Korg Kronos

Jukka · 2025-01-19T17:21:11.061Z

The nine sound engines in the Kronos :

SGX-2 Premium Piano: This engine produces realistic piano sounds, including German Grand, Japanese Grand, and Berlin Grand. It uses un-looped stereo samples and 12-level velocity switching.
EP-1 MDS Electric Piano: This engine recreates six classic electric pianos, including Rhodes and Wurlitzer models. It includes software control over hammers, tines, reeds, and mechanical noise elements.
CX-3 Tonewheel Organ: This engine models the original Korg CX-3 combo organ, including a vacuum tube amp, vibrato/chorus, and rotary speaker effect.
HD-1 High Definition Synthesizer: This engine covers orchestral, classic rock, and hip-hop sounds. It uses PCM, sampling, and Wave Sequencing.
AL-1 Analog Synthesizer: This engine uses analog modeling.
STR-1 Plucked Strings: This engine uses physical modeling.
MOD-7 Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer: This engine uses VPM synthesis.
MS-20EX Component Modeling Technology: This engine uses analog modeling.
PolysixEX Component Modeling Technology: This engine uses CMT analog modeling.

g3o2 · 2025-01-19T18:22:11.488Z

I still use my Kronos every day since it was first released in mid-2011. That’s almost 14 years. It is my main master controller and ROMpler. If I had to rethink my choice, I would go for a Nord Stage 4 73 Compact today (different feature focus). However, since it did not yet exist back in 2011, the Kronos was a no-brainer.

It would almost be my DAW of choice if there was not a major MIDI timing issue occurring when printing MIDI tracks to audio.

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-19T20:30:48.037Z

Now that the’ve revived the Kronos, I’m taking a closer look at mine again. I’ve been basically using it as a Keyboard Preset machine, but might want to jump back into the details of the engines. Does anyone know if there’s a decent Kronos editor for Mac these days? I remember Korg dropping support for the Mac version many years ago, which is one reason I stopped paying much attention to creating my own presets.

g3o2 · 2025-01-19T20:40:52.027Z

michaeljk1963:

s. Does anyone know if there’s a decent Kronos editor for Mac these days?

There is an iPad app. Plus, the Electra One has an add-on for it. I’ve used mine as a preset machine, too, albeit for live performance, so I’ve fiddled with layers/splits and fine-tuning sounds.

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-19T23:42:56.548Z

I found the iPad app. In its description, the developer points out that the app is really designed for tweaking the main pages of the various presets as a live performance, enhancement tool, and specifically says that the programming pages for the Kronos are not included in the app, which is actually what I’m after. Thanks for the heads up though.

In going back through some of the specifics for the programming, I am reminded why I never really looked very far into the physical modeling app, called STR – 1. I am not all that interested in playing plucked instruments on a piano keyboard. I would far prefer to have a physical modeling synth engine that mimics bowed and air physics. I might still look further into it and see if there are ways to tweak it to get what I want out of it.

g3o2 · 2025-01-19T23:52:56.672Z

michaeljk1963:

I am reminded why I never really looked very far into the physical modeling app, called STR – 1. I am not all that interested in playing plucked instruments on a piano keyboard. I would far prefer to have a physical modeling synth engine that mimics bowed and air physics.

STR-1 is pretty versatile and yields sounds way beyond plucked instruments. The sound design GUI of the AL-1, STR-1 and HD-1 engines is pretty much a menu-diving catastrophe though.

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-20T00:00:59.945Z

Amen to that! It seems they were trying to do “all the things” with each engine and then putting all together in a wrapper (the whole package, including programs, combis, sequences, set lists and sampling) it’s a forest for sure. Easy to get lost fast.

Jukka · 2025-01-20T00:12:02.833Z

The STR-1 engine – non-typical uses of string model :

Lots of other sorts of options here.

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-20T02:25:07.275Z

I take back my earlier and very much premature negativity about the STR-1 synth engine! You are correct, lots to play around with here.

g3o2 · 2025-01-20T07:46:50.910Z

I think the UI problem also stems from the OASYS, which had a bigger screen. Some menus are easy to use, eg set lists, effects, Karma, control surface, most of the synth engines, sequencer, etc., while many others are cumbersome. UI is a common issue with workstations.

Purusha · 2025-01-20T11:05:44.915Z

My 61 key Kronos is my main master keyboard.

