Korg Kronos
The Kronos is a music workstation manufactured by Korg 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.
| Korg Kronos | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Korg |
| Dates | 2011–2022 |
| Price | $2,800-$3,500 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | up to 200 voices |
| Timbrality | 16 |
| Synthesis type | Sample-based synthesis, Physical modeling synthesis, Wave sequencing, Frequency modulation synthesis |
| Aftertouch expression | Yes |
| Velocity expression | Yes |
| Storage memory | Kronos: 1,664 programs, 1,792 combos, 152 drum kits, 256 GM2 programs and 9 GM2 drum kits. 30GB internal SSD, 2GB internal RAM (1GB available for samples) Kronos X / 2: 62GB internal SSD, 3GB internal RAM (2GB available for samples) |
| Effects | 12 insert effects, 2 master effects, 2 total effects. 185 effect types, 783 presets, 1 EQ per track |
| Hardware | Kronos / X: Intel Atom D510/D525 processor soldered on an Intel D510MO/D525MW motherboard Kronos 2: Intel Atom D2550 processor on an ASRock IMB-140D Plus motherboard |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 61-key semi-weighted, 73- and 88-key piano-weighted |
| External control | Damper pedal, assignable switch, assignable pedal |
Much like Kronos' predecessor and Korg's previous flagship synthesizer workstation, the OASYS, Kronos is basically a custom software synthesizer running on an Intel x86 processor and operating system based on the Linux kernel with RTAI extensions; it includes 9 different sound engines which encompass the entire range of Korg synthesis technologies.
The Kronos X was introduced in July 2012 with OS version 2 and the Kronos 2 with OS version 3 was announced in November 2014 (marketed as "new Kronos"). Updated versions have more memory and new factory sounds, but otherwise have similar hardware based on the Intel Atom processor series, so older models can be upgraded to the newer specs with user-installable OS updates and sound banks. In February 2022 Kronos System version 3.1.4 was released and is the latest version to date.
As of 2022 Kronos is an end-of-life product.