The Kronos Inner Workings - For the brave ones ;-)

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:28 pm

I laugh my socks off at the funny thought that Korg should be responsible for the amount of free time anyone spends on the Kronos or not, before drawing a red line when they begin to feel concerned.

The Kronos and it's OS is Korg's product, nobody eles's, and they have ZERO duties towards third persons doing private research about it. On the other hand, they have any right to try to protect the result of their work.

I still think that some fair (and probably always limited) kind of cooperation between Korg, helpful freetime programmers and users is the only way of getting anyting out of this kind of discussion.

cello · Post by **cello** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:47 pm

+ 1 - totally agree!

Ojustaboo · Post by **Ojustaboo** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:13 pm

jimknopf wrote:I laugh my socks off at the funny thought that Korg should be responsible for the amount of free time anyone spends on the Kronos or not, before drawing a red line when they begin to feel concerned.

I would agree 100% if Korg hadn't sent him that email wishing him all the best.

To give a very silly analogy, it's a bit like a company wishing me all the best when I say I'm going to make a stick model of their product, I give a day to day blog of my progress, I put in many hours of my spare time enjoying myself, get 3/4 of the way there and the company say that they own the brand rights for that product and I'm to cease immediately.

Fine if they said that at the beginning, but for them to have initially wished me all the best, they are in effect giving me the green light to try. Hence my time has been wasted. That and only that is why I think they've wasted Heiders time.

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:41 pm

It's really simple. Most people who buy keyboards don't have the high tech skills heider has. When he told "Mr. S" he was going to take a crack at it, "Mr. S" thought "Yeah right, go knock yourself out". For 99% of the people that buy a Kronos, Mr. S would be right that they would not have the skills to get anywhere.

Further, even though he posted on the forum what he was doing Korg probably said "Ok, let's see how far this goes". Which makes PERFECT sense. WHY would they even BOTHER to voice an opinion at that point? For all they knew heider was full of hot air, or speaking beyond his abilities (Which we all know NEVER, EVER happens on a forum!) and his efforts would simply die on the vine and go away. Well, he got far enough to make Korg uncomfortable so they spoke up.

I mean using an open source for the OS, with (though encrypted) data readily accessible on (arguably) the most popular computer platform in the world is just BEGGING to be hacked and Korg knows this. They know people are going to jump in and see what (if anything) they can do.

For the brave souls that would risk their expensive keyboard, only a small percentage will get anywhere and if they do, there are still more layers upon layers of proprietary formats to unravel making it near impossible to get to anything that's actually considered real IP. The amount of hours to completely reverse engineer a Kronos to be able to re-create from source would take multiple lifetimes which is why Korg is willing to take the calculated risk of this format. I'm glad they did because it gives us unprecedented power and a better chance of seeing more frequent updates. At least in theory...

Heider · Post by **Heider** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:52 pm

jimknopf wrote:I laugh my socks off at the funny thought that ...

I knew I was funny... !!!

I made few people laugh at Korg so far, starting with Mr. S (wishing me good luck since "No chance in Hell that Heider would understand what's going on LOL")... and then Dan... probably looking at the forum thinking "Shark?!!?, ... what the heck is this guy talking about!!?.. I mean kind of technical term is that, no chance in hell that he'd get anywhere with this, LOL"...

But then, something changed very quickly that (from what I've heard; ) sadly they are no longer laughing ... that was sad to hear...

I'm glad you're the only one still laughing mate, Keep laughing

...

Kind Regards
Heider

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:09 pm

Heider. I don't laugh about you. I think if you get the right partner for communication with Korg, you will be able to clarify what is possible and what not on a constructive partnership base, without any bitterness from both sides.

What I indeed do laugh about are some weird proposals and expectations towards Korg in this thread, if you like it or not: not more and not less.

robbie50 · Post by **robbie50** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:15 pm

Heider wrote:
jimknopf wrote:I laugh my socks off at the funny thought that ...
I knew I was funny... !!!

