Kronos 2.0 Software Editor

[Bob S]

New K73 owner here... So I loaded the Editor and was shocked at the Windows 3.1 look and feel of this thing. I looked at the suppliers website and wondered no more. What in the world?

Anyone else find the fixed dimension screen size window and general look, feel and function to be sort of 1993?

[Scott]

New K73 owner here... So I loaded the Editor and was shocked at the Windows 3.1 look and feel of this thing. I looked at the suppliers website and wondered no more. What in the world?

Anyone else find the fixed dimension screen size window and general look, feel and function to be sort of 1993?

Maybe the developers were inspired by the Kronos emulations of vintage synths like the Polysix and MS-20, and they thought they were being fashionably anachronistic.

[lonelagranger]

Ah, it was free. 1993 was a good year. I actually had some money at that time. So did the banks. And, you know, they did a strange thing. They actually would lend it to some people.

[GregC]

1993 was a good year. I was in better shape and could run a half marathon

[Ojustaboo]

New K73 owner here... So I loaded the Editor and was shocked at the Windows 3.1 look and feel of this thing. I looked at the suppliers website and wondered no more. What in the world?

Anyone else find the fixed dimension screen size window and general look, feel and function to be sort of 1993?

Yep its a very sore point with many Kronos owners

Even more so that it wont work within a 64bit DAW

The main www.korg.com now says the following

On the main Kronos page it doesn't mention the editor (well I couldn't see it)
On the main Kronos X page it says

Support for the Kronos Editor and Plug-in Editor software

If on either you click on Workstation Integration, you get told

In addition, Kronos smoothly functions as a plug-in with MANY popular DAWs, providing your studio with native, unprecedented sonic power.

However, if you look at some other Korg sites, you find for example

KRONOS Editor and Plug-In Editor

KRONOS KRONOS X supports Plug-In Editor and Publisher, allowing you to edit and organize sounds using a Mac OS X or Windows. Operation as Plug-in allows you to save the settings as part of your project with ANY VST-compatible software for Windows , or software VST or AU-compatible on Mac OS X.

The original operations guide (well V2, don't have a copy of V1) said simply

KRONOS Plug-In Editor

The KRONOS Plug-In Editor includes support for
patch lists, allowing you to select Programs,
Combinations, Songs, and Set Lists Slots by name from
within your DAW software of choice

The current version says two different things, one says it works with all, the other says it works with many.

Version 1.5 also supports the KRONOS Editor and
Plug-in Editor software, providing editor/librarian
capabilities for Mac OSX and Windows and
compatibility with popular DAW software

KRONOS Editor and Plug-In Editor

Version 1.5 adds support for the KRONOS Editor and
Plug-In Editor, which let you edit and organize sounds
from your Mac OS X or Windows computer. Plug-in
operation allows you to save settings as part of your
project with any VST-compatible Windows software

My interpretation of what we were promised (and most others too) is that in this day and age we should have expected a 64bit version . I use 64bit cubase, that counts as both any VST compatible software DAW and as my DAW software of choice, but the editor doesn't work with it.

The wording seems to have changed over the months since the huge (but totally ignored by Korg) outcry over the editor.

Personally I think the Kronos is the best thing out there, but Korg should be totally ashamed of the editor they gave us. Some people stick up for korg and use the argument that it was free, I don't buy that at all. I wish I could find the advert that I originally read. It heavily implied (if not stated) that the editor was part of the overall package we were paying for.

Still the editor discussion always ends up going round in circles and often ends up being locked due to how the thread usually ends up.

[lonelagranger]

I didn't mean to be offensive to anyone by pointing out that it was free. I am sorry if I offended anyone. I come from a time when we didn't really get or expect any extras with our purchase. I understand fully your point of view about not being able to use it in a 64bit environment. I also would think that in this day and age they could have offered it in that format. They still can if they so choose. I am not a Korg defender. I am an equal opportunity basher of any company that tries to pull a fast one on their customers. I am, however, very happy with my Kronos X.

I was trying to be humorous in my previous post and it may have come across as belittling those that are upset with the state of development of the editor. I didn't mean it to come across that way. I will be good now.

[ronnfigg]

I have a few editors for my Trirton from some 3rd party developers that had some nice features, and decent editing. Hopefully somebody will grab the reins and get something out there for us.

[Bob S]

I see I'm not alone. I was really surprised as I have a Korg X50 that has a really great software editor. It loads all the patches, looks great, works fine. Oh well.

Has anyone tried the upgrade version?

