KORG NAUTILUS vs YAMAHA MODX Comparison Review

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Talking about USB ports - the MODX type A USB port on the back is also more than just a USB drive expansion port. The MODX is running Linux, so it will recognize any class-compliant device plugged into it. You can also plug a USB hub into it, and plug devices into that. Some people have plugged in USB video cards into it, then run larger touch-screen monitors that the MODX will automatically recognize and mirror the screen to. Some KZbinrs plug a USB video capture device into it, so that they can record the screen content of the MODX directly to a video file as the MODX is being operated.

[@n8goulet]

I was unaware of all that. Thanks for point it out. I'm wondering what other kind of controllers can be plugged in?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah good points, thanks, i have heard it is possible to connect to external screen via usb, although some usb-vga type of adapter thing is required. i don't think something like a nanokontrol will work, according to what others have said, i'd love to be proved wrong.

[@n8goulet]

@@WoodyPianoShack I'd like to know as I have one of Korg's original Nano controllers I could use with my MODX if it were compatible.

[@tonylancer7367]

@@n8goulet Yup you can, I remember seeing a video on YT about this.

[@urluberlu2757]

@@WoodyPianoShack Hi (from Belgium) Woody! you can find how to connect a wide screen in the modx here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5_Vomp_idWJm6M I wish you sincerely the best for 2021 :-)

[@Soryt]

Design of the Nautilus looks a lot like the Yamaha Genos 😎🎹

[@amusic9825]

Yeah, Genos copy.

[@EdMiran-o9g]

Korg & Yamaha are sharing Technology.They are sister Company.

[@TheHalfp]

I have a MODX 6 Love it, I use it everyday in my studio, It's patched Into my SSL ready to go every session. I'm very used to its sonic texture & personality. That being said.., Lets not be Yamaha Fanboys here...The Nautilus soundstage is Much wider, more hifi & accurate. Its punchier in a more un-hyped way.That may translate to some people as boring, but In terms of pure sonics it seems to have a better output stage than the MODX. (Though the MODX sounds quite good) Nautilus objectively has a cleaner more realistic reproduction of sound.The MODX Is "Warmer" and some may prefer that, no judgment there. (again sounds realistic in its own right & quit nice). The Nautilus is a more detailed PCM sonically. So if your like me and want the Nautilus for realism and sonic accuracy, than it doesn't disappoint & is a more capable workstation. The MODX Sonically is Beautiful to me, hence the reason why I have one. Its emotionally satisfying & has a "thickness" about it that I love. But The Nautilus is a powerhouse that sound amazing 3-D & detailed. I have a Nautilus On pre-order & Can't wait. I think the gap between the Nautilus & Kronos is slightly smaller sound wise then that of the MODX & Montage. All being considered to me its Like super clean Superanalogue VS Super rich Neve Transformers. both wonderful depending on your taste

[@bobbykay8782]

Very informative and help me to make a right decision which keyboard i should buy , thank you from thailand.

[@DynamteKid316]

I'm glad you love both! 🙂 Korg for me thank you!' As for 2nd board Modx 🙂 Peace out!

[@wireguy123]

Im glad to hear this...Great comparison...But I too own a MODX6 and love everything about it especially the weight as I gig 3-6 times a month. As a keyboardist I enjoy the "flavors" of different manufactures. I also own roland FA06..love it...But am now suddenly drawn towards the Nautilus to use stricly in the Studio for composing and recording. How are you liking yours?

[@fabriziograti4610]

I owned two Kronos (61 and 73). Those are great workstations, but I had to sell them due to the weight. Now I own a ModX 73 which weights around 8 Kg....

[@n8goulet]

Wise replacement. It's too bad Korg didn't learn a thing or too from Yamaha, and offer a greatly weight reduced Kronos that is fully compatible, and more reasonably priced. I might have considered a MODX-like Kronos to replace my MIDI controller. Nautilus disappointed on every major point of interest.

[@Finetales]

​@@n8goulet Nautilus definitely should have been a MODX equivalent. Move the joystick and buttons up above the keyboard, slap a bigger and nicer screen on it, and make the case fit around the controls rather than being unnecessarily huge. Make it ultralight for live players (use plastic like the MODX), make it $500 or so cheaper. Instant winner.

[@n8goulet]

@@Finetales And also add full compatibility with Kronos sound collections & keep the OS the same as Kronos so there are more resources for support. The MODX remains the most powerful light weight keyboard on the market, and also the most bang for the buck, best value in keyboards. The combination of a MODX + an iPad Mini for soft synths from Moog, Korg, Roland, Hammond and others is an unbeatable combination for the ultimate in portability, power & price. Korg offers soft synths of some of the Kronos/Nautilus engines plus many more even better more famous ones not available on the Kronos/Nautilus. And if you have an iPad Mini, Moog Music makes their MiniMoog and modular synths. Korg also offers ARP synths for iPad & VST's, and Roland now offers an iPad synth and VST's of all their classics. MODX + iPad Mini = The lightest weight, tons of sound engines even more desirable than a Kronos or Nautilus alone, and the most economical solution too. And iPad Mini is so small it will fit in the sleeve of a MODX gig bag, and it offers seamless integration using the MODX audio hardware. An iPad Mini is also small enough to fit on top of any MODX with no stand needed. Transport your MODX in Yamaha's back pack as I do, setup the keyboard in no time flat and connect the iPad Mini in no time and your packing a ton of power, and very little weight.

[@Finetales]

@@n8goulet Interesting idea with the iPad Mini. You can get older models of that for not much money, too. Of course you have to then pay for the nice VSTs, but still. I could use that iPad to program my SY77 as well.

[@Roboprogs]

@@n8goulet at that point maybe just get an Yamaha MX to run your iPad through, if you are using the keyboard as a controller with built in audio interface?

[@RayyMusik]

I have a MODX 7, and it‘s my desert island keyboard - most versatile, portable and best sounding digital synth I‘ve ever had. If only it had aftertouch!

[@n8goulet]

Totally agree, and including the aftertouch too. The good news is, since Yamaha, Korg and others including the 3rd party companies that make sound patches barely support aftertouch in this day of age, the feature is a lot less missed. On only synths, I could not live without this feature. On a MODX or Nautilus I could, only because so few sounds take advantage of it. But to add aftertouch, I also gig with a light weight incredibly affordable MIDI controller that has aftertouch. I can use it with my soft synths or MIDI my MODX to it and add aftertouch to the MODX sounds. About $100 on the used market in the USA.....Or cough up an extra $1500+ and buy a Montage to get aftertouch......Humm, I wonder which the better deal is? LOL.

