Korg Kronos 2 Review - One Of The Best Workstation Keyboards For Producers

Our resident keys & synths guru, Gaz reviews the Korg Kronos 2 range in search of the best keyboard workstations money can buy.
In this video, Gaz demonstrates the awesome features within the Korg Kronos 2 61 Key Workstation keyboard.
View the Korg Kronos 2 61 Key Workstation over at PMT Online: goo.gl/1QdMDV
View the entire Korg Kronos Range: goo.gl/j4CGxi
This flagship keyboard from Korg’s ever expanding range of synthesizers and keyboard workstations incorporates a massive selection of sound libraries as well as 9 sound engines and a premium keybed with the most advanced Control Surface to date to provide a more enjoyable playing experience overall.
In addition, this contender for best keyboard workstation also features the coveted Enhanced SGX-2 Grand Piano Sound Engine which works perfectly in conjunction with the natural touch semi weighted 61 note keyboard to provide a realistic playing experience, capturing all the subtleties and nuances of your playing with ease.
Songwriters and producers will appreciate the KARMA Technology (Kay Algorithmic Real-Time Music Architecture) built in to the Korg Kronos 2. This powerful live performance and songwriting tool allows you to craft arpeggiated phrases, loops and backing tracks that responds to the dynamics of your playing and can all be edited in real time. This MK2 Kronos also includes the Second Generation of KARMA which now includes Wave-Sequencing, Note Mapping and 8 scenes per layer.
You can also utilise the keyboard workstation to its full potential within a studio scenario thanks to the Sequencer Composition Tools like Drum Tracks and Open Sampling - all of which make songwriting a more productive and rewarding experience.
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[@carlweiderick]

An amazing instrument! I have the 88 key, LS version and I won't live long enough to fathom all of its capabilities. Great review, thanks!

[@cascal7503]

Thanks Mate, looked at heaps on the Kronos 2 but you're the first that mentioned what was on the back panel and showed it!

[@stevenjames8260]

I own a Kronos 88 Platinum Edition and I just like to stand and look at it, had it a couple of years and love it more every time I use it. Can be a bit daunting as it can be really deep but stick with and the true quality of this machine shines through. Effects are stunning.

[@basspig]

I've owned my KRONOS 2 for a year now. Just becoming comfortable with the interface and getting around loading programs and custimizing the banks to have the sounds i need. Love the realism of the piano.

[@tuberadiohistory8093]

Thanks for this video which shows the features and the details on the back.

[@DopeSyk]

Amaaaaazing review.. exactly what I wanted to see. Thanks!!

[@cromdesign1]

Mine wil be here wednesday. I watched a lot of video’s on youtube to decide. I ordered the 73 key version. Most expensive music gear I have ever bought! Before that I had a korg x5d, no comparing that to this though.

[@mrfudd13]

Thanks for mentioning the difference in "piano feel" between the 66 - key version and larger models. I've not been able to find a demo in my city, and weighted keys are important to me. Don't want to buy one and find out I don't like the feel, and have to send it back. Yours is the only review that gave me this important information - THANK YOU!

[@artymusicchap]

Great vid. Love my Korg Kronos :-)

[@nojabformeeducateyourself3393]

As soon as I learn to play am going to get me one of them

[@bobprice6274]

Just got the original version, enjoying it.

[@dajie3197]

my gold version is on the way, nice review.thanks!!!!!

[@montazownianr1]

Gold is for primitive people :S

[@axelfoley1768]

da jie it wasn't even close to a review.

[@rodneylee4026]

I have the 88 and also borrowed a 61 for a while. It was weird because I was coming up with a lot of cool stuff on the 61 that differs what I do on the 88 due to the different (synth) keys. Even though I'm a pianist as well.

[@andrew4630]

I have the 88 key version ,and it is really cool

[@cfig81]

It will be nice if you make a video about the difference between the Kronos and the Pa4x , 🙏🏽

[@memojaramillo8063]

Do they have a version thats all the same material? I don't like how the wood looks on it. Other than that it sounds great.

[@nickienok9643]

Thanks so much for the great review. I've had my Kronos 2 for about 2 years, and I've barely touched the surface of what it can do. I'm using the sequencer a lot and just amazed how easy, yet how powerful it is. Question: do you know how many of these Korg has sold in total? A few thousand or a few million? thanks again, I'll have to subscribe, I just found out about you, really great! More! :)

[@jaydenforest4116]

I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know of a method to get back into an Instagram account? I somehow forgot my password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me

[@emmanueloscar6163]

@Jayden Forest instablaster =)

[@jaydenforest4116]

@Emmanuel Oscar thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@jaydenforest4116]

@Emmanuel Oscar it worked and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my account :D

[@emmanueloscar6163]

@Jayden Forest Glad I could help xD

[@xp50player]

It’s a Vector stick, look into what that is. It’s not for editing patches, it’s a realtime controller mostly used for crossfading between tones within a patch or whatever other parameters you assign to it. The display is also not HD; it’s SVGA 800x600, which is old school CRT monitor resolution. The faders are not used by Karma for volume, as you stated, but for pattern variation parameters.

