Kronos feedback.

[aron]

I can't wait for the manual to come out. That will be the next best thing to the unit.

[Reggmail]

danatkorg, thank you for the clarification and communication Dan.

I'm glad to help.

I don't own the Oasys, but I do read about the people who purchased it and most are complaining about the lack of support sense it's release.

Many, including myself, were disappointed when the product was discontinued after four years. Before and after that point, though, there were a number of updates to the OASYS (including updates released after we announced the discontinuation) adding new features beyond the initial release, such as:

STR-1 physical modeling synth
PolysixEX modeled analog synth
MS-20EX modeled analog synth
MOD-7 VPM, waveshaping, PCM-mangling synth
EXs3 brass and woodwinds
Over 1,600 new Programs
Over 780 effects presets
Increased polyphony for AL-1 and STR-1
Chord mode
EXi audio input
AMS Mixer "Gate"
Smoothing for Tone Adjust (for smooth, "analog" feel on the Control Surface knobs & sliders)
Poly unison
Max # of notes parameter
KARMA 2.1, including user GEs
KARMA 2.2, including smoother GE transitions
2 GB RAM support
Load/unload of EXs without restart
Lossless compression of EXs samples
Playback within the Sequencer MIDI Event Edit window
Other small goodies like EXi 1/2 transpose, step sequencer attack/decay smoothing, half damper enable/disable, etc.

The MS-20EX, PolysixEX, MOD-7, and EXs-3 were paid options; all other new features and sounds were free.

Best regards,

Dan

Thank you again Dan for your communication and clarification on this subject.

I'm sure that some Oasys owners would be pleased at the informational facts that you displayed on this subject.
If and when I see this type of accusations being made again, I will be sure to direct them here, this would be very helpful to putting many rumors to rest.

As I said earlier, my hope is that the Kronon will eventually have long term support ( Longer than my Korg Zero 8 and 4 ) and that Korg will
continue to keep an open dialogue and communication with it's consumers such as what you're doing Dan. ( Korg, please add more product specialist for open dialogue with consumers for deeper tec ideas and questions)

Although I like some of the new innovative features in the Kronos, '' and will be checking it out when it hit's the stores,'' I just want to know that the Kronos will have some stability, expansion and reasonable longevity in it's support. This type of open communication is something that would benefit us all, ( consumers as well as staff in the long run.)
Peace & blessings.

[maphill]

Dan,

Thanks for being patient and level headed with "the interwebs", which far too often jump to conclusions, exaggerate, pass along invalid information, and fail at giving others the benefit of the doubt.

Mark.

[danatkorg]

Thanks, Reggmail and Maphill - I'm happy to help.

Best regards,

Dan

[EXer]

I think the decision to "not have a tilting screen" was a super stupid big engineering mistake..

I'm not sure that a tiltable screen would be a good idea:

Having owned a laptop whose hinge mechanism sheared on more than one occasion, I'm concerned about whether the clutch mechanisms supporting the OASYS screen are strong enough. The screen is supported only by its clutches, and that's a lot of weight to be bearing backward week in, week out. What's more, unlike the screen on a laptop, which suffers no poking or prodding, you're going to be stabbing at the OASYS screen from the day that you start to use it. I have discovered that the hinges are only guaranteed for 2000 movements, which may be fine in the studio, but which may well prove inadequate for long-term, regular live use.

No, Korg should definitely put an angled screen on the Kronos like on the Trinity.

.

[McHale]

No, Korg should definitely put an angled screen on the Kronos like on the Trinity.

I agree on the 'angled' part but not as bad as the Trinity. I play mainly outdoor gigs in the warm months and the angle of the screen on the Triton is 100% completely useless in sunlight. The M50 has fewer issues. I'm afraid the Kronos is going to be as bad (if not worse) as the Triton in direct sunlight. It's practically flat!

