Korg Kronos Review Part 1 :: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF :: Piano Sound Shootout

gospelmusicians... -Korg Kronos Review :: Korg Kronos Piano Review vs. Yamaha Motif XF :: Piano Sound Shootout. Korg Kronos Review

[@louiswimbley3479]

Jamal your character amazing man. You are respected across the globe God bless you brother. Awesome job

[@dynamitekid8967]

Louis Wimbley well said and spot on!

[@weakbruteforce]

Love your videos man! That's for this review, gonna pull the trigger on the Kronos now. Considering Guitar Center showed you the love, I'm going to give them the business!

[@longdark4ever]

I own both the Kronos and the XF, they are both fantastic, each have their own strengths and weaknesses, the Kronos pianos are sweet!!!, and with these two I was able to sell my other boards that were in the corner gathering dust, will never need more than these two ever again. Great video, great chops.

[@instrumentalistjade8367]

kronos is a beast and best as to this date now today

[@daeone1514]

review the montage. I love korg boards but that "tage" is a wonderful machine fa sho and you have dear chops my bro. please review the montage, for the fans.

[@josephmleon4583]

Very nice review brother! It helps a lot! I know what you're talking about in the pianos sounds Yamaha vs Korg, now with this I'm impressed!

[@AllenTSmith]

Yeah, I went back to Korg after about a 5 year relationship with Motif and a Fantom X6. The damper modeling makes a huge difference in church when building a change or run. I can even inspire my singers by building the tension and watch them respond much easier with my Korg.

[@thechrisnab1009]

I love this guy... He keeps it real I know where I stand.

[@rpennon6912]

I was on the fence.. But after watching J for about three days and researching different Keys for about four weeks.This joint is the truth...Mines will be here tomorrow....Great job J on this eval bruh.. Be blessed!

[@GospelMusicians]

ROY PENNON thanks so much!

[@flamwork06]

I still go back and watch these reviews by Jamal

[@hoozerob]

Despite all the negative comments on this video regarding the video quality itself, it doesn't matter. The man got the point across clear enough and it sold me on the Kronos. I've already had my Kronos since this video came out, quite a while now and I didn't think it was that long ago already. I made the best choice possible for me. It was intimidating when I first got it, but I learned to do an immense amount on this thing and there is still so much more to do and learn on it and with it. It's great being a one man band with only his Drum kit and his band(the Korg Kronos). I can make this do everything I want, except actually sing the lyrics to the vocals that I realistically created on this. It's just what I hoped for and got what I expected, or the other way around. ;) The rest of you can keep your DAW's programs, Yamaha, Roland, and the rest of them. I'll keep a Korg Kronos.

[@DuaLeaD]

I run my Dave Smith Prophet '08 analog synthesizer through those same studio monitors - They sound absolutely beautiful

[@GospelMusicians]

So why not move on to another video? I never understand why people waste their time. You could have moved on!

[@jimvoos]

Jamal, I love your positive attitude. It really comes thru in your video's. You must really feel the holy spirit flowing thru you. I know this is about music, but just had to let you know

[@stroynov]

The most emotional review of Korg Kronos ever! :) Great to hear gospel player! Thank you!

[@benjaminpatingjr9027]

The Explosion effects in the intro wake me up. got shocked hahaha. Nice review!

[@basspig]

I bought both Montage and Kronos 2 and am trying to decide which. Tough to decide.

[@gjc82071]

You can edit all that. You can open/close the piano lid, alter the hammers, mic spacing, damper, etc. There's 9gb of piano sounds alone on the Kronos. All 88 keys are sampled, 8 samples per note. Damper/Sustain pedals trigger different samples, etc. There are also piano expansions. It's an amazing instrument.

[@bscross32]

I've been watching every video i can find about the Kronos, I think the best part of the whole thing is the STR1 engine. The way those strings come to life is amazing. It beats anything I have ever heard in a keyboard. Especially the acoustic and electric guitars.

[@ak2812]

I love watching you play - and I love this video because it shows exactly what Korg has put into this box - amazingly 'pure' yet utterly 'rich', 'realistic, and 'fresh' sounds. I had the same experience - I've walked in and played this thing and I couldn't believe my ears and couldn't stop playing. I can't wait until you tell us about some of the other sounds and how you think they will enhance or change what you do. IMHO the EPs, the synths, and the organ patches kick ass. So regarding a comme

[@joshsmithsr3239]

Awesome review bro👏🏾👏🏾💯💯 I love korgs but I converted over once the ES came out and follow Yahama since but now that the Kronos made its way I decided to come back to my first love

[@Waynyce]

Korg Trinity came out with the touch screen in 95! It's not the future, it's been here for 17 years now! lol. I never really got comfortable with motif es7 ui and I've had it since 05! The triton interface makes a lot more sense to me. I got the motif because I liked the sounds better over all and because of the virtual acoustic expansion board. I'm planning on getting a Kronos 73 for my main board and using the ES for the virtual acousitc sax and for a second board to stack on top!... one day.

