An Oasys owner goes to the music store and tries Kronos.

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 9:28 pm

So today I finally went to the nearby guitar Center store and behold the Kronos 61 was on display. I went in with an open mind to see what this machine was made of. I would say right off the bat that agreed that the Pianos are quite remarkable. Nice job Korg. I'd have to say that the parameters that allow for this flexibility of noise and lid position is impressive. The set list feature was also quite impressive allowing for the seamless transition. I would say that overall though I did not come out saying " I got to have this!" The key action to the 61 key model was ok but not exceptional. I rather like the action of my old DW-8000 better as it has a more noticeable slapback. Perhaps that is because the DW has metal under the keys to give that special bounce. I also took a real look at the presentation and ergonomics of the instrument. In this aspect I am so much more satisfied with the Oasys as the the Oasys is definitely a mazarratti. The Kronos is basically a plastic enclosure whereas the Oasys is a metal enclosure. I even think the old O1W was more impressive in its appearance and enclosure. The Kronos buttons are rather thin and although they sort of light up they don't distinguish as much as the Oasys where they are large and light up clearly in a red color when depressed. In performance this jumps out noticeably. The knobs are small and the sliding levels are average . On the Oasys these features a much more substantial and they feel like studio grade controls and sliders. I was totally disappointed with the vector and joystick controller. The vector controller is not recessed as with the Oasys meaning , it may easily break with pressure in any one direction. The Joystick is plastic and of the not one that is easliy placed between the fingers as with the Oasys. Finally the main screen. The kronos' 8 inch vs. the Oasys 10 inch ? Big difference! Event after calibration the screen accuracy is not there and is just too small and I did miss the solid metal frame upward adjustable screen on the Oasys. It's like comparing a tablet to a smaller tablet. The Oasys screen size is just right it's no wonder Apple settled on 10 inch for their tablet size. Overall I came out of this test drive not overwhelmed just not impressed overall. Yes the sound of certain classes of sounds are impressive but if you take the strings the Oasys delivers these are produced with more realism or warmth. Well, after that i just came back home saw and played my Oasys and said to myself this is the real deal. Good luck with all the Kronos owners I know you'll get blown away like I was 7 years ago with the Oasys, but us Oasys owners are just happy with our mazzarati.

KapnKrunch · Post by **KapnKrunch** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:04 pm

Very thoughtful comments, franzip, and I suspect other Oasys owners would probably feel the same.

For me, a non-Oasys owner (and prior M3 owner), the Kronos is a value proposition. I sure would like to see Kronos with the wonderful UI advantages the Oasys offers, but I doubt I could justify the cost if one existed.

Moving from the M3 to the Kronos is revolutionary for me. For Oasys owners, I would imagine it's barely evolutionary (and in some cases, a regression).

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:49 am

The Kronos IS the OASYS as far as sounds are concerned.

All the premium OASYS physical hardware items you mention (metal case, LEDs, bigger screen, etc.) HAD to be eliminated to get the price down to more normal workstation prices.

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:50 am

Actually I as a Oasys owner applaud the arrival of the Kronos. My criticism is honest but I think perhaps with the great commonality such as the OS that both platforms share, we can actually augment the family that started with the foundation which the fine Oasys established. It might make Korg consider the fact that they actually have a great value in the existing Oasys owners. Look at the Karo folks they actually continually support the Oasys platform and now will also support the Kronos folks shortly. I hope Korg realizes that instead of having one keyboard the Kronos as a hit they might consider the keyboard Dynasty they could have by reinvesting in the Oasys and its updates. Consider this... we all recall the Yamaha DX7 right? Well Yamaha was not stupid and created a dynasty of instruments DX(everything) that left a notable and dominating impression during that time period.

Bruce Lychee · Post by **Bruce Lychee** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 2:02 am

I'm new to Korgs, but I didn't realize the OASYS contained all the same sound engines. Does it have the same piano, EP and organ engines? Those are pretty important for me.

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 2:22 am

Bruce Lychee wrote:I'm new to Korgs, but I didn't realize the OASYS contained all the same sound engines. Does it have the same piano, EP and organ engines? Those are pretty important for me.

The Kronos includes the OASYS sound engines plus some new ones (SGX-1 Premium Piano, EP-1 Electric Piano), plus some new additional samples and new Artist patches.
http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=598#feat

Bruce Lychee · Post by **Bruce Lychee** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:12 am

MartinHines wrote:
Bruce Lychee wrote:I'm new to Korgs, but I didn't realize the OASYS contained all the same sound engines. Does it have the same piano, EP and organ engines? Those are pretty important for me.
The Kronos includes the OASYS sound engines plus some new ones (SGX-1 Premium Piano, EP-1 Electric Piano), plus some new additional samples and new Artist patches.
http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=598#feat

Those seem like pretty significant additions to me.

Randelph · Post by **Randelph** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:28 am

Simple request to the OP:

Please use paragraphs! Even being interested in the subject, my eyes wander and I find it hard to read so many squished lines together.

Glad to hear you're happy with the Oasys. There are some important upgrades, but the big O is a great board!

Randy

shap · Post by **shap** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:36 am

I was also an OASYS owner. Returned it because the early round DAW integration was weak, and that was important to me. That aside, it was a terrific machine, and I agree with the OP that the build on the KRONOS clearly reflects cost consciousness.