[EXer]

But my newer Yamaha i88x and mLAN16E hardware are soon to be totally unusable as soon as I update to Windows 7 because Yamaha chooses not to update the driver. This seems to have more to do with how much devices these days interface with computers, and computers continuously change. So maybe the best we can do is be smarter buyers and watch out for that. I would never buy a Yamaha S90XS because I've heard that the only way to edit some of the deeper parameters is by using editor software on a computer. I know now that someday that editing functionality will not work (short of keeping an old computer and O/S around).

I totally agree.

I have given up buying a Clavia Nord Stage 2 for that reason.

The most interesting feature in the Nord Stage 2 is that it's the only 88 keys keyboard that can load and play .npno *and* .nsmp sample libraries.

Unfortunately, the only way to load samples into the flash memory of a Nord instrument is to use a dedicated software, which really bothers me since there is no guarantee that this software will be updated to keep working on future computer OSes.

I wrote to Clavia to suggest they add a *basic* file system to the OS of the Nord instruments that would allow the user to load samples and patches from a USB drive *directly* (i.e. without using a computer software).

They answered they have no plans to add such a file system to their instruments.

Although I fully understand that these days you can't do without a computer, my conviction is that a musical instrument should remain a self-contained device.

I believe that making a musical instrument fully computer dependent is a form of planned obsolescence...

[Reggmail]

But my newer Yamaha i88x and mLAN16E hardware are soon to be totally unusable as soon as I update to Windows 7 because Yamaha chooses not to update the driver. This seems to have more to do with how much devices these days interface with computers, and computers continuously change. So maybe the best we can do is be smarter buyers and watch out for that. I would never buy a Yamaha S90XS because I've heard that the only way to edit some of the deeper parameters is by using editor software on a computer. I know now that someday that editing functionality will not work (short of keeping an old computer and O/S around).

I totally agree.

I have given up buying a Clavia Nord Stage 2 for that reason.

The most interesting feature in the Nord Stage 2 is that it's the only 88 keys keyboard that can load and play .npno *and* .nsmp sample libraries.

Unfortunately, the only way to load samples into the flash memory of a Nord instrument is to use a dedicated software, which really bothers me since there is no guarantee that this software will be updated to keep working on future computer OSes.

I wrote to Clavia to suggest they add a *basic* file system to the OS of the Nord instruments that would allow the user to load samples and patches from a USB drive *directly* (i.e. without using a computer software).

They answered they have no plans to add such a file system to their instruments.

Although I fully understand that these days you can't do without a computer, my conviction is that a musical instrument should remain a self-contained device.

I believe that making a musical instrument fully computer dependent is a form of planned obsolescence...

I can see your point as well, what about converting the voices to a format the you could control and store yourself in flash, such as AIFF, Wave or whatever. Iv'e done this to many of my older devices before I sold or traded them.
Although it's a lot of work, it pays off in the end and I always have the sounds that I loved from my favored devices. I then can import them in my DAW, put them on flash, CF for my MPC-1000 the probabilities are endless after the conversion.

I hope that in this evolving system of computers and software would bring about third party voice & sampler developers, such as http://www.activeunit.net/softdev/48492 ... ditor.html http://www.chickensys.com/index.php
Lets face it, Wave, AIFF, REX, REX2 are formats that have been, and probably will be around regardless of the changing software or hardware.
Just my opinion.
Peace & blessings.

[MartinHines]

Not according to this link below and many others like it.
Oasys Problems and being discontinued in 2008
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/017754.html

In this particular case, I guess I join a host of many misinformed people who not only clamed they owned the Korg Oasys, but it also had bad support and a short life span.

Yes, you ARE uninformed. That thread was worthless. If you want to understand the OASYS history, you should be reading threads here at this forum.

The OASYS had great support, while it lasted. Yamaha and Roland workstations never had the enhancements the OASYS had.

Although I like some of the new innovative features in the Kronos, '' and will be checking it out when it hit's the stores,'' I just want to know that the Kronos will have some stability, expansion and reasonable longevity in it's support.

