Roland announces it's new workstation is it up with Kronos?

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:43 pm

Sharp wrote:
Francois wrote:
Sharp wrote:From what I can see, the FA06 doesn't have the following Integra banks sounds.
To be checked.

The demo guy mentions you can install all the Axial Integra-7 sounds. Perhaps it's only the engine that is the same.
The full spec is on Roland's site now, so I think that conforms it is missing all those banks I mentioned.

FA06 Spec
http://www.roland.com/products/en/FA-06 ... cts-tab-03

Integra 7
http://www.roland.com/products/en/INTEG ... cts-tab-03

Regards
Sharp.

towards the end of Sonic State vid, i recall they talked about loading all the Jup 50/80 via SD card. So I am not sure if one can do the same with "all" the Integra sound banks.

Post by **Sharp** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:29 pm

towards the end of Sonic State vid, i recall they talked about loading all the Jup 50/80 via SD card. So I am not sure if one can do the same with "all" the Integra sound banks.

Maybe, I don't know. It's all so confusing.

Take this comment for example. It will start at 44 seconds automatically for you. In the space of a few seconds it paints a picture of Integra 7 inside the FA06 and it being able to load all the sounds for the Integra 7 available from AXIAL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX2ZaaA4 ... u.be&t=44s

Technically this is true, but what's not said is the FA06 doesn't have any of the Engine/Banks I listed which is a lot, and all the sounds he's refering to on AXIAL only support a single sound engine, the SuperNATURAL Synth.

There is nothing on that site that makes any use of the other engine or expansion inside the Integra.

Regards
Sharp.

Jan1 · Post by **Jan1** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:47 pm

I wish Roland were more forthcoming with precise details.
One thing I've learned from the Fantom G is to pay close attention to the details...

Post by **Sharp** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:05 pm

KronosSoundDesigns wrote:@sharp

Just found out about the EXs91 Library and watched the Youtube video....Wow, definitely going to buy!

Sweet, thanks for your support.
Hope you get lots of enjoyment from the sounds.

Kind regards
Sharp.

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:00 pm

Sharp wrote:
Francois wrote:
Sharp wrote:From what I can see, the FA06 doesn't have the following Integra banks sounds.
To be checked.

The demo guy mentions you can install all the Axial Integra-7 sounds. Perhaps it's only the engine that is the same.
The full spec is on Roland's site now, so I think that conforms it is missing all those banks I mentioned.

FA06 Spec
http://www.roland.com/products/en/FA-06 ... cts-tab-03

Integra 7
http://www.roland.com/products/en/INTEG ... cts-tab-03

Regards
Sharp.

Echoing others, once again Roland screws the pooch!

1st, I was hoping they would get away from that whole "slots" nonsense. Memory and storage are CHEAP now (yet this has 2 vs. 4 "slots". I bet the whole SRX collection isn't even 1 GB. Probably half that. Though to be honest, in 2014 the SRX library isn't really a draw for me. Some classic JV/XV sounds on tap is cool I guess

2nd, by holding out on giving us the whole enchilada (All the supernatural and V stuff) not only are they still uncompetitive, but MANY of those once "groundbreaking" technologies are no longer impressive. I mean at this point, they're OLD! It's got V-Drums. WHO CARES? Sounds like V-organ (our CX-3 is WAY better anyway) is in there, but no control over it anyway. Meh. Other than nostalgia, there's really no excuse for PCM based synth stuff anymore unless it's acoustic instruments which some are truly excellent here.

3rd, that interface. Are we still in the 90's? It's not awful, but come on! It still IS a bit cheap looking.

I'm curious how the vocoder is. It has one! Hopefully it's better than the Kronos one (Near useless IMO).

All that said, I'm still curious. I'm looking to replace my MotifXS this year for gigging, and if it can replace what it does (the Vocoder will be the deal breaker believe it or not) and the usability is better in person, it could still be cool. The beauty of the Kronos is I can sample the Motif sounds that are unique and take them with me.

Back to the FA06, it's pretty cheap and crazy light which is nice, however I wish they made a pro workstation instead of those half baked (IMO) just WEIRD Jupiters they came out with. I'll be looking to Yamaha come NAMM to see if they finally change it up from the current Motif Line. Maybe Novation will give me a nice surprise with a full sized key multitimbral mini nova! One can dream...

And of course, REALLY hoping Korg has OS upgrades for the Kronos instead of a new workstation this NAMM!

xp50player · Post by **xp50player** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:06 pm

One thing that turns me off about these lower line synths are the crappy keybeds. They may have tons of sounds and features, but I think keyboard players get the shaft on playability of lower line instruments. A Squire guitar or Stage Custom drumset can be just as playable as a pro axe if set up right, but there is no improving a crummy keybed.

Synthoid · Post by **Synthoid** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:29 pm

xp50player wrote:One thing that turns me off about these lower line synths are the crappy keybeds. They may have tons of sounds and features, but I think keyboard players get the shaft on playability of lower line instruments.

True, but unfortunately that's the way things have been going the last few years. Probably not gonna change any time soon either.

shaneblyth · Post by **shaneblyth** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:40 pm

NuSkoolTone wrote:
Sharp wrote:
Francois wrote: I'm looking to replace my MotifXS this year for gigging, and if it can replace what it does (the Vocoder will be the deal breaker believe it or not) and the usability is better in person, it could still be cool. The beauty of the Kronos is I can sample the Motif sounds that are unique and take them with me.

