Korg Kronos

Kronos
Manufacturer	Korg
Dates	2011-
Price	$2,999-$3,799 MSRP
Technical specifications
Polyphony	up to 200 voices
Timbrality	16
Synthesis type	Sample-based synthesis, Physical modeling synthesis, Wavetable synthesis, Frequency modulation synthesis
Aftertouch expression	Yes
Velocity expression	Yes
Storage memory	1664 programs, 1792 combos, 152 drum kits, 256 GM2 programs and 9 GM2 drum kits. 30GB internal SSD, 2GB internal RAM
Effects	12 insert effects, 2 master effects, 2 total effects. 185 effect types, 783 presets, 1 EQ per track
Input/output
External control	Damper pedal, assignable switch, assignable pedal

The Korg Kronos is a music workstation that combines nine different synthesizer sound engines with a sequencer, digital recorder, effects, a color touchscreen display and a keyboard. Korg's latest flagship synthesizer series at the time of its announcement, the Kronos series was announced at the winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January, 2011. Essentially a computer housed in the form of a musical keyboard, Kronos' utilizes for its operation an Intel Atom processor running a Linux environment.

Sound Engines

Kronos has nine different sound engines:

HD1 High Definition Synthesizer

Derived from the HD1 sound engine previously found in Korg's OASYS, Kronos' HD1 sound engine utilizes sample-based synthesis and wave sequencing to generate sounds from a greatly expanded 30GB of samples stored on an internal solid state drive.

SGX-1 Premium Piano

The SGX sound engine utilizes continuous (un-looped) stereo piano samples sampled at eight velocity layers per key and played directly from the internal solid state drive to produce two different grand piano instruments: a "German D piano" and a "Japanese C piano."

EP-1 MDS Electric Piano

The EP-1 sound engine employs Korg's MDS (multi-dimensional synthesis) modeling technology to produce electric piano sounds. The sound engine offers six different models, with control over hammers, tines, reeds, and mechanical noise elements. It also simulates amplifiers, cabinets, speakers, and effects related to those historic electric pianos.

CX-3 Tonewheel Organ

Previously seen in the Korg CX-3 modeled tonewheel organ released in 2000, the CX-3 engine models classic tonewheel organ, including rotary speaker effects, vibrato and chorus effects, and tube amplifier. Nine hardware sliders on the Kronos' control panel function as organ drawbar controllers.

AL-1 Analog Synthesizer

First featured on the Korg OASYS, the AL-1 engine models analog subtractive synthesis, with a range of modeled oscillator waveforms, filters, hard sync, analog-style FM, and ring modulation.

MS-20EX Legacy Analog Collection

The MS-20EX engine models an expanded version of Korg's classic MS-20 semi-modular monophonic analog synthesizer originally released in 1978. The software MS-20 in Kronos has increased patch panel functions, added the ability to use incoming audio as control signals and modulate filters with audio-rate oscillators, and control any of the original classic MS-20 front-panel knob functions with other modulation sources.

PolysixEX Legacy Analog Collection

The PolysixEX engine models the 6-voice Korg Polysix analog synthesizer produced by Korg from 1982-3, along with additional modulation routing and without the 6-voice polyphony limitation of the original hardware synth.

MOD-7 Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer

The MOD-7 engine combines Variable Phase Modulation (VPM), waveshaping, ring modulation, samples, subtractive synthesis, and modular patching. The MOD-7 is capable of classic FM synth sounds and even is capable of importing Yamaha DX-7 sounds. Due to the additional elements incorporated in MOD-7 and the ability to connect them via modular patching, MOD-7 is capable of synthesis and processing environments beyond those of classic FM synthesizers.

STR-1 Plucked String Synthesizer

The STR-1 engine models struck or plucked string sounds ranging from guitars, harpsichords and clavinets, harps, and bells to other sounds based in the physics of a plucked string but not directly related to any known instrument.

Sequencer and audio recorder

The Kronos has a 16-track MIDI sequencer combined with a 16-track 24-bit audio recorder. The recorder can record up to four tracks simultaneously. The fully-editable sequencing also features mixer automation.

Effects

Kronos has 16 internal effects, 12 insert effects, and 2 master effects. There are 185 effect types. In addition to these effects, there is a separate 3-band EQ for each track.

KARMA

Kronos features the Kay Algorithmic Realtime Music Architecture, or KARMA, developed by Stephen Kay and first appearing in the Korg KARMA keyboard workstation. KARMA is a complex arpeggiator that generates complex musical phrases in realtime based on the input of a performer.

Sampler

Kronos is capable of sampling audio and has full sample editing functionality. Samples can also be imported and exported. Import sample formats supported include Korg, Akai, Soundfont, WAV and AIFF files.

Computer integration

Kronos sounds can be computer edited using Kronos editor software. Kronos can also be integrated within a computer digital audio workstation as a software plug-in.