Given its price tag, I expect the Kronos to have a normal life span, which, based on history, will mean a enhancements for a few years.

No one can predict the future, and no company will continue to invest in a product if that product isn't making money.

Given your comments, I suspect your expectations about the Kronos (really any workstation) are unrealistic. If you ever get in a position where you are thinking about buying a Kronos, ONLY buy based on what the product delivers at the time of purchase. Have no expectations of "expansions and longevity" and you won't be disappointed.

[Reggmail]

Yes, you ARE uninformed. That thread was worthless. If you want to understand the OASYS history, you should be reading threads here at this forum.
The OASYS had great support, while it lasted. Yamaha and Roland workstations never had the enhancements the OASYS had.
No one can predict the future, and no company will continue to invest in a product if that product isn't making money.
Given your comments, I suspect your expectations about the Kronos (really any workstation) are unrealistic. If you ever get in a position where you are thinking about buying a Kronos, ONLY buy based on what the product delivers at the time of purchase. Have no expectations of "expansions and longevity" and you won't be disappointed.

To address your first statement, there are people on this forum who also had concerns about future Oasys enhancements as well.
I would never say that an opinion is worthless on other forums, most opinions on any forum represent the way others feel who don't express themselves on forums at all, yet their opinions can be very valid.

Time for an OASYS upgrade/update?
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... c&start=15
Official statement on the status and future of the OASYS
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... c&start=15

As far as enhancements are concern, I can only speak on Yamaha SX and it had lots of the enhancements that was needed and some that wasn't as important in my eyes. However, in order for you to make that assessment you would need to do a side by side, enhancement update comparison from Roland Fantom,Yamaha Motif XS and Korg Oasys to see which has more enhancement and support, if you have that amount of time on your hands.....more power to you.

And your last statement really will never apply to me.
I always buy base on company support, longevity, and customer service ( Never just on what the product delivers at the time ) so although this may seem unrealistic to you, it is a standard way for everything that I buy.
So on that note...You do you, and I'll do me....it's a rap.
Peace & blessings.

[MartinHines]

To address your first statement, there are people on this forum who also had concerns about future Oasys enhancements as well.

Here is your original statement I responded to:

but I do read about the people who purchased it and most are complaining about the lack of support sense it's release

I responded by pointing out that most OASYS owners were happy with the OASYS development while it was on-going. You still haven't provided any information that (1) supports your original incorrect statement and (2) invalidates my response.

I would suggest you stop talking about the OASYS since you really have no clue about its history. Finding and reading a few forum threads does NOT make you an expert on the history of the OASYS, and your posts demostrate a painful lack of knowledge about the OASYS.

[Reggmail]

To address your first statement, there are people on this forum who also had concerns about future Oasys enhancements as well.

Here is your original statement I responded to:

but I do read about the people who purchased it and most are complaining about the lack of support sense it's release

I responded by pointing out that most OASYS owners were happy with the OASYS development while it was on-going. You still haven't provided any information that (1) supports your original incorrect statement and (2) invalidates my response.

I would suggest you stop talking about the OASYS since you really have no clue about its history. Finding and reading a few forum threads does NOT make you an expert on the history of the OASYS, and your posts demostrate a painful lack of knowledge about the OASYS.

Your suggest has been denied.

OK, I do realize that you are very passionate about the Oasys, and that's your prerogative, ( Korg should hire you for their Public Relations staff...Lol ) this is observed base on your continued (passive aggressive) response not only to me, but to others who had concerns about the Oasys problems as well. (People who do own a Oasys) and are not on the thread that you aprove off - that does not make their concerns invilid as you suggested.
To address your statements, I never said that I was an expert on the history of the Oasys no more than you're one on the Yamaha and Roland products that you've spoke about.
The researcher would have to do a brake down on what where the upgrades or bug fixes on a product - some are to add enhancements or just fixing bugs and some are for doing both simultaneously.
So depending on the upgrades (Fixes), it could show that a product needed many fixes. So my point is that sometimes the most could be the worst.

