KRONOS discontinued!

[rbrucemtl]

I just purchased a used but barely touched Kronos 61 in perfect condition and did my own upgrades to X specs. and paid $1800 no tax. I'm very very happy ,it replaced my Fantom G6 that i loved (ROMPLER GEEK here) but have almost now forgotten after 3 days with the Kronos.

Discontinued is one statement and maybe true but... Out-of-date make me laugh. When a keyboard sounds this good I'm not sure it will ever really be out-of-date sound wise as long as I stay up-to-date in my choice of music.

If the shortage is related to atom processors it just means the next processor will offer more polyphony and less stolen voices.

[jeremykeys]

It really irks me when someone says something is "out of date". I've had my K61 since July 2011, and I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface of what it can do.

Fine... If all you want is a bunch of the latest presets, then get the Kronos Z or whatever the next generation is called. But as a serious programmer, all I can say is this keyboard (certainly the best and most complex I've had the pleasure to own) will keep me going for years to come.

I honestly can't say the same about the other synths I own.

What he said.. except the part about owning other synths. I had a Roland XP 10 a long time ago, but I spilled a huge glass of red kool-aid into it.

I think the idea of the 6 month obsolete thing is mainly due to the competition improving upon the older thing. Since the Kronos was released, I have yet to see anything surpass it. I for one have yet to even get a handle on most of its synth features as I'm sure most of us are.

[SanderXpander]

I see room for various improvements;
1. Better vocoder
2. More control over controllers (e.g. pedal as expression or foot controller depending on program/combi)
3. More RAM/64-bit architecture
4. Unlimited banks
5. Mixing HD1 and EXi within a bank
6. Faster editor with 64 bit support and VST integration a la Virus TI
7. Headphone mix separate from main L/R
8. Improved sequencer with piano roll and better pattern based composition (or bring back cue list). I wouldn't use this but it's a common complaint.
9. Easier (idiot proof) sample management
10. Tag based sound selection
11. Faster CPU/more polyphony
12. Add a regular arp to all programs
13. Allow KARMA to respond to sequencer data/notes.
14. Easier combi/split making (I have no problems here but it's probably at least 30 percent of the "how do I do this" posts on the forum).
15. No more keybed issues. Please.
16. Bring back wind model from Z1/MOSS
17. MonoPoly model or KingKorg filters for AL1
18. Better overdrives in the IFX section. Also, add the new CX3 leslie there and the FX from EP-1.
19. Larger touchscreen, perhaps using capacitive technology.
20. Allow different routing to the USB out (not only L/R).
21. Extra switch input for those who want a back and forth foot switch option in their setlist.
Etc., etc.

None of these would be a revolution, but there are plenty of possibilities for an evolution. I might even consider upgrading if enough is improved.

[slowtrain]

I'd upgrade too. I got mine as used from B&H for $2k, a month and a half ago, and it was still in the original box with everything still wrapped. I think they filed a claim for shipping damage on it because there are two barely visible smudges on the back, and the box was dented (not the keyboard). It's brand new

A rack mounted version would be nice. I'd especially like a 64 bit editor, faster CPU, and more memory/slots. All the other stuff sounds cool too. Especially the organ, Leslie, and analog stuff. It'd take me a long time to run out of stuff to learn about this one, but I'd sell it and get the next version. Otherwise, I think I'll end up buying the Sound Quest Pro software, so I can use a 64 bit DAW. It costs almost twice as much as Sonar X3 Studio though

[meatballfulton]

MF, Music123, B&H. Full Compass, NovaMusik: no KrX88, discontinued

GC, AMS, ZZounds, Sweetwater: in stock

Amazon: only 1 X88 left

[media-igor]

KRONOS - a powerful machine. Would like to see KORG released a model with two keyboards - for example, the bottom row - 88 weighted keys, the top - 61 (49) key synthesizer. Many people use additional midi keyboard, which establishes additional stands, the upper keyboard closes the display Kronos, etc.

