Korg Forums

Emrys · Joined: 15 Dec 2019 Posts: 24

I have a home studio with Logic Pro, Motu 828es Audio Interface, with sounds from Omnisphere, Komplete 12 Ultimate, East West Soundcloud.
I have a Komplete 61 key keyboard.
How can I justify buying a Kronos?
Help me out! Very Happy

GregC · Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 1:51 am Post subject:

hard to say with out knowing your music production goals

Your VST's , esp Omnisphere might sound better

and you really should wait for NAMM 2020.

Kronos is not an 'impulse ' purchase IMO. Its a long term thing
_________________
Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams Smile

https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994

Emrys · Joined: 15 Dec 2019 Posts: 24

Emrys · Joined: 15 Dec 2019 Posts: 24

GregC · Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 2:16 am Post subject:

Emrys · Joined: 15 Dec 2019 Posts: 24

I am retired. Your plan and where I am at are similar. Close to 70 original instrumentals, 100% Kronos, on SoundCloud. My stuff is suitable for a variety of background purposes. My stats tell me, there are are some parties playing 30-40 songs in a row. Its all free, of course, and I have no problem.[/quote]

I have listened to a few of your songs on SoundCloud. You have a nice groove.
Maybe I was follow your lead and see what happens in NAMM coming up next year, then decide then since I am no big hurry!
Thanks Greg C, much appreciated!

Poseidon · Senior Member Joined: 08 Jul 2018 Posts: 373

A Wise decision.

In a meantime while you wait for for NAMM 2020, check the following:

DIVA -> https://u-he.com/products/diva/
ZEBRA2 -> https://u-he.com/products/zebra2/
DUNE 3 https://www.synapse-audio.com/dune3.html

They are fully tagged and NKS-ready !

Official Demos:

DIVA -> https://youtu.be/-PO84tYA6mA
ZEBRA2 -> https://youtu.be/QfgoQYVP010
DUNE 3 -> https://youtu.be/eU9-EG4u-KA

You cannot go wrong with one of those, a perfect addition to your needs.

Liviou2004

Lightbringer · Senior Member Joined: 07 Jan 2018 Posts: 356 Location: USA

Wait. What? This is the Kronos board on Korg Forums and we're going to advise someone who wants a little extra push to purchase a K not to buy one? Isn't that what the Yamaha forums are for? Smile

I was in your situation almost exactly 2 years ago. I had a pile of other excellent hardware and software musical gear (still do). NAMM was just around the corner. I went ahead and bought a Kronos and I have no regrets about my decision. I use it a lot!

What are you hoping to get from adding Kronos to your arsenal? Maybe we can help confirm or deny that it will do that for you.

GregC · Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:33 pm Post subject:

I have a few acquaintances that use the ' buy and try ' approach, essentially demo'g the keyboard for 25 days in their home.

IOW, US retailers, [ always read fine print] give you a 30 day return/full refund.

even so, 25 days is hardly enough time to understand Kronos basics. I hesitate
suggesting someone to wing it for 25 days. Its too easy to miss a return deadline.

If it were me, I would spend a few hours on absorbing Kronos basics. Its going to sound good- great, for sure. The real work is getting a handle on it and getting productive on it.

I like the idea of waiting for NAMM. There is potentially more interesting news to read. But once we get to Jan 16/17, I think its ok to push the credit card # around.
_________________
Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams Smile

https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994

Poseidon · Senior Member Joined: 08 Jul 2018 Posts: 373

ChrisDuncan · Senior Member Joined: 17 May 2018 Posts: 389

The point about being a long term purchase was a significant factor for me.

I'm a guitarist but wanted to get into playing more keys (as opposed to sequencing stuff in my DAW, which I'd always done in the past). I don't gig anymore and spend my time in the studio or just playing.

I knew I'd be playing a lot of piano and B3 and I've been very happy with those sounds. I also have an 88 weighted key MIDI controller. In terms of playability it's not bad, but it feels like a toy compared to the Kronos.

I've barely scratched the surface of the synth engines, horns, Karma, etc., but that was the whole point for me. Instead of buying something less expensive, playing it for awhile, then leveling up to the next thing, over and over, I wanted something that I wouldn't outgrow anytime soon (if ever, given my chops). The Kronos has been exactly that.

So, a lot of it comes down to priorities and desire. If you want to buy something that just meets a specific need and nothing more, you can accomplish that for less money. If you want something that will serve you for a long time in a wide variety of ways, this is the kind of thing you're looking for.

Of course, easy for me to say when I'm spending someone else's money. Smile

Emrys · Joined: 15 Dec 2019 Posts: 24

Lightbringer;;;;;. What? This is the Kronos board on Korg Forums and we're going to advise someone who wants a little extra push to purchase a K not to buy one? Isn't that what the Yamaha forums are for? Smile

I found that really funny and see that you got it lol
I was looking for that 'extra push' you mentioned!!!

Chris Duncan:::If you want something that will serve you for a long time in a wide variety of ways, this is the kind of thing you're looking for.

Exactly! The fact is that I have been slowly building my 'dream' music studio by buying what I have always wanted. The Keyboard is a piece I want to grow into.

Poseidon:::::... make sure his setup ( Logic, Motu, NI ... etc ) live in harmony with Kronos ... (?)

THAT is EXACTLY where my fears lie....I want to make sure I can make everything work together!!!

Last but not least....

Greg C....The real work is getting a handle on it and getting productive on it.

I have read that it has a steep learning curve.

Thanks so much everyone for your valuable input

ChrisDuncan · Senior Member Joined: 17 May 2018 Posts: 389

As far as your studio living in harmony with the Kronos, you already have a DAW and an audio interface, so that makes it easier.

My personal preference (because there are many ways to do things in the studio) is to interface with the Kronos via old school MIDI rather than trying to work via USB, which can be hit or miss for people.

I run Cubase in Windows and I let my audio interface handle the audio. I connect MIDI cables to the Kronos, and a stereo pair of audio outputs from the Kronos to a couple of inputs on my audio interface. It's a very simple and trouble free setup for me.

That said, because I use a DAW and an audio interface, I don't use or depend on that functionality from the Kronos. It's a full workstation cable of doing audio recording, etc. and being the master of its own universe, but for me it's just a keyboard in my overall studio setup.

Don't know your workflow or preferences, but this is at least one way that it can live in harmony with your studio with very little in the way of setup and connectivity.
_________________
Studio: Cubase 13 | Windows 10 | Yamaha TF5 | Mackie MCU | CMC AI, QC
Keyboard Station: Kronos 2 88 | Fantom 7 | JV 2080 | Cubase 13 | Windows 10 | Focusrite 18i20 | CMC TP
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Chris Duncan
Atlanta, GA, USA, Earth

Emrys · Joined: 15 Dec 2019 Posts: 24