Krome..should I?

[Abztract]

Ok so I produce music, mainly small indie film projects, occasionally provide instrumentals for rappers or singers etc but I have a modest home set up - macbook pro, focusrite soundcard, behringer truth b2031a monitors, running Logic pro x, maschine and a few vsts including omnisphere and some u-he stuff. The main areas I see as weak and needing upgrades are my OLD yamaha psr275 keyboard which I just use as a midi controller (it doesn't even have pitchbend/mod wheels) and bread and butter sounds such as a decent acoustic piano sound and such things. So, I saw a krome going for quite a decent price and have arranged to pretty much pull the trigger BUT, am having second thoughts just a bit. The first reason is, I didn't realise it has no speakers and am used to just being able to sit down at the yamaha, allbeit with its crappy piano sound, and just noodle or figure something out. I would really rather have something with its own speakers. That, however, is not a deal breaker. My main concern or thought really, is, with having omnisphere and the u-he stuff, I am pretty much ok as far as stuff like basses, pads, synthy stuff etc and I'm wondering whether its worth getting a krome just for the decent pianos and stuff. I mean, is it really good in alot of areas? Or will I be better just getting a controller with a pitch/mod wheel and vst pianos etc? Anyone who has the krome (its the 61) please give me some advice or a rundown of how you like it including the keys/action. Also, how are the other drums aside from the Jazz ambience kit that every single review focusses on? What are the organs like? Does it have a decent 'no woman no cry' type hammond patch? Stuff like that. Mainly how good are the sounds? Any and all advice much appreciated.

[Abztract]

Why no replies? Did I violate a rule for posting or something?

[Bald Eagle]

I don't own one but have played one. I did not like the key action, it feels cheap. The pianos sound good. The rest of it is ok, not great, not bad, just ok.

If you want great all around look at the Kronos. You may also want to consider a used M3. It will give you the same sound quality (except pianos are better in Krome) and a great keybed.

[Abztract]

I don't own one but have played one. I did not like the key action, it feels cheap. The pianos sound good. The rest of it is ok, not great, not bad, just ok.

If you want great all around look at the Kronos. You may also want to consider a used M3. It will give you the same sound quality (except pianos are better in Krome) and a great keybed.

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. The keys were my main worry too. Since I posted this question, another couple of possibilities have presented themselves. A yamaha mo8, the stripped down version of the motif I believe, and a mox8 which I think is similar. Any experience of either of these? Would you say either or both would be better than the krome, sound wise? The 88 keys would be my preference anyway, just until now every one I came across was a bit too pricey.

[Bald Eagle]

The MO8 is a much older synth and not really equivalent to a new Motif. It also has hammer action keys so not a good choice is you're looking for synth action. Whether you want synth action or hammer action it has been my experience that all of the lower priced synths have inferior keybeds compared to their big brothers. If that is your main concern I would stay away from them.

The MOXF series is the stripped down Motif and it has the same keybed consideration as Kronos vs Krome. The keybed is just not as good.

As far as sounds, it depends on your primary needs. Yamaha has better acoustic sounds in some cases, like guitars. But this is just my opinion.

[Abztract]

The MO8 is a much older synth and not really equivalent to a new Motif. It also has hammer action keys so not a good choice is you're looking for synth action. Whether you want synth action or hammer action it has been my experience that all of the lower priced synths have inferior keybeds compared to their big brothers. If that is your main concern I would stay away from them.

The MOXF series is the stripped down Motif and it has the same keybed consideration as Kronos vs Krome. The keybed is just not as good.

As far as sounds, it depends on your primary needs. Yamaha has better acoustic sounds in some cases, like guitars. But this is just my opinion.

Yes, you see I play guitar so I probably wouldn't use the guitar sounds. The primary sounds I am looking for are pianos, acoustic more than anything but also rhodes etc, organs such as hammond type organs and orchestral sounds, strings, cellos, brass etc I feel omnisphere tales pretty good care of synthy stuff and basses, between that and some of my other vst's (synthmaster, rob papen stuff and some u-he stuff like bazille and zebra) so its more the 'bread and butter' acoustic sounds I seek. I have heard Yamaha are better for those sounds, especially pianos. I prefer hammer action which was why I had the preference towards the 88 key units initially as I was raised around real pianos so am used to real keys. I haven't heard back from the mo8 seller anyway and theres a mox8 but I would have to collect it on a train...not an enticing prospect...what to do!

[michel1972]

i own a Korg Krome 88, but to buy it just for piano sounds i wouldnt. Why dont you buy a piano sample from native like the grandeur or the gentleman they sound better then the samples in the Krome and you can play them with any keyboard with midi on it. If you can choose between the Yamaha and the Korg i would go for the Yamaha i owned a Moxf but sold it to buy a Krome. If i could go back i would stayed with the yamaha because the keybed on the Krome is not worth to mention i would give it a 3 on a scale from 1 to 10 and the yamaha is worth a 8. Interface screen and pads and strings are better in the Korg.

