Kronos 3 in the 61-note size is Korg's flagship workstation on a semi-weighted synth action with aftertouch. Nine separate sound engines live in the one instrument, running from sampled grand pianos and tonewheel organ emulation through to analogue and physical modelling. Players who want the whole engine list on a fast, portable keybed will land here.
Nine engines in one instrument
SGX-2 handles acoustic piano and EP-1 covers tine and reed electrics, while HD-1 is the PCM synthesizer at the centre of everything. Around them sit AL-1 for analogue synthesis, CX-3 for tonewheel organ, STR-1 for plucked strings and MOD-7 for waveshaping VPM. Component modelling brings the MS-20 and Polysix back as MS-20EX and PolysixEX. Each of them carries its own voice count and its own editing pages.
A semi-weighted action with aftertouch
This version uses Korg's Natural Touch keybed, which moves quickly under organ registrations and lead lines. Velocity and aftertouch are both tracked. Portability is the other draw. For anyone hauling gear between venues, the weight in the case matters as much as the feel under the fingers.
Set List mode for the gig
Set List mode puts 16 colour-coded buttons on the screen, and any one of them calls up a Program, Combination or Sequence regardless of which mode it lives in. Performance notes can be typed against each slot, so a reminder about a key change or a sax solo sits in front of you on stage. A nine-band graphic EQ rides across the whole set, letting you match the tone to the room. Slot colours, text size and a full-screen editor are all adjustable, and a USB computer keyboard makes entering words and numbers quicker.
The touchscreen
An eight-inch SVGA display at 800 x 600 pixels drives most of the interface. Touch-drag editing sets values with a finger rather than a knob, and the interactive graphics go as far as opening a virtual grand lid or running a cable between two points on a semi-modular model. A search function finds sounds by name and previews them before you commit.
Fourth-generation build
The chassis is powder-coated metal with black wood side panels. Under it, a reworked system architecture cuts start-up time by 60 per cent against previous models, which is worth having when you switch on between sets. Units ship on Kronos System version 3.2.
See it in action
Specifications
| System | KRONOS System Version 3.2 |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Natural Touch Semi Weighted, 61 note. Supports velocity sensitivity and aftertouch. |
| Synthesis Types | 9 SGX-2: Premium Piano (Acoustic Piano) EP-1: MDS Electric Piano (Electric Piano) HD-1: High Definition Synthesizer (PCM) AL-1: Analog Synthesizer (Analog Modeling) CX-3: Tonewheel Organ (Tonewheel Organ Modeling) STR-1: Plucked Strings (Physical Modeling) MOD-7: Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer (VPM Synthesis) MS-20EX: Component Modeling Technology (Analog Modeling) PolysixEX: Component Modeling Technology (CMT Analog Modeling) |
| Maximum Polyphony | SGX-2: 100 voices EP-1: 104 voices HD-1: 140 voices AL-1: 80 voices CX-3: 200 voices STR-1: 40 voices MOD-7: 52 voices MS-20EX: 40 voices PolysixEX: 180 voices |
| Preset PCM | 314 MB (ROM 1,505 Multisamples, 1,388 Drumsamples) |
