2nd hand Kronos 88 cutoff issue. Korg fix still available?

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lillloyd
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2nd hand Kronos 88 cutoff issue. Korg fix still available?

Post by lillloyd »

Hi,

I just purchased a second-hand Kronos 88 (SN 001857). Unfortunately I didn't notice the cutoff issue until I got it home. I thought maybe I was imagining it, but it's definitely there, across any patch I use.

I perused the big thread here on the keybed problems with some of the original Kronos 88s...am I correct that it definitely requires a physical repair (not just a software update)?

Also, does anyone know if Korg will honor the repair/replacement even though it's a couple of years after the issue was initially discovered? All things being equal I'd like to keep the unit and just get it fixed. (The seller seems cool and I could probably just return it outright, but if I can work with him and Korg to just get it fixed--assuming it doesn't cost an arm and a leg--I'd prefer that).
lillloyd
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Post by lillloyd »

Let me clarify - I'm trying to find out:

--is Korg still offering a *free* repair of the early SN keybeds?

--will it matter that I'm not the original owner, or that it's out of warranty?

Thanks in advance,

David
pedro5
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Post by pedro5 »

Sorry to learn you're having problems with your Kronos.
The dreaded note cut off strikes again......by coincidence mine(a K73) has recently developed the same thing and that was after returning from a repair!!!

The cure is two fold,in part it's a software patch,but also it needs other calibration in a workshop.

Not sure if there's exisiting warranty is still available for the orignal owner (warranties are not usually transferable) some arrangment could be made to go that route,especially if it's registerd in his name.

Otherwise,it'll be subject to your service centre charges.
Last edited by pedro5 on Tue May 20, 2014 1:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
pedro5
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Post by pedro5 »

Forgive the question....
What's an SN keyboard ?
lillloyd
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Post by lillloyd »

serial number :)
GregC
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Re: 2nd hand Kronos 88 cutoff issue. Korg fix still availabl

Post by GregC »

lillloyd wrote:Hi,

I just purchased a second-hand Kronos 88 (SN 001857). Unfortunately I didn't notice the cutoff issue until I got it home. I thought maybe I was imagining it, but it's definitely there, across any patch I use.

I perused the big thread here on the keybed problems with some of the original Kronos 88s...am I correct that it definitely requires a physical repair (not just a software update)?

Also, does anyone know if Korg will honor the repair/replacement even though it's a couple of years after the issue was initially discovered? All things being equal I'd like to keep the unit and just get it fixed. (The seller seems cool and I could probably just return it outright, but if I can work with him and Korg to just get it fixed--assuming it doesn't cost an arm and a leg--I'd prefer that).

My 88 is 3 yrs old, sn# 510. Fortunately , I did not experience any note cut off problem.

I think you or the original owner have to call a local korg service center. I assume you are in the US.
Kronos 88. MODX8
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pedro5
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Post by pedro5 »

lillloyd

Thanks for SN explanation.....my little brain just couldn't work that one out,somehow.... :)

Good Luck with getting things sorted.....please let us know the result.

Best Wishes.
dfahrner
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Post by dfahrner »

pedro5 wrote:The cure is two fold,in part it's a software patch,but also it needs other calibration in a workshop.
I've seen this problem on two RH3 keybeds, and the fix was changing the rubber key contact strips, replacing the old pink ones with the newer blue ones, which are shaped a little differently and made of a harder rubber compound. No software change was done, or recalibration.

df
metallo
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Post by metallo »

dfahrner wrote:
pedro5 wrote:The cure is two fold,in part it's a software patch,but also it needs other calibration in a workshop.
I've seen this problem on two RH3 keybeds, and the fix was changing the rubber key contact strips, replacing the old pink ones with the newer blue ones, which are shaped a little differently and made of a harder rubber compound. No software change was done, or recalibration.

df
I double that, that was exactly how it was fixed mine.
lillloyd
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Post by lillloyd »

FWIW I was able to record my existing Kronos 61 (which I planned to sell) and new Kronos 88 via MIDI, using the same keyboard phrase, and in MIDI event viewer you can actually see notes sporadically "double hitting" on the K88, which I believe is what's causing the cutoffs (i.e., the 2nd hit - which shouldn't exist - basically truncates the first).

Anyway I plan to work with the seller to get this fixed.

That said, for those of you who've had this fix performed, can you tell me how common is it for the issue to keep recurring? I see in the other threads that there are some people who seem to have had to return their Kronos multiple times - are they outliers, or is this common among people who've had the problem?

