Korg Forums

[phattbuzz]

Kronos, to me, is the most amazing keyboard ever. But as we know, every line of keyboard has a beginning and an end. So what amazing features would the next line of keyboards have that would make Kronos look like a mere toy?

Features I'd love to see would be
A) full color displays above (or below) every knob, button and slider to tell you what it's controlling at that time
B) knobs are all endless rotary controllers with leds around them
C) use ribbon controllers for sliders with leds for visual representations
D) get rid of the vector joystick and replace it with a Kaos type pad including pressure sensitivity
E) keyboard length ribbon controller with pressure sensitivity
F) polyphonic aftertouch
G) multiple standard midi inputs/outputs with full merge/reassign capabilities

I could go on from here, but I want to hear your suggestions. ---and don't think in terms of money. If there is enough demand for a product it comes down in price.

-phattbuzz
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Latest Set Up: Kronos 61, Casio Privia, Korg TR61, EoWave Ribbon, Roli Rise 48, TEC Breath Controller, StudioLogic MP-117 Bass Pedals, Moog Theremini.
Past Instruments of Construction: Hammond A100 w/Leslie 760, Korg R3, Roland AxSynth, Korg Poly61, Korg M1, Univox MaxiKorg, Korg MS2000, (2) Moog Concertmate MG1, (2) Hammond X5, Rhodes Mark I & 2, Farfisa Compact, Yamaha S08, Casio SK1, Strymon Mobius, Custom Bass Pedals, Burns B3 Theremin.

[GregC]

[Tschury]

[michelkeijzers]

I think this would be only possible with the earlier abandoned Komponent-system where a keyboard can be 'bought' by buying 3 separate parts:
- Keyboard, e.g. one of:
- 49 keys
- 61 keys
- 61 keys polyphonic aftertouch
- 73/76 key piano
- 88 key piano
- 88 keys polyphonic aftertouch
- Engine
- Kronos engine
- Kronos 4 (?) engine
- Controller
- Normal (like Kronos)
- Oasys like (with LEDS, motorized sliders etc)
- Luxuriious (with display around each button/slider)

Problem is, the last item(s) of each category would cost a lot to develop while not sold much, so they would be extremely costly.
_________________

Developer of the free PCG file managing application for most Korg workstations: PCG Tools, see https://www.kronoshaven.com/pcgtools/

[phattbuzz]

[SanderXpander]

The DX7 did not have poly AT. But yeah Kronos will be top dog for a while unless some smaller company jumps in out of the blue and that doesn't seem likely. Yamaha is as frightened of its "market leading" position as ever and Roland seems clueless. I had some hopes for Kurz but their newest board is a disappointment (to me). I still like Nord but they have a different target audience really.

[phattbuzz]

[dfahrner]

[Zeroesque]

Since the Kronos is finally one synth that emulates most keyboard-type instruments exceedingly well (even from the player's perspective), it's tough to call anything a Kronos killer unless it contained virtually all of the incremental improvements that people have been talking about here for three years (additional engines, better seq, etc.). Frankly, it's pretty killer already.

A new synth comparable to the huge jump in features that Oasys/Kronos provided relative to other keyboards would almost have to include a full-featured DAW, DJ functions, expansive arranger app, huge touchscreen to control it all and read charts on, and more physical models and emulations of classic keyboards (maybe even a VSTi environment). Even though Korg already has much of this functionality across their historic product line, it would presumably be a major undertaking to combine all that disparate functionality and code.

Unfortunately, I'd say a synth would basically need to be a PC to be truly customizable enough to be a "killer" instrument for all customers. The currently available instruments that try to give you a PC environment don't sell nearly as well as mainstream workstations and stage pianos. And even if Korg made anything like what I've mentioned, someone is going to be pissed that it doesn't run their favorite iPad app, dual boot OSX and WinXP, and connect to their Avid interface at the same time -- all under wireless remote control from their Droid.

There are also manufacturers putting synths out there that sell well simply because of the fact that they aren't all-encompassing devices and only do one or two things with limited interfaces (like traditional instruments).

Is a Kronos killer just a room full of your favorite instruments and studio gear?
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Kronos 61, Kronos2-88, Hammond B3, Baldwin SD-10

[jimknopf]

[Bachus]

[SanderXpander]

R) Gets me gigs
S) Checks all my songs and shows me sheets
T) Creates or copies all sounds I need
U) Does all my administration
V) Has Angry Birds on it
W) Makes coffee

I'll leave someone else to finish before I get too unrealistic.