[@IncompleteStranger]

Can this do the pitch bending thing the Korg M50 can do?

[@lisaparker865]

incredible 👑

[@elvinlewis4233]

The Kronos is an absolute BEAST, but I use my Roland FA 08 more. (Easier to wrangle) I've thought about the Montage because I'm a gear slut, but...navigating the menus for sounds is an apparent nightmare, and of course that price tag is a bit off putting. The Kronos isn't cheap either, but man, what a machine.

[@tuneunleashed]

Elvin Lewis you’re wrong I have a Montage 8 it’s as easy as an Roland FA it’s really cool. Kronos is harder because it’s made for the studio but if you want to play live no problemo

[@jamesmorelandoliver8897]

Can anyone suggest a simple way to bring sequences created on the Korg Triton Studio workstation to play on a Kronos?

[@forrestperkins6237]

Export midi

[@funguy29]

This is one... what are the others ?

[@oldschoollee]

I'll take the 61 key in Titanium limited edition

[@madness8556]

The internal SSD drive is so fast that it takes almost 3 minutes for the instrument to boot up! Talk about a potential nightmare scenario if you lose power during an actual gig!

[@scottpetruccelli8332]

Haven't seen this guy since the the movie ( The Crow )

[@siddharthsajjive3768]

Was that little band under the joystick the ribbon controller

[@Ribbonium]

Yes, that's a ribbon controller.

[@punkrock75]

I took a sip of my beer every time he said "as well"... 3 minutes into this video I was wasted. Had to watch the rest the next day...

[@thekingsown10]

I am having an absolute nightmare trying to integrate the kronos with cubase as a controller absolutely terrible integration with DAWS.

[@keyboyrecords]

Run it thru your interface. Not worth the hassle. Especially when the usb only has 2 channels. Go S/P dif much clearer.

[@basspig]

Same problem with Montage.. has to be in multi mode but can only play 8 MIDI channels.. have to be in single mode just to play a piano but then DAW does work. No support for una corda pedal either. Insane limits for a 88 weighted keys synth. That's why I'm looking at Kronos now.

[@keyboyrecords]

I got it perfectly with cubase 9.5 and mpc 2.7 software. Maybe I could help you. Do Not select ASIO for all in Cubase. Always use spdif connect to your interface. Change clock to spdif/ external on your audio interface software 48k. In Kronos global set spdif clock to internal. The USB is only used for midi at this point. In mpc 2.7 software you will use ASIO for All with kronos and your audio interface selected within ASIO for all (I think the Power for Kronos should be disabled and Play enabled in the settings I could be wrong)

[@keyboyrecords]

@@basspig on info screen of Cubase is a page that has templates for the Montage to work perfectly. It's not as simple as the kronos though. Inside the montage you select the template you are using with Cubase.

[@basspig]

@@keyboyrecords I've been using Cakewalk Sonar for ages. It should be able to do anything that Cubase can do. The Montage simply doesn't respond on channels 9-16 with any of my projects. Montage is the first synth I've owned that did this. And no una corda pedal support. What was Yamaha thinking?

[@basspig]

I'm confused. Is it Kronos or Kronos 2?

[@sheffsteel7]

basspig there’s only 1 Kronos but there was been several versions....Kronos, Kronos X and now Kronos 2. The original Kronos had black side panels.....the updated/ current version with improved specs known as Kronos 2 has wooden panels on the side...so as you can see this must be Kronos 2.....the latest version of the Kronos.

[@Aenygma_]

And is this thing 5000$ ?

[@paulsmith1981]

I have just got my hands on the 88 LS version. I bought it second hand on ebay. First impressions, the key feel is horrible, A cheap plasticity kids toy kind of feel. My advice to anybody looking to buy one. Do not get the LS version.

[@user-fu8ck7mz3m]

How much is Kronos 2 Korg now? 88 keys ... workstation

[@Aenygma_]

5300$ US

[@alphasxsignal]

I had a Kronos 2 88key but sold it to try a Montage for a bit.

[@lunde28]

I bought a 5 months old Kronos X 88 from a guy who rather wanted a Nord Stage.

[@Armz316]

alphasxsignal so which board is better overall? Korg Kronos 2 88 keys or Yamaha Montage? Thanks, peace out!

[@lunde28]

Def. Kronos 2, but they are both fine workstations. It's also a matter of taste.

[@jmac3957]

alphasxsignal Nm

[@tuneunleashed]

Armz73 Yamaha Montage 8 is better easier and it’s just wow try it

[@agst2006]

A powerful machine with Linux running under the hood ...

[@martincontreras6031]

TERRIBLE REVIEW! TOO MUCH TALKING

[@Persill-gb5jq]

The most realistic piano feel EVER, however, the piano samples are substandard to mediocre without heavy editing(not good for a flagship model), nowhere near worth 4k

[@horus7854]

Hey everything he's playing here sounds really terrible, these are hacky, cheesy, wonky sounds like $10 Casio keyboard at a pawn shop