Korg Forums

[Donethur]

That is my question for users who has had both. Any opinion?.

Judging only for the demos I have check in internet, it seems that KK sounds better, more fat a a bit less digital to me, but of course a user could clarify better this to me.

thanks!

[Scott]

This won't answer your question completely, but according to the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jrfH65QiE
one of its filters is basically the same as the Radias filter, which implies you should be able to get Radias-like timbres out of it. But unlike the Radias, the KK has alternate filters that are closer to Oberheim, Prophet, Moog, and other Korg models, so it will also get sounds of a different character than what you can get out of a Radias.

[Chriskk]

Any company can say they have modeled Moog, OB, Prophet, Jupiter filters. But that doesn't mean that those filters sound like real filters.

Korg VA's including the Radias & KK sound more digital than other VA's IMO.

[Dniss]

[jimknopf]

+1

To me Chris' remark looks just as clueless as his nonsense about the KK tube recently. From my view the KK rather has some of the most analog sounding filters of all hardware VAs so far. I know a dozen magazin reviews meanwhile, and not a single one shares Chris' view on the KK sound.

Of course, like all other hardware VAs, the KK can't replace the originals. But while nobody expects that, it is still the only hardware VA in it's price range coming close enough to a whole family of sounds familiar from Minimoogs, Oberheim SEMs, ProphetVs, MS20s, and Roland Acid sounds (plus the familar basic Radias filter sound) at the same time, and in a quality which is close enough to be really well useable for recording and live play. The Arturia Origin is the only VA offering something similar - at a much higher price and not more analog sounding.
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Kronos 73 - Moog Voyager RME - Moog LP TE - Behringer Model D - Prophet 6 - Roland Jupiter Xm - Rhodes Stage 73 Mk I - Elektron Analog Rytm MkII - Roland TR-6s - Cubase 12 Pro + Groove Agent 5

[JPWC]

To actually make sound in our environment, the signal must be analog.

Digital vs Analog is not about the sound, it's about the application. This argument is so over done. The only reason to comment, is to make up for the posters short comings. (don't get offended, I may well have more short comings than you.)

The KingKorg does an excellent job of imitating synthesizers that were designed to imitate other instruments.

I love playing my kingkorg, the controls (knobs) give you lots of real time interaction, allowing you to play the "sound" along with allowing you to play the keybed at the same time. Great performance synth!

I would say the synth is smooth sounding, verses hard or aggressive. It is not your glitch instrument.

Not the synth for some, more than enough for others.

Big bang for you buck!
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Kronos-6, Krome, M3, Radias, KingKorg, microKorg, KP-2, KP-3, KO-1, KO-1 PRO, Karma, microX, monotron, monotribe, PadCONTROL, Wavedrum Mini, Volca Keys, Beats, Bass, Sample, monotron Duo & Delay, microArranger, M1, Wavestation, Volca Sample, Keys, Beats & Bass, MS-20

JD-XA, JD-Xi, Aira (system 1, TB3, TR8, MX-1), Prophet 12, Mopho X4, Jupiter-80, FA-06, D50, CS1x, CZ101, DX200, AN200, analogFOUR, MachineDrum, MonoMachine, Motif XF6, Virus Snow, Nord Lead 2X, OP-1, MFOS, Tenori-on, QY100, QY70, meeblip se, miniBrute, microBrute, Bass Station 2

[Saxifraga]

If you already have enough keybeds and like VA synths, why not buying some Arturia stuff? You can buy a used Macmini (Core 2 Duo) or PC and use it as dedicated Arturia sound server. Have recently bought the Arturia minilab with 5000 VA (CP80 Moog modular ARP 2600 Prophet etc.) sounds and a small USB controller (included). Sounds amazing via PA. I have now come to recognize that buying more keybeds is a waste of money esp. if they not even have aftertouch.

For example:
Mac mini 2,4GHz 4GB (400,-€) + Arturia LAB 29,-.. 89,- € + 500,-€ for five great Arturia synth.
Connect your master keyboard (maybe one from Arturia analog experience or a Novation Ultranova) and ready you are.

Don´t get me wrong: The King Korg sounds very good and has nice flexible controls but you need a computer anyway to manage the sounds.

m2c

[jimknopf]

Saxifraga, I have a lot of these softsynths, and any day there are new great ones among them (besides the Arturia stuff there are UHE's, OPXIIpro, Monark, Reaktor, Massive etc etc.).

But even with a decent controller keybed you don't get the same experience like from a unified instrument with a layout made exactly for it's functionality.

I often catch myself ignoring all the great softsynths and using my hardware synths, before doing anything else (for live play I prefer them anyway). And then AFTER having a song in shape, I may decide to prefer a certain softsynth or Kontakt sample library on certain tracks, but not more.

A computer with software is still a secondary experience to me, compared to an integrated synth (which is filled with software anyway, as we all know). The hardware synths are still the more direct approach for making music from my view, and I still prefer them for straight ahead playing and composing.
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Kronos 73 - Moog Voyager RME - Moog LP TE - Behringer Model D - Prophet 6 - Roland Jupiter Xm - Rhodes Stage 73 Mk I - Elektron Analog Rytm MkII - Roland TR-6s - Cubase 12 Pro + Groove Agent 5

[xmlguy]

[slug]

The Radias is easily the best synth for experienced users as it has WAY more synthesis features, the King Korg is probably the better of the two for people that dont need or want access to programming originality, which is i think was Korgs intention aiming towards the "gigging professional" more than the "tweakers delight" mindset. Even the MS20 Mini is far more versatile for sound creation over KK if you dont need polyphony.

If KK had two filters and a free envelope it COULD have given the Radias a run for its money on the synthesist front....but as i said the KK is a synth for people that dont want ultimate complexity, just strong tweakable basics with the convenience of the inclusion of pianos and other acoustic type sounds.

[slug]

[curvebender]

[jimknopf]

+1

To me the KK sounds exactly as Curvebender described:
"smooth, silky, creamy, fluent and organic"

And in everyday music making I have much more use for this kind of sound, than for any of the advanced technical possibilities, which AL-1 or my Access Virus or a Radias offer.

Still I would really appreciate a KK update with a second filter (for more modulation flexibility) - and if possible, some more mod matrix possibilities as well.
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Kronos 73 - Moog Voyager RME - Moog LP TE - Behringer Model D - Prophet 6 - Roland Jupiter Xm - Rhodes Stage 73 Mk I - Elektron Analog Rytm MkII - Roland TR-6s - Cubase 12 Pro + Groove Agent 5

[Lando2]

[curvebender]

I realised a few days ago:

When I sit in front of my Kronos, and move the cutoff knob while playing the AL-1, MS20 or Polysix, all that happens is that I hear the cutoff frequency being changed. You say: well obviously, that's what it's there for! Absolutely, you're right.

But when I adjust the cutoff on the Kingkorg, something else happens. Yes, the cutoff is being changed, but I also hear music and inspiration. The harmonic spectrum is just amazingly rich.

As someone said, writing about music is like dancing about architecture, so words somewhat fail me now. (Also, english isn't my mother tongue.)

But the fact is that I can sit for hours listening to a simple up-down arpeggio om the KK, slowly adjusting the filter, or the filter envelope decay, and enjoy music in a grand way. All the Karma in the world can't help the Kronos here. The oscillators on the KK are probably also a big part of this.

(My first VA was the Yamaha AN1X, and there are some similarities in the sound: gentle, wide and opaque, but also harmonically pleasing.)

So, what am I trying to say here? Well, nothing more than this: I hereby declare the Kingkorg to be the king.
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