Krome
Music Workstation

On Stage. On the Go. On Top.

Offering full-length, unlooped samples of every key for a spectacular piano sound, this new keyboard redefines your expectations for an instrument in this class. Taking its name from the Greek word meaning "color," Krome is the new standard for sonic excellence in a gigging musician’s keyboard, providing a limitless palette of sound to bring vivid inspiration your music. Introducing the Krome Music Workstation.

Product Highlights:

The Korg workstation ideal for any style of piano playing
Kronos-derived full length, unlooped piano and drum sounds, plus new electric pianos designed to shine on stage
Electric pianos with eight-level velocity switching for unmatched expressive power
Clear, intuitive control with Korg’s exclusive 7-inch color TouchView™ display
Drums offering separately mixable direct and ambient sounds for studio-grade quality
Drum Track plays back realistic, inspiring grooves at the touch of a button
Expertly created, in-demand sounds including 640 Programs and 288 Combinations
Powerful Effects with 5 Inserts, 2 Master, and 1 Total FX, plus per track/timbre EQ
Distinctive aluminum panel design exudes a sense of quality
USB connection to your computer, plus an SD Card slot for data storage
You can use the Krome editor to edit sounds on your computer
Available in 61, 73, and 88 key models.


In addition to Korg’s well-proven workstation features, Krome features a carefully chosen selection of the top sounds available today for bread-and-butter keyboard instruments such as piano and electric piano, as well as vital and dynamic drum kits, giving you the best of the basics. These highly usable piano, electric piano, and drum sounds by themselves set Krome apart from any other keyboard in its class. With sound quality and features normally found in much more expensive instruments, Krome aspires to set a whole new value standard, and become a unique and irreplaceable partner for real-world musicians.

Looks like the replacement of the M-50 series. Still 120 notes of polyphony. I'm sure the big combi sounds will loose notes when sustained.

I still don't get it. Another friggin' 73!

30 years of 76 being the standard, and now we are supposed to be HAPPY with 3 less?

Bloody Rhodes wannabes! Retro isn't necessarily better!

I like having the 76 with the low E and high G on my Yamaha Motif ES7.

In my opinion, 3 less keys doesn't save on weight that much and the saved length only adds up to 2 inches. I guess in the long run it may save them money in production. They don't save money by not having a solid white key as the bottom E. Doing 73 keys C to C (like Korg) or F to F (like Nord) you avoid having to stock the replacement part of a solid white key for the bottom... but you still need the top C or F so, what gives?!?

I use my Motif every weekend leading worship at my church. The reason I got the 76 key was to have more keys than a 61 but less weight than the HUGE Motif ES/XS/XF8 size and weight. It's been perfect for the last eight years. Do I miss the weighted... sure but when I am walking the 42 pound ES7 out of the church after our service 52 times per year, I know I made the right choice.

The reason they went to 73 has nothing to do with weight, but with the current fad of retro keyboards. Look onstage with so many current chart bands, and you'll see Rhodes's, Wurlitzer's, vintage synths, Mellotron's, you name it. It's kind of like so many guitarists' obsession with vintage guitars and amps (so few of them can play them well enough for the difference to be noticeable). It's all about the LOOK...

I think Nord started the trend, bringing out their Electro series in a 61 and a 73. Perhaps understandable in this particular case, as a) the keyboard wasn't splittable, and b) it ONLY emulated B3 and Rhodes/Clav/Wurli's. The main size of Rhodes's was 73. More would have detracted from the emulation.

They became incredibly popular, the retro trend gathered momentum, and the next thing you know, to be 'cool', a modern keyboard needs to ape an older, one-trick-pony electro-mechanical piano!

It is the keyboard equivalent of bell-bottom trousers. A fashion with no practical need, followed by legions of kids desperate to look 'hip', no matter how ridiculous it is going to look later on.

Re the keybed size...I think it has more to do with parts stock from the M50 73 note boards...Korg are simply cutting a few costs by utilising existing spec'd beds....keeping the weighted for the Kronos. And removing the cost of tooling another cheap Fatar bed into the Krome.

It is after all said and done, a marginal replacement for the M50..it also had what Korg called a semi-weighted keybed, but all the keys were hinged plastic!!! No metal to be seen..

I saw some pics of the action online once...I will see if I can trace it and post here....

This will be the keybed going in to the Krome

I seriously doubt whether it has ANYTHING to do the "look" or "retro" or any of the other reasons you mentioned Diki..

Purely $ + C

61 is enough for me......but its nice that Korg offers choices..

