Has the Kronos/OASYS improved your keyboard chops?

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:58 pm

I wanted to get some feedback from folks in both camps (Kronos and Oasys) as to whether outside of the technological features, either of these two keyboards have improved notably your keyboard playing skills? How so and how have you measured that? Let keep it quantifiable and not emotional please as we know both instruments are inspirational.

I can say as for me, the OASYS has augmented my keyboard skillset significantly. I will be honest that about 75% of the time I end up staying with the OASYS piano sound as it is very realistic. I've noticed that I can play far more complex music than I was able to do before. everything from ELPs tarkus to Rachmaninoff piano concertos and the ramp up has been fast. I must say a good instrument as is the OASYS has really allowed me to push the limits. I have an 88 note OASYS and the RH2 action really has inspired the elevation of playing.

Your thoughts?

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:41 am

Hi

I have an Oasys and it has Not in any manner improved my technical skill set. I do all my hardcore playing on my Yamaha C1 grand piano. The Yamaha C1 requires more finger strength...actually significantly more strength. I practice 2 hours every night on it after work.

I'm dumb founded that you can play Rachmaninoff Concertos on the Oasys, I cant play a simple Rach Etude on the Oasys without it all becoming mushy both in terms of sound and touch of keys...and its not bad sustain pedaling on my part creating the mushy sound. Anything requiring hardcore arpeggios, repetitive thick block chords, and super fast scale runs quickly eats up the poly on the O and becomes mushy...anyway thats how it is for me.

Sorry, but to me, the Oasys piano is no where near as good as my cheap Yamaha P140 digital piano, which i use for night time practice, and on the odd occassion when i break strings on the grand while waiting for repairs to take place. I also like the keybed on the P140.

We seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum scale...plz note i'm not arguing with you or trying to start anything. Basically this goes to show how people as individuals can have different oppinions of the same item.

Haha, read the Jupiter 80 thread in here lol. Nobody can agree to agree.

Take it easy
Billy

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:56 am

So if you have an OASYS which is pretty much 98% Kronos why would you order a Kronos 88? As Spock would say "illogical" captain.

CoreyMast · Post by **CoreyMast** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:27 am

I played Liszt's Funerailles at a benefit concert last month and there was a week where I had to travel out of town away from my piano so I took my Korg Triton to practice on. I believe they have the RH2 keybed. The rapid fire LH Octave section would always be much more difficult to play and would sound horribly mushy like the previous poster observed. My piano instructors would always notice what they would call a difference in my tone if I had been practicing classical repertoire on the keyboard. They would always scold me and say to practice more on the acoustic piano. My friend owns the M3 and I can't play much of my repertoire on it. It feels really sluggish to me. I'll have to adjust to the RH3 though seeing the Kronos uses it. I won't be performing any classical repertoire on it anyways. All that being said I would prefer a piano for piano sounds but the RH2 over the RH3. Don't really care for the M3 or Triton's piano sounds but I'm sure the Oasys and Kronos sounds are fine.

maphill · Post by **maphill** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:30 am

franzlp wrote:So if you have an OASYS which is pretty much 98% Kronos why would you order a Kronos 88? As Spock would say "illogical" captain.

I disagree. There are multiple reasons to want a Kronos (and some concessions as well). It just depends on your priorities. I'm making the same switch.

Fodder for decision making: http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=58229

Mark

CoreyMast · Post by **CoreyMast** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:34 am

I remember when the Triton Extreme came out. I wanted the tube so bad and the upgraded sounds that came with it. It was discontinued before I was able to purchase it though. So I can see how an Oasys owner would want to update to a Kronos.

Sina172 · Post by **Sina172** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:14 am

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:49 am

Sina172 wrote:Drum Track. This ALONE is worth paying $3+ Grand to me! When I got my M50-88, I got SO much inspiration in Program mode utilizing Drum Track to the point where I wondered how I ever lived this long without it.

As a former M50 owner, I have to agree with this. It would be easy to write off the drum track as a "home keyboard" or "arranger" feature, but I think it can be a serious studio tool. In fact, interface aside, I see no reason to have a separate (digital) drum machine.

Another HUGE feature, that I was unaware of until I watched a short Kronos tutorial online, is that the different sounds in a drum track can be processed independently of one another. I had always assumed that the whole drum track would have to take its effects globally. But being able to assign different effects/levels to the kicks, snares, toms, hats, etc. is just huge. Can't wait to explore that...

apex · Post by **apex** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:27 am

CfNorENa wrote:
Another HUGE feature, that I was unaware of until I watched a short Kronos tutorial online, is that the different sounds in a drum track can be processed independently of one another. I had always assumed that the whole drum track would have to take its effects globally. But being able to assign different effects/levels to the kicks, snares, toms, hats, etc. is just huge. Can't wait to explore that...

isn't this available on the m3 too?

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:30 am

apex wrote:
CfNorENa wrote:
Another HUGE feature, that I was unaware of until I watched a short Kronos tutorial online, is that the different sounds in a drum track can be processed independently of one another. I had always assumed that the whole drum track would have to take its effects globally. But being able to assign different effects/levels to the kicks, snares, toms, hats, etc. is just huge. Can't wait to explore that...
isn't this available on the m3 too?

Dunno. As far as I know, it was probably available to me on my M50 without me being aware of it.

Either way, it's a terrific feature, methinks...

dangerousdave · Post by **dangerousdave** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:44 am

Has the Kronos/OASYS improved your keyboard chops?

It's early days at the moment, but I'm not expecting the Kronos to improve my chops significantly. It is forcing me to learn a lot about synthesis and MIDI very quickly though.

Zeroesque · Post by **Zeroesque** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:38 pm

Has the Kronos/OASYS improved your keyboard chops?

I haven't played this much, especially piano, in a long time. For me, the answer to the question is definitely yes. It's a very inspirational instrument to play, and covers pretty much any mood.

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:12 pm

Yes, definitely!

I have the Kronos nearly a week now, and when I got it, I hardly could move my fingers separately.

Now after some days I can't refrain from playing Chopin etudes three hours a day, transposing them ad hoc through all keys just for fun.

Jeremy Bender · Post by **Jeremy Bender** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:19 pm

I think I am going to be spending so much time playing it I will definitely improve my chops!

I have also been playing Tarkus on the organ engine!