[@rdoetjes]

I was just typing my love for the MODX. Which I bought merely as a trial to get through the first lockdown, but I never returned it. It's so versatile! And I find that I don't use my System8 and JD-XA all that much since I have it. The keyboard is better (although after touch that is on the JD-XA I do miss), And I too have the 71 key version and that's a great compromise. I loathe 4 octave keyboards (terrible idea), 5 octaves barely makes it but 88 keys is a bit too large for your average dutch appartement :D And it's so intuitive to use. JD-XA is terrible when it comes to user experience. So yeah, if I had to keep only one synth, it would be the MODX! I'd miss the F08 but again, that is usually not hooked up because it's too big and that keyboard is "weighted" already! I think it was made for elephants to play on.

[@jansenwilder1335]

If only it had a proper sequencer against my old Ensoniq Sd1, TS-10 sequencer.

[@jwillis35]

It's an interesting comparison. Both are excellent boards that can be used for many purposes. But it seems to be the Nautilus is a full-featured workstation keyboard, although somewhat stripped down from the Korg Kronos. It still comes with a heavy price tag but does give you audio recording, midi recording, sampling, multiple sound engines, and lot of very nice sounds and synthesis techniques for programming. As sequencers for hardware workstations go it is good but for those of you used to working with DAWs on your computers you will feel constricted and limited, even though there are some nice advanced features on the Korg sequencer. Hardware keyboard sequencers simply have not evolved as much over the years. The Yamaha MODX is more of a performance and sound design synth that offers a few less features and hardware functions of its big brother, the Montage. I think for sound design you will get more out of the MODX than the Korg. Again, the Korg feels more setup for song writing, composing large-score works, for combi and pattern work, etc. There is a lot of crossover and both boards can handle sound design or live performance. If you are looking to do sound design in the studio or live performance, and you are looking to work with FM synthesis along with the sample playback and digital abilities of AWM then the MODX is a great choice. If you are song writing, composing, building templates, using massive combis, or if you need to sample and record audio and you enjoy working from the keyboard and not using a DAW then the Korg Nautilus or Kronos are excellent machines. Regardless of what Computer DAW users think (and I do prefer the computer DAW, I use Reaper and FL Studio) there are folks who prefer hardware keyboard all-in-one units. This is where Korg shines for sure -- but more can be done. As an aside: I do wish Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Kurzweil, and maybe others would push the envelope with these workstations. Korg has made some beautiful synths with all kinds of workstation power. So has Yamaha with their Motif series, and the new Roland Fantom looks amazing as well. But the sequencing/audio recording features and functions all seem rehashed. We have not seen a truly innovative upgrade in quality of these features in like 15 to 20 years. That's not to say we have not seen ANY upgrades, but nothing Earth shaking. Although I love using my DAW with plugins, there are flaws there too. Depending on how many plugins you run, you often need massive RAM, powerful multicore CPUs, fast SSD drives, lots of storage, and you are always dealing with OS issues, updates, bugs, etc. When will Korg, Yamaha, or Roland get with Spitfire, Vienna Symphonic Instruments, East West, Nucleus, and others, and come up with a synth workstation that can load those programs into a custom Linux OS, offer 32 to 64 midi/vst tracks, sub group mixes, the ability to load new effects/DSP, the ability to use external SSDs, the ability to connect to a larger monitor, pro mixing features (even something like project save to Pro Tools format), etc.? Yes, this might be far fetched or even unnecessary; but it would be neat to not have to run 2, 3, 4 - even 8 or more computers using VSL Ensemble Pro networking to effectively run your plugins. It would be nice to have a keyboard workstation built to handle this power where a performer can use it for live performance or studio work; and when in the studio they have the flexibility to sit at their keyboard and create and compose using professional tools to make the best demos, mockups, without taxing the crap out of their computers. I thought Kronos might go in this direction. It did a little with the Kurt Ader samples, but ultimately the sequencer and audio recording are still last decade or older. And people want to use the VST libraries that they trust and work best with.

[@moonboi317]

you're a legend for this thank you, kind sir.

[@MKA63]

Hi Jon, 1 year later and I am reading this. I just wanted to express an opinion on your comment below: Jon Willis: "When will Korg, Yamaha, or Roland get with Spitfire, Vienna Symphonic Instruments, East West, Nucleus, and others, and come up with a synth workstation that can load those programs into a custom Linux OS, offer 32 to 64 midi/vst tracks, sub group mixes, the ability to load new effects/DSP, the ability to use external SSDs, the ability to connect to a larger monitor, pro mixing features (even something like project save to Pro Tools format)" I think that it's the differences between these machines that make them unique and fit for purpose - for a 'particular' purpose and at a price point for the user. If they all concentrated on what a laptop with a USB cable can already do, then what's the point? i.e just grab a controller or 2, laptop and an interface and use that. Back to the original point, they would all be the same and it comes down to hardware capabilities such as keybeds (aftertouch, weighting etc.), modulation options (e.g sliders, footpedals). With respect, my response to your question would be that it's not going to happen. Slightly off topic - my favourite sequencer ever, was a Roland MC-500, and my favourite sampler - an Ensoniq ASR-10.

[@jarodgregor6682]

I an thinking of buying a new synth workstation. Right now I only have a Yamaha Motif 6 original 61 key synth and an even older Korg T3 I have not used in years and don't even know if it works anymore. I am used to the sequencer on that Motif and I was wondering how complicated the sequencer on the Nautilus is in comparison to the 20 year old sequencer I am using now. I prefer the sequencer I have now to something complex. I am somewhat familiar with Reaper and Ableton lite live as I add virtual instruments like Sample tank in Reaper and my vocals using Ableton live lite.

[@followyourpassion8378]

​​​@@jarodgregor6682MODX + Cubasis iOS is a very strong combination. You can use the MODX audio interface to record your vocals in Cubasis, record also iOS apps like Pianoteq (also Sampletank iOS or Korg Module 🙂) as well as the sounds of your MODX. And sequencing in Cubasis is way easier and more comfortable than using the Nautilus sequencer.

[@Pac-Man..]

Had my MODX 8 just over a year and it still delights and surprises me every day. Bang up to date presets, deep and versatile sound creation/editing which is made easy and fun with the intuitive interface. I've been waiting decades for a keyboard like this and into the bargain, it cost under £1100. If money is no object, there are more feature-rich keyboards out there but given the capability of the MODX, it's a case of seriously diminishing returns beyond this new value price point Yamaha have set.

[@Pac-Man..]

@@bentojgaard5434 If you have the MODX 6/7 then I cannot comment on these non-weighted keyboards. However, when considering the 'quality' of the product as a whole, you must keep in mind the price you've paid. Yes, I know the casing is that hard plastic and the keyboard mechanics in general may not be the ultimate in quality. But do these compromises matter if you're not a professional musician? Think what you have for your money - essentially a Montage with very few features and capability removed for less than half the price.

