The Kross 2-88 is a workstation in a super matte black finish, sitting on an 88-note NH hammer action that spans A0 to C8. Korg's EDS-i engine supplies more than a thousand preset sounds at 120-voice polyphony, with a 16-track sequencer behind them. Pianists who want synth and production tools without giving up a weighted keybed are the target.
Sounds and expansion memory
User program locations number 1,280, of which 768 arrive filled, and a further 265 preset programs cover the GM2 set. The library leans on multi-layered acoustic and electric pianos, thick strings and drum kits that reach into current dance styles. On top of roughly 128 MB of preset waveform data, another 128 MB of expansion memory waits for optional libraries.
Seven effects at once
Five insert slots and two master slots run together, drawn from a list of 134 types. Delay and reverb are obvious. Amp modelling, vintage-style processors and a vocoder are in there as well, which covers a good part of what a live rig would otherwise carry in separate boxes.
Hands on the panel
Knobs on the realtime control section reach the main parameters directly, without walking through menus, and the same controls handle vocoder settings or the tempo of the arpeggiator and sequencer. A category dial narrows things by sound type, so getting to a piano or an organ takes a turn rather than a scroll. For layering two voices or splitting the keyboard, there is a button of its own. Favourites hold 128 programs across eight banks of 16.
Capturing ideas
The 16-track MIDI sequencer records keyboard playing and controller movements as MIDI data, and it will take pad sampler parts too. That turns the instrument into a sketchpad as much as a stage rig. Songs build up track by track without moving to a computer.
About the keybed
Korg's NH action weights the low notes more heavily than the high ones, in the manner of an acoustic piano. Velocity is read across the keyboard. Aftertouch is not included. The playable range normally sits between A0 and C8 and can be shifted when a part calls for it.
See it in action
Specifications
| Keyboard | 88 keys NH (Natural weighted hammer action) keyboard (no aftertouch) Normally A0-C8 (adjustable in the range [-A-1…C7]-[A1…C9]) * The NH keyboard delivers a playing feel similar to that of an acoustic piano, with low notes being heavier and high notes being lighter. |
|---|---|
| Maximum Polyphony | 120 voices, single mode 60 voices, single mode * The actual maximum polyphony will vary depending on oscillator settings such as stereo multisamples and velocity crossfading. |
| Preset PCM Memory | Approximately 128 MB (calculated as 48 kHz / 16-bit linear PCM data equivalent) 496 multisamples (including seven stereo), 1014 drumsamples (including 49 stereo) |
| Expansion PCM Memory | Approximately 128MB (*when converted to 48 kHz 16-bit linear PCM * Used when loading option PCM |
| Program Oscillator | OSC1 (Single), OSC1+2 (Double): Stereo multisamples are supported 4 velocity zones per oscillator, with switching, crossfades and layers. |
| Filters | Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB) Two multi-mode filters per voice (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject) |
| Modulation | For each voice, two envelope generators (Filter & Amp), two LFOs, two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp), and two AMS mixers. In addition, pitch EG, common LFO, and two common key tracking generators |
| Combination Timbres | Up to 16 timbres, switchable via key zone or velocity zone, layer and crossfade supported, Tone Adjust function allows program settings to be offset |
| Master Keyboard functionality | These allow you to control external MIDI devices |
| Drumkits | Stereo and mono drumsamples. 4-way velocity switches with crossfades and adjustable crossfade shapes (Linear, Power, Layer). |
| User Combinations | 896 Combinations (384 Preload) |
| User Programs | 1280 Programs (768 Preload) |
| User Drum Kits | 58 Drum Kits (42 Preload) |
| Preset Programs | 265 Programs (256 GM2 Programs + 9 GM2 Drum Programs) |
| Favourite memories | 128 (16 favorites × 8 banks) |
| Insert effects | 5 Insert Effects In-line processing; stereo in - stereo out. |
| Master effects | 2 Master Effects Two effects sends; stereo in - stereo out. |
| Effects types | Total of 134 types (select from 74 types for insert effects, 101 types of master effect 1, and 120 types for master effect 2) |
| Effects Control Bus | Stereo side-chaining for limiter, gates, vocoders, etc. |
| Preset arpeggio patterns | UP, DOWN, ALT1, ALT2, RANDOM |
| User arpeggio patterns | Number of arpeggio patterns: 1280 (1024 preload) Number of tones: 12 tones, Number of steps: up to 64 steps |
| Preset Patterns | 772 patterns (Held in common with sequencer patterns.) |
| Tracks | 16MIDI Tracks |
Specifications from Korg. Appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.
