Detailed ROM Info??

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:54 pm

Apart from the $25 stick of RAM and a bigger SSD (which you won't need right off the bat), the X is actually no different from the regular Kronos.

Also, perhaps not for now, but keep an eye on the Access Virus TI series. They have top of the line VST-integration and (coupled with an active user community) would give you all the synth patches you would ever need. They're quite affordable if you can bring yourself to buy second hand.

xp50player · Post by **xp50player** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:00 pm

the Kronos X just has a bigger HD, full of demo versions of the exp libraries and more RAM. I upped my RAM for $12 and I'm happy. You can add second SSD on your own too. I wouldn't expect too much from a Korg VST remote plug-in for editing. It is big-time laggy in my exp. I just use the editor program as a bank librarian and tweak the keyboard itself for any editing. The biggest thing is Kronos has just about every type of synthesis, and it's expandable/upgradable. None of that on Krome. After the Kurz, Z1, CX3, XP30, I realized nothing less than the Kronos would make me happy.

uniformedservices1969 · Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:20 am

xp50player · Post by **xp50player** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:58 am

The Kronos and KronosX have identical actions. The 61 keys say semi-weighted but are much closer to synth action than the Kurz PC3LE. The 73 and 88 keys both have the RH3 action, same as my SV-1. The Krome lists a semi weighted action on the 61 but no aftertouch. The larger Krome models use the lesser quality NH Natural Hammer action. I don't think $3000 is too much for a 61 key synth, especially one that does everything and would have cost $9000 only a couple ys ago. The most revered poly synths are more than $3k: Matrix 12, JP8, Waldorf Wave, MemoryMoog, Solaris. As for longevity, the Kronos prob has more off the shelf computer parts than anything else other than the OASYS and I don't think it will be hard to keep running for years, save a power supply or two. It is expensive for me too but once I ruled out the others, I just looked for the best financing: 18 mos no interest and cut back on a lot of other stuff.

uniformedservices1969 · Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:20 am

mocando · Post by **mocando** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:29 am

I've seen ideas like the Studioblade wandering around for quite some time. Still, pros use Korg, Yamaha or Roland workstation. Now why is that? In my opinion, stability and performance. Performance as in lack of latency, and stability, because it would be really embarrassing to suffer a BSOD in the middle of a song, having to reboot your keyboard.

For me, a Music PC is good for a studio, but I will never take it to a gig. Is simply not practical. Again, is just me. Others experiences might vary.

With the Kronos, for 3K you get bullet proof performance, normalized interface, and ability to combine several synth instruments in a single combi, layered, split, or across multiple keybeds via midi mapping, but using a contained solution with high reliability.

Since I can't afford a Kronos at this time, I'll go with the Krome.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:11 am

Kronos 61 and X 61 both have the familiar M3 keybed. So depending on which one you had you should know exactly how it feels.

Jocab · Post by **Jocab** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:53 pm

The VST implementation of the Krome is no different from that of the M3. Also, without some form of USB audio it can hardly be considered "seamless PC integration" because if the Krome is used multi-timbrally you will have to submix pans, levels and fx sends outside of your DAW. You can only feed a single stereo anologue signal from the Krome to your PC audio input. By comparison the MOX has 2 and the Virus has 3 USB audio channels in addition to their analogue channels.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:20 pm

From what I read elsewhere, I believe that--apart from the piano, EP, and drums--the Krome will have almost the same sound set as the M50.

I own an M50 and a Kurz PC361. I gig more with the M50, because its 73 keys and 17 lbs is much more gig friendly... but I think the Kurz sounds better, despite having a much smaller ROM.

Regardless of what the keybeds are called, the PC361/M3-61/Kronos-61 keybeds do feel similar... above average synth actions. Some other keybeds that are called "semi-weighted" are the Nord Electro 3 and Kurzweil PC3, and they feel completely different from each other (and I don't like either of them very much... I find them "worst of both worlds" in that they are not as good for organ/synth as the ones I mentioned above, while still being very unsatisfying for piano). Point being... don't evaluate a keyboard based on what label is used to describe it.

Since it sounds like you want a weighted 88 workstation, in the under $2k range, the options are the Krome, the MOX, and maybe a good buy on the Kurz PC3LE8 (though you'd also want to add the editor for that). But you could also get a 61-key board, and trigger it with a low-cost 88 action via MIDI, and that could open up some more options. If you can stretch for a good deal on a Kronos 61, you could drive it from a Korg SP170 you could add when you can afford a little more (or a similar low cost Casio or Yamaha). Or if you want to keep the synth cost lower, there may still be some good deals to be found on a Kurz PC361.

uniformedservices1969 · Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:44 pm

uniformedservices1969 · Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:59 pm

SanderXpander wrote:Kronos 61 and X 61 both have the familiar M3 keybed. So depending on which one you had you should know exactly how it feels.

If one is marketed as being synth-action & the other is advertised as semi-weighted-when in fact,they're both identical...then Korg has some explaining to do.

The only way for me to find out what's what,is to just buy one & feel for myself.

uniformedservices1969 · Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:06 pm

uniformedservices1969 · Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:17 pm

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:39 pm

uniformedservices1969 wrote:I had the PC3LE6 and the semi-weighted action was excellent...but the lack of PC integration made me sell it.

Just goes to show how individual all this is... I don't like that action very much. No matter what they call them, you just don't know until you play them. Regardless, since you already know that the Kurz and MOX won't work for you, that basically leaves the Korg... though if you end up not satisfied with that either, then what do you do? Nothing is perfect...