[@stevenrostron6671]

@@bentojgaard5434 I'm torn between these two keyboards, especially since where I live the Nautilus is on sale at the moment. But from what I understand the keyboard on the MODX 8 is the same as that on the P125 which is one of the best selling pianos in the world, often used by schools so I think it will be fairly durable, it's marketed as being aimed for Grade 4-8 pianists, which is a pretty decent level

[@brunodadivore9606]

@@bentojgaard5434 Hi The keybed of the MOD6 I own is good, not a Fatar 8 or 9 but not noisy , no woble of the keys, it is quite passive, meaning a bit lack of elasticity you can encounter on Akai keyboards for instance. You have 5 velocity settings, different curves, or fixed velocity.

[@brunodadivore9606]

Completely true I have the MODX 6 and the John Mêlas software suite. It is just an endless area of new FM sounds to the world

[@arnaudchabo]

I love watching demo gear on KZbin (I play a cp73 and motif es6) Your Chanel is one of my favorite because you are sooo friendly ! 👍🏻

[@ufkrec]

The korg sounds so clean

[@coryndavies]

I've got the MODX7 , amazing sounds , everything you need . I'd still go with this than the Korg , I've had a Triton Studio beforeans loved that but I'm glad I got the Yamaha .

[@n8goulet]

Exactly. "everything you need". The Nautilus might come with a 60 gig SSD, but the MODX has what you need even without that. And it still has many other features about it that make it great. One thing they both could use that I need however is "real" analog modeling of "desirable" classic analog legends. And Korg's modeled analogs I don't consider to be legends.

[@HighlandStudio91]

@@n8goulet MODX has everything you need...huh? Does the MODX have 7 other sound engines? No.Does the MODX have a computer-DAW-quality song sequencer with deep editing? No. Does the MODX have 16 track audio recording? No. Can you create a completely polished song from start to finish with all the trimmings without relying on Cubase? No. The MODX was designed for live performances & Yamaha does this well,as well as having a superb FM synth engine and if this is everything YOU need,then fine....but claiming that the MODX is the "Swiss army knife" of keyboards,is absolutely ludicrous.Bottom line,is that the Nautilus and MODX do not belong in the same video,as it is comparing apples to oranges and THE ONLY REASON why Woody made this comparison video,is he knew it would garner a lot of views(which is how he makes his living and that's fine)...but this video is still bullshit, nonetheless.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

@@HighlandStudio91 First of all, if you look through my comments you'll see I have frequently mentioned I use my keyboards specifically for live performance, and that I play 80s & 70s rock. I don't disagree that differnet people have differnet needs. That said. Why would I want to do a multitrack recording directly with a keyboard? Do you use a dedicated word processor for writing a letter? Unlikely. Everyone knows a computer is the best tool for that. Very few people would want to use anything else. And multitrack recording is no different. Yamaha wisely forced people to do it the right way, and even includes Cubase for free. The Nautilus does include more sounds with it, one of the "few" good points when comparing these synths. Like most people, I don't just depend on the onboard sounds, I depend on 3rd parties and others to create many of the sounds I need besides the ones I make myself. Yamaha offers several collections for free that can be downloaded for free, plus all the ones on their user sharing site Soundmondo, and plenty can be found online to download both for free and paid collections. What happens on the Nautilus when you need sounds not provided? You can't turn to Kronos. It's incompatible (dumbest thing about a synth using the same DNA). The Nautilus could have been what the MODX is to the Montage. I may have even considered having both if they had followed in Yamaha's winning footsteps. Nautilus only will hurt the Kronos userbase instead of increasing it's numbers. And most people I believe that want the different features than MODX will wisely choose Kronos over Nautilus. The only reason I'd want a Kronos would be to futher increase my sound collection. But Nautilus can't use Kronos sound collections. It's too heavy and expense to consider, and ludicrous to buy a Nautilus with all it's disadvantages and only a small savings over a Kronos. I'll be amazed if Nautilus is still on the market in a year or two from now. I don't need those other 7 engines for a few good reasons. One, i'm under impressed with Korg's analog synths except maybe their Mini Korg (not offered as an engine). And also, I already have some of Kronos engines as software for my laptop (unimpressed with the analog classics), an unimpressed with their CX organ engine, but very impressed with Korg's digital classics (unavailable for Kronos/Nautilus) but I do have them for my laptop & some for my iPhone even. Why would I want to carry a keyboard that heavy, for that kind of money with few expansion options when I can have a MODX, download tons of useful sounds, and a laptop that offers me dozens and dozens of sound engines far superior to those Nautilus engines, with far more drive space and even Korg engines of their "real" classics which Korg keyboards don't even offer? The comparison is perfectly legit. One of these keyboards is likely amoung the best selling synths and probably will be one of the best sellers of all time, if not the top. The other seems to me to be a turkey. Not because it's junk but because it makes little sense to buy one over the Kronos which it's DNA comes from. And I doubt it will be a hit. Much more likely another quickly forgotten offering. I have been a huge Korg fan since the 80s and have raved about some of their synths of which I own. I also believe they will likely make more good products. Nautilus however, isn't one of them. By the way, I'm also a huge fan of ARP synthesizers which Korg has been working with one of it's founders on reissuing them. If Korg offers ARP synths as a future engine for whatever replaces the Kronos, I'd welcome that.

[@makximumlive]

Every keyboard is designed for a purpose.

[@makximumlive]

If you want to play live all by yourself, you can always buy one of the best arrangers Yamaha has released. They have the 16-track song sequencer you're talking about. Place it on the bottom, and add a MODX on top of it for more complex sounds...

[@Penno335]

love the night time garden performance ... damn wish I could play like you. Great vid though, the MODX is still the best bang for your buck.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

kind of you to say so, thanks!

[@snuppssynthchannel]

Modx get my vote! Never been a stronger bang to the buck synth, not since the Alesis Fusion came out in 2005!

[@Pac-Man..]

Couldn't agree more. I am no Yamaha 'fanboy' and did consider the Kronos and Krome but unless you've got serious professional requirements or money to burn, the MODX is a compelling piece of kit for at this price point, a fact that most of its detractors seem to forget.

[@imoane4617]

I think the Nautilus sounds much better, more detailed live, and is much more usable live. A more complete, well-designed machine with greater knowledge.