[sken88]

For what it is worth... Something that the Krome does extremely well but doesn't get talked about enough is "Electric Pianos" like the Rhodes, DX-7 (tine) Wurlitzer etc. I believe that Korg really did some nice work on upgrading those sounds. They were good in the M50 for instance but for my money better on the Krome. I think Korg did use fresh samples for these in the Krome. If "Electric Piano" is important to you that is a factor for you to consider.

[dfahrner]

I'll second sken88's comments on the Krome electric pianos, I think the Krome preset EPs are as good as the KRONOS presets...and with a little tweaking, the Krome's acoustic piano can be close to the KRONOS German Grand, too (they are the some of the same samples, after all)...the Krome keybeds aren't as nice, of course, but to me they're certainly playable...

df

[voip]

Although the keybed isn't the best in the business, the sounds are so good, I soon get lost in the music and completely forget about the key action. It isn't that big an issue.

.

[TexanHawk]

Short Version: Skip the Krome and go for the Roland Fantom instead. Same price range (more or less) and better keyboard and sounds. Even the Yamaha MoxF series would be a better choice.

Long Version: Off the bat, I had noticed that there was a crackle in the piano sounds. I figured it was the cheap speakers (Mackie CR3) that created the problem. It took me a little over a year to figure out that the issue was just the middle G which crackles only when the sustain pedal is pressed. Today I found almost all the "Krome" piano sounds have a similar problem with just that one key. To clarify, if I press the G key and leave it pressed there's no cracking of any sort.

On top of it, the keyboard is extremely lacking in features. If you insist on a Korg, I'd suggest that you dunk in some extra cash and get the Pa4X or Pa3X would be a better choice. The Havian 30 looks like a good choice as well. Krome was my first foray into a non-Yamaha keyboard/synth; I'd advice against any Korg keyboards and just go for a Yamaha or Roland.

[dfahrner]

...I had noticed that there was a crackle in the piano sounds...the issue was just the middle G which crackles only when the sustain pedal is pressed. Today I found almost all the "Krome" piano sounds have a similar problem with just that one key. To clarify, if I press the G key and leave it pressed there's no cracking of any sort.

This sounds a lot like the Krome "sound problem" that's been talked about here for a long time - see http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=89650 ...yeah, Korg ought to address this for existing customers, and maybe it's been fixed in current production units, but it's an easy (and cheap) fix if you can program a micro SD disk and aren't afraid to open up the Krome and swap it out...

...the keyboard is extremely lacking in features...

I don't know what this means, the Krome has all of the features requested by Abztract, and a lot more...

...Even the Yamaha MoxF series would be a better choice...

I own both a Krome and an MOX (the version before the MOXF) and both are good instruments, the MOX has maybe slightly better acoustic sounds (although the KROME piano is at least as good) while the Krome's electronic sounds might be a bit better...Yamaha has slightly better build quality and better keybeds...you can expand the sounds pretty easily on the MOXF, and it's hard to do on the Krome...the bottom line is that Abztract should try them both out and make his own decision...

df

[NIO0850]

I just sold my Kronos hoping for a Namm release successor. I feel even though the Kronos sounds are authentic? They do not play authentic. The sensitive feel, response and blending of notes just seemed all wrong. I notice a slight lag or delay from when I strike a key too. Korg has work to do. Maybe 64bit Kronos would fix things. I guess Im buying a Nord 3.

[Eduardo_Arg]

Hi Abztract:

My best suggestion, is go to a Korg dealer and test both, Krome and Kronos.-
IMHO Yamaha is less quality sound than Korg, less deep edition efect, and several more disadvantages.-
From several years, many friends suggest me to test Yamaha products, but no one makes me feel confortable.-
For long years my hardware was some Roland Sound Modules, and Korg Triton Ex.- Last year i want to expand sound expresivity so i need a keyb. that let me go in deep to create my own sound.- I test Kronos and was a love at first seen.-
Going to your ask, IMHO if you have the money, your best invest for you soul and contemplation, is Kronos; if your money is less, without any doubt go to Krome; somo sound where peak directly from Kronos.-
About some missunderstood issue on Krome, this issue (cut some sounds as if polyphony was exceeded) is produced by a bad quality microsd where is all PCM samples.- The secret was developed and just replacing that microsd for a 8 or 16 gb Class 10, all was solved.- In you tube you'll find some videos that shows how to do the change.-
Hopping this helps you.-
With regards.
Eduardo

[CowboyNQ]

The primary sounds I am looking for are pianos, acoustic more than anything but also rhodes etc, organs such as hammond type organs and orchestral sounds, strings, cellos, brass etc. I prefer hammer action.!

I'd be going for a dedicated stage piano, based on the above.

The Krome 61 is an excellent sounding keyboard, and very versatile, but the keybed does not lend itself favourably towards piano playing, and it sounds like you won't be using half of the capability of the 'board that you'd be paying for.