you think about the fact that the "new" Kronos includes the Italian piano, the parallels are hard to miss. It's a really clumsy marketing move by both companies. They don't have anything new to offer (Roland is notorious for just repackaging of their 80/90s gear in a different box over and over again), so they put a new number / label on an existing product and pretend that it's new. Of all the various types of musicians in the world, keyboard players tend to be the geekiest and most intellectual (yes, I'm a guitarist). Do these guys really think their market is so stupid that they won't see right through this sort of thing?

The one place where Korg gets serious style points is the price. I had to cough up another 200 bucks to Roland just to keep my OS up to date, because they reeeeally want to sell Enzyme. Korg includes the Italian piano (a comparably priced library), and what's the list price for the re-released Kronos? Exactly what I paid for my Kronos 2 in 2018.

Now that's impressive.

[ChrisDuncan]

Oops. Hit quote when I was trying to edit a post.

Need. More. Coffee.

[ITguy54]

Then by your logic, the Kronos 2 should have been called the Kronos 1.2. For anyone to believe anything else, they’re just fooling themselves.

This speaks to my previous question, which you didn't answer.

Were the X and 2 releases equally trivial, i.e. the hardware changed but the feature set didn't?

If so, I would agree with 1.2. If not, then the X and 2 were justified.

Since you don’t want to use a search engine to answer your question, let Piano Man Chuck help you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DaK4cnorM ... MgMg%3D%3D

After watching the video, it should be OBVIOUS that Korg has not done anything different, in calling this the Kronos 3. Every generation of Kronos has had the SAME sound engines, but with some enhancements. So there’s no foul here. Period.

Some people think the new Kronos has come out to buy Korg some time to work on something really new. Who knows? But to think there is nothing that could be added to the current sound engines, shows little imagination. Adding the programmable digital oscillator from the Prologue alone would open up new rooms to explore.

[ChrisDuncan]

Since you don’t want to use a search engine to answer your question, let Piano Man Chuck help you.

Not sure I understand the snark.

You made a statement, I asked a question. Google didn't make the statement, you did, so I asked you.

[ITguy54]

Since you don’t want to use a search engine to answer your question, let Piano Man Chuck help you.

Not sure I understand the snark.

You made a statement, I asked a question. Google didn't make the statement, you did, so I asked you.

Your point doesn’t make sense, Google never makes statements in a forum. My point is, it didn’t take much effort on my part to find it. But the comment is really directed at Keybo, who thinks this should be called the Kronos 2.2.

As the video shows, in each generation change, there were changes to the feature set as well.

[blazerunner]

Come on guys I know new gear makes us all a little blood thirsty but we're all fellow Kronos players aren't we? Let's leave the battle royals to people on reddit.

I know the Kronos 3 just feels like reheated Kronos 2 leftovers but that's always been Korg's MO with workstations. They release the same old nut in a new shell. I know we're all really disappointed that this isn't truly a new Keyboard release and Korg hasn't answered any of our requests with this new version of the Kronos but that's just how it's going to be with them I guess.

It's a "workstation" keyboard that's main attraction "the sequencer" has been severely neglected since Korg first released the Kronos. The Kronos Workstation keyboard has been reduced to a 9 sound engine rompler with a neat-oh load up time now. Korg did that to the Kronos because they failed to continue to update it and optimize it's capabilities. If they made a Kronos 3,4,5, 99 etc. it wouldn't matter. It will always have the flaw of being a Kronos. An aging keyboard that's becoming less useful as the world around it becomes more advanced. Quick Boot up times and a screen with some adjustable options would be impressive if this were still 2014. We have to accept that although it's nice of Korg to blow the dust off the Kronos and put it back on store shelves but we have to understand that the Kronos line has long since been a relic for some time now. The features many of us wanted to see or rather the keyboard from Korg that we want to see is a brand new Keyboard Workstation with 2025 technology that fits right in with the current era and time.

Every workstation Korg has ever released was suitable for that era of music. The M1 revolutionized the 80's , The Trinity revolutionized the 90's. The Triton revolutionized the early 2000's. The Kronos has revolutionized workstation technology with the assist from the Oaysis. In 2025 through Korg has not released a workstation that has revolutionized anything. There's no new sounds or crazy ideas they're stuffing into a workstation for us to create an era of new music with. It's just more or less that the Korg of today isn't the same as the Korg of old. They let the job they used to do go to plug in's and vsts and Daws. All the things that aren't a Workstation Keyboard instead of making a Workstation that is all those things and beyond. It doesn't seem like Korg believes in their own capabilities if a Kronos 3 is the best they can do in 2025.

So there's no need to fight or argue about this keyboard. It's just another Kronos like the one we already have with a shinier screen. It's not going to change or fix any of the actual problems that face the aging Kronos. The Kronos will just become less useful as other gear becomes more useful and we'll gravitate towards that instead. It's the natural evolution of audio equipment. If Korg can't produce a keyboard that integrates with a DAW and soon or develop their own DAW environment just for it than than yes. The time of the Korg Workstation will indeed be over.

So again it really matters not the number if it's still just a Korg Kronos in 2025. As for myself I don't expect much from Korg on the Workstation side of things. It's been years...too many years and they've been inactive for far too long. I will continue to use my Kronos 2 as I always have but I've learned not to put too much faith in a single manufacturer because what you keep wishing for my never come. So whatever the Kronos is sadly lacking find it in whatever other offering and use that. You can't make the Kronos into what it will never be.

[ChrisDuncan]

In 2025 through Korg has not released a workstation that has revolutionized anything.

In fairness, neither have Yamaha or Roland. I'm honestly not sure what revolutionary new thing awaits. They're all damn fine keyboards.

I think the big opportunity, which none of them have really dug into, would be significant DAW integration. Yamaha is on the right path with their Montage plugin, and its DAW mode is also very convenient. Roland has decent support for Logic, whom I'm guessing has a more robust api than the Mackie MCU protocol. Support for Cubase (my DAW) is okay but not impressive. And if I recall, I don't think Korg even has software that runs on Windows anymore if you're 64 bit. Full fledged librarians for Mac and Windows would be another big win, although Yamaha does a bit of this with their plugin.

However, all of these things are really more computer stuff. If I was in charge of R&D at any of the big three, I'd be at a loss in terms of what the next new workstation revolution would be.

In the meantime, the Kronos is still an excellent piece of kit.