[@rdoetjes]

Ive never used the Nautilus but I was never impressed with Korg workstations; the boot times alone. But the MODX is incredible! I adore it! It’s so versatile and easy to use. I keep being amazed that I don’t use many of my other synths when I start on it. And indeed the super knob, looked to me as a gimmick but it IS REALLY useful! And I am playing with my knob far more than I would've held possible. And I bought my MODX on a whim to get through the first lockdown. And so I bought it knowing I could send it back after 30 days. But I kept it, it is one the most used synths in my rack. And I have the Analogue eXperience pack installed, and that really opens up my 80s heart.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

someone had to make a knob joke, thanks raymond :p

[@brunodadivore9606]

Yes I have a MODX6 and it is incredible. I looked at different machines in complement and each time I found a possibility to offset with MODX. If you want really to explore the strong FM engine, I advise you to spend 60 euros and by John Melas two software which are really great to set and control in real time (some ms late!)this keyboard, without the programmation of the MODX is quite demanding.

[@Paulo_Millan_Music]

You never has a Korg Kronos un your hand... Is simply the Best keyboard in the world

[@kenrussell7422]

Great comparison Woody, good to see the MODX still stacks up in many aspects - thank you :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

hi Ken, thanks to you too!

[@TheRealWinsletFan]

Superkob is fantastic, but became over 9000 better when I hooked up an expression pedal to control it instead/in addition

[@kiko1935]

The real Winslet fan!! Funny seeing you here mate

[@mrdali67]

Well there have been enough Superknob jokes. Yes you can turn the disco lighting off. End of jokes ... its a fairly good controller, even not a "Super" knob pun intended. You can do pretty much the same with the korg and an expression pedal. But the Nautilus is a complete fail with not having a single fader other than the master volume and so little knobs and buttons. Since its simply not practical to instal a high res oled or retina display on keyboards your still far away from being able to live without some faders and knobs.. Ever since Korg introduced us to touch displays everyone should know by now that these is cumbersome to maneuvre with, especially if you got big phat fingers and/or bad eye sight. And on a gig you simply cant rely on that you will hit the right spot turning on/off a feature, or adjusting volume with a touch LCD in the heat of the performance, Korg really shoulda known better. You do get a considerably higher quality design and keybed in the Nautilus compared to the Modx wich is a huge plus, plus some really cool new samples compared to the somewhat dated Kronos standard. But its still a fair comparison with the MODX in relation to each of their "Motherships" Well there is actually only 1 "Mothership" according to Rudess. 1. You strip a few features from the actual sound engine of the Flagship: Modx: Check. (lower FM poliphony + som advanced modulation things removed. (Yamaha also states that both the Montage and Genos is made with "premium" components in the electronics) (Whatever that is) compared to the older Tyros and Modx/Motif models Nautilus: Check. removed Karma (very few people ever understood using that anyway) and added a simpler arpegiator 2. Stripped down Keybeds without Aftertouch Modx: Check. usable but clunky and much cheaper feel Nautilus: Check. Aparently same keybed, just without the 5$ aftertouch strip and another 3$ for the opamp controlling the aftertouch ... REALLY KORG??? 3. Lesser controls and buttons Modx: Check Nautilus Check check and check again. 4. Price reduced Modx: Check. Under half the price Nautilus: 16% reduced with the current Kronos rebate during the rest of 2020. Wich should technically be over by now. 5. Smaller display. (if those eyes werent sour already they will be now and the dots are even harder to hit with those clunky fingerz). Modx: Same size display as Montage. Nautilus: Check Is it understandable that Korg Fanboyz are a little perplexed by what Korg really want the Nautilus to be ?

[@Tomperke1982]

Does the modx expression pedal also work on the Nautilus ?

[@TheRealWinsletFan]

@@Tomperke1982 no idea, but FWIW I'm using a cheap as chips M-Audio pedal on the MODX - It's actually not entirely correct, the range is compressed a bit, but I find it entirely useable - there's basically a bit of a dead zone at the start of the range. A more tech savvy user once explained I could alter it to match what the MODX expects by making a modification to the pedal electronics.

[@mrdali67]

@Xeraser The Motif line was an enourmeous success and like the Montage the top Yamaha Quality. I never had a Motif, but I know many users miss the Workstation functions from the Motif. Don't exactly get what your on about with the sound quality of the Montage. It is clearly better sound than the same sound comming from the Modx and everything in it apart from the absence of a real sequencer is an upgrade from the Motif line, not that I think many will notice it tho if you just need a good synth for as cheap as posibility. It got the bang for the bucks if you can live with the more cheap feel of keys and build quality. I know for sure the Montage have 192khz D/A converters and ballanced outputs. So I very much doubt it has worse analog circuitry than any of the Motif versions. But again unless you need the extra analog outputs and all the more digital channels via usb te Montage have, both have audio i/o via usb which most will use if you want to hook it up with a computer. And the digital io you have to buy an expansion board to get with the Motif XF. I have self researched if it would be an option to go for a used XF (Just for the sequencer) I could give a hoot for the FM-X engine as I have the Mod 7 engine in my Kronos. They are both good takes on a modern FM engine. But as you said the Motif's hold their value quite well. or at least the sellers think so ... Even used a mint condition XF 7 with 2 memory boards still cost 2/3 of a Montage 7 and with double the Wave Rom and FM engine. the Montage just seems a better choice if you want a Yamaha and can't live with a poor quality keybed without aftertouch. I actually wanted a Genos very bad, but think Yamaha smoked way too much when they priced that thing. I think the effect thing is just a bad taste when designing preset sounds. Ever since keyboards got multi effect processors many keyboards drence their sounds in reverb, chorus and other stuff. You can luckily edit that 😄I'm holding ou to purchase anything to see when Yamaha (and Korg) is releasing a new top board, since the newly announced Modx+ has been upgraded to be on par with Montage engine wise. It's been 6 years since the Montage was introduced. Longest period ever for Yamaha without a new Top board. And Korg is like 10 years now as Nautilus is clearly a downgrade even they call it their top board since the Kronos was discontinued. The Oasys was absolutely groundbreaking in its design, only problem was Korg never opened up for 3'rd party plugins for it. The hardware was extremely costly and to even get it to run on an old Pentium with DSP processor cards was just barely possible and Korg used tons of RnD money to develope it. They have just milked the system as long as they could to get some of the money back without any real developing for the last 2 decades. You can say as the Kronos came out its destiny was already doomed as VST had already become a defacto standard. It's in itself an achievement tho that even its newer and better than the old hardware of the Oasys, to get all that to run on a cheap 2 core Atom processor without any dedicated hardware beside the Arm chip that asfaik only job is to drives the Display. A Raspbery Pi 4 could propably run the Kronos software today. About the only thing I arent impressed with in The Kronos is that like you point out, quite many of the standard build in multisamples sounds dated, you need to invest in some Kapro libraries when they have a summer or black friday sale, The updated Pianos from Korg is quite good and EP engine is brilliant, and so are the synth engines. I don't care if it don't sounds exactly like an old Polysix or MS-20, All the engines id quite good and with those available you can make good impressions of just about any old analog gear if you really learn how to program them and theow some effects on it.Tho the CX Engine don't hold up to todays dedicated clonewheels. It can beat a rompler and a Montage any day, but it requires heavy editing to get it to sound half decent. I spent countless days to trim both the leslie effect and the sound engine and I still only use it if I need a kinda special sound. I have a Mojo61 which sound much much better in all aspects and even rivals the Korgs excelent E pianos. And the real drawbars still just seems better than a fader when you play organ, and its not easy to play organ the right way on a Weighted keybed, and I really dig the RH3 keys of the Kronos. They feel solid and heavy like a mix between a good Yamaha and Roland Keybed when Roland actually made good Piano keys which is many years ago.

