No new Workstation @ namm

[karmathanever]

Yes!! I reckon this will be announced at NAMM as the new Korg workoutstation

[tcornishmn]

Seems like we are aren’t satisfied with Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Kurz...

I feel like the missing secret sauce is the lack of user-friendliness for normal tasks that pretty much all of these workstations have - assembling a combi of stock sounds ranges from pretty difficult to extremely difficult for the average synth user. I understand why this has been difficult in the past - largely due to the effects engine. The choices manufacturers have made are to either have lame effects (Roland/Yamaha) where things are more likely to work when layering/splitting or complicated with great effects (Korg/Kurzweil) where the "copy from program" feature gets you what you need at first, but then you run out of slots after only two or three programs populated in a combi and have to start manually make sacrifices.

Even if nothing changed on the synth end, tripling the number of effects processors to greatly reduce the need for effect slot management would make this an instant buy for me.

The other major pain point I feel is controllers that are out of touch with the values assigned when changing patches. The OASYS got part of the way there with the LED ladders and ring encoders; the Kronos walked that back to only on-screen feedback. Even $1500 mixers have motorized faders; it's time for those to come to the keyboard workstation. My kingdom for some motors!!

I love the general workflow of the Kronos/OASYS. I have been playing pretty much exclusively on this platform for the last almost 15 years. Korg is so far ahead of the others in terms of raw power, and I don't claim to have exhausted everything, but that doesn't mean there aren't areas it's reasonable to want improvements in.

Other things I want:

- a modern capacitive touch screen
- more program slots with a better search engine like Omnisphere has
- Patch names visible in the "control surface" page in combis and the set list view.
- A clock option for the title bar of the screen
- A more neutral piano sound that isn't honky in the midrange (e.g. Spectrasoncis Keyscape)
- A simple non-KARMA arpeggiator (yes I know KARMA can do this, but it's a PITA and takes 4x - 10x longer than old school arps)
- A metal bottom
- As mentioned above, motorized faders would solve one of the most distracting parts of live playing by being able to visually see where things are (currently difficult in Set list mode) and then to allow easy adjustment without having to catch the slider to the current value.

In short, I don't need more kinds of new whizbang synthesis; I want functional improvements that make the keyboard experience better.

I'm hoping Korg (or someone else, though that's less likely IMO) will eventually get there.

[burningbusch]

So the three new keyboards are (based on leaks):

Wavestate
ARP 2600
SV-2

I've stated for some time that I think Korg gets at least ten years out of the Kronos (we're coming up on year nine). I do not see a "Kronos 3" with an updated processor, 64-bits, more RAM, etc. I don't think that's happening. My gut tells me, whatever Korg R&D is cooking up it will be something new.

Busch.

[fomalhaut]

In the light of Wavestate, it ocurred to me that Korg is "unbundling" the Kronos in order to evolve its capabilities. That's why we have the Grandstage, the SV2, the Wavestate and the ARP. What will be next? A dedicated sampler? A standalone sequencer?

My bet is that it's difficult for Korg to move everything when the platform roadmap is the same. Meaning "difficult" in terms of R&D and product market fit --not everyone can afford a $4000 flagship.

Opinions?

[Jan1]

So the three new keyboards are (based on leaks):

Wavestate
ARP 2600
SV-2

I've stated for some time that I think Korg gets at least ten years out of the Kronos (we're coming up on year nine). I do not see a "Kronos 3" with an updated processor, 64-bits, more RAM, etc. I don't think that's happening. My gut tells me, whatever Korg R&D is cooking up it will be something new.

Busch.

On the one hand I think you are right, on the other hand I am thinking of the availability of the computer components in the KRONOS.
I don’t know how many components KORG has in stock, and if the stock is running out they have to find other components because the old ones are no longer available, which could imply a renewed KRONOS version or something entirely new.
It’s all just guesswork from my side, I have no insider info.

