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Um, speaking of Kronos


Synthoid

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Posted

I've read a few posts on the Korg forum where people in Italy have attended demos and been able to play the Kronos. That's great... but why are the rest of us getting the "short end of the stick"?

 

Has anyone on the forum living in the USA attended a Kronos demo (other than NAMM)?

 

:idk

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
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Posted
I've read a few posts on the Korg forum where people in Italy have attended demos and been able to play the Kronos. That's great... but why are the rest of us getting the "short end of the stick"?

 

Has anyone on the forum living in the USA attended a Kronos demo (other than NAMM)?

 

:idk

 

thats a pre-production unit so I wouldn't lose any sleep over 1 being in Milan.

 

I can see why Korg or any MI co would not want pre-production models floating around

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

Posted
OK... you know, I don't recall hearing about any early demos back when the Oasys or M3 were released. I guess this is something new?
When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
Posted
Why? Gelato.

 

:laugh: probably not far off on that one...

 

At NAMM, even at the end of the day - with a few of us in the demo area - the Korg Reps were very strict on not allowing any face time/hands-on time with the keyboard. Some here have thrown out the 'touchy' prototype speculation. Doubtful, as I witnessed some pretty intense playing of that keyboard over several days, not just by Korg Reps, but by some of the name players, product contributors. Didn't seem like a delicate, barely held together demo piece to me.

Perhaps keeping the aura of a museum barricade around a keyboard increases product mystique. Who knows... I'll be able play one soon enough at my local retailer; then see if it truly is a practical solution for my gigging needs.

 

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted

I have lots of experience with software demos. You can have an almost finished product that demos well, but which nevertheless has mine fields to be navigated.

 

You can be sure that demo personnel have practiced exactly what they can and cannot do, while an unfettered user could stumble into early problems.

 

If they are letting people get a little hands on now, they may have a newer more stable OS.

Moe

---

 

Posted
You're suffering from PKAS (pre-Kronos anxiety syndrome). Eat 2 Gelatos and start a new Kronos thread. Oh wait, you've already done the second part.

Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro

Home: Vintage Vibe 64

 

Posted
I have lots of experience with software demos. You can have an almost finished product that demos well, but which nevertheless has mine fields to be navigated.

 

You can be sure that demo personnel have practiced exactly what they can and cannot do, while an unfettered user could stumble into early problems.

 

If they are letting people get a little hands on now, they may have a newer more stable OS.

 

 

All practical statements there, but to a point: I'm thinking back to April, '08, when Kurzweil started selling PC3's that had basically unusable sections on the front panel

(Sequencer, etc.), and no small amount of 'mines' floating around the keyboard. But the core Programs, and a few Setups worked; so it was at least playable to hear/use the core tones, and sold as such. Different approaches for different manufacturers, I suppose. So Korg is crossing their t's and dotting their i's. They apparently have a lot riding on this one; though so did Kurzweil with the PC3....

 

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted

I think/hope Kurzweil learned a lesson there. Truth will come on there next totally new product. I wonder what the successor to the PC3 line will be.

 

I realize that Kurzweil really needed to get the PC3 to market.

But I think that all the work they did supporting it was a lesson.

Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12

Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell

Posted
You're suffering from PKAS (pre-Kronos anxiety syndrome). Eat 2 Gelatos

 

Surely 2 (due) Gelati? :wave:

NORD STAGE 2, IPAD 2 with lots of soft syths

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Guitars, basses, Pod Xtl, GT-10b

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Posted

I was one that bought a PC3X and got it in March, 2008 - one of the first 65 in the US - before my pre-order was approved, I got a phone call from Kurzweil to be sure that I knew that a lot of the advertised functions were not yet there in OS 0.9, which is what it came with. Then there was 0.92, 1.00, 1.01, 1.10 -- twenty public releases of updates to get to the present 2.01. (not to mention 24 beta releases between 1.35 and 2.01). Before they started the beta group, there would be at least 2 or 3 updates fixing glitches within a couple of weeks of an update.

 

I will have to say that they spent about fifteen minutes on the phone with me - to be SURE that I knew that many things did not yet function. When the instrument arrived, there was a personal letter inside that reiterated the info, and reminded me to visit their web site checking for updates.