I wouldn't say it's a marginal replacement Miden. You should have a look at the specs side by side. One major addition is the Krome has over 3 gigs (almost 4) dedicated to the ROM. That's considerably more than the M50. Even if the the multi-sample and drum-sample number count is still the same, that's 3.8 gigs dedicated to that sound set as opposed to 256 Mb's found on the M-50

The Krome has a complete redesign.., with a new color display (the units not a physical rehash of the M50). Poly is increased, and there are also some new additions to patch editing (such as twice the velocity zones in the patches - including the drum kits).

IMO it's a pretty good step up from the M50. Also don't forget the patch set is the EDS-X. The previous model was just EDS.

Yeah true...I guess I was looking more for a cut down Kronos, with the multi engine, just less samples..and was a little disappointed at first blush..

But when you do as you did and compare side by side it is a bigger upgrade than I first envisaged...I had forgotten just how small the M50 was..(rom wise)

So correction gratefully accepted

I must admit the 61 note version is very tempting a the price point..probably about $1600 out here...

Korg may very well be using the M50 keybed... but whether the rush to trendiness came with this generation or the previous, it still boils down to trendiness.

Let's face it, what OTHER possible reason is there for going BACKWARDS? Did the community of keyboard players one day stand up and go 'You know, I could easily do with three less notes!'? No, whether the rot stated with the M50 or not for Korg, it boils down to those Nord Rhodes emulators. Then the industry played 'me too', without bothering to think whether it was the quality of the sounds in the Nords, or the number of notes that was generating sales.

Heck, Korg even came out with a RED freakin' stage piano/organ. That stinks of bandwagon jumping, not of any genuine NEED...

I wish we can load the korg pa styles in this Krome! like Yamaha MoX was able to play Yamaha styles. Or at least I thought the MoX was able to.

Some of the posters here are being ridiculous with their grievances concerning a lousy 3 keys..WHY?
Why is it so incomprehensible to some folk that Korg chose to go with 73?With 73 keys,you still get an entire octave & for people with space constraints in their studios,it's a really nice option.
For those who play live,if those extra 3 keys are so critical to have,then just go with the 88-key.

If the cost of an 88 keybed is the real issue,then those individuals might want to consider a midi controller keyboard,as there are more options to chose from.

Elwood,those three keys are critical...to folks that play left hand bass, and want it to sound correct...76 key models go down to "E", same as low E on a bass guitar....

Ridiculous? It sounds as if you come from the 61 note camp, right?

So, let's say that for some idiotic reason, all the manufacturers decide to cut it down to 57... you going to be happy? I doubt it. Especially if I posted that your gripes were 'ridiculous'.

One of the strengths of the old 76 layout is, firstly, they are plastic feel. Certainly my G70's action is weighted a bit more than most arranger keybeds, but it is nowhere near as heavy as a wooden touch 88. As you often have to play organ, synth and many light touch sounds, the facility of plastic outweighs the need for wood touch JUST for acoustic and Rhodes. A lot of the newer 73's ape the heavier touch of the Rhodes. Not optimal, IMO (and a change from 20+ years of accepted standard).

Secondly, the 76's that go down to the low E were perfect if you do a LOT of LH bass work (that's the lowest note of a 4 string bass). An 88's low A leaves you with at LEAST a third, and maybe a fifth of notes you are rarely ever going to play! TBH, I don't mind that some of the 73's go down to the C... five string basses are more common now, but in truth, I rarely ever WANT to go down below E... guess I'm just old school! But why, if you consider that you are gaining a few down below the 76's usual low limit, do they compound that by taking even MORE off the top?

I'm sorry, but weight, size and feel factor make 88's not optimal for arrangers. And 73's, while good if you want that retro Rhodes vibe (but they have to be fully weighted if you want to be pedantic about it), are unnecessarily limited. The 76 has been a staple of arranger and WS use for 30 years or more. Roland and Yamaha STILL make 76's. Only Korg, of the big 3, have decided to lop off a few notes (and they still start from E on the Kronos, so you aren't gaining the C at the bottom) for no apparent reason.

If 76's were that hard to fit in a studio, they never would have gained popularity. And try getting an 88 sideways in a car!

I'm sorry, but the only thing ridiculous I have seen on this thread is the thought that, if you don't want to lose three notes, you should GAIN 15 more, about an extra 30lbs, and too much width to fit in a car!

That's where octave shifting comes in handy.My Reason Bass Refill software has a minimum requirement of 61 keys...so in certain situations in the studio,the number of keys can be very critical and if I were a prolific piano player(particularly in a live situation),I would not even fuss over anything less than 88 keys-period.

The fact of the matter is,companies such as Korg,have to give equal consideration to studio musicians as well,because of how integral software is to their craft and in a lot of cases,space saving designs are a significant marketing demographic.

