a master piece

[RC-IA]

Congratulations to Korg team. Excellent keyboard. I have or had all the big Keys, this one is the one i would take on a desert island, i asked for a synth like this since years. I listened to a lot of demo on youtube etc etc, where you can "sense" the sound quality and now it's at home it's an amazing board (of course i'd like to have some little things to be added but...)

Thanx, it's been a long time it took some much pleasure to play/program, the whole chain (osc, filters, FX...) is amazing, big quality

[jeremykeys]

I'm kind of thinking about getting one myself. Don't ell my wife!
I played one for just a few minutes at my local music store and what I heard I liked. I had no problem with the feel of the keyboard but I don;t like the "wall wart" power supply and the power switch seemed wimpy. Also I was surprised at seeing a truly basic LCD display. The price is low enough though that it makes it enticing.
I'm just wondering if it really kicks enough butt. I already have an old
Polysix and even though it needs to go into the shop, is the KK that much better?
Granted it has more stable oscillators, more memory and is velocity sensitive.
I still have to wonder.

Ok. Wondering done.

I WANT ONE ANYWAYS!

[magikroom]

You know, I was quite negative about this synth when I heard about it and saw the videos and thought it was over priced. I've tried it 4 times in the music shop and have gone to it thinking, yeah but it has no aftertouch, no true oscillator sync...but every time I have used it, I've come up with a great unique sound on each occasion!

Am trying to convince myself now...I may take a punt!

[jeremykeys]

I don't know if anyone has seen this but it gives a pretty good overview of the KK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jrfH65QiE

Hope you like it.

[Dniss]

I'm kind of thinking about getting one myself.

Indeed!

The thought has also crossed my mind. I'm still debating whether I'd be better off with a Virus, Nord, KK...

But this synth is growing on me.

[jeremykeys]

I liked the idea of various filters. That really appeals to me. I also like the number of knobs for real-time sound tweaking. That is something that I really should get more into with my Kronos.
On the other hand though, I'm really, really bummed about the wall-wart power supply. To me that just wreaks of cheapness. That for me is very close to a deal-breaker no matter how good it sounds.
I'd really love to open one up and see if there is enough room to stuff one in and find a way to use an actual proper cable. I doubt that there is but I'm a creative guy.

I am quite a bit curious about it though and yes I DO want one but then again I tend to want everything that is new and shiny!

I see that the keyboard response has 3 levels. I'm wondering if that is a global thing or can it be set per sound. For example. I myself would want it set shallow for organ and clav type sounds but deep for piano sounds. EP and the like.

I also realize that this is not an expensive synth by todays pricing so it might just be what it is.
I've only played it in my music store for 5 minutes so I'm still not entirely sure about it. I'm not expecting it to come close to my Kronos but I am expecting it to; let's just say, impressive enough t omy wife to let me get one!

[jimknopf]

Key response is per patch: you can have your organ slides on one patch and your expressive synth play with more control (middle position) on the other.

[jeremykeys]

That's very cool!

Now to let m'lady know! The big problem is that we also "we as in me!" want an iPad. Want, want, want! That's all we ever do!

[magikroom]

Went into PMT in Birmingham UK today, to try it out again and had my £999 ready to pay, but just couldn't do it. There's just something not quite right about it, for me anyway. There was a Krome next to it and the keys feels very similar, look the same, but maybe a bit more resistance in the depress, compared to the Krome, but still the same placement of the hinge.

I got some great sounds out of it, very quickly changed the preset to something else, but I noticed that the more I used it, it sounded better with the Tube activated...but when I turned it off...yeah, not so good. I made a decent lead sound on it, but found myself pushing harder to bring in vibrato or to affect the cut-off, but of course, no aftertouch....big mistake not having that. Yes, you can program the leaver, but not as instinctive, for me.

It does make great sounds, the Tube is needed though and I don't feel it's worth a grand (UK). So, I kept my thoughts from the dealer and walked out the shop. £699 to £799, then maybe, but not £999

[kevinh_12345us]

I ended up getting mine for around $1ooo + tax US.

If you know the dealer or at least in the US Musicians Friend is always running 10-15% off.

[jimknopf]

The tube is there to support warm analog-like sounds and does that extremely well. It is not "needed" for any sound at all, just the contrary: if you want some kind of slim sound character for certain purposes, it is essential to keep the tube off. So it is good just as it is: to have all three option (off, on and boost). It is essential though to be able to save the settings per preset: this is no global setting in any way making sense: Korg should urgently change this extremely strange layout decision.

The price argument sounds a bit funny to me. The omission of aftertouch is bad, but hardly bad enough to think a grand is too much for this synth. May I ask which other polyphonic synths give us such a well done analog-like, non-aliasing, non-stepping basic character, and then delevering a whole set of classic filters which really do a good job?
The only one doing this in a comparable way, which I know of, is the Arturia Origin at ~3000$ for the keyboard version. And although I like a lot of the Artiria functionality, it is much easier to handle the KK, while it does sound at least as good to me - for my personal taste even better.

The cheaper alternatives are all very far from delivering a sound which is as smooth and warm, and as flexible at the same time, as the KK offers. So where is the the challenge concerning the price point? I see zero keyboard synth at 1000$ being remotely a challenge. I even paid 1200€(!) here in Germany, and to me it is completely worth it, without even thinking about it for a minute.