 

Then there was a several month period (IIRC) before more came in to the US, and the dealers began selling with whatever OS came in the box.

 

And yes - I did want it anyhow. I had no idea just how much more would be added later beyond what had been promised in the specs.

 

Since they now have more resources, both internal and external beta group, many problems are found and fixed before the next public release.

Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's

HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Jim

Posted
I think/hope Kurzweil learned a lesson there. Truth will come on there first totally new product. I wonder what the successor to the PC3 line will be.

 

I realize that Kurzweil really needed to get the PC3 to market.

But I think that all the work they did supporting it was a lesson.

 

True, things could've been a bit cleaner with that release. But the PC3 was a major success. Plus I'm trying to think of a 'totally new product'- hardware keyboard-wise - in the present market. Perhaps in the DP area: V-piano, and to a lesser extent the CP's, Supernatural, etc. (still based, ultimately, on core samples). Virtually all of today's new keyboards are built largely upon existing, sample based technology - even the Kronos; though it adds more modeled sections than others. True there have been major advances in memory and user interface capabilities, but these are mostly based on what has already been done in the world of computers. And when Kurzweil, Roland, and Yamaha begin integrating more modeling, SSD's, etc. it will be very interesting to see the results. The fact that Yamaha has yet to utilize modeling in its' synths is, well, spooky. Kind of makes me wonder what they're up to in R & D, as they don't tend to do anything half assed. And considering what Kurzweil does, DSP-wise, with the smallest current block of sample memory (one reason the PC3 pianos are so expressive, dynamic, and playable - even with the 'dated' :rolleyes: , triple strike technology), I'm very curious as to what they will eventually produce. I'd put my money on Yamaha, or possibly Roland for something 'totally new', though. Consider the DX7, and the D50. The M1 was groundbreaking, and indeed a first in its' category; moving forward 20+ years the Kronos is similar in impact, but definitely not totally new. It expands upon existing technology and appears to do that quite elegantly though.

 

The place I'm presently seeing what might be considered 'totally new' is in software development. It could be that the best place to invest in innovative, fresh sounds and applications is in software instruments. Very likely that a more cost effective approach - while the major manufacturers respond to the Kronos over the next few years - would be to hunker down with one's existing core keyboards (possibly upgrade a DP / controller, if applicable.) and utilize software instruments via a notebook, Receptor, V-Machine, iPad 3, or ???

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted
Some here have thrown out the 'touchy' prototype speculation. Doubtful, as I witnessed some pretty intense playing of that keyboard over several days, not just by Korg Reps, but by some of the name players, product contributors. Didn't seem like a delicate, barely held together demo piece to me.

I think Moe has it right... I don't think anyone was talking about the piece being *physically* fragile, but more an issue of the possibility of the risks of incomplete software. You know, "don't switch directly from a polysix sound to a CX3, you'll get hanging notes" that sort of thing. The last thing they'd want is someone playing their flagship, getting some kind of error, and having to reboot.

 

Something else... all kinds of things can happen. All they need is for someone to bump into someone and spill their soda into one of the few working prototypes... I could see where it could be easier to have a simple "not available to play" rule than to have to constantly police something.

 

Anyway, whatever the reason, it's moot now. Heck, most of us weren't even there! We'll get our chances to play one soon enough, hopefully...

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

Posted

I think the NAMM demo was constructed along the lines of a Presidential news conference. Stay in control of the message. You don't want some smartass playing the thing and then throwing all over the web how the piano in his PX3 is better. The rest of us wouldn't be able to make up our own minds on whether or not that's true because we can't play one yet.

 

If too much of that kind of stuff happened, the Kronos could be DOA six months before A. What do you call that - DBA (dead before arrival)?

Posted

Such an amazing amount of time and energy devoted to discussing this yet-to-be-released keyboard.

 

For those that haven't noticed (or have chosen to ignore it), there's one line on the Korg website that bears pointing out:

 

*Appearance and specifications of this product are subject to change without notice.

 

Have a nice day. :snax:

Posted
If too much of that kind of stuff happened, the Kronos could be DOA six months before A. What do you call that - DBA (dead before arrival)?

