Kronos Step Sequencer and Virtual "Chord Pads"

[Jive Talking Robot]

Hi all - in reading through the various threads and going through what I could locate online, it seems as if the Kronos has a step sequencer - or at least a step sequencer as a function of the VA engines. Is this a global step sequencer (i.e. could I apply it to the FM Synth for instance), or is it simply built in to the various analog synth engines? And is it a full blown step sequencer in that you can change from one pattern to another, or simply limited to a single step sequence or "riff"?

I also love the Korg approach to "chord memory", in that you can assign (or have pre-assigned) chords to pads. I know how this works on an M3 - will the Kronos' virtual pads offer the same thing, or is it limited to triggering drum sounds?

Many thanks!

[EvilDragon]

will the Kronos' virtual pads offer the same thing

Yep.

[Jive Talking Robot]

^^^Now that is wicked. I have never had a workstation w/ drum pads on it before, so I guess I am not missing much by not having physical pads on the front panel. That they thought to include them virtually is quite nice (though I see some complaining). They managed to keep the 61 in my price range, so for that I am grateful.

Now if that step sequencer is baked in as an alternative to the "traditional" sequencer, it would be a fun way to work at times. Step sequencers are not my "go to", but I do appreciate what they can bring to workflow.

[StephenKay]

You may be interested in this thread at my Kronos forums:

http://www.karma-lab.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17669

[danatkorg]

Hi all - in reading through the various threads and going through what I could locate online, it seems as if the Kronos has a step sequencer - or at least a step sequencer as a function of the VA engines. Is this a global step sequencer (i.e. could I apply it to the FM Synth for instance), or is it simply built in to the various analog synth engines? And is it a full blown step sequencer in that you can change from one pattern to another, or simply limited to a single step sequence or "riff"?

All EXi Programs have a "common" step sequencer (one mod source for all voices in the Program); the AL-1 and MOD-7 each also have per-voice step sequencers (with, potentially, different values for each note). For more on this, see:

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... 303#365303

Best regards,

Dan

[Jive Talking Robot]

Thank you Stephen and Dan! The links were helpful.

[SpIdErWeB]

I won't judge the "missing pads". I personnaly think that if it's a financial reason, that's kind of stupid, but if it's physical to keep the keyboard depth pretty small, then it makes complete sense to me.

So, from what I do understand, there's 8 Pads on the screen, we can assign them to midi and have chord assign... fine enough... except than it would be cool to have 16 Pads (since it's only software).

Using external PadKontrol, Kontrol49, MPC, and any other 4x4 Pads controlers would be even better, don't you think?

Phil

[StephenKay]

So, from what I do understand, there's 8 Pads on the screen, we can assign them to midi and have chord assign... fine enough... except than it would be cool to have 16 Pads (since it's only software).

Using external PadKontrol, Kontrol49, MPC, and any other 4x4 Pads controlers would be even better, don't you think?

Sure, I agree - except that would have been a major modification to the KARMA Lib inside the keyboard (16 pads instead of 8 ), and to the KRONOS software, and to the GUI (need another page), and to the memory architecture (have to store all those additional notes and settings)...and that was not in the plan. Actually, there was some discussion about completely removing the pads page and features (to which I was completely opposed, as you might imagine) - and thankfully, it was decided to keep all of the functionality, even without the physical pads.

Anyway, as promised some time ago, here is an image of the pads page. As you can see, when the "Enable Pad Play" button is on, each of the 8 colums is a single big chord button, and vertical position equals velocity (if the "Fixed Velocity" button is off):

[SpIdErWeB]

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the info and the screenshot.

Of course I donumderstand we always want more and more but there's concerns and sometimes major changes that can't be done in the first place.

But since the Kronos doesn't have pads and we will surely use external pads and most if external pads do have 16, it would be great to consider it for the next update and Karma update (such the 8 GEs)

I can see room for a page tabs Pads1-8 and Pads9-16.

My 2 cents
Phil

[Jon Lord]

Thanks for the screenshot Mr Kay, Im still wondering if you can play two pads at the same time? my guess is no where the touchscreen itself is the restriction?

[StephenKay]

Thanks for the screenshot Mr Kay, Im still wondering if you can play two pads at the same time? my guess is no where the touchscreen itself is the restriction?

You cannot play two pads at the same time from the screen, but you can from an external controller.

[Jon Lord]

Thanks for the screenshot Mr Kay, Im still wondering if you can play two pads at the same time? my guess is no where the touchscreen itself is the restriction?

You cannot play two pads at the same time from the screen, but you can from an external controller.

Cheers just what i thought, just have to find the smallest pad-controller existing

[Crystalmsc]

The screen looks nice, I wonder if the Kronos would ever have a step sequencer for the "drum tracks" that looks like that, and a pattern based sequencer, DS-10 style. It would be amazing for being able to do all that with such a screen.

It's mentioned:
"Applications and extras have been unstintingly poured into this single feature. The Drum Track can go beyond rhythm machines, and is fully capable of standing on its own."

Sounds exciting! Anybody knows exactly about this?

[Akos Janca]

Thanks for the screenshot Mr Kay, Im still wondering if you can play two pads at the same time? my guess is no where the touchscreen itself is the restriction?

You cannot play two pads at the same time from the screen, but you can from an external controller.

Is it possible to assign the "Pad function" to certain keys instead? (Sorry if I missed something but I don't remember if it's possible on OASYS.)

[StephenKay]

Thanks for the screenshot Mr Kay, Im still wondering if you can play two pads at the same time? my guess is no where the touchscreen itself is the restriction?

You cannot play two pads at the same time from the screen, but you can from an external controller.

Is it possible to assign the "Pad function" to certain keys instead? (Sorry if I missed something but I don't remember if it's possible on OASYS.)

I don't believe that it is possible, at least easily. The feature does not exist as an actual "feature". One could, perhaps, set the chord pads in Global > MIDI> Controllers to respond to note numbers, and then route the output of the KRONOS back into itself (I have tried weird things like this ), but the potential exists too easily for MIDI loops (which while they will not hurt your synth, are annoying and sometimes quite noisy as well.)