[magikroom]

The tube is there to support warm analog-like sounds and does that extremely well. It is not "needed" for any sound at all, just the contrary: if you want some kind of slim sound character for certain purposes, it is essential to keep the tube off. So it is good just as it is: to have all three option (off, on and boost). It is essential though to be able to save the settings per preset: this is no global setting in any way making sense: Korg should urgently change this extremely strange layout decision.

The price argument sounds a bit funny to me. The omission of aftertouch is bad, but hardly bad enough to think a grand is too much for this synth. May I ask which other polyphonic synths give us such a well done analog-like, non-aliasing, non-stepping basic character, and then delevering a whole set of classic filters which really do a good job?
The only one doing this in a comparable way, which I know of, is the Arturia Origin at ~3000$ for the keyboard version. And although I like a lot of the Artiria functionality, it is much easier to handle the KK, while it does sound at least as good to me - for my personal taste even better.

The cheaper alternatives are all very far from delivering a sound which is as smooth and warm, and as flexible at the same time, as the KK offers. So where is the the challenge concerning the price point? I see zero keyboard synth at 1000$ being remotely a challenge. I even paid 1200€(!) here in Germany, and to me it is completely worth it, without even thinking about it for a minute.

Let me reiterate, I think it sounds good and I was able to make some good sounds with it. Maybe in this past decade, we've been spoiled with new synths, new technologies, especially how Softsynths have improved since the late 90's, so while it was good what I heard and made, it wasn't anything particularly new...for me...can only talk about my experience.

It's supposed to be a Performance Synth, but I would never take it out on the road and I did gig for 10 years. I always used a Korg Trinity and Triton classic for gigging, built like Tanks and covered everything that I needed. I wouldn't take the KingKorg out, because of the creaky plastic injected moulding, we've already mentioned the Aftertouch and then there's the Wall Wart PSU.

You are correct, in this price bracket, there isn't much in terms of competition, maybe that's telling in some way? Dunno' For Studio work, i'm not bothered that it's not multimbral (I know it's bi-timbral) as I never use synths this way, always record the audio from it and change patch. For me, the Tube effect globally is an issue, no Aftertouch on an expressive synth is unforgivable.

When I first tried it out, I said to the Sales rep that it was about £200 too much and he said, that they were all talking and said the same thing, but that's just hearsay. Again, this is just my opinion, from having owned over 60 hardware synths in my time, over 23 years. In the Studio, I tend to use some of the good softsytns for analogue emulation, like U-HE's Diva, which is the best i've ever heard, with different filter emulations. That said, my Roland JX-10 sounds amazing, with no FX and since I got the SYSEX chip for it, can control it directly from Logic.

Ut is a good synth and each to their own, what is one mans cast away, is another mans treasure. I was ready, I had the money in my Pocket, no Sales guy was around yesterday and hardly any customers in, so I had it to myself...just wasn't right for me!

Anyway, off to pick up a mint, Roland Juno 6 in a couple of hours...Yum Yum!

[JPWC]

I really like the KingKorg. It is extremely easy to operate. Preset sound is very smooth, easy to tweak and you can make it sound more aggressive.

The push to activate knobs is cool, but I've forgot twice - how to turn the reverb on.

The extra PCM sounds could go, but if it was your only keyboard they would be useful.

I got a 12% discount at the GC, I did not intend to buy it. I had just added to my Elektron collection, the Monomachine, and was going to hold out for the MS20mini with my remaining money. While I still want an MS-20 Mini, I will have to wait until next year. I am not unhappy at all with the KingKorg.

Although I think the name sucks, the keyboard is good looking, and easy to read the panel. I don't need reading glasses like the Kronos.

[magikroom]

I really like the KingKorg. It is extremely easy to operate. Preset sound is very smooth, easy to tweak and you can make it sound more aggressive.

The push to activate knobs is cool, but I've forgot twice - how to turn the reverb on.

The extra PCM sounds could go, but if it was your only keyboard they would be useful.

I got a 12% discount at the GC, I did not intend to buy it. I had just added to my Elektron collection, the Monomachine, and was going to hold out for the MS20mini with my remaining money. While I still want an MS-20 Mini, I will have to wait until next year. I am not unhappy at all with the KingKorg.

Although I think the name sucks, the keyboard is good looking, and easy to read the panel. I don't need reading glasses like the Kronos.

Yeah, I did think it was good and was all prepared to buy it, got the cash out the Bank ready...just couldn't do it for some reason. I've got an MS20 Mini on order, likely will be June when I get though, according to Korg UK.

Was still in buying mode though yesterday and found something on Ebay, made an offer and he accepted, picked it up this morning

http://i.imgur.com/s4XmPc1.jpg

No MIDI or memories, but I kind of like that...just recently I've been going through a stage of not quantising the hell out of stuff and just playing it in, if I make a mistake, play it again.

I don't regert not buying it and who news, in time I may pick one up one the used market, but not this time...and for me, that's unusual!

[kevinh_12345us]

I see MF is offering 15% off until April 29th.
That would make it $1100 US.