As recent as 10 years ago,I would not have ever considered anything less than a 88-key workstation keyboard,but since I made the transition to software recording and as my studio expanded,I developed a preference for more compact sized keyboards.

To my knowledge,there are no stand-alone midi controller keyboards in a 73 key size,so I am very pleased to see Korg make a 73 key midi controller/workstation.

Octave switching doesn't really address the problem...

But only if you are playing TWO parts at a time. Sure, you lay down the bass part on its own, heck, a 37 note keyboard would do! The problem starts when you want to play a bass line (or, TBH, any left hand sound)... to leave yourself a good useful range for the upper sound, AND a useful range for the bass sound (I usually like at LEAST 2 1/2 octaves of bass), you can't really be happy with an arbitrary loss of ANY notes at the top end.

Again, saying that, if you really want a larger keyboard size (or more accurately, you DON'T want a smaller keyboard size) an 88 is an acceptable solution doesn't address touch, weight and size.

I think you are coming from a STRICTLY studio perspective, and again TBH, if your studio is SO tight that a 76 rather than a 73 is going to make problems, you need a larger room! Or a better layout!

But the minute you start thinking of playing live, ANY loss of notes is a detriment. But saying, if 73 isn't enough, 88 wood is an acceptable alternative is not really looking at the issue.

Point well received,but if a 73-key size is as absurd as 57-keys would be,then why do you suppose Korg would even consider 73?
Especially since one of the main purposes for the Krome is gigging?

I'm not from the "61 note camp",as I've had 88 keys(Triton EX),but since I am not a concert pianist,I grew tired of the excessively heavy keys being a hindrance for certain performances,the expense of them and the impending space constraints(as they were),when my studio arsenal grew.

You're right,76 keys are not that hard to fit in studios generally,as such is the case if you're Paul McCartney or Alan Parsons...but quite a few common folk who are limited by how much rent they can afford,are resigned to dealing with compact-sized studios.
I live in N.J.,I retired at the age of 33,so my disability pay is thin,I have a 1 bedroom apartment and my bedroom doubles as a studio...so try to imagine squeezing two computer workstations,a dresser and a bed,in a 12' X 11' space.

Every piece of gear that I chose for my studio,was purchased with compact sizes in mind.

By the way,if 88 keys were so difficult to fit in cars,then they wouldn't be so popular,would they?

Ok...so to be fair and realistic,you probably can't simply go out and trade your car in for a larger one to accommodate an 88-key keyboard....just like I can't shop around for another apartment(especially since my $1200 a month apartment,is subsidized and I'm only paying 30% of it).

However though,if size isn't really much of a problem,I really can't fathom why the weight of the 88-key Krome would be an issue,since it's only 32lbs and since 76 keys are so critical to have and if it is equally critical for you to have a the Krome....the 88-keys are very reasonable priced,as far as workstations go.

I've rearranged my bedroom so many times to consolidate my studio area,that I've lost count.
That being said,I trim down my studio any way I can,so 88-keys is out of the question,I could probably manage with a 76-key,but 73 keys make things easier and anything I can do to avoid having to contend with the expense of buying a new computer desk,is a tremendous help.

I guess my initial post was over the top & I apologize for that.
Come to think of it,the posts that are truly ridiculous,are the ones plastered all over the official Korg forums and YouTube.
Complaints such as that the Krome has no audio interface,not enough audio outputs,no hard drive,no sampling...blah-blah-blah.

Do not forget that Roland also went funky on the number of keys on their Atelier Console Organs by Roland from their previous models to the current ones have the following:
Upper: 56 keys (C3 to G7) with 10 levels Initial Touch
Lower: 76 keys (E1 to G7) Waterfall type.

Last year I went to Las Vegas to make a recording at Phil Maloofs home, and all those huge Theater pipe organs anywhere from 2 and up to 7 manuals of 61 Keys each plus the pedals.

http://www.unclephilmaloof.com/

Most electronic organs had 2-3 variations,Console, Spinet and oversize Spinet.

The Console had 2 or 3 Keyboards 61 Keys(most of the time, except for now discontinued Yamaha Electones(and the top Kawai models) like the GX1, EX42, FX1, etc that had a third keyboard with smaller size keys and only 37, besides the Wersi, Bohm in their flagships that had 3 full size manuals. each board, And 25 bass pedals on the classical version 32 Pedals.

Small Spinets had 2 manuals of 44 keys each and 13 Bass pedals
Later the Oversize Spinet had 2 manuals of 49 Keys and 13 or up to 17 bass pedals.

Just my 2 cents.

