Korg Forums

hello every1
pls tell me whether to go for a KRONOS or KORG PA3X

i am very confused
so i thought i could get some suggestions from it users

since
PA3X is an ARRANGER & WORKSTATION
got good MIC (voice live 2 in it)
vocal remover
can play MP3

can we do such things on KRONOS???

Hi

Kronos and PA3X are two different machines, Kronos being a synth/workstation and PA3X an arranger

Kronos has a DrumTrack function, and Karma, which gives you some capabilities to go towards an arranger, but it does not have dedicated Fills, Intro's and Endings like an arranger, at least not with the built-in Karma version

Kronos is a synth/workstation with vast capabilities and extreme good quality sounds, effects etc

While PA3X can play MP3 directly, on Kronos you can use Wav files, so you just convert an MP3 to WAV with free software like AUDICITY. Or you can attach your Ipod etc directly to one of the Kronos Audio IN, to do a play a long.

PA3X is more the OneManBand thing (but best one around) where Kronos is I would say the most professional synth/workstation around at present

I have a PA2X and the Kronos, so I reasonably know the advantages of both

by the way, there is no vocal remover on the Kronos, but then again I have not seen one on other platforms that impresses me...

and for the MIC: PA3X can have MIC input, but KRONOS as well
PA3X has harmony functions, KRONOS not
KRONOS has a vocoder function

It all depends what you want most, and if you play as a one-man-band, or with others

I look an arranger keyboard like being a passenger on a bus with set routes and having the ability to change routes around a small town.
A workstation is like having a long haul aeroplane and you are the pilot baby!

But maybe I've just had too much coffee this morning!

In my opinion what you need to ask yourself is what you want to DO, and see if the board has those capabilities.

You can find dozens of threads on this forum of people saying "How do I get the Kronos to..." and the answer is "it can't, that is more what an arranger does" If I had to guess that happens in reverse too. None of the machines do everything, but I have found if you have your list of needs, you can't narrow down and not miss an important function or feature that is important to you.

Ed, sums it up perfectly.

Arranger keyboards are so much better nowadays but can still sound synthetic and 'Home keyboardy' which then seems a shame when your playing a really authentic sounding solo. It's a sort of clash of styles. That said, if you are singing over the backing track, they can sound pretty good.

If you are a synth / organ/ songwriter / type, then the Kronos is a serious contender for you imho.

Although the Kronos is for the most part superior as a synth, the PA3x has some synthesis features which are, for some reason, not included in the flagship Kronos series...

The PA3x has DNC which is extremely powerful for creating realistic legato acoustic sounds.

The PA3x has additional sample trigger features when in legato mode. So playing legato can be quite realistic.

The PA3x has guitar mode which allows for extremely realistic guitar strumming. This is a no brainier and should be in the Kronos- especially since the Kronos has a dedicated physically modeled guitar synth engine.

The PA3x has samples such as slides and scoops in its sample ROM which are useful for realistic acoustic recreations.

The PA3x has a built in TC Helicon pitch harmonizer.

The Aftertouch on my PA3xPro works much better than on my Kronos X88.

Hey JITZ

Welcome to Korg forums
Well, I don't want to sound like I am showing off, but I have both keyboards.

I personally find very very little overlap between the two.
The PA3X is by far the best arranger available and, as has been already mentioned, is rich with arranger features that are not part of Kronos.
The PA3X TC Helicon vocal harmoniser is outstanding.
I use my Kronos as a stand-alone keyboard sometimes - KARMA is magnificent
Sometimes I use my Kronos as a sound source for the melody sounds on my PA3X - i.e. play a style but solo with the Kronos
The combinations and permutations are endless...
Kronos gives me the most authentic sounds - particularly CX-3
PA3X provides the most fantastic style accompaniments and also some sound features which are just unbelievable (DNC)

I cannot recommend one against the other - if there is any chance you can get both then you will have the ultimate solution IMHO.
However, if you really need an "arranger" with accompaniments with VARiations, INTROs, FILLs ENDINGs, synchronised PADs, vocal harmony etc then PA3X is the only way to go.

Hope this helps

Pete

karmathanever wrote:Hey JITZ

The PA3X is by far the best arranger available and, as has been already mentioned, is rich with arranger features that are not part of Kronos.


Pete

I think a lot of Yamaha Tyros 5 fans would have a much different opinion on the best arranger available. Audio Drums and the guitars are far and above the Pa3x.

Having both the Kronos and the Pa3x/Tyros would be Nirvana

I agree, Pete. The PA3x working alongside the Kronos is astounding. I can make music for an eternity with them.

I asked myself this question a lot before I bought the Kronos, in the end the 9 engines in the Kronos won me over. I would much rather create my own sounds, love organs and if I really want some arranger functions I will find a used micro arranger, perhaps not the top of the line arranger available but for my needs more then fine and still a good little maschine. Still the arranger world has little appeal to me. What sort of things are you looking for the most? Synths, styles, instruments?

thanq all 4 ur valuable suggestions

kbrkr wrote:

karmathanever wrote:Hey JITZ

The PA3X is by far the best arranger available and, as has been already mentioned, is rich with arranger features that are not part of Kronos.


Pete

I think a lot of Yamaha Tyros 5 fans would have a much different opinion on the best arranger available. Audio Drums and the guitars are far and above the Pa3x.

Having both the Kronos and the Pa3x/Tyros would be Nirvana

I had a Pa2xpro and it was a very good arranger but I agree that the Tyros sounds much better.

Having both the Kronos and the Pa3x/Tyros would be Nirvana

Firstly, I agree that it's all in the ears of the beholder.
I have owned all three, performed direct Tyros/PA3X comparisons with my band - same songs/vocal harmonisers performing and recording and the Tyros doesn't come close - I found to be limited with a poorly designed OS and far less authentic than the Korg.
OK, these are just my opinions however, I can list the Tyros's missing and limiting items easily.
It just ain't a pro box.
Yes it has some nice sounds but then so does Roland, but as an arranger (for me) it is not usable for performance, recording and flexibility for many reasons.

I think a lot of Yamaha Tyros 5 fans would have a much different opinion on the best arranger available

Yamaha poke at and market towards a very different category of owner with their arrangers.

I'm off my soapbox now.

I was sincerely hoping Yamaha would have produced a really impressive upgrade with the T5 but IMHO it is the laziest keyboard upgrade I have seen to date.
The only good thing is (at last) a 76-note option.

Cheers

Pete