Creative idea for Korg's review!

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:19 am

I was thinking many folks have been commenting on the Kronos' small screen for managing its diverse features. Hey Korg how about this idea to address this in Kronos or future instruments....

As I work in the network engineering field I would suggest that you may want to have a management application imbedded in the synth. Basically you could have a thin client application ( web based preferable ) or thick client (app) based client application that would be invoked on the synth if you fired up a small wireless transmitter in the synth (essentially an internal wireless hotspot). Once this is achieved you could target the synth via URL from any tablet (android or IPAD) and you would have he application login to the web based application being served by the management web app. This way you could invoke the synth screen front end from any web based client.

There are many AVS devices like Denon that have this kind of web based management application available on the audio components.

Try it as that way everyone could manage their Kronos from any network client device that way you don't necessarily have to invest in a better screen since you can outsource that function to the user's preferred display and touchscreen device (i.e tablet).

What say you?

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:46 am

Sooooo, taking this to the next step here is what I can conceive ....

Most phones, tablets, and electronics today are incorporating WIFI transmitters/receivers on their units so that they can connect to a user's local network with a local IP address provided by your routers' DHCP facility. In fact you are seeing home appliance manufacturers doing this so to monitor these types of units and perform automation.....

Well getting back to the music consider this.... What if I had Korg keyboards with this WIFI facility as well as my rack gear, etc. So in a performance how would you set up your local network ? Well I would set up my cell phone as a Hotspot (like T-Mobile has) and all my WIFI music gear would acquire a DHCP address as well as my IPAD for instance. Then I could open up a browser and target each piece of gear by IP address and port where that's instrument's or device's management application so I could control that device . I could open a Firefox tab for each management web based app and bingo.... I could control this myself our give this control to anyone else I so desire. Since networking protocols are generally more secure and operate on a higher bandwidth you could leverage this for realtime control and performance with existing network based standards rather than spinning cycles to promote or invent a new one.

Mailman71 · Post by **Mailman71** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:56 am

Or they could just release the editor, or even better they could ship my 73 ive been waiting months for.

Unknown2 · Post by **Unknown2** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:43 am

I think it is an idea worth considering. I have a number of devices that I control via my phone.
Using a tablet would be great.
Not as worried about the editor yet and I haven't received my Kronos yet. When I get it I'll start to ask after the editor.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:30 pm

It would be nice but personally I would favor a USB connection over a wifi one. I know it's somewhat unreasonable, but I just have more faith in a hardware connection. To be honest, I see this as totally realistic considering Korg's serious efforts in iPad debelopment so far.

Shakil · Post by **Shakil** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:04 pm

iPad screen is not much better than the KRONOS..... For iPad you need bigger user interface elements, so the overall number of controls will be about the same as on KRONOS screen.

I like the idea of have an external control surface or interface, but let's first see how the Editor software works. What I would like to see in the editor is a dual screen version, where I can see multiple windows for different sections of the synth at the same time. For example on one screen I would have the mixer, and the other with detailed synth parameters, and on the other the effects routing... etc.

PinkFloydDudi · Post by **PinkFloydDudi** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:45 pm

You are getting to a very dangerous area - especially with wireless.

Do you know how incredibly easy it would be for someone with very basic computer knowledge to take full control of your kronos from a wifi device while sitting in an audience watching the band???

I think the much better solution would be just to improve the touchscreen.

franzlp · Post by **franzlp** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:26 pm

Not so easy if you are using WPA2 AES-CCMP....

JPWC · Post by **JPWC** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:52 pm

PinkFloydDudi wrote:You are getting to a very dangerous area - especially with wireless.

Do you know how incredibly easy it would be for someone with very basic computer knowledge to take full control of your kronos from a wifi device while sitting in an audience watching the band???

I think the much better solution would be just to improve the touchscreen.

woe-dude, you mean somebody could take over my Motif XF from thier iphone in the middle of a show.

What if they did a better job than me?

(I installed a wifi usb stick on my XF and can perform many functions via my iPad. pretty cool stuff

, or so I thought!)

I was looking forward to getting wifi/iPad interface on the Kronos, but I don't know anymore.

PinkFloydDudi · Post by **PinkFloydDudi** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:59 pm

franzlp wrote:Not so easy if you are using WPA2 AES-CCMP....

Just saying, you still open your computer up to allowing someone to get full control over it remotely.

Melodialworks Music · Post by **Melodialworks Music** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:23 pm

PinkFloydDudi wrote:
Just saying, you still open your computer up to allowing someone to get full control over it remotely.

Huh? Not if you're running appropriate security.

PinkFloydDudi · Post by **PinkFloydDudi** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:33 pm

Lougheed wrote:
PinkFloydDudi wrote:
Just saying, you still open your computer up to allowing someone to get full control over it remotely.
Huh? Not if you're running appropriate security.

Do you honestly think there is any "appropriate security" that will completely prevent a hacker from accessing your wifi device if they want to?

People can steal your CC info and clone your phone just by walking near you...

Will 99.999% of us ever be hacked on stage? Doubtful. Do you think someone would have some fun with a professional keyboard player who is entertaining thousands at a festival?
Maybe...

Edit: and when you say "appropriate security" - do you mean external applications running on an OS? Cause that is a lot of overhead.

PinkFloydDudi · Post by **PinkFloydDudi** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:37 pm

JPWC wrote:
PinkFloydDudi wrote:You are getting to a very dangerous area - especially with wireless.

Do you know how incredibly easy it would be for someone with very basic computer knowledge to take full control of your kronos from a wifi device while sitting in an audience watching the band???

I think the much better solution would be just to improve the touchscreen.
woe-dude, you mean somebody could take over my Motif XF from thier iphone in the middle of a show.

What if they did a better job than me?

(I installed a wifi usb stick on my XF and can perform many functions via my iPad. pretty cool stuff , or so I thought!)

I was looking forward to getting wifi/iPad interface on the Kronos, but I don't know anymore.

Not saying that the cons outweigh the positives by any means...but yes if you can control your keyboard via a remote ipad, so can someone else!!!

Again, would the hacking thing be an issue for nearly any of us? The answer is likely no. (How many of you have had your iphones hacked...for example.)

But the more popuplar/important you get, the higher the risk will be. (Compare the number of times your Iphone has been hacked to the number of times Paris Hilton's phone has been hacked...).

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:11 pm

From my view about ANYTHING is further up on my priority list for the Kronos, like:
- VSTi/Editor
- possible OS enhancements (most urgent: sequencer)
- rework of the old HD-1 subset (from Oasys times)
- rework of overdrive for EP and CX3 engines
- additional tools (or OS update) for everyday things like faster user drum pattern import
- addional patch banks for the three VAs covering much more of both classical analog type sounds and modern genre sounds ready for use.

All of the above is ten times more important for me than any remote stuff.

Zeroesque · Post by **Zeroesque** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 5:05 pm

jimknopf wrote:From my view about ANYTHING is further up on my priority list for the Kronos, like:
- VSTi/Editor
- possible OS enhancements (most urgent: sequencer)
- rework of the old HD-1 subset (from Oasys times)
- rework of overdrive for EP and CX3 engines
- additional tools (or OS update) for everyday things like faster user drum pattern import
- addional patch banks for the three VAs covering much more of both classical analog type sounds and modern genre sounds ready for use.

All of the above is ten times more important for me than any remote stuff.

I agree with this sentiment, though my list would be slightly different. I certainly don't see wirelessly connecting another touchscreen as some killer feature for the Kronos.

Also, for those talking about wireless security: do you think that current "appropriate" security will be relevant in 15 years?