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I gig with the K2 73 extensively. Thus far it is holding up just fine. I will say it is a beast to move, especially in a nice padded / wheeled case. I am vigilant in how I handle the keyboard.

I do wish it was a bit lighter for us older guys. Why should I lose features to lose weight?

As far as the sounds go, it's all a trade off. With 9 sound engines, the K2 is trying to do everything. It is not going to do everything perfectly.

As far as LED's, I don't need it because I have well thought out sound patches and setlists and my musical genres don't require much sound manipulation during a performance.

I am happy that Dan Phillips at least noticed this post. Then accepting my suggestions will be up to the KORG decision makers.

I am going to back my points now and say why I came up with those points.

1. Please replace the knobs with Endless LED encoders.
- There are 2 settings for the knobs. Catch and Jump. The catch is slow on live as it needs to reach to the point where the parameter is set and then takes effect. On the contrary, Jump is fast as it immediately takes effect but the problem is the pointer gives you a false impression where the actual parameter is. As per example, even though the parameter is at 70, it may show you 20. But the Endless LED encoders can show you the exact position of parameter and since there is no pointer, there no issue like false impression.

2. Please make it with a reduced weight (like Kronos X) and sturdy build quality which helps a lot for gigging.
- The Kronos X is around 4LBs lighter than the Kronos 2. And I am talking about the 61 key model. Musicians with big muscles may carry an OASYS to the gigs but light weight is definitely going to help a lot to lots of people on the other side.

3. Please make the out of box sounds bit more cheerful like Korg PA4X.
- Yes, I definitely think PA4X is a great board. That does not mean that Kronos is a bad board. And many of the out of box sounds of PA4X are definitely brighter and live than an untweaked Kronos. I am a live performer and music is not my source of earning. I mostly want to focus on playing and of course agree to some level of tweaking of sounds but not spend a lot of time sitting and tweaking them. The Kronos is definitely equipped with fantastic capabilities for live playing. I am just asking for some more nicer out of the box sounds. Like many of the sounds of Motif are close to the Tyors. But I practically do not find many sounds I nthe strings ensemble section. So, I just take the Big Texture Strings almost all the times and tweak it and play.

4. Please make a mechanical midpoint in the sliders so that we don’t have to look at the level mark to set the sliders to zero. Like when they come to the mid, we can feel the midpoint.
- Danmusician said that it will be difficult to set it at the middle if the sliders come with a notch. Are they not at this moment with no notch? When playing live, I could hardly set them at 0. I believe the notch will be better as it will make you feel the mid point without even looking at the level mark or switching to the Control Surface page from SetList page.

5. Please have the LCD panel bit tilted so that the visibility is better under bright light.
- The tilted panel definitely helps. I had a Roland Jupiter 80 and the visibility was better under bright light.

6. Good to have physical pads like OASYS.
- Just suggestion as I don’t have much space on my Kronos 2 61 to hold the Nanopad 2. And I wanted to use the chord pads on a physical controller.

7. Good to have quick/dedicated ADSR controls on the board.
- Oh yeah, it will be much helpful in live situation. I can just pick one string program for example and use it for background as well as lead playing just tweaking the ATTACK knob.

swarupmahapatra wrote:Hello Korg,

If you are watching our blog, please take a notice of this –
You made a fabulous synth/workstation, the Kronos few years back and that rocked the market and still rocks. Hats off to you for that.

I am a live performer and use my Kronos 2 more like a performance synth than a workstation. But I am seeing more live performers migrating towards Yamaha Montage through past year mostly due to the following reasons -

1. Build quality of Montage is much better than Kronos for gigging. I myself brushed a light weight music stand against my Kronos 2 and it did rip off some color of the case.
2. Endless LED encoders that show you where the parameters are set instantly rather than going to the menu while using live on stage.
3. Out of box Tones/Combis of Montage sound better than Kronos. Kronos can sound much better than Montage if they are tweaked. But we are live performers and not sound engineers or sound makers. We don’t get much time to sit down and tweak the sounds.

I believe it's time you should come up with some solution to stop this happen. Maybe you can come up with a Kronos just for live performers. Here is my suggestions for a change in the Kronos –

1. Please replace the knobs with Endless LED encoders.
2. Please make it with a reduced weight (like Kronos X) and sturdy build quality which helps a lot for gigging.
3. Please make the out of box sounds bit more cheerful like Korg PA4X.
4. Please make a mechanical midpoint in the sliders so that we don’t have to look at the level mark to set the sliders to zero. Like when they come to the mid, we can feel the midpoint.
5. Please have the LCD panel bit tilted so that the visibility is better under bright light.
6. Good to have physical pads like OASYS.
7. Good to have quick/dedicated ADSR controls on the board.