[@Pagroove]

TBH They are both fine. I myself have a MODX. But I love the Nautilus too. Edited to add. You can turning the flashing of the Superknob off or half off. Tied to an expression pedal FC7 this is a killer controller.

[@jansenwilder1335]

I have the MODX6 and kronos 2-73, features wise the Nautilus is better than modx but more expensive, the Nautilus has a full sampler, 60Gb SSD, great sound engine and better sequencer. The choice is up to your budget and what features you prefer...

[@freddyperezmusicentertainment]

Most comments refer to the price, and not the actual sounds, Modx is a very good sounding keyboard, but the 9 sound engines on the Nautilus is as impresive as the Kronos, The Nautilus can do, and sound pretty much like the Modx, but the Modx, can not do, or sound like the Nautilus. The plastic built vs aluminum built, makes a huge difference thru wear and tear as well. However Korg is difficult to navigate... great video, thanks

[@pperez1224]

I have Kronos 61 & Modx 7+ and 6. What is unacceptable with Korg nowadays is the lack of a pattern sequencer with buttons to switch sequences while playing live. Modx has it and its a must have. Soundwise Korg is above , except for the FM sounds which sound great on Modx

[@ajotech]

What an amazing comparison video I’ve just been scratching my head between these two thank you so much outstanding work.

[@imoane4617]

I think the Nautilus sounds much better, more detailed live, and is much more usable live. A more complete, well-designed machine with greater knowledge. I used both in practice, I think that says it all.

[@KitCotter]

Well explained, in practical terms, but perhaps the best thing about this video is the amount of DISCUSSION it's inspired, in the comments below ! I've been playing synths for decades now, but have learned a heap from reading these comments.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

couldn't agree more!

[@n8goulet]

Woody, it was a good review. The only thing, you forgot to mention the "single biggest difference" between these two keyboards, which I've pointed out to you in previous comments and many other people also mentioned this difference as well. This is of great importance to most people. And that difference is, the MODX is not only Montage DNA but it is fully compatible with Montage sound libraries, along with the MOTIF, MOTIF ES, MOTIF XS & MOTIF XF which dominated the synth market for a good part of the past 20 years. In addition, it can import DX7 sounds, TX816 & TX802. While the Nautilus is made of Kronos DNA, it is "completely incompatible" with sound libraries made for the Kronos, and the Kronos also did not offer compatibility with Korg's earlier mainstream file formats, which would be the Triton series. It can load DX7 sounds though. How important is it to load additional sounds? If you were to buy a new laptop running Windows or Mac, or a new iPad, how likely would you be to load additional programs besides the ones that come with it? This is nearly important to everyone. It's true some people write their own software, or make their own patches. Even those that do, still want to be able to tap into a huge bank of additional ones. Those computer devices are hugely popular because of all the great programs you can get for them. And each retained compatibility with a platform not based just on one past product but actually of many generations. Just like the MODX. Microsoft's Windows RT, a great flop restricting what software could run on a Windows RT computer, proved that people aren't just interesting in running what comes with their computer, and maybe a very limited amount of expansion sounds. While new patches could be made for Nautilus, and old ones converted, unless this product really takes off that isn't too likely to happen in any great quantity. You did make a lot of other great comparisons however, and pointed out a lot more advantages of the MODX vs the Nautilus than I was even thinking. As a long time Korg fan and owner of their products since the M1 which I'm a huge fan of, Korg missed on the 3 most important things to me between Nautilus & Kronos. Those are: Compatibility, weight & cost. Three strikes from Korg, three hits from Yamaha. Another advantage not pointed out is that the MODX and the Montage have basically the same user interface and practically the same OS. There is a ton of support online that shows how to operate these for almost any feature, and support groups on Facebook. Nautilus users are not on the same page with Kronos users. This could be very discouraging to some people. Yamaha wins by a mile I believe. They have a far better price point, and the number of sound libraries like a computer OS, benefits all users MODX & Montage users a like. The MODX is causing software developers to make a lot more patches for the entire platform. At the extremely reasonable price of admission, a lot more people can afford a MODX. Some of them will end up buying a Montage, and many will want both for a much lighter weight and compact keyboard for gigs. You pointed out further a lot of other benefits of MODX vs Nautilus I wasn't even thinking of. I agree the Nautilus is likely a slightly better build quality. If you handle gear yourself and take care of it, it will likely last. I still have synthesizers made of similar plastic shells from the mid 80s like my Casio CZ-1000's, which still are undamaged even with the gigging. You are correct that the black keys are wider. The MODX shaved off about a millimeter off the keys. These makes it extremely compact, and in mass quantity maybe saved a on tiny bit on material. It was the size of the compact size of the MODX6 for a 61 key synths that first attracted me to it. I don't even notice playing on the smaller keys as I play regular size keyboards at the same time together. But I imagine someone out there could have an issue with that. Always try before you buy! I could be wrong, but I suspect the Nautilus will be another of Korg's many products that is here today, and gone tomorrow. I don't expect it to have a long manufacturing lifetime or a great amount of software developed for it. I think it's a turkey, but time will tell. Especially the 61 key version, which is the size I usually prefer. They shaved off a mere 2 lbs from the Kronos. All the sounds other than what comes with it and support for the Kronos is out the window. They expect people to learn a new OS just for this one synth, and the Kronos does not cost too much more money and they stripped out many things for that kind of price difference without saving weight. Most people would be crazy to choose Nautilus over a Kronos if they were interested in these sounds. I'm sure I'm far from alone in how I feel. Kronos is 10 years old this year. With Korg's history, they are likely to abandon the whole platform and replace it with something new that is 20% better and completely incompatible. But we'll see.

