Kronos II - when ?

[DennyC]

All i know is that My Kronos 1 will not be traded in when Kronos 2 arrives.
It would be like giving one of my children up for adoption

Fortunately for me, both of mine are already out of the house.

If a Kronos 2 is probably put out, if Korg was smart, they would increase ram dramatically as well as the ssd, fix the bugs and...make the changes compatible with the current version. In that way, if any of us current users would like to upgrade, they could, even with a new motherboard, just make everything bolt into place.

[michelkeijzers]

Most people think when they buy a new synth, wow this is a great synth, I never need another one.

But ears and references adapt so in 5 years even the Kronos will sound on some areas at least outdated.

[apex]

dammit somebody already ask about kronos 2 while i still don't have the capability to use the kronos to it's maximum potential....

if there is a kronos 2, i will not buy it until i fully master my own kronos..

back to topic, i think maybe 5 to 6 years..
BUT if any competitor didn't release something that is equal to kronos in 5-6 years (which is almost impossible), i think korg will only did a major upgrade to kronos... but knowing than 5-6 years later the technology will greatly developed (maybe an intel atom 5 which has same capability as now intel core i7), and more advanced and faster USB / Firewire, and faster data link from SSD to MOBO, i'm looking forward to see what kronos 2 has to offer.. what i'd like to see on kronos 2 =
1. unlooped 32 layers acoustic piano chromatically sampled with SYMPHATETIC RESONANCE (sgx-2 ??)
2. 3 - 10 velocity layers sampled for other keyboard based instrument ( cp80, EP, etc)
3. woodwind modelling and better string modeller (str-2?)
4. direct streaming of user samples
5. 16-32 GB's of ram (if not ram, maybe a 512 GB's super fast SSD)
6. instrument natural behavior modelling (similar to super articulation on yamaha)
7. larger screen and HDMI output maybe??
8. 1000 + polyphony max for sample based engine, and 500 polyphony max for modeling engine... which leads to
9. 32+ tracks of midi track
10. multiple layers of smooth sound transition ( needs changing patch / combi at least 3 times before first sound disappear)

well more in my mind actually, but those are enough
imagination cant really go wrong

1. Piano is fine already.
2. EPs are fine already.
3. Woodwind modeler could be done in an engine expansion?
4. user samples possibly through a software update
5. I was thinking more, but not that much more... how long would it take to load all that? lol
6. good suggestion... maybe could be done through software update and different samples offered
7. larger screen... ..are you serious? HDMI output for what?
8. that's a lot of polyphony... how many fingers do you have? I only have 10.
9. 32 tracks of mid would be good, but could maybe be done in a software update. I think you can do things like this already just maybe having to use track bounce after you use up all the tracks... .
10. Why would you need to change patches 3 times before you start losing sound?

nice list of your wishes, but I don't think it warrants another $3000 purchase or them even building another Kronos.

[apex]

Most people think when they buy a new synth, wow this is a great synth, I never need another one.

But ears and references adapt so in 5 years even the Kronos will sound on some areas at least outdated.

in what ways? realistically...

[michelkeijzers]

Most people think when they buy a new synth, wow this is a great synth, I never need another one.

But ears and references adapt so in 5 years even the Kronos will sound on some areas at least outdated.

in what ways? realistically...

The electric guitars can be better, woodwinds, actually every instrument that sounds less good as its original can be improved.

Also, the feature set can be improved (better UI both in features/possibilities as in looks), maybe new controller types (to be invented?), more communication means (ethernet, WIFI etc). There are enough ways to improve current synths.

Also the engines are not called for nothing XXX-1 .. I expect also versions XXX-2, etc.

[apex]

yes but cant instrument sound quality be something they could give us in expansions? vs a new board?

[apex]

by the way, I DO realize that pretty much EVERYTHING can be improved in some form or fashion, but I'm just trying to understand logically AND REALISTICALLY what could be done to improve the Kronos enough to warrant another purchase.

I mean think about it... the Oasys could be considered by some as an improvement in the Kronos (even though it was released first)... but look at the price point difference. I'm sure we'd want to keep the Kronos 2 in the ball park price range of the Kronos 1...

but if we ad some of the things that the guy suggested a few post earlier... we'd be looking at a pretty hefty price increase. right?

[GregC]

All i know is that My Kronos 1 will not be traded in when Kronos 2 arrives.
It would be like giving one of my children up for adoption

Fortunately for me, both of mine are already out of the house.