He Diki don't knock this new KB this is just what SZ needed, so we can a have a pop at each other, nothing to do with Kbs, hell this is getting off to a good start and no one played it yet, rock on Diki. Btw Diki according to little old bear drinker Billy Abacus you once lived in the UK, whereabouts was that ??? Just if you come back for a holiday I can sod off to Spain at the same time, put some much needed distance between us.

Englishman my ass, Billy is having me on, but you know about Theakstone beer and they certainly would never know how to make beer that good in the states. Maybe Billy is right, again!!

As was pointed out earlier, Korg are using the keybed from the Korg SV-1 73. This was a product brought out to answer the success of the Nord Electro (also in a 73 size). The thing is, these products are aimed quite squarely at those that are infatuated with the retro, Rhodes Stage emulators so popular right now. I don't know if you've noticed, but retro keyboards are all the rage with young players these days. Wurlitzer EP200's, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron's, old analog and early digital synths, I think because they aren't the current 'black slab' look of WS keyboards, with little stage personality, they make you look 'cool' onstage (where 50 year old guitar designs still dominate too!).

The trouble is, once you get away from wanting to emulate an old Rhodes, the loss of keys is simply a fashion, not out of any practical necessity. Ten years ago, you would have found room for a 76 if 61 wasn't enough and 88 was too much... simply because that was all there was!

Korg are saving money by using a keybed designed for a stage piano for a product that has nothing to do with it..! Look, there was a GOOD reason we moved AWAY from the Rhodes73 layout. More notes is a good thing.

I'm sorry, but I really think that the width of the product is the LAST thing on Korg's mind when they make this decision. They are simply saving themselves money be using common components in utterly different products. But a MUSICAL need for less? There isn't one!

Just wondering....why is the Krome(workstation),in the arranger forum?
I had a difficult time trying to find my way back to this particular thread-which wouldn't have been a problem at all,if the Krome discussion was in the correct category.

Most modern WS's can also double as basic arrangers, with the arp and loop features they have. The boundary between the two is getting blurrier and blurrier...

It's the Micro Brews Diki that's making things blurrred Tell me oh wise one, what do you really think of the Kronos ????

Diki, although I agree with most of your posts (including this one - I see no reason for a '73') but sometimes I think one can 'overthink' a buying decision. The real joy in aquiring something (at least for me) is much more viceral than logical. The 'stuff' I like most is 'stuff' I bought just because I wanted it, because I liked the looks of it or the sound of it. One of my favorite keyboards is my VP770 and that only has 49 keys. I never gave that a thought when I bought it (or the VP550 before it). Same with my Nord C1; where were the drawbars? Oh well, it's still pretty cool. Does that mean that one should totally disregard the details of function and utility? Of course not, BUT, obsessing over every single detail ad nauseum (nothing on this earth or in this life, is perfect), really CAN just suck the life out of our favorite pastime - ooohhhing, ahhhing, lusting after, and ultimately buying, our favorite toy, the keyboard.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating ignoring any and all shortcomings (perceived or real). I'm just saying that sometimes feeding the 'soul' is more important that obsessing over some minor deficiency, and that focusing on the positive can be far more (sensually) rewarding than micro-scrutinizing looking for any perceived (and it IS subjective) flaw. Nobody's stupid; there isn't a single one of us that wouldn't like a fully loaded Mediastation, but few of us would actually buy one - there is SOME compromise between lust and lunacy . Still, I've got Dom's number on file .

I'm not knocking you, Diki. The stuff you point out is absolutely essential information before making a buying decision, but how about some POSITIVE stuff once in awhile.

Take care, my brother,

chas

I think this forum is already MORE than adequately served with positive information..! The optimism when any new gear comes out, however, is seldom tempered by any degree of caution about the glowing press releases and often misleading hype.

The enthusiasm for products like the MS and the Audya have often been followed by quite a bit of buyer's remorse when some of the 'gotchas' finally surface. I simply feel it my task, while all else go dewy-eyed at every last new thing that comes out, to point out some of these 'gotchas' that slip by initial optimism.

I have played the Kronos, and thought it was an excellent piece of kit. Rather more than my budget allows, currently, and to be honest, more than I need, as much of what it does is already covered by other gear I already have. So, probably not in my future...

If I DID need a Kronos, I WOULD probably buy the 73 rather than the 88, and at least the Kronos 73 STARTS on the low E, so my LH chores wouldn't be compromised (the Nord's start at the F), but I sure wouldn't be happy about it! For starters, that's a WOOD feel 73, not plastic, so great for piano sounds, not so good for organ and synth. Not offering a 70-something plastic action is a big step back, IMO.

But, who can fight fashion?!

Chas,

Miracles take a little longer, just wait a while, have you got time on your side???