[@n8goulet]

UPDATE: I just wanted to mention Korg "might" be addressing the compatibility issue with the Kronos. After reading reviews in publications talking about how the Nautilus is completely incompatible with the Kronos (the single biggest disadvantage to Nautlius), and over a 100 comments from people on the subject, Korg recently posted a video with a brief mention of a Kronos conversion tool. It sounds like it has some limitations, and was not described in detail. But if it works with 3rd party sound collections, this could be a serious improvement on a very serious flaw. Perhaps too many people complained about it, they listened and did something about it? If the conversion tool were in the works already, they made a huge mistake holding back about it's existence. It's still possible it may only work for Korg's sounds only, but who knows. They locked Triton VST users out of the world of sysex bank compatibility for some reason, so I wouldn't assume you could import 3rd party sounds unless they say so. It has been made clear the tool has some limitations, and sounds from the Nautilus can not be imported the other direction into the Kronos. But to be fair, upon learning of this yesterday I thought I'd update my post.

[@djmyr]

Love my MODX but I tried out the new Fantom the other day and now I have lust for that too. I really fell in love with it.

[@FrankyGun]

Great video, Woody!!! It’s simply unreal, how much ground the MODX covers and holds in this comparison, and that for nearly half the price of the Nautilus!!! Soundwise, the MODX supersedes the Nautilus as well, at least imho... Finally, given the minimalistic and fiddly controls on the Nautilus, the massive weight, minimal price difference to the Kronos, etc. it should be a no brainer for any gigging musician to go for the MODX. If I should give a market forecast, I’d say that the Nautilus will meet the fate of its given name and dive down to the abyss of long forgotten keyboards that never really took off. Not even the better keybed will change that. It’s completely beyond me, how Korg could create such a fail in regards to price/value while pumping out dream machines like the Wavestate and OpSix for under a thousand bucks... If Korg would have opted for a plastic body and cheaper keybed, similar to the MODX, with a price matching the MODX, the Nautilus could be a serious competition. But like this???? Naaaaahhhh... 😔 Keep up the excellent work, Woody!!! Love and light from Khao Lak, Thailand 🇹🇭 ❤️☀️🏖🌴🥥🐘🌈

[@WoodyPianoShack]

great comment, thanks for sharing your opinions, greetings to you and thailand, wonderful part of the world! :)

[@FrankyGun]

@@WoodyPianoShack - dear Woody, thanks for your kind reply and the greetings. Please come and visit us together in Khao Lak with your loved ones if you ever visit southern Thailand's west coast. You can find us at www.coconut-homes-khaolak.com Would be more than happy to accommodate you f.o.c. and in return you could show me a few piano tricks, as my playing skills are medioker at best. Please keep up the great work, producing uplifting, inspiring and valuable videos like this one! Really love to watch your videos, whereas I hold you personally responsible for me feeling urged to buy a MODX-6 about half a year ago (and I love it!!!!!) :D

[@imoane4617]

I think the Nautilus sounds much better, more detailed live, and is much more usable live. A more complete, well-designed machine with greater knowledge.

[@davidmartin123]

To quote Dr. Ellie Arroway, regarding the minimalist Nautilus interface, "Seems like an awful waste of space."

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

That would be Dr. Carl Sagen.

[@mrityunjaytripathi5588]

It looks like you ripped out speakers and controls because you didn't have enough money..

[@patrickarend8707]

Great video! I always enjoy your videos. I had a KRONOS for about five years. I did the unthinkable. I sold my K and got a MODX. Most MODX bread n butter sounds sounded like real instruments, where KRONOS did not. Both synths have great synth sounds. Just my preference.

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Really! wow, tell us more...

[@WoodyPianoShack]

shock, horror!

[@n8goulet]

Seems perfectly logical to me. I tend to prefer Montage/MOTIF sound collections from what I have heard so far, but it really depends on the specific music your playing. I play 80s & 70s rock. Neither MODX or Kronos are ideal for virtual analog sounds for me. Both can make some useful sounds. The Kronos can make some decent analog synth sounds just as the MODX, but if you really want to recreate the famous sounds perhaps used by the famous artists your band is covering you need the right tools for the job. Sorry Korg, but the MS-20, PolySix & other onboard engines are not the right engines for the of what I do, or a lot of people. Try engines modeled after the "real" famous analog synths. Korg's famous synths are their digital synths. Not their analog. Get that straight Korg. Stick to what your best at. Maybe include models of the ARP synth technology you've taken over? Maybe you'll get this right "next time" around what whatever replaces the Kronos/Nautilus? 10 years old now, undoubtedly they have something up their sleeves just based on the age alone of Kronos. I'd be afraid to buy either keyboard from Korg with the fear of it soon being replaced, no doubt. Maybe they would come out with something really good to replace it? Certainly possible, but I suspect those are dying technologies from Korg. This is like the VHS / Beta formats.

[@gabrielirlanda]

Really? I was quite disappointed with my KromeEx when I got it but after learning that the factory sounds sucks and you have to edit the ADSR and adding some Fx's then it sound much better and real, this is a must in order the instruments sound pretty cool, also using the instrument in COMBIS, I'm surprised MODX worked better for you than Kronos.

[@ErraticFaith]

Make no mistake, such opinions are outliers and not held by many (if any) stage players. Of all the people I've worked in tech for - 90% of them are Kronos users. It dominates. With little besides it but Yamaha. Korg presets are some of the most used and familiar on the planet - because they are designed, adapted and made by some of the very best in music. Korg's tech holds such esteem that I still get to set up Tritons - two decades almost after their real golden age. That's some feat for electronics. Korg will continue to dominate the industry. But by all means, push the idea that they are 'garbage' all you like.

[@eazyfreek]

Hi Woody.great comparison. Just a quick note, the montage and modx don't have a sampler, however you can load any wave sample into both keyboards.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

You mention that the Nautilus' screen supports dragging where the MODX does not. That's actually incorrect, the MODX (and Montage) screen does support dragging input, used on the Smart Morph function to modulate FM-X parameters on a KAOSS-style virtual pad on the screen. You might also note that the screen on the MODX is quite a bit more responsive than the Nautilus - I find the on-screen user interface on the Nautilus quite laggy, sometimes almost a second of lag between finger press and actual UI response. Lastly, one benefit of the resistive touch screen (versus the capacitance touch screen used in phones) is that it is pressure sensitive: you can operate it wearing gloves, with a stylus (or any other hard object), or if your fingers happen to be excessively dry, when capacitance touch screens won't work.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks for pointing out the dragging, i haven't actually installed latest os with the morph feature. but dragging only supported on that feature i think, so you're out of luck for fader movements, someone correct me if i'm wrong. but anyway like i said, on these screens, prodding the parameter and spinning the rotary encoder works more reliably and precisely anyway :)

[@McN4styFilth]

I'll never regret my MODX purchase.

[@Johnherlihy1]

I owned the MODX6, 8 and spent months trying to get a good piano sound. If you put on headphones you will always hear a ringing with them, and I tried them all, and with layers and hours of editing. Garbage to my ears!

