Are the new KROSS owners still happy?

[Radar942]

Bought a 61 a week ago. A couple of days later I was thinking I made a big mistake. But here's the truth. I'm actually new to keyboards and it has way too many features for someone starting out. I played in a middle school band 25 years ago (Korg DW8000, which I also recently bought for nostalgic reasons) and haven't used a keyboard since. Just piano.
My only knock is that it's not really intuitive for someone new to a workstation. I'm a pilot and I really think learning a new glass cockpit is easier than this thing! lol
But now I realize I can grow into it and that its a great sounding instrument. I'm going to start with splits and layers and slowly work into adjusting the sounds and sequencing. My dreams of pushing buttons or pedals to change multiple-tracks from verse, chorus, to bridge are way off. But I look forward to that day. With a little help from this forum

[michelkeijzers]

Remember you don't have to understand every feature to make your workstation useful ... just start simple and read/experiment ... actually it's more safe than flying a plane: you cannot just experiment in those.

[studio99]

Here's another strategy:
Korg randomly assigns drum tracks and arps to every voice and combi. Some are on by default and others you have to turn on. This is completely random as far as I can tell.
I'm setting all mine to "opt in" instead of "opt out"
That involves simple turning off the drum and arp track with the buttons on the panel and writing the voice back to the same location.
It doesn't change the settings, it simply means you turn the drum tracks and arps on only if you want them.
You can then get a better idea of the voices and combis without distraction. It's also handy if you're playing with other musicians who may not appreciate the extra instrumentation

[david7685]

Hi, now I have some experience playing the Kross 61 key out on gigs. First of all thanks to the member who suggested the good results they got with the Warm Gospel Organ program. I remembered your suggestion and used it on stage it really sounded good during several songs thru the main P.A.
I found that I turned the most heads of the horn section band members (they actually kept turning around and all smiling at me) whenever I used either the "E.P. Pre Amp wah" or the "Electric Piano Wah Wah". The guys loved it. Those two programs were not only a lot of fun to play; they also cut and blended in with the whole band's mix very well; plus those two (2) programs just plain sounded great on stage with the band.
Thanks, playing again tonight at a giant gala for Canada's Minister of Finance.
It's a huge room and I'll let you know how the Kross made out. Have a great weekend.

[byllsong]

Got mine from Sam Ash, Miami Lakes, on Thursday.
Tried it out to make everything was working.
Just got a SD 8GB card and a six-pack.
I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon checking it out.

[sheenaherself]

Hello. I was thinking of getting a Korg Kross. Out of all the keyboards on my price range, I narrowed my choice down to Kross 88 and a Kurzweil SP4-7 (an old model). Which do you think is better? That, I mean in terms of JUST the sound and action (as the Kurzweil is a stage piano and Kross is a workstation). Btw, Kurzweil sounds, for me, are really good. Any suggestions?

[Scott]

Hello. I was thinking of getting a Korg Kross. Out of all the keyboards on my price range, I narrowed my choice down to Kross 88 and a Kurzweil SP4-7 (an old model). Which do you think is better? That, I mean in terms of JUST the sound and action (as the Kurzweil is a stage piano and Kross is a workstation). Btw, Kurzweil sounds, for me, are really good. Any suggestions?

Of course sound and action is always somewhat subjective. But overall, I'd probably choose the Kurzweil for sounds, the Korg for action. But also, it depends on what sounds you're looking for. (And the reason I said Korg for action is that a full weighted action is better for piano. But neither of these actions are really good for organ.)

In general, Kurzweil and Korg have kind of taken two different approaches. Kurzweil's lowest cost board gives you pretty much the same sound as their highest priced boards, they mostly cut back on features. Korg's lower priced boards still have lots of features, but they cut back more on the sounds. For an example, the SP4 has the same basic piano as every other current Kurzweil except for the new Artis. The Kross piano is cut back from the Krome piano which is cut back from the Kronos piano. The lesser Korg units have smaller sets of ROM samples, Kurweils all have basically the same. Still, it doesn't mean you might not like some particular Korg sound better than a Kurz equivalent, or that you might not find nice Korg sounds that don't have any Kurz equivalent.

[sheenaherself]

Yes. Five stars for Kurzweil for that. That makes my gear (purchased Kurz, btw. Yay!) miles ahead of its contenders (at least, in the sound department). Downside: the SP4 don't look very nice to my eyes, and the action is (I think) light under my fingers. Still, I am ha-ha-happy.

[shaneblyth]

HI David , I am sitting with my KROSS rt now and I am having fun !! But I do agree with moontom on some things , but give it time it will just get better, but we must remember . Just how much you get for so very little $$$ !! Like I said in my other post I own KRONOS and KORG M3. Dos the KROSS have all the sounds and functions they have well no .. And I would never think it would .. So you ask am I still HAPPY !!! well YES !!! This is just one outstanding keyboard , and like I said stands on its own! For me I always look for the positives .. The best I can say is that ,I like the keyboard , I LOVE the sounds !!!!!!!!!! This KROSS even looks great sexy look to it .. Oh lets not forget it runs on BATT.. I think the handle is solid made great !! I just put in a 32 gig SDHC PNY card .. WOW over 45 hours of record time , that is just unreal !! And as for FUNCTIONS this baby is pack !! As a full time professional composer. for over 30 years now . And I will tell you I play and own many other Keyboards and Synths . I will gladly say this KORG KROSS is a home run for me and for KORG .. David I hope you get your New KROSS soon ! YOU WILL BE VERY VERY HAPPY !!!! Now I am off to go have some more fun with my Korg KROSS MUSIC IS MY LIFE ! Regards, TotallyKenny PS in less than 15 mins with my new KROSS I had a New Song idea .. KORG is gong to sell a bunch of these keyboards !!!!! Even if you own a KRONOS why not have a Korg KROSS . Take it anywhere its always ready to play and make MUSIC

Hey how you going I have a Kronos and was toying with the idea of a Kross as well. Interesting that you have both. Can you tell me why you have a Kronos and the Kross. Love to know why where and when you use either. Appreciate any input.

[tommymandel]

I've got many many synths, (I'll PM you a list of them) but no Kronos. I have been seriously checking out Kronos at Sam Ash and Guitar Center, but so far am only knocked out by the Piano experience on an 88, the playlist feature, the huge number of controls, and the screen.

For me, the only reason to own a Kross if you already have a Kronos, would be to take advantage of its extreme lightweight (9.5 lbs) - or possibly to use the TR-808 style drum programming matrix, and/or take advantage of the battery-powered operation.

Or if you operate in a Live/sequencing mode, where the Kronos is being maxed out already, and you just want a few other similar sounds online, with shorter loop points and fewer velocity layers.

Other than that, a Kross won't improve on a Kronos, in my opinion.

[PauloF]

Hey how you going I have a Kronos and was toying with the idea of a Kross as well. Interesting that you have both. Can you tell me why you have a Kronos and the Kross. Love to know why where and when you use either. Appreciate any input.

I don't own any of them but after having tried both of them, what I can say is that there is no comparison possible between those two boards as they are from different championships...

The Kross is nice and "very handy" but having a Kronos, why to bother and have a Kross ? Only because of portability? Maybe...

But is still comparing apples with oranges.

Nothing on those two boards are comparable, from the Sound engines to the features... Just two different dimensions IMHO