I went in to the KRONOS anticipating the pads issue. I figure I'll try out the on-screen pads and maybe buy an MPD16 or MPD32 if it's an issue. For triggers I'm hoping I'll be okay with on-screen. For percussion, I find that pads tend to be a poor substitute for me DTExtreme kit. Those silly little buttons just don't take well to drum sticks.

Of course, neither do the keys on a Yamaha GH2/GH3 keybed, as my son proved back when he was around two.

felsineus · Post by **felsineus** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:50 am

Mazaratti?? Oh, please, Maserati. Or it's a mix: Maserati+Bugatti? If so, happy Kronosys' owners have a Maseratti.

ScoobyDoo555 · Post by **ScoobyDoo555** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:15 pm

The only issue I would challenge with the OP is that of the plastic enclosure.

The only aspects of the Kronos case that are plastic are the end cheeks...

But FWIW, I'm glad that OASYS owners are coming to these conclusions, as from an outsiders' perspective, the impression given was that OASYS-owner felt threatened by this machine.

As it turns out, that isn't the case - the OASYS is still a stunning machine that Kronos merely expands on certain aspects of.

And the more OASYS owners who do this same type of test with an open-mind, the more will probably come to the same conclusion.

Dan

Rocness · Post by **Rocness** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:26 pm

I tested the Kronos and I hear some clear differences in the sound compared to Oasys , someone else on hear committed about this but I had to hear for myself .

The Kronos is missing some low-end bass deepness and clarity that the Oasys has also the vector transitions are no way near as smooth as the Oasys . I checked some of my favorite combis that they both share .
The Kronos did come close.

I actually thought the Kronos was built pretty good compared to all the complaints people have been making about it .

There is another key element for me that is missing from the kronos and that's fun. The kronos does sound good but it just isn't any fun to play to me . The M3 was more fun to play than the kronos . Having the 8 pad triggers on the front really make a big difference , The Oasys and the M3 have the pad triggers why not put them on kronos would it have really cost that munch .

The kronos is a nice board but a key problem lies in combi mode . what's the point of having 9 synthesis engines if you can't access them all and have complete control of them all like in program mode with out copying a ton of effects for each sound and then theres the whole running out of polyphony and stealing voices thing .

The kronos shouldn't have been a cheap Oasys , it should have been better than Oasys . People who always wanted an Oasys should be pretty happy with it but part of what makes the Oasys experience so great is the huge screen , pads and lights , just make it so much fun to play not to mention the 2 mic pre's 8 individual out and 4 inputs with adat and cd burner .

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:26 pm

Rocness wrote:vector transitions are no way near as smooth as the Oasys

This doesn't make sense to me at all. The code is likely the same on both... Would be nice if Dan or Rich commented on this - I believe what you're hearing is pretty much placebo.

Rocness wrote:What's the point of having 9 synthesis engines if you can't access them all and have complete control of them all like in program mode with out copying a ton of effects for each sound and then theres the whole running out of polyphony and stealing voices thing .

This was also true on OASYS.

Rocness wrote:The kronos shouldn't have been a cheap Oasys , it should have been better than Oasys .

And it is better when piano and electric piano sounds are concerned, since it has dedicated engines for that. It also has a multicore CPU, which actually allows more polyphony when using CPU-intensive effects, which on OASYS decreased polyphony.

Kontrol49 · Post by **Kontrol49** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:35 pm

ScoobyDoo555 wrote:But FWIW, I'm glad that OASYS owners are coming to these conclusions, as from an outsiders' perspective, the impression given was that OASYS-owner felt threatened by this machine.Dan

Hell no!!!And I dare say most other O owners would agree with me,what Oasys owners were annoyed at was we were buying the Oasys on the premise it was going to be supported or future proof as it was stated or at least a little longer than Korg decided.

Korg then dropped it like a lead balloon with no real closure on it or statement claiming financial climate reasons For lack of development,yet they release the Kronos which although was a new machine cosmetically is still based on the same Oasys technology with more additions and would have incurred development costs,So how come they couldn't have continued to support the Oasys which is simply the Kronos and then some...

I don't envy or feel threatened by Kronos,infact the exact opposite...The Oasys was made in limited numbers,and although the Kronos has everything and more its not such a unique model in the fact its going to be mass produced the only thing I would like is the Set list option!

cello · Post by **cello** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:43 pm

Kontrol49 wrote:
ScoobyDoo555 wrote:But FWIW, I'm glad that OASYS owners are coming to these conclusions, as from an outsiders' perspective, the impression given was that OASYS-owner felt threatened by this machine.Dan

Hell no!!!And I dare say most other O owners would agree with me,what Oasys owners were annoyed at was we were buying the Oasys on the premise it was going to supported or future proof as it was stated.

Korg then dropped it like a lead balloon claiming financial reasons For lack of development,yet they release the Kronos which although was a new machine cosmetically is still based on the same Oasys technology and would have incurred development costs,then how come they couldn't have continued to support the Oasys which is simply the Kronos and then some...

I don't envy or feel threatened by Kronos,infact the exact opposite...The Oasys was made in limited numbers,and although the Kronos has everything and more its not such a unique model in the fact its going to be mass produced the only thing I would like is the Set list option!

Aye, ditto. As a studio guy, even the set list is pretty much useless to me. I have ordered a K61 simply because of the 61 bit - don't have room for a 76 or 88 OASYS, so for me I am buying an 'OASYS' 61.