[@igorcarvalhopadilhaandrade5886]

🥰How Good It Is To Have A Keyboardist Family🥰

[@jemkeystv5717]

I have the kronos61 and a modx7 and they both sound great, you can't go wrong with either one, but a new modx7 is much more financially obtainable than a new or used kronos

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The logos aren't on the keyboards to remind you what you're playing. They're there as advertising so that OTHER people can see what you're playing. Same reason for the huge "ROLAND" on the back (audience-facing side) of their synths. :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

the logos on the back i can understand, but the ones on the front panel are only seen by the player. it's really weird when you think about it, i'm not keen on it. (as my monitor tells me its a philips and my speakers remind me they are wharfedalés). ;)

[@allencutting7073]

@@WoodyPianoShack When you are doing a close up it makes it easy for us to know which keyboard you are on, especially when watching on a small phone.

[@ThatBonsaipanda]

I soooo would love to see a super compact desktop version of the MODX. Sorry, unrelated. Awesome video, Woody! \o/

[@djmyr]

Yeah a rackmount version like the rackmount Motif would be fantastic

[@Tomperke1982]

I always thought it was ment to be a rackmount, but they just glued a bad keybed to it…

[@Filtermandave]

I would personally go for the modx. And get the excellent korg apps on my iPhone. If I where to ever gig again I have a montage 7 in my home set up and I wouldn’t fancy karting that around. Not at my age I did hear some whispers about a new firmware update for the modx and the montage I don’t suppose you know anything Rumours of midi 2 and sampling

[@WoodyPianoShack]

first i've heard about it.

[@n8goulet]

@@WoodyPianoShack Read my comment. Not only does Korg offer some of those engines for iPhone, iPad & computers, but they offer their most famous engines in these formats, which they don't offer for Kronos or Nautilus. That's the part that seems ludicrous to me.

[@funkmachine6420]

I'd prefer the modx before we even get to the price difference.

[@n8goulet]

Excellent point. I feel the MODX is the better synth even if the Nautilus were priced the same. For that matter, I also would buy MODX over Montage if the price were the same, because weight and size do matter a lot to gigging musicians. For the longest time, if you bought a smaller laptop, you paid more than a regular sized one for the convenience of it being smaller. Not as much so in today's market though. A small size & value does have a lot of value in itself.

[@BrainToMush]

Keep in mind, the modx 6 and 7 don't have weighted keys, but the modx 8 has the fully weighted Yamaha GHS key bed.

[@terrykeefe8386]

And the keyboard on the MODX6 is really cheap feeling, especially when you're talking price comparison. Returned it and got the MODX8 which is a totally different, better experience than the noisy, small MODX6 keys. Now you're truly talking comparable prices and a big win for Yamaha over the Korg.

[@BrainToMush]

@@terrykeefe8386 Exactly. The Modx6 has very typical synth keys. If you want more of a piano key feel, you need to opt for the Modx8.

[@liviou2004]

It's always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thanks. Compare to the Kronos, the Nautlius is not really a premium quality. We can say it's rather average quality. What you didn't say is all the specs that have been pull off the Kronos to get Nautllus (No Karma, no aftertouch, no controls anymore, etc....). Yet, the Nautlius is abolutely not cheap : *2,750* $ for the Nautilus 61* !! 350 $ under the Kronos 61, only. And it doesn't worth this price, for sure.

[@n8goulet]

He more or less did point out all that stuff out. He just didn't put it that way. What he did leave out, was that Nautilus incompatible with Kronos......by far it's biggest drawback of many disappointments from what we expected of Korg. But as you say, it's gonna be a hard sell to loose so many features for such a small price savings. And to not loose much in weight, I would expect very few people to buy Nautilus.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks for the info, appreciated! well, my main focus here was comparing modx to nautilus, not nautilus to kronos, since I have no experience oi that, so thanks for filling in.

[@liviou2004]

@@n8goulet The only logical reason I see, is that Korg would get completely rid of the Kronos and stop its production. The official Korg video showing the Nautilus besides the Kronos makes me think of that. I hope I'm wrong.

[@n8goulet]

@@liviou2004 It's occurred to me that maybe Kronos is on it's way out as they have something new replacing it. A ten year run of production was pretty good. The Nautilus could have something to do with that. Maybe this is sort of their way of still producing a Kronos based synth, though totally incompatible and different in operation. To think 10 years worth of sound development and technical knowledge out the window is silly to get a product with similar abilities is just silly for just a small cost saving. Korg is well known for discontinuing popular synths and replacing them with something maybe 20% better for the same money, but completely incompatible expecting their previous users to give up their favorite sounds in order to more forward. Apple does this kind of thing too.. That's the part I find scary if I were a Kronos owner. Then instead of focusing on making new sounds and accessories for Kronos, Korg's focus would be on something new instead. I have a feeling the MODX and Montage platforms still have more life in them from this kind of issue, but we'll see. Yamaha for the past 20 years has also been much better about retaining compatibility from one model to the next.

[@Finetales]

Thanks for this! I've been looking for an upgrade to my trusty Korg Kross for live and studio playing and the Nautilus 61 and MODX6 have been in a dead heat fighting for my attention. I'm a Yamaha FM-head with an SY77 sitting next to me as I type this and I've very much enjoyed the MODX every time I've played one. But I've also loved Korg workstations since the Triton and have tons of experience with the Kronos both recording and playing live. The Kronos platform just gets it done at the highest level, plain and simple. It may be old but it's still the king. It is very hard to ignore the many advantages the MODX has though. The compact size, the ultra-light weight (two things I've definitely been spoiled with on my featherweight Kross), the much lower cost, the better screen and ease of editing, more real-time controls...seems like an absolute no-brainer. But man, the Nautilus is so enticing, and I KNOW it would do absolutely everything I needed it to. Then there's the dark horse option in the Nord Wave 2, which is on a different planet of immediacy and user-friendliness and has samples that blow both the others out of the water IMO. Obviously not nearly as deep as the MODX or the Nautilus, but do I really need it to be for playing mostly bread-and-butter aux keys? Such a tough call!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

it's tough, take your came as the research and thrill of the chase is a lot of the fun! :) just to clarify, the screen on modx is no better than nautilus, nor is the modx easier to edit. but both are workstations, with sequencer, master controller and other features that you won't get on the NW.

[@martinezrvt]

Es cierto que el secuenciador del NAUTILUS es más avanzado que el del MODX pero también es cierto que el MODX viene con una licencia del CUBASE AI (DAW), lo que permite usar este DAW como secuenciador externo en tu PC y esto permite ya posibilidades casi infinitas respecto a secuencias, VST y samples.