[Ojustaboo]

I didn't mean to be offensive to anyone by pointing out that it was free. I am sorry if I offended anyone. I come from a time when we didn't really get or expect any extras with our purchase. I understand fully your point of view about not being able to use it in a 64bit environment. I also would think that in this day and age they could have offered it in that format. They still can if they so choose. I am not a Korg defender. I am an equal opportunity basher of any company that tries to pull a fast one on their customers. I am, however, very happy with my Kronos X.

I was trying to be humorous in my previous post and it may have come across as belittling those that are upset with the state of development of the editor. I didn't mean it to come across that way. I will be good now.

No need to apologise, my comment was not aimed at you at all, I'm sorry for implying it was. There had been numerous editor threads, most ended up very heated and in some, a few people had a go at those complaining about the state of the editor saying (in my words, but is basically what they said), its free so you've no right to complain.

It was those I was aiming my comment at, not you.

I too am very very happy with my Kronos X

[ZeroZero]

I am hovering on the edge of purchasing a Kronus X. Frankly I about going back to the position where I simply will not do so unless I can find a definitative statement from Korg about a 64 bit version of their software.

I once bought a CME keyobard with junk software. I even did this again when buying a hugely expensive KeyB Duo with zilch genuine support, crap programming, and an italian leaflet called a 'manual'.

Moderator? Please tell me something positive here.

[Chrutil]

Frankly I about going back to the position where I simply will not do so unless I can find a definitative statement from Korg about a 64 bit version of their software.

If that's what you are feeling then may I recommend that you don't buy your Kronos until said editor is available in 64bit. Don't buy into the Kronos ecosystem based on future promises. If you really want a Kronos (and who wouldn't!?), by all means get one, but don't get one expecting updates - then if the future brings updates to the OS or editor, you can be happy. But don't buy a K and expect the updates to happen, chances are you'll just be sorry.

Christer

[Comrad_Durandal]

I know, looking back, I would have still purchased a Kronos over the Motif XF since I can still get audio over USB, and a lot more quality voices. However, for accessory keyboards or future musical instruments - Korg isn't on the list because they've adopted the 'Wall of Silence' method of dealing with customers and their issues. It's the reason that when I needed an additional small portable keyboard, I purchased a Yamaha MX49 instead of a Korg microStation. These days, I look at the Kronos as a wonderful keyboard which has limited to no computer interactivity due to lousy software - as Yamaha seems to be aware that software makes the machine. The MX49 might not be that good of a keyboard, but its software support is nearly top notch.

[cynkh]

I tend to separate my patch writing sessions from my music writing sessions in my workflow anyways and so end up using the Kronos exclusively without even powering up my computer if I'm working on patches. It helps me stay focused on the sound rather than worrying about changing gears between song writing and sound writing. I find that the lack of a full-blown VST/AU editor is actually encouraging my workflow in that respect.

That said, I think there may be serious added benefit to having everything on-screen in front of me as well as having the Kronos screen and control surface. Still, I thought I'd put in my $0.02 and see who else shares my views...

Cheers!

[Sparker]

I've only just got into Editors. I have a Radias which has IMO a good (Korg) Editor - (it looks similar to the M3's Editor design). AFASIK I can do everything in the Editor that I can do on the synth with realtime updates between them.

It's been great playing around creating new patches and the drag & drop/copy feature makes life easy. Previously I'd used MIDI librarians (for MS2000 and Nova) to organise my patch banks, which was OK for housekeeping duties, but not for editing individual patches.

I didn't realise that there were 3rd party programs about for the Tritons until I read about it on this forum. and having looked at them I'm tempted to get one.

However, I haven't 'installed' the Kronos Editor (yet) - partly because I'm still on OS 1.5 and haven't had the need/desire to stream samples (which seems the to me to be best reason for upgrading to OS 2) - and also because the editor lacks a couple of functions that I think would make a lot of difference - a 'click & jump' function (like on the Kronos's touchscreen); and the drop down menu commands - as it stands I believe I can work just as fast (or faster) on the Kronos without using the editor ...

I did find loading the editor software and exploring it without it being connected to Kronos was useful as I was able to give myself an overview/comparison of the different engines with ease. I think the interface is fine (it's almost an exact copy of the Kronos screen pages), though resizing would be a bonus ...

The 64 bit performance isn't an issue for me - yet - but it will be one day and yes I do think that inital marketing 'promises' have fallen short of expections ... but that's what happens when a company raises expections of it's flagship product as a 'game changer' ... which it is in many ways, just not this one ...

and it's not free ... it was included in the purchasing price ... though it may well be also freely available, but that's a different pumpkin ...

[JonSolo]

I am more concerned with the high latency of the drivers. It would be nice to have more instantaneous playback than anything.