I made few people laugh at Korg so far, starting with Mr. S (wishing me good luck since "No chance in Hell that Heider would understand what's going on LOL")... and then Dan... probably looking at the forum thinking "Shark?!!?, ... what the heck is this guy talking about!!?.. I mean kind of technical term is that, no chance in hell that he'd get anywhere with this, LOL"...

But then, something changed very quickly that (from what I've heard; ) sadly they are no longer laughing ... that was sad to hear...

I'm glad you're the only one still laughing mate, Keep laughing ...

Kind Regards
Heider

+1!

rob

SeedyLee · Post by **SeedyLee** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:35 am

I think Heider if you work away in the background on your modifications without publishing them, that may be the best way to proceed. At least then your efforts won't be wasted - and you'll get to reap the benefits - but we won't get to share the journey

I'm curious to know what you've done to keep your DOS hacking skills up to date? I used to love hacking around in DOS, writing assembly language programs, TSRs and device drivers, but it's not really something that is necessary for me any more. I purchased a broken HP 200LX MS-DOS Palmtop computer to hack around on a couple of years ago, but haven't done much with it yet, except for repair it (the clock crystal had gone).

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:40 am

LOL...that was funny Heider. The man has a sense o humour too.

Come on Korg start communicating with the man and get it all implemented.

Billy

MarPabl · Post by **MarPabl** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:46 pm

According to latest news, we'll need to wait a while to continue modifying the OS after release of 2.0.0

Heider · Post by **Heider** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:25 pm

Just received this in my email, not sure if this is a quincidance!?:

New Ver 2.0 Available Free for Existing KRONOS Owners
The new Ver 2.0 OS will be available as a FREE download to install into existing KRONOS keyboards giving all the new software features. A KRONOS can also be returned to KORG UK to have an upgrade kit fitted adding the additional PCM RAM and a 2nd SSD drive. Please check on www.korg.co.uk for more details.

Checking on Korg.co.uk, it's unclear when this is out.

Also, I couldn't find any details on the second sentance (taking your Kronos to Korg for the upgrade kit to install), is that a free-replacement? I can understand that it might cost to pay a little more for the additional SSD, but not sure about the rest, regardless of the wireless features (which is great), are they installing LAN ports on it as well?

If it fixes the rhythem stopping upon program change then great!...

Can Korg comment on this and let us know more details and also on the ETA please? hopefully the list of issues we've been praying for has been resolved by now...

Personally I'd like to get a copy now if available.

Thanks
Heider

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:50 pm

Since the difference between a Korg Kronos and Korg Kronos X is 400 pounds or dollars (not really sure), probably the upgrade kit will be something similar (or maybe a bit more, because of extra installation time).

SeedyLee · Post by **SeedyLee** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:12 am

Heider wrote:Checking on Korg.co.uk, it's unclear when this is out.

Also, I couldn't find any details on the second sentance (taking your Kronos to Korg for the upgrade kit to install), is that a free-replacement? I can understand that it might cost to pay a little more for the additional SSD, but not sure about the rest, regardless of the wireless features (which is great), are they installing LAN ports on it as well?

If it fixes the rhythem stopping upon program change then great!...

What's the wireless feature? I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but quite excited by this possiblity. I know with the Ethernet connection it is via a USB Ethernet adaptor, not by an RJ-45 connection being installed into the backplate.

Don't think it changes the behaviour of KARMA/Drum Track though (which isn't a concern for me, but I know it's a big one for you).

MRedZac · Post by **MRedZac** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:53 am

Heider, just go on with your development. No need to tell anybody about it. Once you are ready, you come up again with your "Heider OS 1.0". As simple as this. How you think, Microsoft Windows 1.0 had been developed ? And who has won the lawsuit ? Yes, Microsoft. So don´t worry!

Heider · Post by **Heider** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:51 pm

Well,...

The issue is "if" (and I never said "I am!").. working on some changes at the moment,... then it makes sense to get the latest and greatest and build on top of that, .... (again , "if")... Either way, I'd like to get the latest release either way, which no one seems to know when.

I am thikning about creating a new ticket for Korg support to ask about the ETA for this OS... I hope they don't get a heart attack when they see my name on their support email system !!!...

Anyway, we'll talk later..

Kind Regards
Heider