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P5music · Joined: 02 May 2010 Posts: 41

Do you think that a SDk with c++ headers to let developers create "apps" inside Kronos with access to its engine and data classes (say midi patterns, graphics, playback, ports,etc) would be advantageous to Kronos customers and Korg sales?
(no open source is involved)

X-Trade · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

It will never happen.

OASYS was 'open' - to Korg - but there is no indication that they simply used a framework to just 'drop' new synthesizers in. It might have been fairly straightforward for them but it still had to be a part of an OS update.

KRONOS for all intents and purposes seems designed around OASYS and I expect the system is the same, if not even more complex to add new engines.

Also, Korg's philosophy here seems to be about quality. They have these 'top notch' engines - and they really are great engines - which they have designed themselves and designed all the great sounds for it. It really is their product and a lot of effort has gone into all that. If everyone and their uncle could write new expansions for it, they'd be diluting that. Look at the number of really awful VSTi instruments out there. They could also potentially break the KRONOS or cause it to crash, and the support situation would be complicated. Korg could be expected to reload or repair KRONOS' which have been permanently crashed by some 3rd party plug.
_________________
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro

ozy · Guest

X-Trade · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:10 am Post subject:

I admit it is a nice idea, yes. Again "a nice idea". I don't see it happening.

I've wanted to produce a keyboard which was open like this. But I think you'd need some kind of strict quality control (not to mention one place for developers to come together and sell their product) ala the Apple App Store. I know in some ways it is considered an evil, but in some cases perhaps a necessary one.

You could also then charge a small (by commercial development package standards) fee for the SDK to pay for all the QC and support it will need.

Did I just give away my whole business plan? Rolling Eyes

Anyway, in my opinion, I like the way Korg does things with their design. See how everything looks like it is supposed to be on the same piece of hardware, not just a bunch of different software products cobbled together. If I wanted that then I'd use my laptop.
_________________
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro

synthguy · Platinum Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 661

ozy · Guest

P5music · Joined: 02 May 2010 Posts: 41

-sound generation could be excluded from the exposed part of the system
-a dedicated "user space" could be reserved (one or more "screens/tabs")
-a form of apps screening by korg could be tolerated

Bachus · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3126

You dont want to run other peoples programs on a machine that needs to be reliable in the first place..

If you want to add your own programs just add a laptop to your setup with a host running a multitude of VSt's and what not programs...

But people programming around on a hardware (replacement) Synth is not what you want, trust me on that.

@Ozy and forget about Asturias and other Softsynths, that would give so much performance problems on the Kronos. This machine was nut build to be open.. Which does not mean it won't be possible to expand it, but only in ways KORG has toroughly tested.

ozy · Guest

SpIdErWeB · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:10 pm Post subject:

Think Apple with the App Store for the iPhone...

You can have a cheap SDK, with a validation process going through Korg to guarantee the quality of expansions.

Lot of VST and Sample Libraries developers out there already know how to build good stuff... Let them do the job for Korg.

For the "crappy" software, it won't be different from what we see with the VST market today, and it will be even better because it would be a central level of quality control, done by Korg, the way Korg would like...

That's why I think it would be a great benefit for the Kronos to become a platform such the "iPhone of Workstation"

Phil

Zeroesque · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject:

ozy · Guest

Zeroesque · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:56 pm Post subject:

P5music · Joined: 02 May 2010 Posts: 41

Reaper DAW by Cockos has a SDK for developers and a busy forum that testify this is the modern way to make software/gear. Developers have to be let customize the systems and add missing features because company departments fight each other and seldom they create a perfect product even for the "market" they always claim to know: often very unreasonable limitations are put to the shipped gear.

Zeroesque · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject: