Product Description

Product Description for the Korg Kronos X *3 Keyboard Synthesizer Workstation (**-Key)

The Korg Kronos X *3 features unparalled Korg performance. Kronos X is a  milestone in synthesis and workstation evolution; one that embodies  fresh ideas and breakthrough technologies. Kronos X brings together  multiple sound engines working in harmony and new interactive  performance features that reflect the way musicians play. Most  importantly, Kronos X provides a seemingly inexhaustible supply of  breathtaking, spectacular sounds.

SGX*1 piano includes eight stereo unlooped samples for each key; EP*1  electric pianos and the enhanced CX*3 organ; Korg's Waveshaping and VPM  synthesis; HD*1 High Definition PCM; STR*1 Plucked String modeling; and  three analog models. Kronos X includes *6 MIDI and *6 audio tracks,  powerful sampling, KARMA, Drum Tracks, extensive effects, and more. New  performance features include Smooth Sound Transitions and the powerful  Set List mode! The updated Kronos X features a larger *2GB solid state  hard drive, plus an additional GB of sampling RAM, many large sample  libraries to be loaded simultaneously.

A peerless synthesizer packed with nine sound engines including  realistic piano, richly expressive electric piano, tonewheel organ,  digital synthesis, and powerful analog/physical modeling, all in a  single unit. The Kronos X Music Workstation is the ultimate instrument  for live performing musicians, for artists creating in a studio or  computer-based production environment, and for musicians and sound  designers seeking the ultimate synthesizer.

Live
Kronos X 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 s, and of course Korg's high-resolution color  TouchView(TM) display. Performance-oriented additions include their  easy-to-use Set List mode for song-specific and gig-ready sound  selection, and our Smooth Sound Transition feature. Plus, Korg has  included their finest RH3 keybed on both the *3 and *8 key models for a  solid performance; the *1 key enjoys the responsive action shared with  the Korg M***1.

Production
For many, the studio is where the work gets done; from laying down  tracks, to building up grooves for an on-stage extravaganza, to  delivering the soundtrack for today's media rich world. For these  creative leaders, Korg has equipped the Kronos X Music Workstation's  sequencer with **-track MIDI tracks plus *6 audio tracks, their Open  Sampling System, dazzling hi-fidelity effects, as well as flawless  plug-in integration with many popular DAW platforms. Of course, Kronos X  is equipped with phenomenal sound, dynamic drums, and an impressive  array of premium sound effects. Add to that the ability to use KARMA,  the Drum Track, and the sequencer's RPPR to greatly speed up and enrich  the music creation process.

Synthesis
Simple, intuitive programming for the enthusiast and sound designer. In  addition to being Korg' premier workstation, Kronos X has it in its  blood to satisfy the programmer, sound designer, and synthesizer  enthusiast; the musician who dreams of turning visions of the cosmos  into sound, of tweaking parameters to conjure invisible sounds from the  ether. Kronos X rekindles KORG's founding dream that is at the core of  synthesis: the exhilaration and enjoyment of creating new sounds, sounds  never before heard! A variety of exclusive Korg technologies drive the  synth engines to provide astounding results - CMT (Component Modeling  Technology); Physical Modeling, Digital Synthesis, Wave Sequencing, MDS  (Multi-Dimensional Synthesis); KARMA(R) and more!
 

Room to Expand

Since the Kronos appeared, Kronos Sound Library  expansions have continued to be released. In order to let you take full  advantage of these libraries, which offer selections with a different  flavor than the preloaded programs and combis, the Kronos X doubles both  the available RAM capacity to approximately 2GB and the SSD capacity to  *2GB. Starting in March ***2, the KARO Sound Libraries from the German  company KARO Sound Development have joined the list with twenty titles  already available, further enhancing the value of the Kronos X. The  Kronos X also contains the EXs *0 - *3 expansion sample series of Kronos  Sound Libraries pre-installed in demo mode. After you've tried them  out, you can obtain these rich sounds for yourself by simply purchasing a  license key.
 

User Sample Banks

User Sample Banks let you create your own  high-capacity sample libraries. Added in Kronos OS v2.0, User Sample  Banks bring the benefits of KORG's EXs to your own custom sample  libraries. You can load and play many gigabytes of your custom or  converted samples at once, using the internal SSD. Disk and memory  management is also improved: you can create subsets of User Sample  Banks, and mix and match parts of different banks, without duplicating  samples on disk. It's also easy to share sounds with friends and  collaborators, since Programs, Wave Sequences, and Drum Kits maintain  links to User Sample Banks even when samples are moved on disk or loaded  onto a different Kronos instrument. Create your own samples, or import  Akai and SoundFont 2.0 libraries using new, improved conversion  features.
 