I want the K88 and don't mind one (free) repair...but if there's a decent chance that this is going to be an ongoing messI'm not so sure if I'm not better off pulling the rip cord now...
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Post by pedro5 »

Ooops....sorry folks,didn't mean to mislead anyone.
I stand corrected in part,I was referring to how it used to be done initially.(I went too far in history, forgetting subsequent changes that followed….).
Currently the software patch is included in the o/s,but originally it was an additional one for problematic instruments and made available quite quickly as a separate solution.
At that time,calibration was also thought to be needed and done in the workshop.
The Kronos has several internal keyboard settings,(only meant for service bods to access etc) and it was usual to set it to a different one following contact replacement.

It may well work flawlessly without this of course and for those who choose to replace the contacts themselves continue to have a good chance of being successful without any further problems,as already proved by previous posters who have done so.

Our friend lillloyd was asking about the repair situation being available (including warranty work), or not.
There is a choice to go the service centre or the self install route,which depends on several factors for consideration.

lillloyd..If you have the repair done at a device centre,as per arrangment with the previous owner,that itself should have a warranty for a while…..the snag being though,it depends if it fails again,how much time will have passed regarding change of ownership etc.

Although there are reports of repeated problems following this particular repair,I think it's a small risk to consider.
So,if you choose to do the repair yourself,this can be repeated at a later time,if required....(hopefully, the need won't arise for many years though).

I also think that due to its lack of use prior to purchase,it's possible that the contacts got "gummed up " a little and a replacement will be a final cure.


Good Luck.
pedro5
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Post by pedro5 »

As a point of interest, for reference....

http://www.jordanrudess.com/forum/showt ... 749&page=3

Best Wishes.
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MarPabl
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Post by MarPabl »

lillloyd wrote:That said, for those of you who've had this fix performed, can you tell me how common is it for the issue to keep recurring? I see in the other threads that there are some people who seem to have had to return their Kronos multiple times - are they outliers, or is this common among people who've had the problem?
If you don't fix the issue, it'll never go away. Once you get fixed by replacing the pink rubbers, the issue will never repeat. At least that was my experience. The multiple times needed to return Kronos are usually related with appearance of many other issues, not related with the keybed.
lillloyd wrote:I want the K88 and don't mind one (free) repair...but if there's a decent chance that this is going to be an ongoing messI'm not so sure if I'm not better off pulling the rip cord now...
If you carefully read the thread regarding the fix for the keybed issue (I think), you'll find the exact part number of the new rubber contacts you have to order. Then, you may personally fix your keybed.

And for your reference:
dfahrner wrote:
mperezjr6 wrote:What is the parts number of the 12 note contact strip? I see two on that site, one is blue and the other is grey. Which one did you order?
Korg says that the correct key contact strips for the KRONOS are:

#500422008889: RH-3E RUBBER SW12KEY E20373
#500422008890: RH-3E RUBBER SW 4KEY E30636

...and they work, and solved my note cutoff problems...

df
Current gear: :arrow: Access Virus TI2 Whiteout Keyboard (111/150), Access Virus TI2 Polar DarkStar Special Edition, Gibson Custom Lite 2013, Roland MV-8800 \:D/
lillloyd
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Issue resolved...I think?

Post by lillloyd »

So I just wanted to write a postscript for this issue - the previous owner worked with Korg to get the contacts replaced and the OS upgraded. I no longer seem to have the double-trigger issue.

That said, I'm concerned that the velocity response might not be quite right. More specifically, when I record MIDI and I'm playing hard, it seems difficult to actually 'reach' the highest MIDI velocities (i.e. 127), more so for some keys than others. I recorded a MIDI track with me sequentially moving up the keyboard and really hammering each note along the way--several hits per note--and some are all 127s whereas others struggle to get out of the 110s. (To be fair, I haven't compared this to my K61 or my other keyboards...that will be my next task).

Not sure either if this is an actual problem that needs repair shop attention, or something minor that just needs a tweak to the velocity curve.

Maybe I'm imagining it (now that I know that there are some notes that I seem to have to hit harder than others), but I keep thinking that the board feels a bit less expressive (my theory being, maybe there are multisamples that never get triggered for certain high-velocity notes).
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BobTheDog
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Post by BobTheDog »

The velocity problem seems to be 'normal' for some and abnormal for others. Mine struggles to get over 110 on the 9 setting.

There was some talk about it maybe being related to the new rubbers.
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