Other valued members, please add your comments and suggestions if you feel so.

add:

a bunch of flashing ( 50 of them ) red and pink lights
9) something gimmicky like the SuperKnob
10) screw up standard midi implementation
11) no, subtract a useful sequencer
12) boost the price by $1000

that should make Kronos owners add a Montage to their rig


I know, I am sarcastic. I just haven't noticed any big rush of keyboardists to the Montage.

Anyway, I don't think its such a great idea for Korg to 'copy ' Yamaha. Korg should continue doing their thing.

I know, I am sarcastic. I just haven't noticed any big rush of keyboardists to the Montage.

Why anyone would ditch a Kronos to move onto the Montage anyway is beyond me,on paper the specs of the Kronos far outweigh what's on offer with the Montage.

I've always loved Workstation Romplers and always had two or three in my setup at any time but was left perhaps a little underwhelmed after demoing a Montage I thought after a run of mediocre Motifs,Yamaha may have raised the bar a little,The only Romplers I keep anymore are a Kronos/Triton Extreme,although the EX is slowly being phased out because of Kronos it would take a rather unique and Muscle bound Synth from Yamaha to take the crown from Kronos everything else is in the dark specwise.

The Yamaha is only offering two engines of which Kronos can add to and Raise you 10 dollars.... AWM vs HD1
FMX vs VPM.

The Montage is a fancy DX of which the Kronos is totally compatible with all of Yamaha's DX heritage and then some.

Given how old the Kronos/Oasys technology is now the Montage was already superseded before it was released.

With what else is left that it has to offer,The Montage is left to look like basically a rather lavish and expensive controller otherwise.

When the original YAMAHA MOTIF came out, i saw em everywhere.
Concerts, music guest's on talk shows, other media, everywhere.
With the exception of utube, i havent even seen one MONTAGE on any tv media, or concerts, or artist's using them anywhere.
MONTAGE should be only half the price YAMAHA is asking.
I love YAMAHA synths, (haveMX49) but i bet if you could get access to MONTAGE sales figures, one would find out
not many units were sold.

Same here, I don't see the need for those types of knobs, etc. Lots of what the OP complains about can be fixed with a little programming. There is no synth/ROMpler with great presets for everyone anyway. The ones on the Montage are nothing to write home about either.

Again, I bought a K2-88 after trying the top products from all available brands in my area. I had absolutely no bias nor preferences towards any brand in particular. I just tried each of them and concluded objectively from what I felt while playing. To me, the Kronos immediately stood out in terms of action, sound realism and response between the keys and what you hear.

I wanted to like the Montage-8, but ended up finding the acoustic pianos disappointing with no resonance (for a 2016 product !), masked in reverb, etc. I didn't like the Montage-8 keyboard feel either. Vive le Kronos !

I was not impressed with the synths as most people are but I liked the Acoustic pianos. I think they are only 1 or 2 different pianos. I loved the action on the 88. I didn't like how the keyboard was laid out in terms of ease of use but not familiar with Yamaha way of doing things. Really bulky and heavy for a 88 keyboard these days. I tried to connect with but just was not my cup of tea. I plan on playing it again soon. I think it is overpriced for what you get. Just my 2 cents. Kronos is better bang for the buck IMHO.

benny ray wrote:I was not impressed with the synths as most people are but I liked the Acoustic pianos. I think they are only 1 or 2 different pianos. I loved the action on the 88. I didn't like how the keyboard was laid out in terms of ease of use but not familiar with Yamaha way of doing things. Really bulky and heavy for a 88 keyboard these days. I tried to connect with but just was not my cup of tea. I plan on playing it again soon. I think it is overpriced for what you get. Just my 2 cents. Kronos is better band for the buck IMHO.

My biggest gripe is the high price. To remove the SEQ and standard midi implantation suggests a lower price, definitely below $3000. IMO, Yamaha is not being competitive. I would assume the traditional Motifers are more likely to make the leap.

But the market has changed greatly in 8 years. It isn't just Korg, Yamaha and maybe Roland. There are many choices, and several platforms. Even $3000 can buy a lot

I would absolutely hate a mechanical midpoint for the sliders. I'm trying to think of when you would even want to set them to the middle. Maybe if you use Karma. For me, they're volume sliders, drawbars or EGs. In none of those cases does it make sense to have a mechanical midpoint.