Kind-of amazed that there are no good editors out there (apart from the AL1 editor mentioned further up this thread), since there must be an absolute ton of Kronos units out there there. The official Korg editor, is very clunky.

pmags · 2025-01-21T01:38:09.271Z

Chuck Levin’s is showing pre-order prices of:

$2999 61 key
$3299 73 key
$3599 88 key

Undercutting the pricing of the both the Yamaha Montage M and Roland EX series.

g3o2 · 2025-01-21T06:56:41.460Z

Yup that’s 2011 pricing.

Jukka · 2025-01-25T13:41:30.438Z

The touch screen is better in response compared to the 2. That’s nice.

Jmacnash · 2025-01-25T15:58:37.321Z

Well, not to be tacky, but from my recollection that is sort of grading on a curve. I had to learn how to interact with my Kronos 2 to get it to take touch panel input consistently.

Loved the idea of the setlist but I had some panicked moments trying to get it to change patches there!

g3o2 · 2025-01-25T17:06:43.988Z

Of interest for current (soon previous) Kronos owners:

Looking ahead, a Soundpack will be released in the second half of 2025 for previous KRONOS and NAUTILUS owners, bringing the latest KRONOS sounds to earlier models. This commitment ensures that every musician can benefit from Korg’s ongoing innovations, regardless of their system.

The new KRONOS builds on its legendary foundation by introducing 256 additional programs […] such as the Italian Grand Piano, known for its stunning, transparent resonance, and the Tine EP I Early, which authentically replicates the earthy, vintage tone of metal rod (tine) electric pianos. The expanded palette also includes FM electric pianos, versatile synth pads, lush leads, and more […] Complementing these are 128 expertly curated programs from the KRONOS Sound Libraries. Developed in collaboration with 12 world-class sound designers, […] This carefully curated selection features new piano voices and a variety of other tones […]

Preloaded with the KRS-06 and 06B expansion libraries, the CX-3 provides 256 programs that bring the rich history of organ sounds to your fingertips. […] The new KRONOS comes preloaded with KRS-08 Best of TRITON […] KRS-04 Pro Splits and Layers […] KRS-05 Ensemble Combinations.

**Austrian Piano, Italian Piano, etc., which are not included in early models, can be used by purchasing Sound Libraries.

According to the Korg web shop, CX-3 signature sound packs and Best of Triton are free to download. Pro Splits and Layers is 19 USD and Ensemble Combinations costs 49 USD. Italian F piano can be acquired for 199 USD. For the latter it is best to wait until Black Friday, when it usually runs in the region of 125 USD.

My guess is that the new sound pack might become available for something like 50 USD to earlier Kronos users. However, I don’t think this will include the additional already existing sound packs which cost roughly 267 USD. We shall see when the time comes.

GovernorSilver · 2025-01-25T18:57:54.900Z

These guys timed the bootup time - 48 sec. which might be a bit faster than my Korg M3

If/when my keyboard playing skills improve to that point that I get invited to play keyboard with other people, Kronos will be on the short list of stage keyboards. Crazy that a 61 or even 73 Kronos might actually cost less now than the equivalent Nord.

GovernorSilver · 2025-08-18T15:18:43.569Z

Luke from Korg demos the EP Early a bit, one or two of the new artist signature patches, and a few other sounds updated for the 2025 Kronos. He also shows off some keyboard drumming skills.

Kronos 73 is now $3699 at most online stores - so higher than the preorder price posted back in Jan. but still lower than the competing Montage M7, Roland V-Stage 76 and Nord Stage 4 (any version)

g3o2 · 2025-08-18T19:31:35.291Z

GovernorSilver:

Kronos 73 is now $3699 at most online stores

That’s an amazing price compared to 2011, when it was pretty much the same. Bought my Kronos for 3000 eur back then, and paid another few hundreds for the SSD expansion kit including Berlin piano a couple of years later.

GovernorSilver · 2025-08-18T20:01:04.642Z

Yes, the price makes it a compelling alternative to the V-Stage and Nord Stage. It sounds like it has the acoustic and electric pianos, and the organs to compete with them.

I’d like to lay hands on one to get a better idea of what it’s like to browse presets, and how quickly typical effect settings - like phaser rate and amount for Rhodes type presets - can be accessed.