New digital Piano coming on Namm 2012 with Kronos SGX + Ep

[vstkeys]

Hi fellows.
I went to the music store yesterday and got a gig bag for my 61 (gator gbk) .
However when I was there I noticed they had the Yamaha cp50 on sale. Ok let me tell you my story; before I bought the Kronos I was on the hunt for a digital piano for home practice, but wanted to stay away from keyboards with no speakers (stage pianos). So in the end, I didn’t buy a digital piano even though I found the p155 to have the best sound due to its 4sample per key . For me Dps are way overpriced considering what they offer in terms of acc sound.
For instance when I tried the cp50 yesterday, it sounded awful as I am so used to hearing the Kronos damper and mechanical noise + resonance. The cp50 sounded dead and lifeless , the piano I liked was the cp80 which I hope korg will make it available in the future.
In the end the manager of the shop approached me and said (this is the same shop I bought my Kronos); if I tell you won’t believe this, Korg will be launching a new digital piano at namm and the piano will feature the same two engines ; SGX Premium – Ep 1 MDS electric piano and the price will beat everyone out of the game...... WTF I said?? And obviously my question to him was.... how do you know about this??
And he got on telling me about his family working for korg in Japan, so I thought to myself .... gosh he looks Asian but never thought was from Japan. He sounded really certain and very knowledgeable and insisted on a lot of points, also mentioning the tsunami and procedures the company is currently taking . As I kept asking him too many questions , in the end he said..... just wait and see ..... I ’m actually accepting your apologies in advance as you will definitely be back here looking for Korg’s new Dp after the Namm expo. Also he mentioned that an editor and os update for kronos might not happen this year according to his sources, but Korg will surprise again @ Namm.

Ps; sorry for the long post

[danmusician]

It would make sense to put the dp and ep engines in a dedicated stage piano. I hope they do it.

In regard to the software editor, I asked my salesdude if he had any word from Korg on when to expect it. He said, ”I amazed we even have the Kronos!" it will likely be sometime until we see it...

[Bruce Lychee]

They aren't beating anyone out of the game until they get a new action.

[Melodialworks Music]

It would make sense to put the dp and ep engines in a dedicated stage piano.

It would also make sense to improve the keyboard action.

[EvilDragon]

That sounds like a logical thing to do.


But what I'd really REALLY want is a Kronos spin-off with just the synth engines. No HD-1, no SGX-1, no EP-1, just all the other synth engines. And perhaps a few engines more (like wind physical modeling in addition to STR-1, and then the missing Wavestation EX, M1 EX, and of course, Mono/Poly EX, all missing from the Legacy Collections!). More knobs instead of sliders (ENDLESS ROTARIES, PLEASE!), additional pedal inputs, vector joystick for Wavestation, I'm a happy camper.


I'd buy that in a heartbeat in case Korg wouldn't cheap out on the build.

[PinkFloydDudi]

They aren't beating anyone out of the game until they get a new action.

To each their own...I can't think of another keyboard I played where the action was better than the 73 Kronos I have.

[Bruce Lychee]

They aren't beating anyone out of the game until they get a new action.

To each their own...I can't think of another keyboard I played where the action was better than the 73 Kronos I have.

Objectively speaking, I don't see how anyone can argue that the construction of the RH3 is as good as the action on premier stage pianos. Uneven levels, spacing, clicking, etc.

If you like the way it feels and responds, I can't argue with that. I will point out that the SV1 and Kronos actions are almost universally criticized over at Pianoworld, where actions are highly scrutinized. I'm about the only one who found the action acceptable. Nevertheless, RH3 can head to the garbage bin as far as I'm concerned and certainly won't cut it in the competitive market for stage pianos.

[PinkFloydDudi]

They aren't beating anyone out of the game until they get a new action.

To each their own...I can't think of another keyboard I played where the action was better than the 73 Kronos I have.

Objectively speaking, I don't see how anyone can argue that the construction of the RH3 is as good as the action on premier stage pianos. Uneven levels, spacing, clicking, etc.

If you like the way it feels and responds, I can't argue with that. I will point out that the SV1 and Kronos actions are almost universally criticized over at Pianoworld, where actions are highly scrutinized. I'm about the only one who found the action acceptable. Nevertheless, RH3 can head to the garbage bin as far as I'm concerned and certainly won't cut it in the competitive market for stage pianos.

Compared to what? Real grand pianos? Or other keyboards (which is what it is, a keyboard).

I've never been to pianoworld, but sounds like a bunch of piano players? Guess what? What happens when I click a button on my kronos and it suddenly is acting as a MarkV electric piano?

There are many different playing styles and types of pianos/electric pianos that the keys must be suitable for.

The RH3 is MUCH better for a slide such as you would do on a B3 than the keys of a full Yamaha Grand piano.

Basically if you are looking for the RH3 to be a specific type of keybed focusing mostly on 1 type of sound (like grand piano) - you are comparing apples to oranges.

I hear what you are saying about not cutting it for a competitive stage piano - and then i see one of the world's best and one of the most well known players (Herbie Hancock) - using it on his stage.

Sort of begs the question of what credentials do some of these people who are hating on it have - when you are compared to a global great like Herbie who apparently likes it!?

