Korg Forums

Phinnin · Full Member Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 150

I have K61 SN220 and I absolutely love this monster!

Regardless of how others view this new workstation, I am giving it a glowing review.

Let's sum up its strengths:

Piano - At least in fighting range with the big Digital Pianos. For those that think the piano is lifeless, I would disagree. You have to find your piano, but with a gazillion ways to tweak the pianos, the one you want is in here. Check out Burningbusch's blog on making a good piano come out (altering velocity curves and such).

E.Piano - One of the true big dogs at this time. Tweakable, Tasty, Good.

Organ - Paired with a Ventilator this board is ready for the heavy organ gig. The cx-3 is great and it's weakness is completely fixed by a vent. Full draw-sliders, I think, make this engine surpass the Nords, especially with setlist mode (see below). You can also run a vent from an assignable out to the vent and back into the input on the Kronos. Makes for a very tidy effect-loop on the vent.

VA - Really, Really, Powerful. 3 engines, excellent UI (very visual), nasty analog sound. You name it, this beast can make it.

FM - Dude! You have a full DX-7 (can read sysex files) in there.... Gnarly!

Setlist Mode - This might be the real king feature of this board. EVERYTHING is visual. I never need to think about button pushing, you can fully navigate fast and easy (I have no problems with the touchscreen). Rearranging or creating a whole new setlist (happens at gigs, more then it should, right?) can take under 1 minute. Cut and paste a few times and your set.

The Drums - Good Stuff. Big and Punchy. Add Karma; Wow.

Big Sample Memory: I know, short lived benefit (memory creep) but still.... This is a thirsty set of chips.

UI - It's just really easy to navigate this machine. I can bounce from CX-3, to DX-7, to Wurli to Grand Piano and every menu makes sense. I can move from setlist mode to edit that slot's combi, save the changes and be back playing faster then ever. Need to add some Flanger to 4 of the 7 programs in the Combi? No Sweat. The UI is gold.

Weaknesses: - Every Board has 'em. I'll take Kronos' all day.

No 73 unweighted - My personal issue. I'll move on.

Horns/Brass/Strings - I just like Yamaha and Kurz better. Don't know why, but I do. Maybe it's me? I also think that we all know that you cannot be the sole horn/brass/strings player in any band being the KB player anyway, so why worry too much. I will also say that the VA engine makes all of the synth strings/pads amazing, so don't sweat that.

STR-1 - I will admit, I don't ask much from this engine and I don't do much string work, but I found yamaha (my other major experience) seemed to do this stuff better (better electric guitars in my case). Put me down for a definite "non-expert" in this field.

Boot Up Time? - I am supposed to hate this, but honestly, I don't. Have second tier board ready and you'll get through the startup without too much pain.

Build Quality?: Apparently a hot issue out there. My Kronos is rock solid. No data wheel issues. No fan issues. No issues at all. I know, just one vote but I wonder if the negativity isn't prompting dissatisfaction at this point?

Closing:

I think that for someone who works primarily in the Piano, EP, Organ, VA , FM world, this board will turn you into a star. With a solid backdrop of good support sounds (SFX, Vocals, Strings, Horns, Brass, Blah, Blah, Blah), a spectacular UI with setlist mode, Karma for accompaniment, you won't want for firepower.

The super gig-rig with the Kronos, in my opinions is:

Kronos 61, top tier
88 DP Keybed of your choice (Privia, RD, etc.)
Ventilator

Those three will give you all you should ever need. What's really nice too is that you can have a setlist (or 10) what all work with one tier (for practice) and you can have the ability to midi in another board and all the functionality of the new deck will instantly work (for the gig). You can quickly make "non-ventilator" versions of the same setlists for when you just want carry a single board but still have a passable Hammond.

Thanks for letting me rant on the subject. I am just really digging the experience.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jimbo

GiantSonicRobot

runningman67 · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:07 am Post subject:

Thanks for that refreshing review.
For us waiting it is 'music to our ears'
If you pardon the pun ! Cool

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jick · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:25 am Post subject:

Finally some positive news again Wink

! Great to read.
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Phinnin · Full Member Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 150

GiantSonicRobot: Agreed on your comments regarding C2 and vent. I am coming from a Hammond XM-2/Vent Combo and the CX-3 was an adjustment but once you put the vent in the loop, The difference is negligible. And you have to admit, the draw-buttons are inferior to sliders, so the K has the advantage there.

Interesting point about sending the vent signal to the audio in. I will A/B it against a straight run to the board. Convenience vs. audio quality... Always a tradeoff huh?

Dniss · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:52 pm Post subject:

May I ask what is a vent?

Cheers!

panrixx · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:55 pm Post subject:

This shows you and there are vids on Youtube for more info.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEO-Instruments-Ventilator-Rotary-Cabinet-Simulator-Pedal-NEW-Free-UK-Shipping-/180727704615?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a1435ec27
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Rhodes 73 Mk1; Kronos 88; Synthex; Electribe EMX-1; Motif XS Rack; Yamaha DX7IIFD; Yamaha MM8; Roland Alpha Juno-2; Roland JV-2080; Tascam FW-1884.

BillW · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:55 pm Post subject:

michelkeijzers · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:18 pm Post subject:

I looked at the Neo Ventilator ... looks very nice, however I don't want another pedal (board). I hope the Kronos leslie will be good on its own.
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Developer of the free PCG file managing application for most Korg workstations: PCG Tools, see https://www.kronoshaven.com/pcgtools/

michelkeijzers · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:20 pm Post subject:

Btw, Thanks for the great review!
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Developer of the free PCG file managing application for most Korg workstations: PCG Tools, see https://www.kronoshaven.com/pcgtools/

Phinnin · Full Member Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 150

Michel: I am sure you will find the leslie you want in there. I had to tweak acceleration/deceleration to my needs and i get a damn good B3 from just the Kronos. But, if you can handle the one extra pedal (I know, I know, ANOTHER pedal) it will turn the Beast into a godlike Hammond.

I like to joke that when plugged in to a vent, my kronos smells like Hammond Gear Oil....
Wink

carmol · Full Member Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Posts: 140

But kronos has three (3!)
rotary effects other that the one
included with cx-3,
and a lot of tube and cabinet modeling,
I think that it MUST be possible to make
a much better hammond without external boxes.
I haven't enough experience on hammond
(I didnt even listen to one from near,
only ns ex clone, gsi vb3 and NI b4),
is there someone more experienced on tonewheels than
me that want to try ?

Jon Lord · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:59 pm Post subject:

Great review. It's nice to hear some good feedback about the quality control that many have complained on.

Btw, anybody tested using Eventide Space with the Kronos?

Phinnin · Full Member Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 150

Hey, don't mis-interpret my comments at all. The CX-3 rocks. The rotary effects are infinitely tweakable and for 90% of the users out there, it will be more then enough.

I was merely saying that the hardcore tonewheel snobs and those that play organ as their primary keyboard instrument will consider a Kronos + Ventilator on par with anything else out there. Add the drawbars and this workstation just did what no other workstation does: Eliminates the need for a dedicated tonewheel instrument. I don't think any other board does that. Nords being the main competition but again, no drawbars, drawbuttons on those.

RonF · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:04 pm Post subject:

Enjoyed your review! Thanks for posting this!
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