Back to the FA06, it's pretty cheap and crazy light which is nice, however I wish they made a pro workstation instead of those half baked (IMO) just WEIRD Jupiters they came out with. I'll be looking to Yamaha come NAMM to see if they finally change it up from the current Motif Line. Maybe Novation will give me a nice surprise with a full sized key multitimbral mini nova! One can dream...

And of course, REALLY hoping Korg has OS upgrades for the Kronos instead of a new workstation this NAMM!
If your looking to replace your motif for gigs and want those sounds the MOXF is looking good. Nice n light but all the motif sounds etc.

plisken · Post by **plisken** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:52 pm

I understand why they went the route they did with this new keyboard but man... I was hoping they would take on the Kronos head on!

This keyboard seems great but I don't think it would be a replacement to the Kronos, but a great addition I think. Especially for those legacy JV sounds on there.

Synthoid · Post by **Synthoid** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:00 pm

shaneblyth wrote:If your looking to replace your motif for gigs and want those sounds the MOXF is looking good. Nice n light but all the motif sounds etc.

Ah yes, and with Yamaha's convoluted user-interface... a real treat!

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:27 am

This keyboard is for the next generation of kids who's parents will buy for their bedroom and gigging with other school kids.

This is not a professional keyboard. I believe the other three manufacturers: Cursweil, Yamahaha, and Robland cannot come up with a Kronos equivalent. Ten years have virtually passed since the introduction of Korg Oasys and the other three are still playing with slot cards, limited ram, silly arpeggio patterns...and a whole lot of other limited functionality.

However, I must give credit to the other three for solid keybeds.

Regards
Vas

shaneblyth · Post by **shaneblyth** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:47 am

billysynth1 wrote:This keyboard is for the next generation of kids who's parents will buy for their bedroom and gigging with other school kids.

This is not a professional keyboard. I believe the other three manufacturers: Cursweil, Yamahaha, and Robland cannot come up with a Kronos equivalent. Ten years have virtually passed since the introduction of Korg Oasys and the other three are still playing with slot cards, limited ram, silly arpeggio patterns...and a whole lot of other limited functionality.

However, I must give credit to the other three for solid keybeds.

Regards
Vas

KronosSoundDesigns · Post by **KronosSoundDesigns** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:05 pm

Sharp wrote:
KronosSoundDesigns wrote:@sharp

Just found out about the EXs91 Library and watched the Youtube video....Wow, definitely going to buy!
Sweet, thanks for your support.
Hope you get lots of enjoyment from the sounds.

Kind regards
Sharp.

Yep! I sure will. I will definitely post tunes once I have that Library, some of the best Guitars I have heard since Omnisphere.

Joe Gerardi · Post by **Joe Gerardi** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:15 pm

xp50player wrote:One thing that turns me off about these lower line synths are the crappy keybeds. They may have tons of sounds and features, but I think keyboard players get the shaft on playability of lower line instruments. A Squire guitar or Stage Custom drumset can be just as playable as a pro axe if set up right, but there is no improving a crummy keybed.

From something I posted on another forum:

Not for me. No aftertouch, so sale.

We are letting the companies get away with this. The keyboard is our interface to the music, not the layout. They keep trying to make the layout do more, and the keyboards do less. The feel is getting worse, the performance is getting worse, the quality of the keybed is getting worse, and the features (i.e.: aftertouch) are disappearing.

And we still buy them.

Look: if Kawai could market the K1, and Yamaha the DX11 with aftertouch back then for a grand, then the other companies can do it now. I understand that simple keyboard players don't care about it, but *musicians* absolutely do, and as such, expect to see it in the keyboards they buy. Why am I forced to always buy the top-end workstation just to get aftertouch, paying hundreds more for features I *don't* need or want (can you say Karma?) just to get aftertouch?

It's akin to guitarists: imagine how a guitar touted as a "performance instrument" (as this is) would sell today if they omitted the wiggle stick...

..Joe

plisken · Post by **plisken** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:21 pm

Joe Gerardi wrote:
xp50player wrote:One thing that turns me off about these lower line synths are the crappy keybeds. They may have tons of sounds and features, but I think keyboard players get the shaft on playability of lower line instruments. A Squire guitar or Stage Custom drumset can be just as playable as a pro axe if set up right, but there is no improving a crummy keybed.
From something I posted on another forum:

Not for me. No aftertouch, so sale.

We are letting the companies get away with this. The keyboard is our interface to the music, not the layout. They keep trying to make the layout do more, and the keyboards do less. The feel is getting worse, the performance is getting worse, the quality of the keybed is getting worse, and the features (i.e.: aftertouch) are disappearing.

And we still buy them.

Look: if Kawai could market the K1, and Yamaha the DX11 with aftertouch back then for a grand, then the other companies can do it now. I understand that simple keyboard players don't care about it, but *musicians* absolutely do, and as such, expect to see it in the keyboards they buy. Why am I forced to always buy the top-end workstation just to get aftertouch, paying hundreds more for features I *don't* need or want (can you say Karma?) just to get aftertouch?

It's akin to guitarists: imagine how a guitar touted as a "performance instrument" (as this is) would sell today if they omitted the wiggle stick...

..Joe

wiggle stick 0_o? you mean the whammy bar?

and I totally agree with you. No excuse from them to not include aftertouch.