Ok, now a complaint: Korg, what's up with the knob choice?

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:09 am

I praised Korg recently for the USB pads feature (Which is still great) and when they added user streaming. Now I have a criticism:

What is UP with that knob choice? They're tall, skinny, CHEAP FEELING hard plastic, and REALLY hard to grab. Especially in a live situation (i.e. the volume knob if I don't want to use the master fader). Being that I had a recent medical condition where my hand is recovering from paralysis this problem is amplified tremendously and I was never crazy about the knobs to start with even before I had problems!

I know Rean is gone, but why not some nice Sifam/Selco soft touch knobs similar to the good ol' p670 rean knobs?

Also, if you're going to use a D shaft knob, why a south orientation? If reading specs and minimum quantities weren't hard enough the south orientation makes it even tougher to find suitable replacements to where I can just "buy" some.

Bugra Ekuklu · Post by **Bugra Ekuklu** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:46 am

IMHO, high-end workstations should include knobs like Nord Stage 2 has. It has electronical knobs, so they aren't being affected by program change or combination change. For example when you edit sound cutoff by Knob 1 in Kronos, let me say set it to 30, when you change the program and if it has a cutoff value like 100 and you intend to raise it, you have to start the value from 30, which is the second cutoff value of former program. Not such a big problem but possible to be solved.

Buğra

Shakil · Post by **Shakil** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:13 am

OASYS did have electronic faders and knobs.... and we know the cost..

I think people are forgetting the price point of KRONOS relative to other workstations offering the total package as KRONOS.

apex · Post by **apex** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:48 am

Shakil wrote:OASYS did have electronic faders and knobs.... and we know the cost..

I think people are forgetting the price point of KRONOS relative to other workstations offering the total package as KRONOS.

exactly!!!!

and I have no issue with the knobs on the Kronos. not saying that no one else should... but I just want to go on record

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:49 am

Shakil wrote:OASYS did have electronic faders and knobs.... and we know the cost..

I think people are forgetting the price point of KRONOS relative to other workstations offering the total package as KRONOS.

I'm not talking about LEDs showing the status. While that's nice (In a knight rider kind of way) it's relatively expensive. All I'm talking about is the physical KNOBS. Regardless of the cost of the workstation, there is ZERO excuse for this level of cheap. Even the knobs on my M50 (hmmm) were head and shoulders better.

After checking, I replaced 4 Kronos knobs with the M50 knobs. They're not quite "right" but line up and are FAR more functional.

Anyone have lead on a good place to buy (from USA) soft touch D shaft knobs with a south orientation and a pointer? Preferably in multiple pointer colors to mix it up a touch so it's easier to see what knob I'm grabbing since the Kronos is my bottom keyboard.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:45 am

NuSkoolTone wrote:
Shakil wrote:OASYS did have electronic faders and knobs.... and we know the cost..

I think people are forgetting the price point of KRONOS relative to other workstations offering the total package as KRONOS.
I'm not talking about LEDs showing the status. While that's nice (In a knight rider kind of way) it's relatively expensive. All I'm talking about is the physical KNOBS. Regardless of the cost of the workstation, there is ZERO excuse for this level of cheap. Even the knobs on my M50 (hmmm) were head and shoulders better.

After checking, I replaced 4 Kronos knobs with the M50 knobs. They're not quite "right" but line up and are FAR more functional.

Anyone have lead on a good place to buy (from USA) soft touch D shaft knobs with a south orientation and a pointer? Preferably in multiple pointer colors to mix it up a touch so it's easier to see what knob I'm grabbing since the Kronos is my bottom keyboard.

PEBCAK

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:15 am

GregC wrote: PEBCAK

Instead of being a douche, how about offering something useful?

Bugra Ekuklu · Post by **Bugra Ekuklu** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:16 am

Actually I'm okay with the physical knobs, it doesn't bother me either, my point was if it is Korg's flagship keyboard then electronic knobs may advance its current place. You all are right, if it is possible to be asked "Do you want electronic knobs with extra $?" I would say no. Just a thought I had shared. If you want to create a workstation which grand of people choose it, you have to consider its price. That's why OASYS was not very successful -having considered its specs-, actually.

Buğra

Ojustaboo · Post by **Ojustaboo** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:27 am

While I much prefer the colour of the Kronos to the M3, in my opinion the M3 buttons were vastly superior.

Sure I could tilt the M3 but even if it was flat, when I sat down at it, I could instantly see what's what.

With the kronos, if I'm sitting down playing (and I cant stand for more than a couple of mins due to health reasons), there's something about the design that makes it very hard to see what's what with the sliders/knobs.

Sure if I lean right over the kronos I can see but people don't usually lean forward past the keybed as they play it.

Standing up, I can see everything pretty well.

It's like someone at korg said "how can we make the led lighting look cool on the Kronos" but had no clue as to how musicians actually need to use the buttons etc.

Edit: I think its more how the writing is laid out where I have the biggest problem. Sure you get to know what's what after a while, but I still often forget

Having tall knobs with the writing above them means you cant see what's written above them at all while sitting down. Would have made more sense to me if the knob functions were written underneath (but maybe its a personal thing where everyone has their own preference)

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:09 am

get simple $4 USB LED lights

JPWC · Post by **JPWC** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:40 am

google; knobs d-shaft, the word d-shaft or electronics will get you past the cabinet door knob.

Jameco electronics supply, there are thousand of knobs made by hundreds of manufacturers. Search through suppliers, so you cane order something that is stocked. If you search through mfg's you'll fall in love with knobs that you can't get.

I bought knobs from Mouser for my MFOS synth.

I have to say, the best thing about the Kingkorg are the Knobs, they make the instrument very tweek-able.

The rubberized finish on the Elektron boxes make them very adjustable especially given their size.

PEBCAK, does not that describe us all? but it was still rude.

MarPabl · Post by **MarPabl** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:10 am

Yeah, I must admit that from every high end workstation I've owned, like Kurweil, Yamaha and Access... the knobs on Kronos are the worst of all them

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 9:01 am

NuSkoolTone, I hunk many are forgetting you are working through rehabilitating you hand. From kit knobs for electronics to guitar amps etc.. A good machine shop could change the inside diameter of a knob or a buddy with a bech drill also d shaft doesn't mean the knob has to be d shaft. Knobs with set screws would work or glue on, just remember to get extras because some times you have to crack them to get them off.

A very quick possibility would be electrical line and tape. Not the cheap plastic stuff everyone buys at the store. This tape is a thicker rubber and could possibly be wrapped around the exiting knobs to to provide a diameter you want and a rubber surface to grip. Just a thought, might even get some incurred stripping rubber from a local Bandag retread shop. Possibly have a friend with anwoodnlathe make you some wood knobs you could put some prints on. Just a few thoughts. Heck if you want to spend a few dollars a machine shop could make you knobs knurled to your specs, or use a local HS shops class. Later Bertotti