[GregC]

[q

On the one hand I think you are right, on the other hand I am thinking of the availability of the computer components in the KRONOS.
I don’t know how many components KORG has in stock, and if the stock is running out they have to find other components because the old ones are no longer available, which could imply a renewed KRONOS version or something entirely new.
It’s all just guesswork from my side, I have no insider info.[/quote]

it is a long term calculation which can be tricky

When Kronos reached EOL, which seems out there, lets say 2021, Korg 'should ' arm the service centers with hard to find components.

which components seems custom or unique ? My guess is the Atom and the power supply.

RAM type I am not sure about.

SSD is cheap and easy. RH3 is used on many Korg keyboards.

My assumption is that Korg would not use old hard to find components
on some completely new premium performance synth design.

[Derek Cook]

[q

On the one hand I think you are right, on the other hand I am thinking of the availability of the computer components in the KRONOS.
I don’t know how many components KORG has in stock, and if the stock is running out they have to find other components because the old ones are no longer available, which could imply a renewed KRONOS version or something entirely new.
It’s all just guesswork from my side, I have no insider info.

it is a long term calculation which can be tricky

When Kronos reached EOL, which seems out there, lets say 2021, Korg 'should ' arm the service centers with hard to find components.

which components seems custom or unique ? My guess is the Atom and the power supply.

RAM type I am not sure about.

SSD is cheap and easy. RH3 is used on many Korg keyboards.

My assumption is that Korg would not use old hard to find components
on some completely new premium performance synth design.[/quote]

They may also have supply agreements with the OEMS of the boards to supply for a certain period of time. If they are purchasing in quantity and need to do so over a long period of time, that is not unusual. And at some point they will have the option to do a life time buy for spares servicing.

I've done similar things in my line of work, where you can buy "premium" support to ensure that the vendor will support you for the lifespan you need.

I'm glad that there is no new Kronos, as it means my 2014 Kronos is still the state of the art.

[Derek Cook]

[q

On the one hand I think you are right, on the other hand I am thinking of the availability of the computer components in the KRONOS.
I don’t know how many components KORG has in stock, and if the stock is running out they have to find other components because the old ones are no longer available, which could imply a renewed KRONOS version or something entirely new.
It’s all just guesswork from my side, I have no insider info.

it is a long term calculation which can be tricky

When Kronos reached EOL, which seems out there, lets say 2021, Korg 'should ' arm the service centers with hard to find components.

which components seems custom or unique ? My guess is the Atom and the power supply.

RAM type I am not sure about.

SSD is cheap and easy. RH3 is used on many Korg keyboards.

My assumption is that Korg would not use old hard to find components
on some completely new premium performance synth design.[/quote]

They may also have supply agreements with the OEMS of the boards to supply for a certain period of time. If they are purchasing in quantity and need to do so over a long period of time, that is not unusual. And at some point they will have the option to do a life time buy for spares servicing.

I've done similar things in my line of work, where you can buy "premium" support to ensure that the vendor will support you for the lifespan you need.

I'm glad that there is no new Kronos, as it means my 2014 Kronos is still the state of the art.

[GregC]

[qgn.

They may also have supply agreements with the OEMS of the boards to supply for a certain period of time. If they are purchasing in quantity and need to do so over a long period of time, that is not unusual. And at some point they will have the option to do a life time buy for spares servicing.

I've done similar things in my line of work, where you can buy "premium" support to ensure that the vendor will support you for the lifespan you need.

I'm glad that there is no new Kronos, as it means my 2014 Kronos is still the state of the art. [/quote]

That makes business sense. with the OEM's

But what about Atom ? I am not sure Intel is making that type anymore ?

[meatballfulton]

All I want to see is a usable USB audio interface if I have to pay $3000.

[SeedyLee]

Well, there’s the new Korg i3 “music workstation” that’s just been announced ... Looks like it might be based on the 64 Voice HI synth engine maybe?

[Bachus]

there will also be a new Korg EX20 at NAMM
a low end consumer arranger woth 88 keys