Korg Forums

[Bitflipper]

I know, this may seem an odd place to be asking for alternatives to the Kronos, but I want opinions specifically from Kronos users.

You see, I love my Kronos, but it's killing my back. I need something lighter-weight that I won't need help loading into the van or hoisting onto the keyboard stand. Something that covers pianos, organs and synth leads equally well.

Does such a thing even exist?

[Scott]

[average_male]

Korg Nautilus or Kronos LS (light weighted keys)

[dfahrner]

You might look at the Yamaha MODX7: I like the MODX CFX and Imperial Grand pianos better than the Korg pianos, it has good organ / acoustic instrument / synth sounds, etc....the 76-key keyboard is long enough for piano parts and splits, although the semi-weighted feel is not that good (but I got used to mine, it's certainly usable)...and at 16 lbs it's way easier to carry to the gig...

df

[Bachus]

[nitecrawler]

[Scott]

I like the MODX, but it wouldn't be my first choice for "pianos, organs and synth leads" for someone coming from Kronos. The organs and the VA synth types of sounds are not the MODX' strengths. That's why I didn't mention it along with all those others I mentioned.

[Bitflipper]

Thanks for your observations!

I am currently using the 73-key Kronos, a purely practical choice.

I'd previously used an 88-key Yamaha MO8, and intentionally went for the 73 when I bought the Kronos because 88 keys (with a Hammond XK-1 alongside) took up too much space on tight stages (6-piece band). So I'm looking for a 73- or 76-key instrument.

I actually preferred the action on the Yamaha for piano, although it was (literally) painful when playing organ. The Korg's keyboard is a reasonable compromise, and has allowed me to retire the separate organ for gigs.

I have played a Montage, and really liked it. But it's also a behemoth. That's what drew me to the Nord Stage 3 - smaller, lighter and more ergonomically thought-out for live performance.

I've been doing a lot of research this past week, and am just about ready to reluctantly conclude that I may already have the best synth/sampler/piano there is. The big color display is such a help (even if it's useless under bright sun) and nobody else has that. The Kronos pretty much covers every feature I could ask for (save one: the ability to quickly transpose via a single knob, but nobody else has that, either).

So thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Looks like I may just stick with what I've got and just be nicer to my younger bandmates with their stronger backs.

[voip]

The switches above the Kronos' joystick are used to transpose by an octave in many piano Programs. Look at those Programs to see how it's done. The joystick pitch bend itself can be used, with joystick lock set by one of the above switches, to hold the transpose amount. Set the joystick pitch bend amount to the intended transpose level, so the joystick just needs to be pushed over and the switch pressed to set the transpose. There are other ways, such as using KARMA.

.

[Derek Cook]

[Scott]

[Bitflipper]

I have an Axiom 49-key controller that implements transposition very well. It's got two buttons, one transposes up a semitone, the other down a semitone. The same buttons, when held, transpose up or down an octave. I wish that was a more common feature.

How I deal with it now is I have a page in the Kronos setlist for all the pianos I use with different transpositions, another page for all the organs. This makes it quick and easy to transpose on the fly.

I just love the Kronos touchscreen. If a song needs 5 different patches, I put them together in the setlist in the order I switch them.

The challenge is when I go to a jam or sub in a band, and the singer says "do you know the horn part for Sir Duke? Good. But we play it in C#. That won't be a problem, will it?" And this announcement is made on stage, during the gig.

[Bitflipper]

Well, my new Nord Stage 3 arrived today. It's light, it's designed for live performance, the waterfall keys make playing organ a joy again.

I have to say, though, that it's given me a new appreciation for my Kronos. Side by side, the Kronos sounds sooo much better!

Hopefully, I'll learn how to get the most from the NS3, but for now it's looking like it'll initially just be relegated to being a MIDI controller for the Kronos when playing organs and synth leads.

I did a lot of research looking for a lightweight replacement for the Kronos. My conclusion - and this may not surprise many here - is that I already owned the best synth money can buy.

[Derek Cook]

The Kronos has lots of unexplored potential still despite my having owned mine for 7 years.

I was doing an experiment the other day programming the pad for "in the air tonight" on several of my synths, including my Prophet X. Whilst it is quite a subdued pad, so you are not really stretching either synth or saying that a particular filter is essential for the dynamic response in the sound, the Kronos AL-1 version sounds as good as the Prophet X patch
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