My research is not base on the people who have no problems with ( Oasys ) or a product, some people will think that since they purchased a product, it's got to be the best thing since slice bread, they will defend it with their life, and if anyone has a non favorable opinion about their fanboy chosen pedestal peace on their alter, it's death to the infidels...Lol Hummm.
( it's only the % of the one's who complained about the product, ''that should have been a given'', but please excuse the lack of political correctness.)
Everyone use keyboards (products) differently, some may never use the functions where problems may occur like ( programming, sequencing, sampling and other inner functions) and may never experience problems like the Power Users will.
So as I stand by my research most who complained about the Oasys lack of support and short term support is consistent with what I'v read, again I don't need the product to do that, in fact, that could be the make or breake a deal for me.

Some of my information as I stated before, was the lack of support that other owners as well as myself ( first hand ) expereanced from Korg Zero 8 and Zero 4 mixers, Not Just The Oasys.
Although it's not a keyboard it's still the same Korg Company.
And again, many post like these below from Oasys owners.
Peace & blessings.


posted 06-29-2008 04:37 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/017754.html 10th post down along with many other clamed owners on various other forums and post.

The Oasys was a great concept although poorly executed. The synth sounds were phenomenal but as a whole I wouldn't classify it as a usable workstation. The sequencer and audio recorder were merely afterthoughts and because Korg used a 16 BIT sound card for the audio with limited track count, it couldn't be remedied without a hardware change.
Korg's inability to do significant software changes other than adding some new sound engines wasn't enough to make it what it should have been from the onset. As an Oasys owner who became disgruntled with Korg's lack of software support and bug fixes, I sold my Oasys in hope that one day they'd get it right and I'd jump back on board. Now it seems that will never happen.
I doubt there will ever be an Oasys II as the Oasys itself didn't sell well and in this business it's a numbers game. Now Korg will use variations of the Oasys technology in many other Korg products to recoup their R&D costs.
[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 06-29-2008).]

[MartinHines]

Your suggest has been denied.

You made the following statement:
"most are complaining about the lack of support sense it's release"

1) The word "MOST" implies a majority.
Since there were over 3,000 OASYS keyboards manufactured, "most" would imply a number greater than 1,500.

2) "Since its release" means just that -- starting when the keyboard was first released (April 2005)

So far you have only referenced a few threads which DEFINITELY DO NOT REPRESENT 1,500 owners. Let's say there were 100 different OASYS owners represented in those threads.

Where are the posts from the other 1,400 owners needed to support your claim of "most OASYS owners"?

Also, how can you claim people were complaining about OASYS support since its release? The OASYS was released in 2005. The handful of threads you referenced (your "research") were all created in 2008 and 2009, YEARS AFTER THE OASYS WAS RELEASED.

Where are all the posts from OASYS owners complaining about support starting in 2005?

Now, combine BOTH parts of your assertion -- MOST OASYS OWNERS COMPLAINING STARTING IN 2005, and your "research" totally falls apart.

There WERE many people who were disappointed with the early stoppage of OASYS development. There even may have been a few owners who were disappointed with the pace of OASYS development while it was ongoing. However, to make a claim that "MOST OASYS owners were complaining about OASYS development SINCE ITS RELEASE" is simply stupid and wrong.

[McHale]

Can we take the OASYS whining to the OASYS sub-forum? This is a KRONOS thread in a KRONOS sub-forum. Nobody wants to hear the whining here.

seriously...

[MartinHines]

Can we take the OASYS whining to the OASYS sub-forum? This is a KRONOS thread in a KRONOS sub-forum. Nobody wants to hear the whining here.

seriously...

No one is "whining". I am simply correcting an outrageously wrong assertion by Reggmail.