Korg redefines and reimagines the music workstation, revolutionising the capabilities of the hardware instrument and exceeding the demands of the modern player: introducing the Korg KRONOS 61 Music Workstation.
Korg Kronos 61 Overview
KRONOS is more than a new instrument. It is a milestone in synthesis and workstation evolution; one that embodies fresh ideas and breakthrough technologies. KRONOS brings together multiple sound engines working in harmony and new interactive performance features that reflect the way musicians play.
KRONOS unites nine individual synthesis engines in a single instrument, each providing the finest sound creation techniques available. Together, they represent not only the rich legacy of Korg, but the history of the electronic keyboard industry itself.
KRONOS provides the absolute finest in keyboard sounds; accurate and responsive to the player's technique. The expansive control surface offers joysticks, sliders, knobs, switches, a ribbon controller, assignable pedal inputs, and of course our improved resolution color TouchView display. New additions include our easy-to-use Set List mode for song-specific and gig-ready sound selection, and our Smooth Sound Transition feature.
Korg has equipped the KRONOS Music Workstation’s sequencer with 16-track MIDI tracks plus 16 audio tracks, our Open Sampling System, dazzling hi-fidelity effects, as well as flawless plug-in integration with many popular DAW platforms.
A variety of exclusive Korg technologies drive the synth engines to provide astounding results – VMT (Virtual Memory Technology); CMT (Component Modeling Technology); Physical Modeling, Digital Synthesis, Wave Sequencing, MDS (Multi Dimensional Synthesis); KARMA and more!
KRONOS contains nine distinct synthesizer/sound engines. While each is worthy of a separate product in its own right, KRONOS brings them all together into a single, integrated musical instrument. Dynamic voice allocation and new technologies allow all sound engines to smoothly share a stable, enhanced hardware platform.
The SGX-1 Premium Piano sound engine offers two distinctive grand pianos; a rich German D piano, and a robust Japanese C model. Each uses superb, un-looped stereo samples sampled at eight velocity levels for each and every key. Thoughtful attention to detail preserves the realism and warmth of the piano sound; this extends even to sampling and reproducing the body resonances of the grand piano, as well as the mechanical noise that occurs when the keys are played, or the damper pedal is pressed and released. The foundation of any keyboard instrument is the piano; the SGX-1 engine allows KRONOS to confidently deliver on this sonic ideal. Korg abandoned working within the limitations of existing sampling methods and took advantage Virtual Memory Technology (VMT), able to play large samples directly from the internal high-capacity Solid State Disk (SSD).
The EP-1 sound engine is dedicated to faithfully recreating six of the most popular classic electric pianos. The MDS (Multi Dimensional Synthesis) technology eliminates the transitions between velocity-switched samples, and does away with the unnatural behavior of looped samples. It also provides the user with unique control over the tines, reeds, and noise elements that make up the essential character of these timeless and coveted electromechanical instruments. Each of the six electric piano models provides realistic simulations of the period amp, cabinet, speaker, and even the hard-to-find vintage effects that gave the original instruments their distinctive sound.
The CX-3 engine precisely models the classic tonewheel instrument. Proprietary Korg technology has been used to perfectly reproduce the vacuum tube amp, and effects such as Vibrato/Chorus and the “must-have” rotary speaker. Even the instability, fold-back, leakage, and noise of the tonewheels have been obsessively analyzed and recreated. Take full advantage of Korg’s exclusive EX mode and switch from 9 to 18 drawbars (13 footages plus 5 to define the percussion) and generate even richer and more detailed sounds.
HD-1 “High Definition” synthesis features Korg’s proprietary low-aliasing sample playback oscillators, full bandwidth multimode resonant filters, and extraordinarily fast & smooth envelopes and LFOs. Once again, the SSD and Virtual Memory Technology (VMT) gives the HD 1 access to a larger sample set – gigabytes in size – than could be normally stored using internal memory. The HD 1 covers all of the essential sounds in exquisite detail, from orchestral to classic rock to hip-hop, all instantly available. The extensive array of samples provided by KRONOS is unparalleled by previous hardware synthesizers or samplers, and is a superb fit for film, video and sound effect work.
First introduced on the Korg WAVESTATION, and used here as part of the HD-1, Wave Sequences play a series of samples over time, creating distinctive rhythmic timbres or smooth, complex evolving sounds. Additionally, step-sequencer modulation outputs allow Wave Sequences to control any modulate-able Program parameter.
