Thinking about giving up on my Krome...

[flyingace]

I really had high hopes for this board, as it sounds wonderful. The fault is not with it, it's with me. I tend to concentrate on multiple instruments throughout the year. Sometimes piano, then ukulele, then acoustic guitar, then electric guitar, then recording and vocals, or doing it all (bass, drums, percussion, vocals, guitars, other instruments and keys) for a little while I record. Lately I find myself on my Ukulele most of the time. I have over 5 higher end ukes that sound and play amazing. They are fun little instruments and I'm in the process of starting a local Uke Orchestra. BUT that said, I still want to play and utilize the sounds from a keyboard for compositions and fun. I own a Korg SV-1 that takes care of my piano and wurli sounds wonderfully (the Krome can't even come close to how good those sound on the SV-1!), but I love synthesis sounds (i.e. pads, strings, odd sounds, etc.)

I find that if I take a break from the Krome for any length of time, it's like I have to re-learn EVERYTHING again. It's just so complicated!

I would like to replace it with something simpler and was thinking about getting the King Korg for just synth-y sounds. Anyone here own both and could give me a perspective? Any other thoughts on another board that would be a bit more moron proof but still provide me with some good sounds for cover songs, atmospheric pads/strings, fun synth sounds, etc.?

I know I will be losing about $250-300 selling now after just getting in August 2013, maybe more... but it's more about getting the right gear right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. I really love the sounds I got from Dan Stesco and the Pink Floyd set from another place, but I have trouble managing the sounds and PCG tools is PC only, I'm a Mac user and the krone editor isn't operating very well in OSX Mavericks.

[flyingace]

So I came across a deal on a used King Korg today and took it! Should have it next week. There is a possibility of keeping both but this way I can check out the KK and if it takes care of my needs, then I'll sell the Krome... if not... more keyboards! yay!

[older guy]

Here I was planning to call my order for a Krome in the morning - then I run across this! Is this a ' BUYER BEWARE' that the Krome has a "next - to - impossible" interface to get used to. Maybe I need to take another look.

Some real life examples here for me to understand if this would also be a problem for me With no music stores in a reasonable distance stocking these items, I have to depend on forums and videos and a generous return policy to lay out the cash.

Older guy.











'

[PauloF]

Maybe it doesn't have the simplest of interfaces but do you really think that is "next to impossible"?
Did you try it ?

[jggiano]

The Krome 61 was my first keyboard since an Ensoniq VFX. If a 60-year old "amateur/novice"(me) can feel comfortable navigating it, I think you should definitely reconsider before writing it off. Sure, it could be "better", but what keyboard can't be a little better?
Good luck with your decision.

[jggiano]

I'm sure you're aware that Korg has the new "KROSS" keyboard available. They're also offering a free gig bag promotion at this time.
It looks very user-friendly--in case the other features fit your needs.

[flyingace]

Here I was planning to call my order for a Krome in the morning - then I run across this! Is this a ' BUYER BEWARE' that the Krome has a "next - to - impossible" interface to get used to. Maybe I need to take another look.

Some real life examples here for me to understand if this would also be a problem for me With no music stores in a reasonable distance stocking these items, I have to depend on forums and videos and a generous return policy to lay out the cash.

Older guy.

I wouldn't and didn't call it "next to impossible" just that if you own it and play it, you have to focus on it and keep working with it to remember all the tech stuff. I focus on so many other instruments and have little time to spend doing so with a family, i just don't have the time.

If this is your keyboard, you mainly play keyboards and understand hi tech keyboards, this will be a no-brainer for you. The touch screen helps with tons of info. Better than the roland juno Gi I had that has a tiny LED screen.

Don't let it discourage you, go play one or buy from a place that lets you return!

[flyingace]

Thanks jggiano, I will miss the splits, drums and dual arps for sure from the Krome. AND I'm hoping that once its here I might be able to swing keeping both, but I just know that I can't spend the time needed to memorize combi building protocol and quick navigation to effects, etc. let alone use the sequencer effectively. I prefer to record using my Zoom R24 digital interface/recorder. I'm just not sure a workstation is what I need right now or ever.

I will reevaluate once the King Korg arrives and see if I still need both. I kept hoping my daughter would take to the Krome and then she can have it! but she doesn't like the interface either and the fact that there isn't a way to save "favorites" as easy as the King or the SV-1. We love that feature on both!