The weight, I don't get the issue (especially if it's only 4lbs you want) but fair enough.

Endless encoders and pads would be nice but they were clearly omitted for cost reduction. With the 88 key already near the 4000 mark MSRP I can understand the choice. I'm not sure I'd want to spend 500 bucks more for those features.

The tilted LCD, I couldn't care less but I've heard the comment before.

I don't really get the point of dedicated ADSR controls. There are a bunch already, there's attack, release and EG intensity in the real time controls and you can use Tone Adjust to set up two standard EGs or one advanced one.

Something I'd like to see on the Kronos from a live users perspective is the ability to assign any of the Knobs/Sliders/Buttons by simply touching a given parameter in any page on the screen of that Mode your in and twist/Slide/Press the respective Knob/slider/Buton to assign it directly so you can have any parameter you wanted on them,Kind of like how some Computer DAW controllers utilise a "Learn" option to assign controls.

One thing that I find frustrating is the fact the Knobs are pre mapped to certain fixed parameters within some modes like Pan/Eq it would be great to assign any parameter within any page you like to customise them on the fly for your own personal usage similar to a complete customised setup like that of which you can do with the External option to assign any CC number

I'd also like to be able to edit the Names of each of the the External parameters text rather than simply be reliant on CC numbers so it was more easier to see which parameter is assigned to the External mode Knobs,trying to remember what each knob is assigned to and which external synth its controlling and then trying to memorise those synths CC numbers is tedious especially if they don't follow the GM standard.

swarupmahapatra, you misinterpreted my meaning. I hate pots and sliders with notches at the mid point. If I want to set my slider at say 52%, that little notch can make it difficult to get to the spot, especially if it's currently just below the notch.

I'm a new Kronos owner and I too think the control surface could definitely be upgraded.

Larger knobs, endless encoders and LED indicators.
LED indicators for the sliders
Higher quality switches and pots - especially the crappy, clicking data wheel

You guys certainly like to ridicule the super knob that is one thing the Kronos does not have. An endless, high quality controller that can be mapped to many different parameters simultaneously.

There is quite a bit of hardware & space for Karma functions that is essentially wasted.

Kronos needs a better way of handling third party licenses. As it stands now, If I purchase another Kronos, I will have to re-purchase all my libraries for use in the new machine.

Don't get your hopes up OP. Korg isn't listening to us. None of these manufactures listen to the average keyboard guy playing in dive bars or bedrooms.

Devnor wrote:I'm a new Kronos owner and I too think the control surface could definitely be upgraded.

Larger knobs, endless encoders and LED indicators.
LED indicators for the sliders
Higher quality switches and pots - especially the crappy, clicking data wheel

You guys certainly like to ridicule the super knob that is one thing the Kronos does not have. An endless, high quality controller that can be mapped to many different parameters simultaneously.

There is quite a bit of hardware & space for Karma functions that is essentially wasted.

Kronos needs a better way of handling third party licenses. As it stands now, If I purchase another Kronos, I will have to re-purchase all my libraries for use in the new machine.

Don't get your hopes up OP. Korg isn't listening to us. None of these manufactures listen to the average keyboard guy playing in dive bars or bedrooms.

You are absolutely correct Devnor. I am a person of appreciation of good things and it really does not hurt to praise good things in other boards being a Kronos owner. Kronos has tons of features but there are still lots of areas to improve and improvise.

It's completely ridiculous to say that Korg doesn't listen to its customers. Compare OS 1 to the most recent OS and you'll find a bunch of features that were added that can be traced almost directly back to discussions on this forum.

Obviously, everyone is still entitled to their own wishlist and also obviously, Korg can't implement each and every one on there. Even apart from economic reasons, even in this thread some wishes are diametrically opposed to another.

Devnor wrote:You guys certainly like to ridicule the super knob that is one thing the Kronos does not have. An endless, high quality controller that can be mapped to many different parameters simultaneously.

You can do similar things with the Kronos, minus the annoying beeping light of that gadget knob.

Devnor wrote:There is quite a bit of hardware & space for Karma functions that is essentially wasted.

It's easy to complain. One can also read the manuals and learn how to program all buttons and sliders to do anything needed, Karma or not. I don't use Karma so much, so prefer to use those controls for other things.

Devnor wrote:Don't get your hopes up OP. Korg isn't listening to us.

Nonsense.