[@NatePierreNelson]

I demoed a Kronos 88 key and the piano is more playable than yamaha motif which i love. The more you play a Kronos the more you'll start to like it. Nate Pierre Nelson

[@supahsekzy]

dude you're a great player!! Those gospel chops doe!!!

[@peterdvideos]

Thank God you're a great player. It made the six-minute intro (six minutes before a single note!?) worth it. Great playing. Great sound. (But how about getting into the sounds a bit sooner next time?)

[@orangefunk]

Great video... it was what put me over the edge and now the Kronos is here in my home. You are a wicked piano player!

[@myopinionmeansmoretome]

I sampled the Korg Kronos when I was in Chicago, and I was sold. I'm a huge Yamaha and owner of the Motif ES6 series and played the XF while shopping for and upgrade. Once you play the Kronos, you don't want to get off.

[@7stg]

I was initially looking at the Korg Kronos. But for my use - home studio/workstation + I already have a decent PC with SSD and nice sound card. I am thinking that an Akai MPK88 or Numa Nero + ivory 2 by Synthogy for pianos (really rich samples 20-30GB each) and Komplete 8 for other stuff offers a more flexible open package at a compelling price. To me the Kronos seems like a closed system of the above. Am I on the right track. Is what outlined above the future of workstations, or am I wrong.

[@danodwetsanzo]

Jamal is the man!

[@terencethompson2230]

Dude,I have enjoyed watching all your video's..It has helped me alot,Thank you very much..I will keep watching for newer video's...

[@GayWorldOrder]

neva mind tha haters brah, we luv any dang video u makes mi niqqa, yall tha bess gospel musicians round tha ATL!!

[@ncilmo]

Jamal, Nice demonstration. Thanks for doing this. I own both the Kurzweil PC2X 88 and the Korg Triton 88 that you mentioned among many other keyboards. My next keyboard purchase will be the Korg Kronos for sure. I have been looking at them for a couple of years. Looking forward hitting those keys. Dr. A. D. Kemp

[@GospelMusicians]

@ppdmoney Not sure what you mean. The website is fine, if you are not using IE.

[@dustysturk4298]

Love the review! I'm more of a Nord guy, but this video almost had me convinced to get a Kronos instead of a Stage 2. If I could only get past the CX-3 organ sounds...

[@DoonaGlows]

Hey Jamal that was an awesme review phew Lovely chords and the kronos sounds beautiful

[@jmack04]

I just found this video but I played this board last weekend at my local guitar center. I played the 88 key version and I found myself sitting in denial. Just like Jamal, I didn't even want to say it, but those piano sounds and the feel made me sound better than I actually am. lol. I want to trade my yamaha for this. The other sounds like rhodes and synths are good too. I played on the board for quite some time. Just gotta get my money right. lol

[@bobbykayuk]

continued Macbook pro with logic and mainstage and a good library of samples and you will have everything you need for studio or live playing I know we have kronos,xf , roland g7, korg m50 roland ax synth but the mainstage using the samples still proves a valid point and the sounds or samples of the real instruments so will sound correct . I will say great thumbs up to the m50 korg its worth every penny great brass string allround a very good buy

[@simondavid9353]

Thanks for putting up this video it really helped me out because i want to get a korg Kronos

[@averagemale2000]

great video, like the background story and run up to the store, full perspective.. well done...

[@ak2812]

So regarding a comment below, the Motif might have advantages in the studio, but what exactly. Yamagata has always had better orchestral sounds, has Korg caught up or surpasses these in certain areas? Can't wait to hear your thoughts in these and other aspects of this wonderful instrument. Thanks!

[@lenburke9756]

Love your playing, soft dynamic and soulful, thanks for the share..currently I use a k2000 v3 semi and cant find anything to replace it yet..

[@TheTrinirocker]

Great review as always man...love it.

[@gjc82071]

You are. Yamaha has supplied Korg circuitry and mechanical parts & they acquired controlling interest in 1987. However, the 2 companies have always operated independently. Korg co-founder Tsutomu Kato bought back most of the Yamaha shares in 1993.

