15 Photo's of Kronos taken at NAMM

[Jive Talking Robot]

Synth porn! Thanks for posting these... this is a nice looking synth. Sleek and refined. I can see how some would say "boring", but I prefer "understated."

Based on looks alone, I think I like the way the front panel controls on the "61" go nearly from end to end (looks like a flight deck). The 73 has a balanced front panel (as it relates to the key bed), but that 61 is sharp IMO.

Thanks for sharing!

[EnjoyRC]

While it's all functional and virtually all of OASYS's physical interface is there; to be honest it looks very boring. I mean, they couldn't have done less with it! They really have cut corners - labelling is virtually nonexistent and the buttons and knobs look tiny and flimsy. It looks like a prototype.

Remember how plain the interface was on the M1? So much plainer than any other synth in the world and look at how happy everyone was with it. Simplicity is great at times.

[Kevin Nolan]

Yes but the M1 looked refined; this looks a little less so to be honest. Look at the buttons and knobs. I'm a bit surprised.

They look a little poor in quality (and believe me - you use them a lot - so this could be a real issue/concern). While the OASYS buttons suffer the degradation of all Korg workstations, nevertheless its user interface is wholesome - and you use it an incredible amount - but I cannot see myself warming to those puny buttons. The vector joystick looks like a nipple!

And look at the printed text - you can barely read it. And - it looks like the bank and program/combi buttons have no labels - perhaps it's the light in these image. But look at the back of the synth - already one of the letters has partially worn off! Surely this is prototype or near-production version and not the for-release finished item?

I have to admit - I didn't look closely at this instrument before now - but it's a little concerning how poor those buttons, knobs - and even the faders - look. After all, this is a very physical and hands on synth - the control surface caters for:

- All editing of synth engines
- Karma control / Realtime performance
- Control surface tone adjust
- Mixing
- External MIDI control....

So you really do use the physical side of this instrument beyond the screen (remember - you do not adjust settings on the screen, rather you just select features to adjust by the physical controllers). so the physical controllers on the OASYS are used enormously - and Kronos looks a little underwhelming (worryingly so for me) from these photos. I hope I'm wrong – I’m intending getting one - but I do hope the interface holds up to proper use and that Korg label it far better in production models.

Kevin.

[EnjoyRC]

As Stephen Kay stated that he has a development version, I wonder if what we're seeing in videos and NAMM pix is the final chassis?

[Hedegaard]

Yes but the M1 looked refined; this looks a little less so to be honest. Look at the buttons and knobs. I'm a bit surprised.

They look a little poor in quality (and believe me - you use them a lot - so this could be a real issue/concern). While the OASYS buttons suffer the degradation of all Korg workstations, nevertheless its user interface is wholesome - and you use it an incredible amount - but I cannot see myself warming to those puny buttons. The vector joystick looks like a nipple!

And look at the printed text - you can barely read it. And - it looks like the bank and program/combi buttons have no labels - perhaps it's the light in these image. But look at the back of the synth - already one of the letters has partially worn off! Surely this is prototype or near-production version and not the for-release finished item?

I have to admit - I didn't look closely at this instrument before now - but it's a little concerning how poor those buttons, knobs - and even the faders - look. After all, this is a very physical and hands on synth - the control surface caters for:

- All editing of synth engines
- Karma control / Realtime performance
- Control surface tone adjust
- Mixing
- External MIDI control....

So you really do use the physical side of this instrument beyond the screen (remember - you do not adjust settings on the screen, rather you just select features to adjust by the physical controllers). so the physical controllers on the OASYS are used enormously - and Kronos looks a little underwhelming (worryingly so for me) from these photos. I hope I'm wrong – I’m intending getting one - but I do hope the interface holds up to proper use and that Korg label it far better in production models.

Kevin.

I think the design element looks a bit like the monolith from Space Oddesy 2001. It looks sleek, it has "hidden attitude".
But yes, the labeling needs some work.

Apart from that, Kevin, are you planning to take it to Mars with you?
Because I don't think even our Oasys could stand that amount of G's on liftoff........

[Akos Janca]

Sorry to disagree, but I like this simple still powerful design very-very much. I already know the controls from OASYS by heart - so the labels are fine for me. I hope Kronos as roadworthy (or more) as it looks.

Somehow I like the 61 better but I would need at least the 73 because of the weighted keys. And I'm not sure but read somewhere that the 61 has plastic bottom and the 73 has wallboard.

I would prefer the full metal housing even if it's heavier. I need it for the road, too. (Oh, my dear Ensoniq ASR-10! Have a look at this beauty.)

[afr]

And I'm not sure but read somewhere that the 61 has plastic bottom and the 73 has wallboard.

Sharp wrote:

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... 57&start=0

The underneath of the 61 is metal, where the underneath of the 76 is wood.

[Flash & The Pan]

Great pictures Sharp. Thanks for your efforts!

If the fingerprint stains on a board which is just "laying there - doing nothing" is anything to go by.....then about 1 hour studio use will see the Kronos utterly smeared in chocolate,jam, cigarette ash, whisky spills, coffee stains, milk tarts, dairy cheese, dandruff, Round up pesticides, cat hairs, dog ear snuff, snot, spit and battery acid and won't look quite so shiny anymore

mmm...Oasys still looking so much lovely than "Kronos"...don't know....I love the "Oasys" panel too much...with all those red leds and bangs...'ll see

[shabbee]

I have to say that when I say the first images of K I thought it looked a little bland. But saying that in the flesh it really does look nice and the buttons feel positive and robust. The display is superb!!!

[Hedegaard]

Great pictures Sharp. Thanks for your efforts!

If the fingerprint stains on a board which is just "laying there - doing nothing" is anything to go by.....then about 1 hour studio use will see the Kronos utterly smeared in chocolate,jam, cigarette ash, whisky spills, coffee stains, milk tarts, dairy cheese, dandruff, Round up pesticides, cat hairs, dog ear snuff, snot, spit and battery acid and won't look quite so shiny anymore

mmm...Oasys still looking so much lovely than "Kronos"...don't know....I love the "Oasys" panel too much...with all those red leds and bangs...'ll see

Not so sure, I never really liked the look of the Oasys, yes the LED lights are wonderful I agree, but the tilt screen looks a little daft and the buttons could have been better quality.
I guess I'm just too much in love with the JD800 design that it takes something more to impress me.
But the Kronos looks better than the Oasys in my opinion because of the minimalistic design.

[Melodialworks Music]

. . . in the flesh it really does look nice and the buttons feel positive and robust. The display is superb!!!

That's very encouraging!