Saxaphones in Kronos

Scarecrow · Post by **Scarecrow** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:45 am

Hi,

So I came across the pad sounds for "True" spandal ballet, and a combie to match the song, all good, then I thought ok. lets spit the keys for the sax part.

loaded the sax in program and copied from program with ins effect to sequencer, and played it, now, is it me or are theses samples just a bit bad? there are no nuances unless you pull the stick back for the growl but even then I must say Im not very impressed, my old Yamaha psr 750 had much better sounding flutes, acoustic guitars and saxophones.

So I'm left thinking some boards are better at some things than others or am I missing a trick?

benny ray · Post by **benny ray** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:54 am

No you are right the saxes are weak. But every board has weaknesses.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 1:08 am

Scarecrow wrote:Hi,

So I came across the pad sounds for "True" spandal ballet, and a combie to match the song, all good, then I thought ok. lets spit the keys for the sax part.

loaded the sax in program and copied from program with ins effect to sequencer, and played it, now, is it me or are theses samples just a bit bad? there are no nuances unless you pull the stick back for the growl but even then I must say Im not very impressed, my old Yamaha psr 750 had much better sounding flutes, acoustic guitars and saxophones.

So I'm left thinking some boards are better at some things than others or am I missing a trick?

Sax is a very expressive instrument, depends on the performer.

I use the growl sax program for a jazz tune and it records almost perfectly. I work the JS+Y or joystick for expression.'

I will listen to True when I have time- to see how close I get. If the part really wails, it might be a challenge.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:08 am

I think all keyboard saxes sound corny but the Yamaha ones are mildly better than the Korg ones. I always try to go for a convincing keyboard sound when I have to play solo wind/brass lines, so I substitute it with organ, rhodes or a synth lead.

kbrkr · Post by **kbrkr** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:26 am

So does anyone have a solution for the poor saxophones?

Is there a really good library for the K as a suitable substitute?

JoeyL · Post by **JoeyL** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:31 am

I like this sax

http://korgpatches.com/patches/kronos/soprano_sax

LZ · Post by LZ » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:37 am

kbrkr wrote:So does anyone have a solution for the poor saxophones?

The only solution I've found is to actually play my saxophone.

4GodnWV · Post by **4GodnWV** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:38 am

Check out Roland's saxes. My GW8 has a nice breathy reedy sax. The Roland E-A7 has a couple of really nice tones. As good as some here are at creating samples, I'm guessing nailing down some of these tones would not be difficult.

Derek Cook · Post by **Derek Cook** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:13 am

The problem is once you have listened to a modelled sax like the VL in my EX5 no sampled sax will cut it. Shame that Korg did not do a wind instrument engine in the Kronos like their string engine.

I agree with the post above that if it's not realistic enough then substitute another sound that is better.

Block D · Post by **Block D** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:05 am

Hi

I can recommend the WavesArt Brass and Vocals suite.

This has a variety of great saxophones (as well as Trumpets, Trombones, brass sections etc) modelled in Combi mode for extra realism/playabilty. The saxes are demo'd on the website.

timbukktwo · Post by **timbukktwo** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:56 pm

-or a Korg Z1 / Exb-Moss for the modeled brass osc! Good stuff!

Go to YouTube and check out:

Korg Z1 DEMO Saltillo Mex @ about 6:18
- whether it's played well or not isn't the point, to me, it sounds awesome!

Derek Cook · Post by **Derek Cook** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:36 pm

timbukktwo wrote:-or a Korg Z1 / Exb-Moss for the modeled brass osc! Good stuff!

Go to YouTube and check out:

Korg Z1 DEMO Saltillo Mex @ about 6:18
- whether it's played well or not isn't the point, to me, it sounds awesome!

Always amazed me that the Z1 wind modelling did not make it into the Kronos

I remember an EX5 demo of the Henry Mancini Pink Panther sax theme played using a WX5 controller. Awesome! It showed the power of physical modelling and I am sure you have many Korg demos as well of the Z1.

I guess one of the issues is the vast majority of keyboard players being happy with lifeless samples?

timbukktwo · Post by **timbukktwo** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:16 pm

(I don't wanna' hijack the thread- I'll just say:)

Yeah, I know! I have a TEX 88/Moss/Kronos 88 first-generation combo (along with a few other synths), and they are a fantastic combo, which sound great together! The Exb-Moss engine from experience is awesome, for sure! I'll be so sad when it dies!!

Sonically, there isn't much that I don't like about the Z1/Moss; one example is with the resonance- gotta' be careful with it or it can sound unnaturally squelchy (perhaps, because of the Z1/Moss's digital nature). There's a lot of videos online that I don't like because people aren't programming it properly (to me). The Z1/Moss needs to be tamed skillfully to be musically useful, like to a precision. It can be useful, but most videos don't show the Z1/Moss at its' BEST, imo. The Z1/Moss is digital, yet warm; can be real or surreal, etc. It can be a lot of things!

Back to the saxes! Z1/Moss is great for those, if programmed and played properly!

AntonySharmman · Post by **AntonySharmman** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:02 am

Scarecrow , Kronos factory sound library contains Brass EXS3 that is not by default loaded !
In SSD factory EXs_Extras folder , search for this EXs3 , load KSC & PCG files and you'll find some more extra Brass that are surely more
realistic than any synth modeling/moss , since genuine sample modeling can be achieved only using script controls like in VST Kontakt stuff !
But in case you need proffesional brass simulation with all natural articulations in a workstation then the one way choice is WavesArt
Brass & vocals Suite http://wavesart.eu/KronosEXs/Brass%20&% ... Suite.html

timbukktwo · Post by **timbukktwo** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:25 am

^True.

I should've been more clear in saying: the 'sonic sound quality' emulation of the modeling; for example: tone, definition, realism, etc.- for this the Z1/Moss sounds pretty darn good to me (for what it is). For everything else, it's a little more difficult to execute (i.e.- articulations, etc.). These things being said, the Korg Z1/Moss is one of the most dynamic synths out there, hands down. Extremely expressive! This, to me, makes up for nearly any other lack.

AntonySharmman's work is quite good. I almost bought his GuitarSuite, but got stuck with a short cash supply at the time. I will most likely purchase from him in the future.

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