| Build-in Expansion PCM Libraries | EXs1 - ROM Expansion EXs2 - Concert Grand Piano EXs3 - Brass & Woodwinds EXs4 - Vintage Keyboards EXs5 - ROM Expansion 2 EXs6 - German D Piano EXs7 - Japanese C Piano EXs8 - Rock Ambience Drums EXs9 - Jazz Ambience Drums EXs17 - SGX-2 Berlin D Piano EXs18 - KORG EXs Collections EXs22 - SGX-2 Italian F Piano LE EXs23 - 2 Church Pianos EXs206 - A2D 10 Selections EXs207 - Bolder 10 Selections EXs208 - K-Sounds 10 Selections EXs209 - KApro 10 Selections EXs210 - KARO 10 Selections EXs211 - Kelfar 10 Selections EXs212 - Kid Nepro 10 Selections EXs213 - PCreek 10 Selections Vol.1 EXs214 - PCreek 10 Selections Vol.2 EXs215 - Q Up Arts 10 Selections EXs216 - Soundiron 10 Selections EXs217 - SOP 10 Selections EXs218 - Irish Acts 10 Selections |
| PCM RAM Capacity | Approx. 3GB |
| Wave Sequences | 598 User memory, 207 Preload Support for stereo multisamples, synchronization of individual notes, and tempo-based settings. |
| Premium Piano | Virtual Memory Technology (VMT) plays large samples directly from the internal SSD Full key stereo sampling, Chromatically sampled at up to 12 velocity levels, no looping. Damper resonance and mechanical noise are reproduced. Modeled String Resonance. Una Corda sample support |
| PCM | EXs6: SGX-1 German D Piano EXs7: SGX-1 Japanese C Piano EXs12: SGX-1 Austrian D Piano (Option Sound libraries) 8 velocity levels, no Una Corda samples EXs17: Berlin D Piano 12 velocity levels, includes Una Corda samples EXs21: SGX-2 Italian F Piano (Option Sound libraries) 12 velocity levels, includes Una Corda samples EXs22: SGX-2 Italian F Piano LE 12 velocity levels, no Una Corda samples |
| Piano Type | 80 (With the factory settings, the 16 varieties of EXs12 SGX-1 Austrian D Piano do not produce sound. The EXs12 option must be downloaded.) (The 16 types of EXs21 SGX-2 Italian F Piano are the same piano types as the 16 types of EXs22 SGX-2 Italian F Piano LE and refer to the last installation of either EXs21 or EXs22.) |
| Oscillator Control | Damper Resonance Damper Noise Mechanical Noise Note Release String Resonance Una Corda |
| MDS Electric Piano | Tine and reed-type electric pianos powered by Multi-Dimensional Synthesis (MDS), and vintage effects. |
| Electric Piano Model Types | 7 Tine EP I Early, Tine EP I Late, Tine EP II, Tine EP V, Tine EP DMP, Reed EP 200, Reed EP 200A |
| Panel Control | Tine Type Preamp Volume, Tone (Treble, Bass), Vibrate (On/Off, Intensity, Speed), Amp/Cabinet (On/Off, Drive) Reed Type Preamp Volume, Tone (Treble, Bass), Vibrate (Intensity, Speed), Amp/Cabinet (On/Off, Drive) |
| Effect Types | 9 Small Phase, Orange Phase, Black Phase, Vintage Chorus, Black Chorus, EP Chorus, Vintage Flanger, Red Comp, VOX Wah |
| Advanced Vector Synthesis | Control oscillator volumes and synthesis & effects parameters via the Vector Joystick and the tempo-synchronized Vector Envelope. |
| Structure | Single: only OSC1 Double: OSC1 and OSC2. Double mode lets you layer two completely separate synth voices, each with their own velocity-switched oscillator, dual filter, EGs, LFOs, etc. Drums: One drum kit, Double Drums: Two drum kits. |
| Oscillators | Virtual Memory Technology (VMT) plays large samples directly from the internal SSD. 8 velocity zones per oscillator, with switching, crossfades and layering Each zone can play mono or stereo Multisamples or Wave Sequences |
| Filters | Two multi-mode filters per voices (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-reject), Four-mode filter routings (single, serial, parallel and 24dB mode) |
| Driver | Per voice non-linear driver and low boost circuit |
| EQ | Three bands, with sweep-able mid |
| Modulation | Three envelope generators, two LFOs per voice, common LFO, four key tracking generators, AMS (Alternate Modulation Source), two AMS mixers |
| Audio Input | External audio can be processed through the ring modulator, filter, driver, amp, and EQ |
Specifications from Korg. Appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.
