Korg Kronos is a tremendously heaped workstation that follows the design of Korg Oasys. Kronos has 9 sound engines, and SGX-1 and EP-1 were created specially for the instrument. As for the sounds of an acoustic piano Kronos became a Korg’s real breakthrough offering 4.7GB of the finest and detailed recordings (each note was sampled) for the piano flow to avoid loops, unnatural slumps and phase inconsistencies. EP-1 is responsible for the electric piano: to customize, for example, Wurlitzer or Rhodes, you can put audio through one of 9 virtual processing patterns (MXR Phase 90), use the Fender Suitcase simulator or built-in speaker Wurlitzer.
Kronos includes CX-3 organ with deeply editable chorus, vibrato and percussion, as well as simulation of the rotary cabinet (acceleration/deceleration parameters).
AL-1 - is a synth part of Kronos: 2 oscillators, 1 sub, multi-filter which links mode filters, synchronization, deep modulation capabilities, 5 envelopes, sequencer. Considering smoothness the stream can be compared only to the real analog.
Other synth engines include Polysix and MS-20 replicas, only now with an increased polyphony, the ability to overlay other sounds and be processed with effects and modulation. Without manipulation the sound is quite similar to the original one.
MOD-7 produces complex voices with the help of VPM (Variable Phase Modulation) synthesis and offers a variety of factory settings - from DX7 to convincing analogue.
STR-1-section simulates strings, starting with the choice of the type of instrument and ending with the way of string picking technique.
HD-1 can be used as one or two oscillators, where the "oscillator" is a full functional synthesizer, playing up to 8 multisamples, two of which can behave as a continuous layer with no switching. Here you can find all the extensions known since Oasys.
The sound of Kronos is distinguished by homogeneous, uninterrupted transitions. In addition to 16 MIDI sequencer tracks, Korg's ambitious workstation allows you to record 16 audio tracks. Mono audio tracks can be turned into stereopairs. At the same time, you can record up to four 24-bit 48kHz tracks.
Kronos offers 12 simultaneous insert-effects + 2 master effects. The station isn’t limited to such brand functions as Karma arpeggiator, Drum Track, Realtime Pattern Play/Record, In-track sampling, Vector joystick and Alternate Modulation Sources with a mixer that allows intermodulation of various sources.
Today Kronos X gives way to Kronos 2, and with the release of Yamaha Montage, prices have fallen slightly, starting now from $3,500. If you don’t mind that your synthesizer is a keyboard-computer with a Linux-based OS (which takes as much time to load as a PC), it's time to run to the store for Kronos, and enjoy the musical wonders for which it’s really meant for.
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