Kronos 2 Versus Motif XF

[pjblues1]

I am debating purchasing a new Kronos 2 while I have a Motif XF. I have watched YouTube videos about the differences but does anyone on the forum really know the differences. I find the Motif XF hard to use especially when running in Logic Pro.

Thanks.

[Bald Eagle]

I had been on the fence for quite some time deciding between Kronos and Motif. Watched the vids, read the manuals, tried them out in the store. There are so many areas to compare it would be hard to start listing all the differences.

In any case, I chose the Kronos. With 9 sound engines it's a lot more flexible. The SGX2, CX3 and EP1 engines sound fantastic for your keyboard bread and butter sounds. AL1 is a good traditional style VA synth and you also get MS20 and PolySix to play with. And of course MOD7 which I'm still trying to wrap my brain around.

Some acoustics sounded better to me on the Motif, guitars for one.

In the end it come down to what yours needs are. Is there any specific set of features that you are looking for?

[etnate]

I just got rid of my motif xf for the Kronos. I got the motif for a sound design job which only required acoustic orchestral music and that's something the motif excels at. The company went under and I was stuck with it. So I sold it. Don't get me wrong it sounds phenomenal but the workflow was inhibiting that I never did anything for personal pleasure with it. The kronos is a true synthesizer while the motif is a glorified sample player.

[psionic311]

I just got rid of my motif xf for the Kronos. I got the motif for a sound design job which only required acoustic orchestral music and that's something the motif excels at. The company went under and I was stuck with it. So I sold it. Don't get me wrong it sounds phenomenal but the workflow was inhibiting that I never did anything for personal pleasure with it. The kronos is a true synthesizer while the motif is a glorified sample player.

Is that you, EtherealNate, back from the Fusion forums?

[pjblues1]

Thanks for the advice folks on the Motif versus the Kronos. I am going to try the new Kronos once more and make a decision. I may be selling my Motif XF8.

[kevinh_12345us]

I too played with both of them and read lots of online reviews (which I found limited).

The MOTIF was really good at the stock sounds and I really liked the ARP capability. It was easy to pick a sound and start playing with a variety of ARPS.

The Kronos has a lot of synth engines and is modeled more after analog synths. Lots of parameters to get the sounds you want, but it takes some time. There are really good tutorial videos for the Kronos.
Karma on the Kronos if very powerful, but takes some time.

I'm very happy with my Kronos, but keep looking back at the MOTIF, because it was very easy to play and you see them in a lot of bands. Even bands from the 60's-80's have gone with the MOTIF.

As I read someone describe the difference, the MOTIF is a ROMpler that has many parameters for articulation, while the Kronos is built on modeling analog hardware, but can also do sampling.

Maybe you should have both!

[Bald Eagle]

The MOTIF was really good at the stock sounds and I really liked the ARP capability. It was easy to pick a sound and start playing with a variety of ARPS.

Karma on the Kronos if very powerful, but takes some time.

Maybe you should have both!

I think Karma is far more powerful but yes, complex. Lots of Karma presets built in are as good or better than Motif preset arps. Extensive programming is challenging and requires the software product. Then again, Karma is also available for the Motif.

And having both is also not just a bad idea.

[benny ray]

I was torn between the two boards as well but eventually went with the Kronos. For me the touchscreen, a little easier to navigate on, and the 9 synth engines made the difference. The organs on the Yamaha were a little weak compared to the Kronos. Although the Yamaha is very nice board. I just think the Kronos sounds and is more powerful were the deciding factors. Good luck in your decision. After all this is a Korg forum.

[pjblues1]

I had a Korg M3 and then went to the Roland Fantom G, and then to the Motif XF which I have now. I am going to check out the Kronos again and make a decision. I guess I bounce back and forth between boards every 2 - 3 years.

[benny ray]

I used to do that as well but i plan holding to the Kronos for awhile.

[kevinh_12345us]

I was torn between the two boards as well but eventually went with the Kronos. For me the touchscreen, a little easier to navigate on, and the 9 synth engines made the difference.

Some folks on the MOTIF side don't like touchscreens. I like the one on the Kronos. Lots of speculation when Yamaha will come out with a new synth and what will be different.

I almost waited, but who knows how long it will be.

[etnate]

I just got rid of my motif xf for the Kronos. I got the motif for a sound design job which only required acoustic orchestral music and that's something the motif excels at. The company went under and I was stuck with it. So I sold it. Don't get me wrong it sounds phenomenal but the workflow was inhibiting that I never did anything for personal pleasure with it. The kronos is a true synthesizer while the motif is a glorified sample player.

Is that you, EtherealNate, back from the Fusion forums?

Yes! Hello.

[orangefunk]

I have owned a MOTIF and currently use a Kronos. While I like the Kronos and see how the number of possibilities with the different sound engines could influence someone, I believe the MOTIF (esp the XF) is no slouch. Indeed sound for sound I out of the box I think MOTIF has better bread and butter sounds. Even the old MOTIF from 2001 has better flugelhorn, flute, and to my ears at least, a really lovely (if somewhat undynamic) Rhodes sample...

the Chick Corea MkV sample can be loaded into the flash memory too I believe.

However MOTIFs are bloody awful to program. I just think of them as preset machines. The Kronos has ooodles of possibilities... and programming complex combinations, while hardly a breeze, is not as taxing as it could be.

The one thing I did like about the MOTIF was the ability to switch between different rhythms on the fly... really surprised the Kronos doesn't have this... Karma is not really suitable for this.

[Bachus]

I was torn between the two boards as well but eventually went with the Kronos. For me the touchscreen, a little easier to navigate on, and the 9 synth engines made the difference.

Some folks on the MOTIF side don't like touchscreens. I like the one on the Kronos. Lots of speculation when Yamaha will come out with a new synth and what will be different.

I almost waited, but who knows how long it will be.

Touch screens are just perfect for cleaning up the UI... The only reason why Yamaha isnt using touchscreens yet, is because their 15 year old hardwqare platform does not support it. And now they are somehow trying to make a feature out of it..

The touch UI of the Kronos, however is far from perfect, many of the items are just a tad to small, there are many solutions for that.. but the touch interface of the Kronos is clearly showing its age.. just have a look at how most ipad apps work and you know where they should be heading..

[michelkeijzers]

I was torn between the two boards as well but eventually went with the Kronos. For me the touchscreen, a little easier to navigate on, and the 9 synth engines made the difference.

Some folks on the MOTIF side don't like touchscreens. I like the one on the Kronos. Lots of speculation when Yamaha will come out with a new synth and what will be different.

I almost waited, but who knows how long it will be.

Touch screens are just perfect for cleaning up the UI... The only reason why Yamaha isnt using touchscreens yet, is because their 15 year old hardwqare platform does not support it. And now they are somehow trying to make a feature out of it..

The touch UI of the Kronos, however is far from perfect, many of the items are just a tad to small, there are many solutions for that.. but the touch interface of the Kronos is clearly showing its age.. just have a look at how most ipad apps work and you know where they should be heading..

I know when I tried a Trinity back in the 90s the touch screen was quite sluggishly. Altough in those days it was very surprising to have a touch screen. However, I kind of skipped the Tritons since I never tested it again because I thought touch screens was not the way to go.

I wouldn't want else anymore. If something is intuitive, it is a touch screen (at least for a synth).