[Bruce Lychee]

Do you even realize the CP1 action isn't graded and even more suited for covering piano and EP duties? I am comparing the action to digital stage pianos, obviously. Why even bring up acoustic pianos?

If you don't see or feel a difference in quality between the RH3 and the actions on the flagship Yamaha, Roland and Kawai stage pianos, with which the SV2 would directly compete, then it won't matter for you. I think the intended market for the SV2 will be a little more critical.

Bringing up Herbie using the Kronos is bit ridiculous for obvious reasons.

[drama1]

I could probably deal with the current action, but if it's another 50 plus lbs and another 25-35 lbs for a case, I'm out. It's a bitch getting old. Now, if it's also a 88 keyboard controller with pitchbend, faders, switches, in addition to the new AP and EP sounds, throw in some strings and synth programs (i.e. SV-1) editor included, I may just have to hire a roadie.

[jimknopf]

Objectively speaking, I don't see how anyone can argue that the construction of the RH3 is as good as the action on premier stage pianos. Uneven levels, spacing, clicking, etc.

Objectively speaking, "uneven levels, spacing, clicking, etc." is no acceptable description for the Kronos 73 keybed I use daily.

I can't judge how many devices from a series may have such problems, but that would be rather a quality control issue, than concern the keybed which I and PinkFloydDudi and some others play, in other words: no principal RH3 action problem. Playing Pianos and EPs on such a keybed (we don't even know if it won't change) just would be fine with me, and I guess with quite a lot of other keyboarders.

If you like the way it feels and responds, I can't argue with that. I will point out that the SV1 and Kronos actions are almost universally criticized over at Pianoworld, where actions are highly scrutinized. I'm about the only one who found the action acceptable. Nevertheless, RH3 can head to the garbage bin as far as I'm concerned and certainly won't cut it in the competitive market for stage pianos.

Again it's as simple as always: it's the majority of possible users who will decide on buying or not buying, and probably not Pianoworld.

And one more thing:
It could just be that the Herbie Hancock example isn't wrong at all: Herbie Hancock belongs to a kind of keyboard players, making use of what fits their purposes, without making much ado about minor things, working their way into various kinds of keyboard actions. Herbie has played some of the best grand pianos (having used a Fazioli on tour recently), Rhodes EPs, Hohner D6 Clavis, synth action ARPs, Oasys, Kronos, whatever...

So let me accentuate my view, even if it may sound a bit provocative:
- on one hand we have something like a "primadonna faction", maybe also prominent at Pianoworld, debating what keybeds the can lay their sensitive, educated hands on or rather not.
- on the other hand we have the "use it if its fits the purpose" faction which is able and willing to adapt their fingers and playing style to various gear.

For someone like me, playing a Rhodes Mk I regularly (some here know the action) and doing that with big fun, a discussion of this kind here about something as well playable as my Kronos 73 keybed is simply of academic nature, and frankly of no real pratical meaning for my everyday music making at all.

I can live well with someone saying he/she prefers something for own use, or for being able to play Chopin preludes. That's ok and has all my understanding. But soon as sentences begin with "objectively speaking" and end with general statements sounding a bit like patronizing the perception of other users, I can't agree any more.

[aron]

I have played the SV1 and the 73 Kronos. I don't recall major problems with the action. I thought it was pretty good. But then I am basing all of this on the Yamaha actions that I usually use. I have the graded action and non graded actions of Yamaha.

What I did like was the response of the SV1. Very easy for me to play. Actually I kind of wish I had purchased the 73 version of the Kronos.

[SanderXpander]

For someone like me, playing a Rhodes Mk I regularly (some here know the action) and doing that with big fun, a discussion of this kind here about something as well playable as my Kronos 73 keybed is simply of academic nature, and frankly of no real pratical meaning for my everyday music making at all.

Huge +1. And I play a real grand for a few hours three times a week on average. It's not the board, it's the player. Within reasonable limits, you should be able to adapt to and feel comfortable with most weighted actions. The most important part is that the sound engine is tuned to the action of the board.

If you want the action and dynamic feel of a real grand, get a real grand. And then first spend days upon days in the store trying to decide which grand has the best action for your preferences.

[Bruce Lychee]

Of course a player can adapt. I play pianos sounds on the Jupiter and have no issue. I'm simply stating that the construction of the RH3 is somewhat crappy and if they want to make a stage piano to compete with the best ones out there, the action is definitely going to have to be better than Technics cast off they are using.

This has nothing to do with a real piano action. I have a Shigeru and never try to compare digital actions to the Millenium action. That would be silly.

You guys can talk about prima donnas over at Pianoworld, but the fact is there are some amazing keyboard players over there and since it isn't a brand specific forum, far less fan boys.

[Bruce Lychee]

Objectively speaking, I don't see how anyone can argue that the construction of the RH3 is as good as the action on premier stage pianos. Uneven levels, spacing, clicking, etc.

Objectively speaking, "uneven levels, spacing, clicking, etc." is no acceptable description for the Kronos 73 keybed I use daily.

You must have a fundamentally different keyboard than I have. Why not take a close up picture for us and show us your uniquely perfect RH3.