TJ Cornish Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 From the reports of Kronos hackers, the obstacle to RAM limit is the 32-bit OS. An upgrade to 64 bits (or just teaching it to uses highmem?) doesn't seem like it should be *that* hard. It's rarely quite so simple. It can be a fairly straightforward process In an actively maintained code base where every aspect sees ongoing development by competent and engaged engineers, where rigorous tests can tell you quickly when something no longer works as intended, where all of the third-party dependencies are continuously updated to newer revisions, and where your management is willing to invest in future potential at a comparable level to adding new features. I've rarely had the luxury of working with a team that disciplined, even though I've spend decades in senior leadership roles where I'm advocating for all of the above. Chances are there isn't a dedicated team at all. That there's a lot of code any developer would be afraid to touch because it isn't documented and there aren't adequate tests. That it depends on libraries more than a decade old, written by other companies that have made dramatic changes before their own 64-bit migration so the newer version is fundamentally incompatible with the Kronos code. It's virtually guaranteed that each update over the years is a tightly budgeted attempt to get a feature done with the bare minimum of cost. That shortcuts were taken by applying the software equivalent of duct tape to hold it all together. It might sound like I'm disparaging Korg and the Kronos team. That's not my intent. This is just the reality of most modern software development. Per the obligatory XKCD comic... On Korgforums, Stephen Kay - creator of KARMA - famously answered questions like 'Why don"t they just...' by saying something to the effect of 'I know, it"s just code, and code is really just typing...' I was very involved early in the Oasys era. Korg was very responsive with JerrytheK and Dan Phillips regularly interacting with users on the forum. Unfortunately Korg no longer interacts with users in that way. I love my Kronos in many ways, but 10 years of very little change other than paint color changes is discouraging. I"m crossing my fingers for something from Kurzweil that"s a new flagship to replace the 6-year-old Forte. The PC4 is a decent product, but my favorite feature of the Forte is the LED ladders. If I"m going to move on from the Kronos, it will be to somebody"s flagship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Gaia Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 I love my Kronos in many ways, but 10 years of very little change other than paint color changes is discouraging. I"m crossing my fingers for something from Kurzweil that"s a new flagship to replace the 6-year-old Forte. The PC4 is a decent product, but my favorite feature of the Forte is the LED ladders. If I"m going to move on from the Kronos, it will be to somebody"s flagship. I love my Forte, but in equipping a second location I couldn"t bring myself to pay the current asking price for a second one. I concur that some of the aspects missing from the PC4 make a new flagship seem inevitable. The keybed as much as the LED ladders are understandable compromises to hit the weight and price point, but I"m hopeful that a new studio-focused model is coming. Quote Acoustic: Shigeru Kawai SK-7 ~ Breedlove C2/R MIDI: Kurzweil Forte ~ Sequential Prophet X ~ Yamaha CP88 ~ Expressive E Osmose Electric: Schecter Solo Custom Exotic ~ Chapman MLB1 Signature Bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iconoclast Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Personally, I think the Kurzweil team needs to thing in terms of usability not capability. For me it's never been, "can the Forte do that?" it's been, "can I get my Forte to do that before the gig or practice?" Quote You want me to start this song too slow or too fast? Forte7, Nord Stage 3, XK3c, OB-6, Arturia Collection, Mainstage, MotionSound KBR3D. A bunch of MusicMan Guitars, Line6 stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Cornish Posted January 16, 2021 Author Share Posted January 16, 2021 I love my Kronos in many ways, but 10 years of very little change other than paint color changes is discouraging. I"m crossing my fingers for something from Kurzweil that"s a new flagship to replace the 6-year-old Forte. The PC4 is a decent product, but my favorite feature of the Forte is the LED ladders. If I"m going to move on from the Kronos, it will be to somebody"s flagship. I love my Forte, but in equipping a second location I couldn"t bring myself to pay the current asking price for a second one. I concur that some of the aspects missing from the PC4 make a new flagship seem inevitable. The keybed as much as the LED ladders are understandable compromises to hit the weight and price point, but I"m hopeful that a new studio-focused model is coming. Well, we may not have to wait long! K2700! https://www.gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php?p=15233306&postcount=1038 Still don"t have a K3000, but this one looks to be at least 3.8% better than the K2600 based on the model number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleer Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Looks like no LED ladders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonnor Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 Bumping this since apparently the Forte 7 has been discontinued. That Sweet retailer in Ft. Wayne has a few left and selling them for $2999 ($1000 off the previous price). For the price and features it's definitely worth a look. I got mine in May and am very happy with it. Wish I'da waited though. ~ vonnor Quote Gear: Hardware: Nord Stage3, Korg Kronos 2, Novation Summit Software: Cantabile 3, Halion Sonic 3 and assorted VST plug-ins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonnor Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Bit of a thread resurrection, but... I recently purchased a Forte 7 (sadly 2 months BEFORE the $1000 price reduction, but hey) and so far am only using it for a few sounds in a cover band. Mostly just a "bottom" weighted controller for VSTs. I am starting to dig into the programming a bit more now just for fun, and noticed it'll hold 3K programs but only comes with 322 programs. Why they did that is beyond me, but anyway where might one acquire (free or purchased) more "objects" for this thing to help fill up the other 2750 slots? Any that you Forte users could recommend? Must-haves? Dave W.? Thank you in advance. ~ Bill C. (vonnor) Quote Gear: Hardware: Nord Stage3, Korg Kronos 2, Novation Summit Software: Cantabile 3, Halion Sonic 3 and assorted VST plug-ins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 I still have my 88 Forte. Still sounds great.. Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aellison62 Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Yes, Dave Weiser has many custom programs for the Forte. I also bought third party sounds for my Forte from Barbandco.com. Excellent programming from him. Also, there are 'legacy' sounds and other free sounds on KURZWEIL website for Forte. Finally, join the Forte Facebook group. It"s files section has tons of free programs. A few are mine. I have added hundreds of sounds over the years to my Forte from various sources and I love how it has evolved my sound pallete. Just lookâ¦.plenty of content out there for Forte. Just not all in one place like Kronos, Fantom and MODX is. Quote Kurzweil Forte 7, Mojo 61, Yamaha P-125, Kronos X61, Nautilus 73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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