KORG's Rock-Solid Workstation Integration Puts it all Together

Packed  with unlimited sound potential, Kronos X is much more than a  synthesizer. Kronos X comes complete with all of the extras required of a  modern workstation, plus so much more. From music production to live  performance, the Kronos X Music Workstation integrates a world-class  list of tools into a single, reliable instrument. 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 X 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 X smoothly functions as a plug-in with  many popular DAWs, providing your studio with native, unprecedented  sonic power.

KARMA
First appearing on KORG's Karma Music Workstation in ***1, this  revolutionary algorithmic music technology instantly produces  sophisticated phrases, drum grooves and full-blown backing tracks. Based  on the notes and chords you play and the intuitive operations you  perform with the knobs, sliders, and switches, you'll easily produce  musical effects that exceed anything you imagined. Now in its  greatly-enhanced second generation and offering features like KARMA  Wave-Sequencing, Note Mapping and 8 scenes per layer, KARMA is standard  equipment on your new Kronos X. It will expand your conception of a  song, and will be an enormous asset to your live performances.

*KARMA(R)Kay Algorithmic Real-time Music Architecture and the KARMA Logo  are registered trademarks representing patented technology licensed  from Stephen Kay, Karma Lab LLC.

Drum Tracks
Kronos X also borrows the Drum Track feature from the M3 and M*0 Music  Workstations. Drum Tracks can create everything from a simple reference  beat to an outline rhythm track on up to a full-blown drum track for  your music productions. Kronos X now includes professional drum  performances from artists such as Ricky Lawson, able to generate grooves  reproducing the distinctive feel of a pro drummer. Applications and  extras have been unstintingly poured into this single feature. The Drum  Track can go beyond rhythm machines, and is fully capable of standing on  its own.

Open Sampling System
No matter whether you're in Program, Combination, or Sequencer mode, you  can always use Kronos X to sample an external audio source, or to  resample the performance of the Kronos X 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 S***0/***0 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 X - no additional equipment  required.

**-track MIDI sequencer / **-track audio recorder
Kronos X features a sequencer/recording section that offers both *6 MIDI  tracks plus *6 audio tracks; a great resource for putting together a  dazzling performance or a brilliant production. 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 **-track audio recorder simultaneously captures up to four tracks of  **-bit/**-bit uncompressed data at a sampling rate of *8 kHz. Play  along with recorded tracks, add effects, and then resample the Kronos X  itself and place the resampled WAVE files directly in a track. When  polishing your tracks, feel free to use mixer automation and editing  functions such as copy, paste, and normalize to get the results you  want. Plug in a USB CD-burner and assemble your album right from the  TouchView display!

Premium-quality effects suite - use up to *6 simultaneously
Kronos X provides *6 internal effects to add impact to your sonic  creations. Each of the *2 Insert effects can be applied to individual or  multiple timbres in a combination, or to individual or multiple tracks  of the sequencer. In addition, two Master effects can be applied to  sends 1/2, and two Total effects can be applied to all tracks at the  final stage of the sound. Each effect offers **5 distinct effect types,  covering every possible sound-shaping need. Examples include a  high-resolution reverb, chorus, delay, guitar amp and cabinet modeling,  even vocoding. Each effect provides up to *2 adjustable parameters, as  well as numerous realtime modulation possibilities, delivering  outstanding versatility. A separate three-band EQ is provided for every  timbre, for every sequencer track, and for every audio track for  adjusting subtle tonal balances or for creatively modifying the overall  sound.
 

Performance Power!

In creating Kronos X, Korg listened to many  musicians from around the world. Their goal was to change the way  musicians interacted with their instrument to provide a more fluid,  expressive, and natural experience. At one level, this meant providing a  comprehensive yet intuitive control surface. But with Kronos X, they  wanted to take these ideas even further, creating an instrument ideally  suited to the way musicians play.

Set List screen provides single-touch selection, regardless of mode
The Set List screen lets you instantly recall your favorite programs,  combinations, or song data with a single touch, regardless of mode.  There are **8 Set List locations, and each one can have **8 slots.  Sixteen of these slots appear at a time as s 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. You can also leave notes for yourself using the  Set List page, to remember the key of a song, for example. The Set List  also provides a stereo graphic EQ at the final stage of the main audio  output, which can be used to compensate for the acoustical character of  the performance venue.

Smooth Sound Transition eliminates dropouts when changing sounds
Kronos X features our Smooth Sound Transition technology. 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. A high level of technology has been applied to finally bring this  sought-after ability to reality, fulfilling the requests of many  musicians.