[slowtrain]

A CD/DVD R drive would be nice on the next one too, so you can reload the factory sounds without using a USB DVD drive, and burn CDs.

[drama1]

Ahhh!!!!! Just give me a 76/73 key version semi-weighted thing so I can carry the damn thing and not break my back and still have enough keys to play piano parts. Over and out.

[Scott]

A CD/DVD R drive would be nice on the next one too, so you can reload the factory sounds without using a USB DVD drive, and burn CDs.

Nah, external is better. You never need to do this at a gig. I wouldn't want anything that adds to its travel weight or size, it's big and heavy enough already.

[IAA]

I see room for various improvements;
1. Better vocoder
2. More control over controllers (e.g. pedal as expression or foot controller depending on program/combi)
3. More RAM/64-bit architecture
4. Unlimited banks
5. Mixing HD1 and EXi within a bank
6. Faster editor with 64 bit support and VST integration a la Virus TI
7. Headphone mix separate from main L/R
8. Improved sequencer with piano roll and better pattern based composition (or bring back cue list). I wouldn't use this but it's a common complaint.
9. Easier (idiot proof) sample management
10. Tag based sound selection
11. Faster CPU/more polyphony
12. Add a regular arp to all programs
13. Allow KARMA to respond to sequencer data/notes.
14. Easier combi/split making (I have no problems here but it's probably at least 30 percent of the "how do I do this" posts on the forum).
15. No more keybed issues. Please.
16. Bring back wind model from Z1/MOSS
17. MonoPoly model or KingKorg filters for AL1
18. Better overdrives in the IFX section. Also, add the new CX3 leslie there and the FX from EP-1.
19. Larger touchscreen, perhaps using capacitive technology.
20. Allow different routing to the USB out (not only L/R).
21. Extra switch input for those who want a back and forth foot switch option in their setlist.
Etc., etc.

None of these would be a revolution, but there are plenty of possibilities for an evolution. I might even consider upgrading if enough is improved.

+1. Sander you need to be part of the design team for Kronos mkII. !

[IAA]

I see room for various improvements;
1. Better vocoder
2. More control over controllers (e.g. pedal as expression or foot controller depending on program/combi)
3. More RAM/64-bit architecture
4. Unlimited banks
5. Mixing HD1 and EXi within a bank
6. Faster editor with 64 bit support and VST integration a la Virus TI
7. Headphone mix separate from main L/R
8. Improved sequencer with piano roll and better pattern based composition (or bring back cue list). I wouldn't use this but it's a common complaint.
9. Easier (idiot proof) sample management
10. Tag based sound selection
11. Faster CPU/more polyphony
12. Add a regular arp to all programs
13. Allow KARMA to respond to sequencer data/notes.
14. Easier combi/split making (I have no problems here but it's probably at least 30 percent of the "how do I do this" posts on the forum).
15. No more keybed issues. Please.
16. Bring back wind model from Z1/MOSS
17. MonoPoly model or KingKorg filters for AL1
18. Better overdrives in the IFX section. Also, add the new CX3 leslie there and the FX from EP-1.
19. Larger touchscreen, perhaps using capacitive technology.
20. Allow different routing to the USB out (not only L/R).
21. Extra switch input for those who want a back and forth foot switch option in their setlist.
Etc., etc.

None of these would be a revolution, but there are plenty of possibilities for an evolution. I might even consider upgrading if enough is improved.

+1. Sander you need to be part of the design team for Kronos mkII. !

[Kevin Nolan]

We drafted lists like this around 2007 for OASYS. It's not going to happen!

[SanderXpander]

Unfortunately I'm with Kevin here.
Although I do hope that Korg has shown commitment to the Kronos concept and will follow up with an evolution of it.

[GregC]

We drafted lists like this around 2007 for OASYS. It's not going to happen!

There are " lessons " from history.

[Purusha]

Some kind of paid upgrade / update to the existing hardware would be really nice.