KORG, WHY????? How much could you have saved?????

[NAJ]

Just received my Kronos 61 and Korg pa3x. What I am not happy about is, why Korg cuts corners on such expensive work station Kronos. Korg could have easily put the same keys as pa3x on Kronos. The Kronos keys are cheap and nasty it doesn’t have the same bounce and action as the pa3x. How much could you have saved Korg??
People who uses both Kronos and Korg Pa1,2, or 3 at the same time will know what I am talking about.

[apex]

Just received my Kronos 61 and Korg pa3x. What I am not happy about is, why Korg cuts corners on such expensive work station Kronos. Korg could have easily put the same keys as pa3x on Kronos. The Kronos keys are cheap and nasty it doesn’t have the same bounce and action as the pa3x. How much could you have saved Korg??
People who uses both Kronos and Korg Pa1,2, or 3 at the same time will know what I am talking about.

first complaint i've seen about the keys....

[Bruce Lychee]

I thought the 61 action was pretty good. I might go that way if I sell the 88. I just wish I could use a controller and not lose the note off velocity info.

[PauloF]

Bruce, what's wrong with your Kronos? you seem not very happy about it...

[Bruce Lychee]

Bruce, what's wrong with your Kronos? you seem not very happy about it...

I'm actually happier than it might seem. The cardboard inserts are just an annoyance to me, but I do have an issue with the construction of the action. Gaps between keys I can live with, but multiple height variations aren't acceptable to me. There are many great things about the Kronos and I don't plan on losing a creative tool over the action, but I do expect Korg to address it. If they don't, I'll probably take a breather and get a 61.

I also spend most of my time playing the SK5 or Jupiter, but I probably shouldn't go there...

[Zeroesque]

Bruce, what's wrong with your Kronos? you seem not very happy about it...

I'm actually happier than it might seem. The cardboard inserts are just an annoyance to me, but I do have an issue with the construction of the action. Gaps between keys I can live with, but multiple height variations aren't acceptable to me. There are many great things about the Kronos and I don't plan on losing a creative tool over the action, but I do expect Korg to address it. If they don't, I'll probably take a breather and get a 61.

I also spend most of my time playing the SK5 or Jupiter, but I probably shouldn't go there...

I have a 61 and don't mind playing piano from an external controller at all. I'm currently using a Casio PX-3 after having a Fatar SL1100 and a Numa Nano. The release velocity issue isn't too bad, though I do like to turn those noises down if I know I'm going to play mostly slow, soft stuff. I wish there were an option to make note-offs the same as note-on velocity (it would probably mimic real playing more closely than a fixed note-off).

I chose my 88 controllers based primarily upon weight and portability. You would seemingly have a wider selection, and then you could play both your Kronos and Jupiter w/ your choice of weighted key controllers.

[aron]

Hehehe Korg puts out one of the best 61 key actions and someone complains. GREAT!

[Vlad_77]

I am absolutely happy with the action on the 61. I had originally ordered a 73 key in May, with an expected release of late June. When my Sweetwater rep told me that the 73s and 88s would not be in stock until late August/early September, I decided to go for the 61. While I control it with XV-88 (am thinking of switching the controller to the Kurzweil as it has superb MIDI implementation), I DO find myself playing it directly for certain things as well - like working with KARMA scene changes for instance.

I have never owned a Pa3x - or any other arranger for that matter - so I cannot comment on the keybed of the Pa3x. But the Kronos 61 action feels good to me. The keys are responsive and unlike a lot of 49 and 61 key synths, these keys do not feel like toys to me that would break when playing ff.

Considering what Kronos CAN do, I would say that YES Korg cut some corners or else we would have another OASYS which many cannot afford. 88 key controllers these days are NOT expensive at all so even adding the additional cost of one still gives you an affordable version of OASYS plus two engines.

Please understand that I am not implying that the OP is off his piano bench, but the majority of the posts I have read have praised the action of the 61 key model.

I read that Bruce is thinking of perhaps selling his 88 for a 61 key model. Perhaps the OP could keep an eye out for that?

Ahimsa,
Vlad

[dregsor]

I haven't played a 73 or 88 yet but I thought the 61 key bed was very good. On the model I tested I checked the key spacing and heights and they seemed fine. I guess it's what your used to.

I wish you guys wouldn't keep coming up with new stuff for me to worry about.

[DavyP]

I'm thinking about swapping the Kronos 61 for the 88 and arranged a swap with my local retailer. However all this talk about the keybed action of the 88 (Bruce!) is starting to put me off.

WARNING!!!! - Be careful with the 61 key Kronos as you may find the fan noise very irritating!! This is the reason I want to swap! Apparently there is no noise on the 88 key version. The 61 key fan is very audible, especially in a quiet setting like a home studio and really annoys me as it has others on this forum. You couldn't do any serious vocal or guitar recording next to the 61 keyboard!

[Gargamel314]

what's on the PA3X? i thought it was the same as the M3/Kronos.

[PinkFloydDudi]

The cardboard inserts are just an annoyance to me,

HA! We agree on something!

To NAJ - I've played the 61 quite a few times at my local retailer, brought many 61-key-playing friends in with me (I almost always use weighted), and have read these boards for quite some time...yours is the first complaint I've seen regarding the 61 key?

[NAJ]

Hehehe Korg puts out one of the best 61 key actions and someone complains. GREAT!

You obviously haven’t used Korg’s other products, i.e. Korg’s Pro Arrangers.
My advice to you, try the keys on the pro arrangers then laugh and make judgment. When you spend five and half thousand pounds on two keyboard you will know how I feel.

[DavyP]

The action on the 61 is very good for synth/organ players. It s fast, the keys are square and have a nice weighted feel. It actually is similar/same as the M3 and does remind me of the M1 but maybe little firmer.

[NAJ]

The cardboard inserts are just an annoyance to me,

HA! We agree on something!

To NAJ - I've played the 61 quite a few times at my local retailer, brought many 61-key-playing friends in with me (I almost always use weighted), and have read these boards for quite some time...yours is the first complaint I've seen regarding the 61 key?

I have always used semi-weighted keys and I am used to the semi-weighted keys on the Korg pro arrangers they feel very good when playing. It has a good bounce. I had owned a Roland Fantom G6 and I got rid of it because the keys where rubbish. I never thought Korg would use such a rubbish keys on a nearly £3000 of a keyboard.