Enhanced, color TouchView display
KORG's TouchView graphical user interface is based on a large, color  *-inch (**0 x **0 pixel) touch screen. The TouchView display is the  centerpiece of KORG's intuitive design, providing easy-to-view  information and simple touch control. In developing Kronos X, they also  incorporated numerous images of actual instruments and their respective  controls into the display, to ensure that the musician enjoys the  feeling of playing an instrument - rather than controlling a machine.

Comprehensive Control
In addition to the parameters accessible directly from the TouchView  display, Kronos X 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 X's  impressive sound. The damper pedal supports half-damping,  providing another level of piano realism. In addition to the damper  pedal jack, there are also two assignable pedal s, one foot pedal  type and one footswitch style.
 

KORG's Finest Keyboard Actions

The **-key version features the  same great-feeling, responsive semi-weighted keybed found in the M***1  Music Workstation. Acclaimed for their solid feel and tactile response,  these keys provide a seamless, expressive connection to the many forms  of synthesis Kronos X provides. The **-key model of the Kronos X  features the same RH3 real weighted hammer action keyboard used on  KORG's upper-end piano models and on the SV*1. The hammer weighting is  graded, providing a heavier feel in the lower register and a lighter  feel in the upper register, just as on a grand piano, offering superb  playability. Boldly, the **-key model also features this same RH3  keyboard, creating a more compact and transportable instrument that  still provides superior piano and electric piano sounds teamed with an  authentic piano touch. Kronos X is notable for its slim design, showing  an integration of function and design.

Support for USB MIDI and Korg USB pad controllers
Kronos X supports connecting USB MIDI class-compliant controllers  directly to it. For instance, you can use a Korg microKEY as an  auxiliary synth-action keyboard for a Kronos X**3 or *8. Even better,  KORG USB MIDI controllers with pads-including the nanoPAD, nanoPAD2, and  padKONTROL-are automatically mapped to the Kronos chord pads, for  playing and programming drums, triggering chords, and selecting and  assigning chords for Chord Mode.

Kronos Editor and Plug-In Editor
Kronos X supports for the Kronos Editor and Plug-In Editor*, lets you  edit and organize sounds from a Mac OS X or Windows computer. Plug-in  operation allows you to save settings as part of your project with any  VST-compatible Windows software, or any VST- or AU-compatible software  on Mac OS X. The Kronos Editor and Plug-In Editor are available for free  download at Korg's Kronos website.

*Please use Version 2.0 or later

High Speed Data Communication
This USB Ethernet functionality lets you use a commercially available  USB Ethernet adaptor to transmit files and data easily and at high speed  between the Kronos X and your computer. You can create backup files on  your computer, send sample data at high speed from your computer to the  Kronos X, and use your computer to manage data that's on the Kronos X's  internal disk. By enhancing the integration with your computer it's now  even easier to get your musical projects completed. By attaching a  commercially available USB Ethernet adapter to the Kronos X, you'll be  able to exchange data with your computer via a LAN cable. Standard FTP  software for each operating system can be used.


Computer Connectivity
Kronos X can send MIDI signals to and from your computer via USB. Using  the Kronos Editor software Version 2.0, or later (free download), sounds  and settings can be edited directly from your computer. The Kronos  Plug-in Editor (free download) lets you use Kronos X from within many  popular DAW systems, as if it were a plug-in instrument. Kronos X can  also be used as an audio I/O for your computer, sending and receiving  two channels of audio via USB. In a music production system using your  Kronos X and a computer, there is no need to purchase any additional  hardware, creating the simplest possible set-up.

Versatile Array of Audio Inputs and Outputs
The Kronos X provides a total of six channels of audio : 2 analog  channels, 2 digital channels (S/P DIF optical, *8 kHz/**-bit), and 2 USB  channels. As audio outputs, you have the 2 main channels (L/MONO, R) as  well as four independent audio outputs, 2 digital channels (S/P DIF  optical, *8 kHz/**-bit), and 2 USB channels (note: the 2 digital  channels and 2 USB channels output the same signal as the main L/R  output). All analog s and outputs support TRS balanced connections.  The analog s provide a MIC/LINE select switch and an independent  level control for each channel, offering the flexibility to meet any  situation. In addition to the type-B USB connector used for  communicating with your computer, there are two type-A USB 2.0 ports for  use with external storage media such as flash memory, hard drives, or  CD-R/RW and DVD drives. The output of the Kronos X can be resampled to a  USB storage device such as a hard drive, or connected to USB CD-R/RW  drive to create audio CDs.