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Well getting down to the line, just about 10 days until I can order a Kronos.

A subjective question now knowing full well there is no right or wrong I am just curious what you think.

I do not need a Kronos so it is a matter of wanting a versatile synth and getting as much bang for the buck as possible.

DSI and Moog have tones I love. I think the Kronos can get very close to the to we I like and pro IDE so much more than a monophonic synth. Now this will be my first ever synth/workstation other then a couple iPad apps. I try to learn as much as I can here I try to participate but in beginning the reading of the manual I have to question if maybe a machine as deep as the Kronos is to much for me. I am. Onfixe t I ca learn it but the manuals are mind boggling, will these references make more sense once one of the Kroni is in front of me

I sold my Moog Voyager after I bought the Kronos, after comparing the sounds of the AL1 with the Moog. The kronos obviously is not a 100% Moog but close enough for me. No regrets so far.

You should take some time to dig into the Kronos though, so if you like tweaking on your intuition with fysical knobs, you might end up regretting buying it.

laandodeman wrote:You should take some time to dig into the Kronos though, so if you like tweaking on your intuition with fysical knobs, you might end up regretting buying it.

There is a compromise with the physical knobs. You can redefine knobs and sliders and set them to change various synthesizer parameters. It's less convenient compared to a dedicated synth layout, you have to do it yourself, but it can be more intuitive than pointing with the tip of your finger to the screen.

This could also be interesting ... have a look
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=79355

I'm not worried about sounds but complexity of the instrument. I have never ever owned a synth or workstation! I want a kronos but I also don't want to be in way over my head. The reading of the manual is t horrible but there is a lot in there I dont understand. I think it will make more sense once I get one but I don't know that.

Bertotti wrote:I'm not worried about sounds but complexity of the instrument. I have never ever owned a synth or workstation! I want a kronos but I also don't want to be in way over my head. The reading of the manual is t horrible but there is a lot in there I dont understand. I think it will make more sense once I get one but I don't know that.

You don't have to understand everything to use it. I suggest:
- first read the easy/short guide and learn how to select programs, combis and set lists. Just enjoy the sound of the Kronos
- then learn your way deeper, either into the sequencer, or maybe set lists
- then learn combis and how to edit them
- learn the effects handling
- learn sampling
- learn HD1
- learn other EXIs one by one
- learn Karma

Of course you can skip some you are not interested in, or using a different order.

But first just play with it, later you can dive in deeper.

Ah now that seems simple, I read what everyone here seems to be doing and I stop and think how the he k am I going to do that whoosh right over my head. I lost sight that you could just play what's there! Dig into the rest later! Thanks for for the perspective! Helps a lot!

Bertotti wrote:I'm not worried about sounds but complexity of the instrument. I have never ever owned a synth or workstation! I want a kronos but I also don't want to be in way over my head. The reading of the manual is t horrible but there is a lot in there I dont understand. I think it will make more sense once I get one but I don't know that.

It's not as complex as you might think, if you are looking from top down. As a musican you first need only to understand how to get sounds out of the instrument. Select a program or a combi and here you go. Most keyboards work this way. You need not to worry about which of the nine sound engines is producing the sound you like. Just check it out and use it. May be you want to use the sequencer for midi and audio track recording. Nothing special there.

Just an example. Jamming with a combi or program you want to record your ideas. Hit a two-button combination and you are in sequencer mode, everything copied to the song and ready to start recording. Easy?

To make music with Kronos you definitely do not nead to be a rocket scientist. Take your own learning speed and the deeper you dig, the more of an expert you will become.

So check it out in a store, get yourself familiar with it, and have fun

Bertotti wrote:I'm not worried about sounds but complexity of the instrument.

I never (really) touched the sampler, sequencer and Karma and just took a glance over most EXIs. And I still own the Kronos for about a year.

On the other hand I know a lot about combis and PCG files and somewhat about HD1.

I don't find the Kronos complex at all, not a bit but i've also owned every
single Korg Workstation thru the years and they are basically the same.
So its kinda transferring knowledge from one to another and by now i know
the machine in their hearts. In my opinion you might find KARMA confusing
and complex but you'll get the hand of it too.

BasariStudios wrote:I don't find the Kronos complex at all, not a bit but i've also owned every
single Korg Workstation thru the years and they are basically the same.
So its kinda transferring knowledge from one to another and by now i know
the machine in their hearts. In my opinion you might find KARMA confusing
and complex but you'll get the hand of it too.

Probably the EXIs must also have been new to you upto some point (unless you also owned the original hardware EXi variants).

But I agree, I also could use a new Korg within seconds because the basic principles are the same from the Korg M1 (which I sadly never had).

I find myself in a similar position when buying new keyboards. First I download every manual, pdf, doc, spreadsheet, etc. I can find. I print them out and put them in a binder. I start reviewing it, I usually don't get very far, there always seems to be something missing (oh, the new keyboard!). I proceed to watch every video I can find. Then when the thing arrives, I get all excited and forget all the pre-work I did and just start over.

words are so subjective.......

