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GregC wrote:I have a different tact on " mastering all of the available features and functions " of Kronos.

Presuming this is in regards to my post, I did not mean to infer that every user needed to master every element... rather, mastering the features and functions important to their objectives. If that is strictly performance elements, or compositional elements, or even just recreational functionality.

I suspect that it is a small percentage that program their own sounds from scratch, and an even smaller percentage yet who do so with all of the available engines. Yet I would bet that the vast majority modify programs and create their own Combi’s - this is one of the functionality improvements that Korg successfully implemented on the Kronos platform.

Likewise, probably a decent percentage dabble with the sequencer, a smaller percentage really dive in and use it fully, and many have figured out innovative ways to incorporate their external tools and take full advantage of the sequencing capabilities inherent with the system.

Then there’s the sampling side - again an area were all use it to a certain degree, some use it in more advanced fashions, and a small subset really leverage the tool and abilities.

And then there is Karma, which is a whole ‘nother nebulous beast (for most). It is extremely powerful, and for those who choose to dive in and master (or at least become proficient) Karma the possibilities are nearly endless, from what I’ve seen.

There are plenty of other aspects such as arps/waves, drums/percussion/fx, etc.

Daunting task to master all of the above, and if anyone has my hat is definitely off to them. Jordan comes to mind, but I suspect that even for him there may be some areas or elements which he may not possess mastery-level skills. Maybe not.

The chrome prototypes (61 and 88 key) on display at NAMM were supposedly workstation concepts. Let's say that was a bit of a teaser from Korg. Exploring that a little bit, what can we deduce?

The devices had one large screen and a few controls. If one had a highly responsive, iPad-sized display would a massive number of switches/knobs/sliders be necessary? Why would you need bank switches? They don't take you directly to anything and it's PITA to remember where exactly programs reside. So, a good on-screen facility should work just fine.

I can see Korg moving away from an Intel-based platform to one that's ASIC-based. Take some of the existing Kronos engines, e.g. HD-1, SGX-2, EP-1, CX-3, AL-1 and maybe MOD7. I believe they've gone down this path to a degree with the Grandstage and Vox Continental. Now if the display is done right, you could have all the necessary on-screen controls for a VA or even a drawbar organ (on-screen drawbars, perc, vib/chorus, etc.) This is how people are currently using their i-Pads (and touch screen Windows tablets) to play live. I could see Korg adding additional models, maybe additional VAs. As it is classified as a workstation it would have sequencing.

I can't see a completely new model for at least a year. I don't know why they would introduce the silver variant that was shown at NAMM if the Kronos line is going away. It's also possible that the Kronos stays in production for the foreseeable future and that this is more of a performance-oriented keyboard at a somewhat lower price.

That's my wishful thinking.

Busch.

ASIC technology is fixed or hardwired (basically custom designed chip) and expensive to develop and so really only economic if you’re going to sell in large volumes. As a manufacturer you have to gamble you say “ Am I going to sell enough of these to recoup my investment before technology moves on and out dates the chip”

This is what has happened to Kurzweil. They designed custom ASIC chips for the PC3 and were still trying to use them up on the Forte. The consequence of this is the Forte inherited slow envelopes and alias noise prone DSP.

The Kronos is niche market. So ASIC design cannot be economic unless Korg can use some of the stuff already developed for its mass market products, but these will be peripheral to the main system. Maybe FPGA technology would work (As in the newer LENA chips used in Kurzweil's PC4), but I actually think modern ARM based or Intel multi core processors are the most obvious way forward. They have the power and flexibility to deliver and Korg already have the software apps that prove it.

As I pointed out, both the GrandStage and Vox Continental use close variants of the Kronos engines and I don't believe either is Intel-based. The Kronos is no more niche than a Montage or Fantom.

The GrandStage includes SGX-2, HD-1, AL-1, EP-1, CX-3 plus new combo organ engines.

Busch.

Now that MIDI 2.0 has been finalized, it’s a good time for a Kronos successor.

and also sliders much longer and modulable in their course with the inner system software.