[@jamiesea231]

Looking good my brutha! Looking into a Kronos as well. Gunna work on some More Neo Soul Keys patches soon. ;-)

[@Lael128]

Kronos got better and better with age! The updates and new libraries made it fresh again even after all of these years! Italian grand is majestic! I paired my Kronos with an MX49 & FA06 to complete the keyboard Trinity.

[@kagoon0709]

don't know much about korg kronos... just love your little plays jamal..

[@gilraja]

Jamal with certainty that Korg Kronos is the new king, and that all Motifs of XF to the XZ if inclines the optimum one of the Kronos world. . The best of the World KRONOS

[@moogy77]

While you were winding up to say the best feeling keyboard was, I was already saying to my self will he say the PC-88, AND YOU DID! Same here.

[@YEE941]

@cocovi actually you can use both of them for live performances and music production

[@jamestakeshi]

The best sounding keyboard ever! I tried one at my local guitar center as well and its sooooo Good!!!

[@salessi41]

you could find a nother video to show what you want keep an open mind ... it might help your music playing

[@hazysonic]

Ok I have to harp on this a bit.... This isn't really a review so much as uncut video of fiddling with the keyboard, listing off the bullet points from the sales brochure, etc. Nothing wrong with cheesing it up for the camera, but it doesn't really leave a good impression to create a "review" that is mostly about you walking up to guitar center, talking about yourself, showing off the licks you know, etc. Based of the title, it would be a lot more helpful to quickly highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the Kronos, and compre them to the motif: How easy is it to put together a setlist. How many oscillators, filters, how easy is the editing, how is the keybed, how intuitive are the controllers, what sounds shine and what is lacking, how realistic is the piano string resonance & damper, etc, etc....

[@marike1100]

Maybe you should ask for you money back. lol.

[@marike1100]

***** Nobody forced you to watch.

[@nicktencaat8816]

Jamel, Would you please do an review on the Korg Kronos 2? That piano is even better than the korg kronos 1 and x. I hope you do that

[@perfektpitch]

Based on what I read about the Kronos 2, the sounds are identical to the Kronos 1. The only major differences between the two are the woodgrain sides and the rear panel jacks are gold-plated. Maybe I'm wrong, but I read that in several different reviews.

[@dustysturk4298]

No, I haven't tried the 4d, but I used to have an Electro 3. It was pretty great for organ sounds, but didn't have the rest of the capabilities of the Stage (synth section, ability to program the mod wheel and aftertouch, etc.) I think the 4d has a better organ engine than the 3, but it still doesn' do too much other than organs, pianos and samples.

[@Gjack1959]

In my experience, Yamaha is the best... hands down. I own the Yamaha XS 8... sounds are much better than Korg.... but, everyone has a different taste and a different style... Best advice, try both keyboards yourself... then you will know which is best for you. My opinion: Best Piano, Strings, Guitar, Organ, Horns, FX, Atmosphere, Soft Pads all go to (Yamaha)... But, the best Syn. Bass, and some Electric Pianos and Drums sounds go to (Korg and Roland).... JMO...!!!

[@EBMZEQUENZER]

anyone who starts a Q with WU ignore them man fantastic vids !

[@TheOmnicell]

Im a roland Guy, now Im looking at Korg... I agree with filter thing... Although I could never find the right words... Now that their is a piano " a real piano " in a korg... Hmmmm!!! You are a great player....

[@GospelMusicians]

@7stg Yes you are on the right track. Wait until you see my new video :).

[@alphasxsignal]

The New Kronos 2 is great. Just coming out this 2015 Jan

[@suitandtieguy]

thanks for putting the effort into this review.

[@TenorSaxman701]

Honestly the best keyboard grands I have ever heard.

[@niteboatermusic]

great review, thanks for doing this

[@GospelMusicians]

Why would someone get sued?

[@LMR5878]

@GospelMusicians wow u finally replied tysm for the info now I now where to start :D

[@jerryKJose]

than Motif, because Motif features good vintage tones. But tones like PADS and SYNTHS require tweaking and sound shaping controls on board to perform very effectively in LIVE. Korg and Roland features all these controls such as V-Beam and X-Y mode where Motif doesn't have these controls on board. In terms of LIVE performance, Roland and Korg leads Yamaha. A well synthesizer performer not only rely on vintage tones, but he experiments on synth and other alien tones that are the signature

[@alphasxsignal]

The new Kronos 2 is now a lower price then the Kronos X and it is even better.