If a Kronos 2 is probably put out, if Korg was smart, they would increase ram dramatically as well as the ssd, fix the bugs and...make the changes compatible with the current version. In that way, if any of us current users would like to upgrade, they could, even with a new motherboard, just make everything bolt into place.

thats incremental. I don't feel restricted by todays max ram. We can upgrade the SSD for $100-$150. I would prefer the Service Center swap out the mo'bo if that was possible.

And don't forget, this is an embedded system with software being the game changer. So the OS would require changes.

Not much reason for a Kronos owner to buy to a Super Kronos like that when the ticket will be $3500-$4000.

[michelkeijzers]

@Apex:

What realistically can change depends, software is the easiest to change, but not always the most cheapest. An SSD or more RAM support, I don't know if extra boards could be added (space or heatwise).

New engines I am sure will pop up, however I don't know if Korg is going to save it for the next Kronos or will also provide them for the Kronos I.

And as you imply, if a complete wish list would be implemented, than it would also cost a lot of money.

If my time was unlimited (and 1000x as slow as now), I would like PCG Tools to be a full fledged librarian, editor, music database for all Korg workstations, synths, etc but there will never be an absolute top synth for a very cheap price.

[zzz]

I think that the hardware on the outside is ok. There will always be people who want a vertical pitch wheel, or more sliders/pots, but you get what you get. The one thing that will age quickly, is the touchscreen. There is a cure! Usb to whatever size screen you want would be the best thing since christmas. A nice roll-out graphene screen the width of the board, full of soft controls and editors... (If you havn't come across graphene yet, it will amze you.), if you can wait a couple of years. Some of our own user made editors...
Inside, lots more memory, bigger SSDs, and new software engines.
The Kronos II could be virtual.
Most of the above is doable now, via software. One thing that you can be sure of, is the screen on a mk2 won't look like the current one.

[clipnotic]

The Kronos II could be virtual.

For a full and good working only virtual Kronos II as a VST with all that sounds, syntheses and combi possibilities and Karma inside ... AND A BIG GUI !, I would pay 3.000 EUR, too!

A good way could be to create both: a workstation version AND a virtual VST version, so a Keyboarder would have a Keyboard and a DAW musician would have a full VST inside ... Korg already did that with the Korg M1 so it could be technical possible? Especially because the Kronos is a PC, too!?

[Melodialworks Music]

1. Piano is fine already.
7. larger screen... ..are you serious?

The addition of sympathetic resonance for the pianos is important.

Yes, a larger screen, with larger fonts is also important. (Not perhaps, to the young, but certainly once you are of a certain age).

Both of these points are valid for a wish list.

Lawrence

[danmusician]

I like the idea of some sort of Kronos LE. Given M3/M50, this may be a possibility. Not sure exactly how you would pare down the Kronos for such a model, but the idea is intriguing.

It would be surprising if the next flagship model is backward compatible with the Kronos. Users come to this forum all the time hoping to find out that they can use their patches from 01/W, Trinity, Triton, OAYSYS, M3 in their Kronos, only to be disappointed.

There are already prototypes in the Korg facilities that are waiting in the wings. These decisions are less about "what can we make a keyboard do" and more about "what can we make a keyboard do at a certain price point."

[GregC]

I like the idea of some sort of Kronos LE. Given M3/M50, this may be a possibility. Not sure exactly how you would pare down the Kronos for such a model, but the idea is intriguing.

It would be surprising if the next flagship model is backward compatible with the Kronos. Users come to this forum all the time hoping to find out that they can use their patches from 01/W, Trinity, Triton, OAYSYS, M3 in their Kronos, only to be disappointed.

There are already prototypes in the Korg facilities that are waiting in the wings. These decisions are less about "what can we make a keyboard do" and more about "what can we make a keyboard do at a certain price point."

I agree that a Kronos LE is a good possibility. I also think 'when ' it happens is also a timing calculation, IOW after the Kronos sales have leveled off.

After that leveling off, marketing a Kronos LE for $1995 would not be difficult.

[apex]

Not sure exactly how you would pare down the Kronos for such a model

no Karma
less polyphony
smaller SSD (or no SSD, but include a 7200rpm hard drive instead)
no aftertouch
no color screen
smaller screen
4 audio tracks
1 input
LE versions of the engines (not as robust as the Kronos (as far as parameters)
no RAM (no EX expansions, no sampler)
4 sliders instead of 9
4 knobs instead of 8
less banks for programs and combis
maybe cheaper construction....

I love my Kronos, but based on the publics view of the Kronos... I couldn't resist that last one.

all this for exactly half of what the real Kronos cost 88,73,61 key version respectively.