From 1st Gen. Kronos to Pa5x?

[rickster1]

I have a 10 year-old 1st Generation Kronos that I love and have used to record
hundreds of MIDI songs that I can play with on gigs - but the catch is, the Power Supply keeps quitting. I replaced the P/S twice and twice it quit.
Don't know why. Something must be causing it to quit.

So, I've been patiently waiting for Korg to replace the Kronos with a new flagship keyboard, but it doesn't look like it's gonna happen anytime soon -

so ... my question is, is the Pa5x Sequencer at least as good as the Kronos's was? Does it make sense to get a Pa5x to replace the Kronos?


Thoughts?

[davekalbach]

Thats a difficult question

I'd recommend playing a 4x to see how you like it for on stage performance. I'm not a gigging musician, I just like to play at home.

I have both the Kronos and the 5x, and think they compliment each other well. They just do different things in my opinion. The KRONOS still sounds a little better in my opinion, but the 5x blows away the 4x's sound. When I say the KRONOS sounds better, it may be because sounds have been crafted more for Kronos with so many options, where are the 5x is an arranger.

To play live with a KRONOS, I imagine (since I dont do it) that you need to create a backing track in the sequencer (you mentioned you created many MIDI files). The 5x won't really need that and you can change variations, fills, breaks, intros and endings on command. So its a more fluid instrument for live performing. You're not locked in to following your backing track, it will move with you.

The built in sequencer in the 5x isn't there yet - yes, you can create MIDI files, but you are doing it one track at a time currently, overwriting and overdubbing when needed. I think this will get better with OS updates, but for now - while there is a 16 track sequencer, I feel its very limited, although much easier to operate than the sequencer on your Kronos.

I really, I love having both. But honestly I have been playing the 5x so much more. It's just so much fun to play. As a music newbie, it's fun to play with a band - especially one that won't get upset with my many mistakes.

Final thoughts - play a 5x if you can find one, a 4x if you can't and just realize the sounds are greatly improved over the 4x. KRONOS quality, close, someone else might say differently, and again, it could just be that I have so many pre-build sound packs that sounds so great. Thank you narfsounds....

[rickster1]

Thanks for the great reply, Dave ..

The built in sequencer in the 5x isn't there yet - yes, you can create MIDI files, but you are doing it one track at a time currently, overwriting and overdubbing when needed. I think this will get better with OS updates, but for now - while there is a 16 track sequencer, I feel its very limited, although much easier to operate than the sequencer on your Kronos.

I'm really interested in this part of your reply, the part about the Sequencer.
You're just who I'm looking for, someone who owns both the Kronos & the 5x.

Have you used the sequencer on the Kronos? I'm interested in the differences.
It sounds like, from your description, that the 5x sequencer isn't the same as the Kronos. The Kronos lets you record multiple tracks at once. Pa5x ??

Can you record track 3 while listening to tracks 1 & 2 on the Pa5x ?

[davekalbach]

Have you used the sequencer on the Kronos? I'm interested in the differences.
It sounds like, from your description, that the 5x sequencer isn't the same as the Kronos. The Kronos lets you record multiple tracks at once. Pa5x ??

Can you record track 3 while listening to tracks 1 & 2 on the Pa5x ?

I have used the sequencer in the KRONOS - though I have a dedicated recorder which is what I really use.

The KRONSOS sequencer is 32 tracks (as you know) 16 audio and 16 midi. The 5x is 16 track midi - however I do think you can record a single audio file in addition to the 16 tracks - I'd have to experiment.

The Sequencer is nothing like the KRONOS (Vertical tracks that show no data scrolling). Your vertical track is just a way of looking at the Track Qualities (Instrument, IFX, Mixer Knobs, S/M, Record or Play and Levels)

As I said earlier it IS easier to use, but the capabilities aren't there yet if you are trying to create Midi files and manipulate tracks. No Optimize (other than recording fidelity during record), No Swap Track, Delete Measure, Insert Measure, Copy Measure, and the list just keeps on going....

However it is very simple to use. So if you wanted to create a recording, it's very easy to select each track and record whichever instrument you wish. But you need to do them track by track.

Yes - As you record each track you can play any of the other tracks while you record the selected track. Unfortunately it doesn't look as if you can record the Styles, and Drum Tracks. At least I haven't figured out how yet if you can.

Half way through the manual - sill reading, still experimenting, still learning...

[rickster1]

Thanks again for your reply Dave .

Can't record drum tracks? Wow, that might be the "deal breaker".

Maybe the sequencer isn't what the Kronos's is because they're gonna come out with their new flagship workstation? Which will have a great sequencer.

I can hope.