I just got the Elektron analog-FOUR. I was going through my usual routine and found myself helplessly confused reading through the rather skimpy manual, (~80 pages).

I got the unit and after about 5 minutes reading the little 4 page sheet that came in the box and playing with the thing about 15 more minutes, sequencer solved! So, 5-7 hours of effort before I got the unit arrive and I was confused, 20 minutes after it arrive I had a fundamental understanding of the units features and operations.

Oh and to boot------now that confusing analog-FOUR manual seems to magically all make sense.

I recommend you don't hold much concern about understanding the unit through the written documentation. Hands-on makes all the difference, at least in the beginning.

And like most software driven devices, the paper just doesn't do the hardware justice. (if it did, we'd be buy the documentation and get the workstation for free, FREE! ever printout the korg parameter guide, the paper along.)

Besides I don't think the 1000's of pages of documentation associated with the Kronos is for direct reading, like you would a new story book. Instead you need to have a goal or specific question in mind prior to trying to read through it.

i.e.

you can't go to the manual and ask, "How do I operate the Kronos?", that takes the 1000's of pages. Your approach needs be more specific, like, "How do I select programs?" or how do I change the drum pattern on the Kronos?", then you'll find your self reading smaller bite-sized chucks.


Good luck and congratulations, on your soon to be your entire life keyboard workstation. You won't be able to leave the thing, but when you do you can read the manual, like I do, in the bathroom.

I always start out on a new keyboard by select basic sounds and adjusting the touch sensitivity to the velocity curve that suits my playing. (I like a light touch, as light as the adjustment will go.)

may I have some more, please.

Bertotti wrote:Now this will be my first ever synth/workstation other then a couple iPad apps. I try to learn as much as I can here I try to participate but in beginning the reading of the manual I have to question if maybe a machine as deep as the Kronos is to much for me. I am. Onfixe t I ca learn it but the manuals are mind boggling, will these references make more sense once one of the Kroni is in front of me

Well, i do respect you for your choice. Going from ipad apps experience to a Kronos workstation is a huge step when you look at the learning expierence that lies ahead of you.

What makes the kronos difficult for people without a lot of experience is the fact that you don't buy one synth. Actually you buy 9 engines that you need to learn if you want to get the most out of everything. Every engine has it's own possibilities, so basicly instead of learning just one synth you are going to learn to use 9 different engines. However, that these are in one hardware case gives you a little advantage instead of buying 9 separate synths with their own interface.

One thing to keep in mind that you don't need to learn everything in one month. That's not possible. There are way to much features to learn in one month. So when you accept that, than you have bought a workstation which you can use for years that will keep amaze you with the possibilities.

So, my opinion is that it is difficult when you have no experience, but there is a huge community that will help you with the problems you will face. Also there is a lot of user generated help files and videos to get you started with the most common features. So i'm confident that you will master the features of the Kronos.

Now where to start:
- you can start already by watching the demo videos on youtube and tutorials on youtube. That way you have an idea of what's possible when other people uses the Kronos.
- As soon as you got your own kronos, then just try to get familiar with the basic features of the kronos, like selecting programs, combis, creating setlists and learn how to use the hardware faders and knobs (they have a different purpose depending on the main function you select).

After a few days you can use the kronos just like any other synth when you just want to play the sounds. Then it's time to dive into the features you want to explore. So you have to decide then:
- if you want to learn how to program your own sounds or combis
- or how to add sounds (sampling) to the existing library,
- or want to learn how to use the sequencer
- or want to learn how to use KARMA
- or ....

Now you have two options, you could read the operation guide which gives you indepth information about those topics or you could watch one of the user tutorials like the ones i have or other people have put online (also for the Korg Oasys).

My tutorials are handson video tutorials. The way you have to use it is to watch the tutorial once while only reading the headers (NOT the step guides on the right). That way you know what to expect and how it should sound when you redo those steps yourself. The second time you watch the tutorial pause the video at each step page (which is shown in most videos on the right). Then do the complete process yourself by doing the steps mentioned on the right. When you are done with that unpause the video till the steppage changes and repeat those steps.

By doing it this way you will understand the Kronos OS quite fast and discover that much of the features are actually the same for each engine.

900+ posts on this forum. Dive in, you are ready, go for it!

Listen to the great QR, he's all pro!

And while his videos are great, I have to wear my reading glasses as his font choice is to match the pitch of the Kronos.

But it's worth it.

michelkeijzers wrote:Probably the EXIs must also have been new to you upto some point (unless you also owned the original hardware EXi variants).

Actually Michel, i still have my original MS-20, i used DX7 for over 15 years
so MOD-7 was something i already mastered long ago, Polysix i already knew
from the time of my other Analog stuff, AL-1 same thing. The only new thing
would be the Organ Engine which i actually never opened yet.
But in reality it is a lot easier when you've owned previous machines, no matter
how newer they still share similarities.