Korg Forums

Koekepan · Platinum Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Posts: 617

Outside of Time!

The KORG UltraKronos has 16 synthesis engines, including updates to the magnificent sonic tools of the Kronos 2. The UltraKronos has three separate quarter inch L/R stereo audio outputs, but also acts as a USB interface that will split out a full 64 channels of sound.

64 channels? Yes! 32 audio, and 32 synthesised channels, with at least 160 note polyphony (up to over 500). Every audio channel has 5 insert effect slots, then there are 5 master send slots, and 2 total effects slots. All audio is recorded at 24 bits, 192KHz resolution for dazzling clarity and amazing remix potential.

The UltraKronos accommodates microSDXC cards for massive capacity in a tiny format, two MIDI out, two MIDI thru and two MIDI in interfaces, as well as a host USB channel for additional MIDI controllers and USB storage.

The UltraKronos will be available this coming year, in four models: 88 key, 73 key, 61 key and 88 minikeys. All keyboards will feature velocity on note on and note off, channel and polyphonic aftertouch, and connections for four switch and expression pedals.

Pst, the minikey version will cost $500 less than the other cheapest ...

Bachus · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3127

GregC · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 1:43 pm Post subject:

Jan1 · Platinum Member Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 765

I'm not sure which way NAMM will go; it could turn out to be one of those trade shows we have seen all too often in the past years (of very little interest), or it just might feature a couple of really interesting gems.

AKAI probably will introduce the much anticipated MPC Live and MPCX, perhaps Roland will finally show the world there was truth to the rumor concerning a sampling workstation, and KORG may have a new workstation waiting in the wings, not a replacement of the KRONOS but rather a follow up to the KROME series, or maybe positioned between the current KROME and KRONOS.
Roland might just come up with a new stage piano as well, and who knows whether or not they finally decided to marry the V-synth with the workstation concept.

If all this comes to pass it will turn out to be an interesting NAMM, but when I look back at the past NAMM events I am not counting on it.

One thing I keep wishing for is that the big three will focus on quality keybeds with more real time control options.
After all, synthesizers and the likes are meant to be played, and it really makes a big difference what sort of keybed you have under your fingers as well as the number of options on that keybed to influence the sound and the expressiveness (such as through aftertouch, sideways motion, traveling up and down a key).
A keybed is not just about 'inputting notes', quite the contrary...

Bachus · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3127

GregC · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:28 pm Post subject:

Koekepan · Platinum Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Posts: 617

KORG Rack-n-Roll

Built in cooperation with Gator, a standard rack in a rugged, rolling case. Built for serious synthesists! There's room for a mixer on top, and folding arms that will accept a full 88 key master keyboard. Below, there is room for plenty of rackable gear - and now KORG has a set of rack ears for a wide variety of equipment!

Whether your preference is desktop devices, modular synthesis or even just being a solo artist with the backing of KORG's synthesis power, now you're equipped to take a full show on the road. As an added bonus, there's capacity in the bottom for a pair of heavy duty gel cel batteries to keep things booming when the power fails. When the gig is over, just close the doors, lock it shut and roll it into your touring van.

Kevin Nolan · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 6:54 pm Post subject:

Bachus · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3127

GregC · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:03 pm Post subject:

[quote="Bachus"][quote="Kevin Nolan"][quote="BasariStudios"]

Koekepan · Platinum Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Posts: 617

To a large extent, musical production tools are open systems - and they have to be.

No, that doesn't mean that you necessarily have total access to the internals of a Kronos (unless you're a particularly devoted reverse engineer) but in the sense, musically speaking, that above a certain level of abstraction, you have essentially total control over what you do with it, and what you do with its products.

If KORG (or any of their competition) were to come up with a system where patches were opaque, couldn't be modified, or they used a total replacement for MIDI such that you could only use their gear, in their way, to produce music, that would be closed.

But that's not what we have. I can take patches on KORG systems apart, study them, reconfigure them (and get documentation on how to do so straight from KORG, by the way), apply them, document them, tell others how to duplicate them, and then take the sounds that I made and record them and put them out through a Yamaha mixer, a Roland speaker, or whatever.

Open interfaces are the most important aspect of openness, in tools, and in the music world we pretty much that that.

Is it as open as a breadboard and a box of components? Or is a Kronos presented as a general purpose computer? Well, no.

But I think that in context, the concept of openness already applies beautifully.

Another speculation:

The KORG MIDIMixer! Automate all your mixing parameters, including channel volume, panning, mute and solo settings, FX sends, EQ and more with regular MIDI signals! It also acts as a MIDI router, and puts out a rock solid clock signal!