[@rome2j]

Thanks for your honesty, I think the Kronos sounds better to. an awesome board! nice feel, sounds and control Wow !!!!

[@MmMm-md8ns]

Somebody should do a SNL skit on this video. This is hilarious.

[@Dvorkys]

Thank You for Your comparison.. I'm going to buy Kronos in few weeks :)

[@GospelMusicians]

@peterdvideos There are 4-Videos.

[@dajonjackson6893]

Jamal do a review on kronos2. I heard that the piano on there is super sick. That one is sick enough and you play it well. Please do a review on the second kronos

[@paulalexanderjohnson]

@cocovi That's opinion. Some pros look for what exactly Jamal is looking for. Jamal is some what of a pro. Some pros put sound quality, touch, sounds, and stuff before. I'm no expert, but that's just something i've seen

[@RhemaForever]

The monitor are pointing directly at you vs the monitors in the xf review which, in comparison, were much further. This may account for the kronos sounding better :)

[@bobbykayuk]

hi all now lets make a point here ? The guy giving the video is honest as he can be but after taking on hes review i brought the kronos . I regret it, the xf has so much ready to use like arppegios and loads more sounds The kronos i would say is more a studio item and for them who want to spend hour making sounds . I did a head to head with motif xf and kronos and at the end of it motif was the one i would have brought due to the ease of use and the the sounds are not great too

[@soldierbnice]

@GospelMusicians Are Pluggins the Way to go or Kronos if you have the money for it. Of course you can not chose for a person and no one would be foolish enough to ask you to choose for them, but the Money Question is, being a man of great synthesis knowledge and having creating pluggins like Neo-Soul Keys, is the Kronos the way for Gospel/ R&B muscians to go anymore. Have we come to the place in 2012 where we demand some kind of pluggin workstation or stay with the traditional

[@7stg]

I was initially looking at the Korg Kronos. But for my use home studio/workstation + I already have a decent PC with SSD and nice sound card. I am thinking that an Akai MPK88 or Numa Nero + ivory 2 by Synthogy for pianos with really rich samples 20-30GB each and Komplete 8 for other stuff offers a more flexible open package at a compelling price. To me the Kronos seems like a closed system of the above. Am I on the right track. Is what outlined above the future of workstations, or am I wrong.

[@lovemusictech]

I must confess I have Maschine with a large M Audio controller and Berlin Piano, Vienna Concert Piano ect and they sound lovely but I love workstations. Lets face it we would have one if we could afford it comfortably. The Korg is an instrument always ready to go a pc with a controller as Ive learnt just yesterday trying to instal Maschine after a format can be a pain if the disk dont work and NI take days to sort it out. Korg or Yamaha they are lovely instruments a pc comes with too many probs.

[@ccfunk1]

the kronos sound may be better.but, yamaha sequencer is simpler to operate and offers pattern and linear sequencing if that is important to you. i know it is to me.

[@latinguyok]

I'm a Yamaha guy and I certified this keyboard has superior sounds than any of the motif s series. has absolutely nothing to envy on the motifs

[@Coowallsky]

+latinguyok Yamaha's acoustic pianos and guitars have it all over Korg. The Montage kills Kronos for sound/routing power.

[@nonameavailable6004]

Filthy McNasty introduce me to the majestic world of drugs you've been in lately please

[@meetyourfate]

NoName Available chill out bro!! Everybody has their personal preference

[@gmcwww]

What would you recomand for Electronic, House, Dance, Trance production? Kronos or XF?

[@GospelMusicians]

Definitely the Kronos....The Kronos has analog and digital synthesis built in that are more applicable to Dance and Trance music.

[@gmcwww]

Thanks for reply, I'll look forward into that!

[@dharwalrecords897]

sub me

[@dynamitekid8967]

+GospelMusicians yup that's what my next project is Korg Kronos 2 88 keys! Thanks for the awesome video! Peace everyone!

[@daeone1514]

Triton.

[@jaggass]

korg have always been slightly better for piano sounds then yamaha. thats not to say that the yamaha piano sounds are bad. it just depends what you like the most. i have 2 classic yamaha synths

[@paulalexanderjohnson]

@cocovi Agreed ! lol. I was just saying that jamal is a pro at what he does! So he knows what he's talking, but as far as the keyboards go, you're right on the money! It really does depend though. A lot of people have different preferences.

