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michelkeijzers · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:59 am Post subject:

What I didn't like about the M50/M3 and previous organ sounds is that without percussion the 'bite' was not really present.

I don't much care about vibrato/chorus and what I really like is the individual drawbar settings.

I think the organs starting on the Kronos at I-A039 (if I remember right) are quite convincing.
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Developer of the free PCG file managing application for most Korg workstations: PCG Tools, see https://www.kronoshaven.com/pcgtools/

iixorbiusii · Full Member Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 198

If I didn't already have an M3 (with Radias module), then the Kronos would be sat here now! It is a great workstation - arguably the best - but as others have said, in many ways the Kronos is too similar to the M3. Much the same way that a 5 series Beemer is similar to a 3 series Beemer! Both are desirable cars, but if you paid top whack for a 3 series only a few years ago, there's not a pressing need to trade up for a 5 series right now ( I on the other hand, am happy with my 1987 Ford Sierra Very Happy

)

No doubt if you spent the time programming your own sounds, the 9 synth engines go way WAY beyond what the M3 can do - it's just that the factory settings left me thinking "yeah, that's really good, but my M3 will keep me going for a good while yet"...
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CURRENT GEAR: A yellowing Casio PT-80, 4 leaking batteries and some broken headphones.
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vision99 · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 13

Hi, everybody. I have a similar dilemma. I was at the store last week and have auditioned M3 and Kronos side by side. While Kronos is much nicer machine, franky speaking sound-wise I coudn't hear much difference. Pianos are certainly better and some new sounds but all in all cannot justify the price difference. And for me a M3 tilted screen is a bonus. So I will most probably decide to get used M3 in next days. Then after few years, who knows...

Synthoid · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:43 pm Post subject:

gnbutt · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:44 pm Post subject:

I have been very happy with my M3-73 for live performance and just "fiddling" with it. In terms of massing many different sounds, however, you just can find a better product than Omnisphere which i purchased last year. Sooner or later, i will definitely pick up an 88 key keyboard however whether it will be a Kronos "2" in an 88 configuration vs. an 88 key board utilizing Omnisphere as a VST will be the question. Great discussion ! GNB
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M3-73, Roland Fantom X8, Motif ES7, OMNISPHERE VST and my baby, an old Fender Rhodes 73. Hammond SK2 with Neo Mini-Vent for Organ, Korg Krome 61 with Vintage Synth collection + DSKrome, Killer Organ Package
Roland FA-06

drama1 · Platinum Member Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 662

Yeah, I've posted a number of times about this subject, M3 vs. Kronos. I agree there is a difference soundwise, but in a band setting most people will never know the difference. I have a 73 version, which is perfect for the weekend warior lugging gear up and down stairs, in and out of everyplace, especially when you throw in a case, those weighted boards can be a back-breaker. I really like using the karma scene buttons for smooth sound transition. The buttons are in a perfect place for changing programs/combis quick on the fly with no sound cutoff. Plus I really like the C-C version with the 73 keys rather than the E-E. I tend to use those lower keys more frequently than the higher ones. I have the radias exp board so I can create just about any analog sound (or close to it) that I need. I use those wonderful M3 pads all the time. I even use them for short melody lines. It's almost like having two keyboards. While the piano and organ sounds are not as convincing as the Kronos, there are third party sounds that bring the M3 real close to the Kronos. If Korg release a 73 key semiweighted C-C version of the Kronos I would buy it today because my M3 has seen better days, but I doubt that will happen so I'm sticking with the M3 and see what Kurzweil or Yamaha have up their sleve at next year's Namm. Wink

gnbutt · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject:

i totally agree, i use 3 or 4 keyboards for live performance, M3, Yamaha Motif, usually LE61 connected to Omnisphere, maybe my Korg Studio. All keys are in Gater bags, I use Ultimate stands, other than a hockey bag full of gear and a computer case for my i5 laptop for Omnisphere, that's it. Everything fits in the back of my new MDX. I'd like an 88 but will probably go for an M-Audio or equivilent, and connect with Omnisphere. Gone are the days of lugging, i had a horse trailer full of PA plus a Hammond B3 and Leslie 122. Wait til you want to go up several flights of stairs with this stuff. talk about back breaking, i've done it. M3 more than replicates whatever I need for sounds, I do only live work, not in a studio. GNB
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M3-73, Roland Fantom X8, Motif ES7, OMNISPHERE VST and my baby, an old Fender Rhodes 73. Hammond SK2 with Neo Mini-Vent for Organ, Korg Krome 61 with Vintage Synth collection + DSKrome, Killer Organ Package
Roland FA-06

vision99 · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 13

I got a used M3 88 today. So happy! Very Happy

gnbutt · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:44 pm Post subject:

would anyone recommend a good 88 key keyboard for use with Omnisphere as a VST, portable and with a good "touch", feels natural. Will be shopping soon. GNB
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M3-73, Roland Fantom X8, Motif ES7, OMNISPHERE VST and my baby, an old Fender Rhodes 73. Hammond SK2 with Neo Mini-Vent for Organ, Korg Krome 61 with Vintage Synth collection + DSKrome, Killer Organ Package
Roland FA-06

biggrime · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:39 am Post subject: Re: Reflections on the Kronos

countrycreek · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:53 am Post subject:

good answer biggrime I agree
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Kronos 2 61,triton studio 88,roland fantom x 7, Krome ex73, roland Fantom xr, ,roland jv 1010 and gem ws 2 mod

km 200 Hartke (2)

SeedyLee · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject:

To be fair, I would agree with many of you that many of the sounds on the M3 aren't much better on the KRONOS. However, there are many sounds on the KRONOS that don't come close on the M3.

The ROM samples in the the KRONOS aren't much bigger than the ROM samples in the M3 - sounds like strings and guitars, for example, are very similar between the two. The EDS and HD-1 engines are also quite similar in architecture. For this reason, sounds such as strings and brass are of a similar quality out of the box.

Where the KRONOS is miles ahead though is in the modelled instruments - organs, electric pianos, analogue and FM synths, and sounds where the combination of SSD and HD-1 engine can be put to good use - multi-gigabyte pianos and drums, for example. The KARO string libraries and soon to be released Legendary Strings will mean the KRONOS also wins for string sounds with the expansion.

I know how easy it is to get attached to an instrument though, and if I had an M3 that I loved I'd be hard pressed to trade it in for a KRONOS.
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Current Equipment:
Korg Kronos 2 88, Reface CS, Roland JV-1080, TE OP1, Moog Subsequent 37, Korg ARP Odyssey, Allen & Heath Zed 18, Adam F5, MOTU MIDI Express XT, Lexicon MX200 & MPX1, Yamaha QY700, Yamaha AW16G, Tascam DP008ex, Zoom H6, Organelle, Roland J6 & JU06A

Previous: Triton LE 61/Sampling/64MB/4GB SCSI, MS2000BR, Kronos 1 61, Monotribe, NanoKontrol, NanoKeys, Kaossilator II, Casio HT3000, Roland VP-03, Reface DX, Novation Mininova, MPC One

michelkeijzers · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject:

The samples on the Kronos are better than M3 in my opinion, but it's not like miles.

However, I noticed that since I have a Kronos I tend to use a lot more of the sounds that have a modeled EXi (like acoustic piano, electric piano, organ and especially synth sounds).

I 'come' from the Korg M50 (sound wise equal to a M3) so for me it was not only a step up only sound wise, but also aftertouch and lots of other nice features.
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Developer of the free PCG file managing application for most Korg workstations: PCG Tools, see https://www.kronoshaven.com/pcgtools/