Seeking Advice: OAYSIS or Kronos

Melodialworks Music · Post by **Melodialworks Music** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:31 pm

Greetings -

I'm a regular in the Kronos forum, new here.

I do new age piano and synth. ( You can check out my stuff at www.lawrencelougheed.com )

I've had two Kronos 88, and had to return both due to the keyboard note repeating issues.

I struggled with the screen: small font size, and poor angle, etc.

I have the opportunity to purchase an OASYS 88, mint condition, never gigged, for $4,500 CAD including:
EXs1
EXs2
STR-1
LAC-1
MOD-7
EXs3
2 GB

I love the hardware quality of the OASYS. The thing reeks of quality.

So, should I grab this OASYS (I've put a deposit on it, to hold it 'til next week) or wait, hoping that Kronos keybed issues will be worked out, although hardware issues will remain, such as the too small screen, with too small fonts, etc.

For solo piano, I will use Galaxy Vintage D. (I plan to test the OASYS to see if it will be a suitable controller for the Galaxy).

Also, anything missing from the above list of installed options?

Thanks so much. Looking forward to your recommendations.

Lawrence

cello · Post by **cello** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:05 pm

Gosh - that's a mighty big question! Kronos or OASYS...

Easy answers first - nothing missing from the list. OS should at least v1.3 (last one was v1.3.3a).

Hardware check - press all the buttons (bearing in mind the function one doesn't do anything!). If there is a weakness in the OASYS it is the buttons, several users have replaced them and I have at least 3 that need replacing.

The pads should be fine - but check anyway.

Style - I'd say that the OASYS is well suited to your style (excellent stuff by the way; enjoyed listening to them

)

Practicalities: Kronos is a supported, current flagship keyboard which will receive OS updates, sound library updates and of course has warranty for a period of time. The OASYS has none of those. So any faults/repairs that may be required will be at your cost and of course, there will be no more anything released by Korg for the OASYS.

Boot time: about the same between the Kronos/OASYS. But samples aren't streamed as in the Kronos as the OASYS has a normal hard disk - it also doesn't have setlist or SST. Unless you play live regularly that is probably not going to be an issue for you.

Price: seems like a very good price to me (around £2,800). I paid £4,000 (around CAD$6,200) approx 18 months ago for mine - devaluation in part due to release of the Kronos.

Keyboard: The RH2 is a joy to play - I love it. I know it's a deeply personal thing, but it works for me. In fact, it works full stop. Unlike the RH3...

Misc: OASYS build quality v Kronos is a no-contest. The screen is wonderful - the UI was designed for this screen, hence why some consider that it doesn't work so well on a smaller screen. The OASYS is very heavy - make sure you have a strong stand!

Conclusion - gosh, I'm still bewildered at the choice. Part of me says that the supported Kronos is likely to be exciting when new releases come out. Balanced against that is my heavily biased view that the OASYS is a much better machine than the Kronos. When I play a Kronos (I occasionally have a quick play at my local music store) and I still think 'It's a cheap OASYS'. I come home and play the OASYS and I think 'Ah, that's better'. Is the Kronos problems going to be sorted and over what time frame? Then there's the new issues of boot-up failure beginning to emerge now...

So, if you want to go straight to working with (what I think is) the best keyboard Korg has produced, without worrying about if anything's going to fail or click or 'double-note', then I recommend the OASYS because that ain't going to happen.

There. I got there in the end. I say OASYS.

DennyC · Post by **DennyC** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:31 pm

That indeed is a tough choice. Cello has more than aptly laid out the scenario. Good luck with your decision.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:53 pm

Probably the question is: can you for yourself justify the price versus the additional and missing functionality.

dranandj · Post by **dranandj** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:52 pm

'when given a choice, take both!'

If you can afford it, I suggest you go for the Oasys 88 for reliability and also buy a K61 for computer connectivity. You will have the best of both worlds and will never regret it.

Melodialworks Music · Post by **Melodialworks Music** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:45 pm

Thanks for the responses. Tough decision, indeed.

I've tried to list the advantages of each board:

OASYS
- build quality
- hardware quality
- larger screen (font sizes)
- tilt-able screen
- keybed (works)

KRONOS
- 4GB
- pianos
- current model
- OS updates
- sound library updates
- connectivity (VST)
- editor
- warranty

I would be working with Cubase, not the onboard sequencer, and would like OS updates (additional features) and new sounds (library updates). These three areas are likely key.

Like many, I imagine, Kronos feature set + OASYS hardware (in same package) is REALLY what is wanted. However, not going to happen . . .

I'm not interested in having two boards (OASYS, Kronos).

dranandj · Post by **dranandj** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:16 pm

then kronos it is! you will have to wait for them to sort out the hardware/keybed issues however.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:16 pm

Normally Korg builds a high end synth/workstation and after that a lighter version (Triton -> Triton LE, M3 -> M50, Oasys -> Kronos).

However to wait for the next high end can take several years, so you have to decide if you go for high end hardware features (Oasys) or more software features (Kronos). Indeed a tough decision if you have the money for either one available and you can justify one (or both) of them.

Melodialworks Music · Post by **Melodialworks Music** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:08 pm

dranandj wrote:then kronos it is!

But, but, but. The OASYS is really a work of art! Damnation!

SCHWEATS · Post by **SCHWEATS** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:18 am

I've had my Oasys since '03/'04 . If had to do it all over again I'd buy the flagship Yamaha Motif EX/XF and Stephen Kay's stand alone KARMA
software. When you pay 4,5,6,7,and even 8 thousand dollars /euros
and switches go bad that cost maybe a dollar each AND when start up issues
occur when the screen displays a broken connection between the CPU and the screen itself crop up from time to time when I've truly babied my unit don't really speak to quality control in reliability. Would I've liked updates to the sequencer which now appear in the Kronos, yes, but I'd prefer reliability.
Would I've liked a digital input/output card as standard feature vs additional cost , yes (Motif has this and integration with Cubase on a laptop or desktop)
OTOH… the Oasys absolutely sounds magnificent. If YAMAHA or KORG could
take their flagship machines and build in the hardware/software neccessary
to have a MUSE Receptor™ capability built in AND have reliability in seemingly inexpensive parts , I'd write a check tomorrow…… and then I woke up !!! It's all a crap shoot Good luck

SoulBe · Post by **SoulBe** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:07 pm

Hi,

if I were you I´d buy the Kronos even if I love my O.

Kronos has the same sound quality, is supported by Korg and 3rd party developers, will have/has a pc editor regarding the smaller interface, has more program memory etc., spare parts will be longer available and has more sound engines.

best regards
SoulBe

Rocness · Post by **Rocness** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:33 pm

Lougheed wrote: So, should I grab this OASYS (I've put a deposit on it, to hold it 'til next week) or wait, hoping that Kronos keybed issues will be worked out, although hardware issues will remain, such as the too small screen, with too small fonts, etc.

Come on you know you wana ! ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlvmUNlmcmQ

Seriously, see what Namm brings next week , it should be pretty interesting.

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Seeking Advice: OAYSIS or Kronos

Seeking Advice: OAYSIS or Kronos

Re: Seeking Advice: OAYSIS or Kronos