[@jerryKJose]

I liked the word "will have to". So it doesn't mean Kronos has no capability to prove. But also depends on those who plays it on stage or where ever it is. But nobody will say Kronos' piano program(sound) is bad. It is 9gb sampled and far bigger than Motif and better than Motif from the technical specifications and practically. 'Most people' in what sense..? A dedicated Synthesizer performer in Live or a DAW performer in Studio? Most of Gigging Synthesizer LIVE performing artists use Roland/Korg

[@gjc82071]

I just bought the Kronos X 88. (it should arrive by Wed.) Currently I have the Korg Triton Pro X, Yamaha MO6 & Roland JV5080. Roland has by far the best acoustic sounds. Korg has better synthy/electronic sounds. Yamaha, while not as good as/at either, has a nice blend of both. The on board effects are somewhat lacking compared to the Triton. The pianos & guitars are kind of weak (Roland has the BEST), but I've never been crazy about Korg's either. The Kronos seems to have great pianos.

[@shekinahmultimediaproducti6362]

I HAVE THE XF and Just Got THE Kronos the Korg Kronos is a better workstation also sorry I Love Yamaha But THE Kronos is King AND Warning WOO Factor.

[@victorhokey]

I may be a Yamaha guy, but I truly think that the Kronos sounds amazing. The pianos, Rhodes, organ, strings, bass and pads all sound good on the Kronos so I think it is a must buy keyboard.

[@alphasxsignal]

Some people have closed minds, but thet are going to miss out one wonderful sounds and new thing to come. Yamaha better bring something out soon. Or get left behind. They have been riding on the Motif for to long.

[@972Ludwig]

@opinionatorX I think the compression come by the cam he used to make this video !

[@AndrewLeSynt]

dewd, the trinity had already a touchscreen.....this is a must and normal since almost 18 years :-)

[@COPESLANDmovemaKER]

let me retract my statement a bit, it sounds pretty sweet . not better/ not worst just different. its really nice though.

[@alphasxsignal]

You should checkout the new Roland BK-9, it has some real cool features an tons of sounds and styles and you can make your own real easy. Loop a audio file and have it sync up with the style. 76 keys

[@jerryKJose]

@ak2812 Hello, Enhancing the orchestral sounds and other vintage sounds are not meant for a serious synthesizer artists.., A Synthesizer has its own signature tones, more than tones the sound architecture, controls, sound shaping parameters (LIVE), synthesis.., polyphony etc. Motif has very less controls when compared with Kronos that has x-y mode, touchscreen, pads X-Y Joystick that are vital for a live performance which is more countable than the performance in a studio..

[@alphasxsignal]

Did you ever get a Kronos keyboard? Now thet have the Kronos X which I plan to get the 88key version of it. Its a pretty neat system, lots of features for the money.

[@alphasxsignal]

Check out the new ksounds for Kronos and your Motif XF too.

[@Audiovolution]

I've always been a Yamaha buff but I'll admit the Kronos has a powerful sound. However my issue with the Kronos is more with build quality. Motifs are built like panzers, and when I messed with the Kronos the knobs buttons screen etc felt less sturdy. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on the build quality(aside from keys), maybe at my gc kids have just been beating the thing up lol

[@TheOmnicell]

Did you find the motive can compete with synth based sounds/, or, deeper creative programing. How is the Kronos for bread and butter sounds. What do you think of the lead guitars.

[@jimmymarquez]

I tested Kronos and Motif XF side by side with same speakers, and I can tell you, Kronos sounds more realistic and natural, even though Motif it's famous for warm sound, which is great, but sometime warmness it's not the best, because it can get lost in the mix, and warmness tend to take off some of the character and presence of the instrument, believe me, Kronos sound it's really good.

[@therealrussellsmyth]

Which monitors would you/any viewers interested recommend for use with the Kronos. I don't have a crazy budget but can afford to buy a decent set hopefully

[@leepicciotto]

kronos is one of the best sounding,full featured keyboards ever created.youre better off with a laptop and a midi controller than Motif XF. nice playing in the vid though and you brought some added exposure to a local shop so good job.

[@lancegolden8190]

leepicciotto I had purchased the Software package of instruments for my Mac Pro laptop I needed a larger hard drive and more memory and couldn’t run my programs

[@Muso-kr4wd]

how does the keybed action compare? I know that the Yamaha would have a very acoustic feel to it like all the motifs, I've never taken to Korg Key actions, but I used to love the keybeds in the O1W etc. But you have mentioned how good the Kronos keys are so I'm assuming they have improved.

[@DocTheopolis]

Can you review the Yamaha Montage for us out here for Church Musicians?