That would be a miscarriage and a d*mn shame considering the number of folks lining up to raise it. :laugh::cool:

PD

 

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy"

Posted
Some here have thrown out the 'touchy' prototype speculation. Doubtful, as I witnessed some pretty intense playing of that keyboard over several days, not just by Korg Reps, but by some of the name players, product contributors. Didn't seem like a delicate, barely held together demo piece to me.

I think Moe has it right... I don't think anyone was talking about the piece being *physically* fragile, but more an issue of the possibility of the risks of incomplete software. You know, "don't switch directly from a polysix sound to a CX3, you'll get hanging notes" that sort of thing. The last thing they'd want is someone playing their flagship, getting some kind of error, and having to reboot.

 

This is from Rich Formidoni at Korg, the main demo guy

 

"You're not imagining things, the keybed on my prototype 61-key came a bit loose before we shot the video. I'll stress the word "prototype." It's cosmetically and functionally the same as a production unit, but it was hand-built outside of our factory and has undergone some cruel and unusual experiments."

 

So the units available at NAMM were very much prototypes and it makes complete sense you don't let just anyone pound on these.

 

Busch.

 

 

Posted
This is from Rich Formidoni at Korg, the main demo guy

 

"You're not imagining things, the keybed on my prototype 61-key came a bit loose before we shot the video. I'll stress the word "prototype." It's cosmetically and functionally the same as a production unit, but it was hand-built outside of our factory and has undergone some cruel and unusual experiments."

 

So the units available at NAMM were very much prototypes and it makes complete sense you don't let just anyone pound on these.

Good info, thanks!

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

Posted
Such an amazing amount of time and energy devoted to discussing this yet-to-be-released keyboard.

 

Yes, indeed.... that's why it would be nice if Korg would offer a few demos here in the US with a "ready for prime time" Kronos so we can test-drive it.

 

:laugh:

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
Posted
Such an amazing amount of time and energy devoted to discussing this yet-to-be-released keyboard.

 

Yes, indeed.... that's why it would be nice if Korg would offer a few demos here in the US with a "ready for prime time" Kronos so we can test-drive it.

 

:laugh:

 

Do you have the same attitude towards new cars? You'll get a chance to put your hands on it when it's released to market (May 2011). Until then, it's only just so much pissing in the wind, IMO.

Posted
I think the NAMM demo was constructed along the lines of a Presidential news conference. Stay in control of the message. You don't want some smartass playing the thing and then throwing all over the web how the piano in his PX3 is better. The rest of us wouldn't be able to make up our own minds on whether or not that's true because we can't play one yet.

 

If too much of that kind of stuff happened, the Kronos could be DOA six months before A. What do you call that - DBA (dead before arrival)?

 

sounds like a conspiracy theory :)

 

Hopefully when I have my Kronos in 2 months I will enjoy the Combi " DOA & DBA"

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

Posted
Do you have the same attitude towards new cars? You'll get a chance to put your hands on it when it's released to market (May 2011). Until then, it's only just so much pissing in the wind, IMO.

 

Now Sven... :D

 

I wouldn't be this curious if I hadn't read the "hands on" reviews from our friends in Italy. I just thought this was a new sales technique Korg had developed and wondered when we in the USA would have our turn. Apparently, that's not gonna happen.

 

Do I at least get a free Gelato?

 

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9531/gelato_-_Copy.JPG

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
Posted
Has anyone on the forum living in the USA attended a Kronos demo (other than NAMM)?

 

The Korg rep for the store I work with promised to bring a sample unit by (if he gets one). He's telling us they're shipping in early April, and the store has a few on pre-order.

 

As soon as I get my hands on one I'll post something - I'm really looking forward to digging into it!

Posted
Where's Carlo when we need him? :D

Right here... but the demo shows ("Korg Days") were all held in the North, much too far for me to reach. I have no details, sorry. But I'm told there are a few videos floating around the web.

 

Gelati? Brrr... it's still damn COLD here!

 

 

Posted
I almost get the feeling this Northern Italy Kronos Tour is a Korg rep gone rogue.

 

http://theinnerdoor.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/18829909.jpg

Posted
Nice, and Chicago didnt even make the itinerary? Yeah, they probably wouldnt sell ANY here.
Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me.

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