The Ambient Drums feature two kits. Each provides three different mic'ing positions, capturing the whole kit, (with the snare on and off), plus the individual hits. The HD-1 voice architecture allows the custom blending of the drum's direct sound and ambient sound layer, adding a finished quality to the track.
Feature-packed, the AL-1 is the same premium analog modeling sound engine that was first featured on the Korg OASYS back in 2005. Its patented ultra low aliasing oscillators (using completely different technology than the HD 1) recreate all the power and glory of true analog synthesis— without the artifacts that can plague lesser instruments. Morphing waveforms allow you to change the oscillator shapes in real time. Resonance modeling lets you choose between classic filter sounds, and the extraordinarily flexible MultiFilter lets you create your own hybrid filter shapes. Hard sync, analog style FM, drive, low-boost, and ring modulation offer plenty of tone-twisting power.
Using Korg’s CMT (Component Modeling Technology) the MS-20EX faithfully reproduces the legendary MS-20 from 1978 while dramatically expanding its patch panel functionality.
With its self-oscillating four pole filter, smooth analog oscillator and sub-oscillator, plus a lush Chorus/Ensemble effect, the PolysixEX extends the abilities of the original in many creative ways. The strings and pads that were such a major feature of the Polysix will be invaluable when you need the sounds of the early '80s. The classic arpeggiator built into the original Polysix is also provided.
The MOD-7 Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer - VPM/Waveshaping/PCM processing sound engine combines Variable Phase Modulation (VPM), waveshaping, ring modulation, samples, and subtractive synthesis, plus a modular patch panel system.
STR-1 Plucked String Synthesizer: Based on the physical modeling know-how Korg developed over the course of many years, this struck/plucked-string physical modeling sound engine takes advantage of cutting-edge technology. You can also process samples and live audio input through the physical model—including audio feedback from any of the KRONOS effects!
Under the hood, all nine engines share the same hardware, with no separate cards to manage or polyphony barriers between them—and no “CPU overs” to worry about. KRONOS dynamically allocates power between the engines as you play, automatically and in real time, providing an integrated experience no PC can match. In addition, KRONOS smoothly functions as a plug-in with many popular DAWs, providing your studio with native, unprecedented sonic power.
KARMA: Now in its greatly enhanced second generation and offering features like KARMA Wave Sequencing, Note Mapping and 8 scenes per layer.
No matter whether you're in Program, Combination, or Sequencer mode, you can always use KRONOS to sample an external audio source, or to resample the performance of the KRONOS itself. User samples can be edited using operations such as truncate, normalize, time stretch, or time slice. Edited samples can also be exported in AIFF or WAVE format. You can also load external samples in AIFF, WAVE, SoundFont 2.0, and AKAI S1000/3000 formats via USB memory. By loading samples that you've previously created on other instruments or on a PC, you can set up your music production system on the KRONOS – no additional equipment required.
KRONOS features a sequencer/recording section that offers both 16 MIDI tracks plus 16 audio tracks. MIDI sequencing makes it easy to capture ideas, inspiration, and pro-quality phrases using the KARMA, Drum Track, or RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording) functions. The 16-track audio recorder simultaneously captures up to four tracks of 16-bit/24-bit uncompressed data at a sampling rate of 48 kHz.
The new Set List screen lets you instantly recall your favorite programs, combinations, or song data with a single touch, regardless of mode. There are 128 Set List locations, and each one can have 128 slots. Sixteen of these slots appear at a time as buttons in the TouchView display, color-coded to ensure easy visibility even in dim lighting. This is a great convenience during a live performance or in the production workplace.
Smooth Sound Transition eliminates dropouts when changing sounds: this powerful addition is designed to maintain any currently held, played, or sustaining notes (with their effects), helping to prevent drop-outs from occurring when you switch sounds or change from Program mode to Combi mode.
Korg's TouchView graphical user interface is based on a new large, color 8-inch (800 x 600 pixel) touch screen. In addition to the parameters accessible directly from the TouchView display, KRONOS also offers a wealth of realtime controllers to enhance any performance and to aid navigation. A four-way joystick, ribbon controller, and two assignable switches are located to the left of the keyboard. An additional Vector joystick is nearby. Above the keyboard, nine sliders, eight knobs and a number of switches provide realtime interaction with features at the heart of the KRONOS’ impressive sound. The damper pedal input supports half-damping, providing another level of piano realism. In addition to the damper pedal jack, there are also two assignable pedal inputs, one footpedal type and one footswitch style.
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