[PauloF]

Thanks jggiano, I will miss the splits, drums and dual arps for sure from the Krome. AND I'm hoping that once its here I might be able to swing keeping both, but I just know that I can't spend the time needed to memorize combi building protocol and quick navigation to effects, etc. let alone use the sequencer effectively. I prefer to record using my Zoom R24 digital interface/recorder. I'm just not sure a workstation is what I need right now or ever.

I will reevaluate once the King Korg arrives and see if I still need both. I kept hoping my daughter would take to the Krome and then she can have it! but she doesn't like the interface either and the fact that there isn't a way to save "favorites" as easy as the King or the SV-1. We love that feature on both!

The Kross, Krome's little brother, has more knobs and buttons to compensate the lack of a Big touch color display the Krome, but in addition it is lighter, less expensive, it has a favorites button, audio record and player capabilities and a Step Sequencer that together with the dual polyphonic ARPs and the Dru
Track makes it even slightly more powerful than the Krome.
From the Krome it misses the Total Insert effect, but that can be perfectly overcome by the DAW... JMHO
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[PauloF]

Thanks jggiano, I will miss the splits, drums and dual arps for sure from the Krome. AND I'm hoping that once its here I might be able to swing keeping both, but I just know that I can't spend the time needed to memorize combi building protocol and quick navigation to effects, etc. let alone use the sequencer effectively. I prefer to record using my Zoom R24 digital interface/recorder. I'm just not sure a workstation is what I need right now or ever.

I will reevaluate once the King Korg arrives and see if I still need both. I kept hoping my daughter would take to the Krome and then she can have it! but she doesn't like the interface either and the fact that there isn't a way to save "favorites" as easy as the King or the SV-1. We love that feature on both!

The Kross, Krome's little brother, has more knobs and buttons to compensate the lack of a Big touch color display the Krome has, but in addition it is lighter, less expensive, it has a favorites button, audio record and player capabilities and a Step Sequencer that together with the dual polyphonic ARPs and the Drum Track makes it even slightly more powerful than the Krome.
From the Krome it misses the Total Insert effect and the pleasure of a touch Disply, but that can be perfectly overcome by the DAW... JMHO
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[flyingace]

I started playing my Krome again this morning. As long as I'm using the preprogrammed stuff, it's great. Laid down some nice tracks using some pads with the ARPs and drums already programmed into the Combi. Sounds so great and is really easy but when I start trying to modify, that's when I start getting confused, don't get the results i hear in my head and start getting so technical that it kills my creative moment.

BUT that said, I told my wife I may end up keeping both or selling Krome and picking up a Kross as mentioned by PauloF. (thanks Paulo!) That way I'll have the simplicity of the King Korg and the extra functionality of the Kross without the complex-ness of the Krome.

I know that if I just spend about a week studying the Krome, I could probably half-ass master it enough to get what I want out of it. And an old-school note pad next to the keyboard works as well as a favorites list, just keep lots of notes. But then I'd have to keep using it all the time to remember it all. I wish there was a book or DVD or course I could take to learn it better.

That's what I did with my Zoom R24. I bought the ProAudioDVDs.com dvd on it from David Wills and it was great! I know how to operate almost all parts of it after watching the DVD twice!

Anything like that out there?

[gamhazell]

I'm looking for a keyboard with quality sounding samples that I can access beats easily and also that has beat variations and Intros and Endings and Fills. Also I am looking for something that can record beats, variations, intros, endings and fills.

Can the Krome do this?

[gamhazell]

I'm looking for a keyboard with quality sounding samples that I can access beats easily and also that has beat variations and Intros and Endings and Fills. Also I am looking for something that can record beats, variations, intros, endings and fills.

Can the Krome do this?

[flyingace]

Pretty sure that's what it's made for. And if I could spend all my time using it and learning it, well... it really wouldn't be a problem and I'd keep it. After that my only complaint is no ability to save "favorites" easily. I've resorted to keeping a note pad with the numbers and typing them into the keypad as needed.

[gamhazell]

No worries I got the pa600. I'm not looking for anything as extensive as a major synth workstation. I want something that has ready access beats, the ability to record my own beats. it must have easy access fills buttons and intros and endings. and a good library of high quality sounds and drum kits samples. something similar to what came with the Yamaha psr 540 to 2000 series as well as the s650, 750 or 950. I needed something in the 700us$ to 800us$ range. couldn't get anything I wanted so I ended up turning to eBay. got a great price on a korg pa600 for under 800.