[@drtolgaege]

I prefer modx too :I have used Kronos before. Now I have montage. They are both ( nautilus and Kronos ) computer based (intel atom processor inside) hardwares. Kronos owners might say again “nine engine”.Forget it and slow boot time. Buy cheaper, lighter modx and iPad Pro or M1 chip Mac mini. They will be same Or lower price than nautilus. You can integrate modx with your DAW easily and you will have dozens of engine (or vst’s what it is ). M1 chip Mac mini can run tons of sound engines, effects processor more than 16 inch i9 MacBook Pro.addititionally modx have 8 channel out 4 channel in 24 bit 192 kHz audio interface. It is better in montage. Perfect solution for gigging and Studio musicians.

[@n8goulet]

100%. Exactly what I have been saying. Except I'm a PC & iPhone user. But the new M1 chip does look good. Mac, PC or iPad isn't important. What is important it choosing one of those with a MODX over buying a Nautilus.

[@bouchoupapapapabouchou470]

Thank you for your very well done comparison. I owned a Montage for two years, and sold it, discouraged by the most cronophagous and anti-ergonomic management interface imaginable. Errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum. I don't want to make the same mistake again ... Perhaps you could devote a video which explains memory management, if we can see the memory as on a PA4X, for example, if it is easier to make compositions there, and finally, if the patterns of drums are correctly replaced by the arpeggiator, which is quickly unmanageable on the Monstage.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

hi, thanks for the request, but a bit too technical for me! i just like to tinker with the presets :D

[@kiko1935]

I think I am too biased but after owning a modx and now montage I think I would still go with the MODX over the Nautilus. You're getting the montage experience in every way it counts with the modx for much cheaper. I also feel like Yamaha has done a better job with the pcm samples (or is there a better term?) then korg in general. The sounds felt very cheap on the korg krome, which is a different keyboard but not far off. Completely unrelated but I would love to see you review a Kurzweil board one of these days. Kurzweil if you're reading this, Woody is your guy!

[@Keyboardnut99]

Great comparison Woody I have a MODX7 and a Montage 7 and i love the MODX for its lightness and usb in switch for audio missing on the Montage. I also have a Kronos from 2011 so the Nautilus is interesting button not a direct comparison ! I do think for the money the MODX is the best value for money of any keyboard at present but no one machine will ever do it all, i am also a big Nord stage 3 fan....One thing for sure we are spoilt for choice these days....and of course there is also the new Fantom and of course the MainStage route, shame there are no gigs ...... check out purple fish band on youtube if you get a moment...... keep well and keep up the great work!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

loved the band, great musicians, fantastic energy and great choice of tunes, well done, nice playing too mate!

[@Keyboardnut99]

@@WoodyPianoShack Thanks Woody means a lot!

[@n8goulet]

Totally agree Paul. Especially that the MODX is the best value of any keyboard on the market, and also, that no keyboard does it all. Pretty exactly what I have been saying for years. One get get a Nord for additional abilities. I prefer the software route and also a 2nd MIDI controller that is light weight and offers aftertouch, many sliders & knobs. This could also have different action for those that say wanted a MODX8 for piano hammer action, but also wanted synth/organ action too.

[@keerthisamarasekera6314]

Thank you for let us observe a comprehensive analysis of two great keyboards. It's very rare to see a comparison of different types of makes. Does Nautilus user files compatible with Modx? Cheers 👏👏

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no compatibility of sounds between these two instruments, or between brands in general. thanks!

[@lassel1644]

Great video...however the sequenser in the Modx OS 2.52 is a pattern sequenser thats nothing to write home about 😅

[@snuppssynthchannel]

The Modx technically have three sound engines, Motion control synthesis is in many ways similar to Wave sequencing of the Korg Wavestation, also FM-X is more powerful then any of the engines of the Kronos as Motion control synthesis technically is integrated in the modulation/control matrix to work alongside the 8 operator FM-X engine. The Modulation matrix/motion control synthesis system of the Montage is the most powerful form for control/modular system that I have seen in any synth, the synths up to 96 matrix slots and multiple sources per slot function, as well as the function of user drawn LFO waveforms that can be stored in folders within the synth, makes the MODX every bit of a sound designers dream synth as the Nautilus and Kronos. As a sound designer that owns some tremendously deep and powerful synthesizer, the two tone generator technologies that the MODX have are more well thought out and the machine feels in comparison to the Kronos and Nautilus, less like a bundle of engines and more like a complete synthesizer, and I think the Montage/MODX sound better! :P. The sound design department is actually why I chose a Montage over a Kronos. Sometimes less is more, when that "less" is better thought out.

[@thomasschatton3481]

What a fantastic comparison. I have actually been one of the people who have requested this video, so thank you so much for producing it and all the valuable information about similarities and - of course - differences between these two workstations! That makes it even harder to decide which one to choose. I'd like to have the MODX with the additional sound engines the Nautilus has... 😉 Since I am a pianist I would also be interested in the differences in the keys/keybeds of the 88-key-models. I guess I have to do more research on that myself respectively try them out myself as soon as stores are open again here in Germany.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

have fun trying out the 88s!

[@thomasschatton3481]

@@WoodyPianoShack Tack så mycket!

[@Coowallsky]

MODX is not a workstation

[@thomasschatton3481]

@@Coowallsky If you say so. Seems you are highly educated...

[@michael-zabrocki]

Great review but in my opinion you seemed to have an obvious slant toward the Nautilus but ended up convincing more folks to buy the MODX (based on the comments). Which makes this an honest abd healthy review. Thank you. I currently own the MODX7 and PC4. They compliment each other quite well. I spent some time tossing between the Nautilus and the new Fantom 0 and chose the Fantom 07. Awaiting arrival.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thx for the feedback, i'd have a really hard time choosing between these two! and now the fantom-0 makes it even more omplicated! congrats on your purchase, i'm sure you'll love it, all these boards are fabulous.

[@eddiezzz100]

thanks woody on the boot up time thats a killer for me.

[@n8goulet]

Another thing I wasn't thinking about. I think I clocked the MODX at taking roughly 15 seconds. This can make a difference at a gig when the power is tripped. At gigs we're very limited on time and 2 minutes can make a difference. Plus at home, 2 minutes can make a difference in inspiration if you have an idea and want to try it out before you forget it.

[@poldidak]

Before I got a Montage I used a motif ES7 which doesn't retain samples in RAM when powered off. While boot up time wasn't bad, loading a 128mb piano sample library from a card takes 5 minutes. Feels like an eternity when someone accidently unplugs your power during a set and you're apologizing to t the audience for the wait.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

@@poldidak I hadn't heard that before, but thanks for sharing. One more great thing about the MODX. About 15 seconds, and everything is booted. Even if you want to access 1 gig samples or even 1.75 gigs on the newer MODX+ that came out a couple months ago.

[@br2jyk]

Great video, thanks. Always worth a watch anything from you

[@agostoncs3575]

Thank you Woody. Great comparison. You made my day! Keep going!

[@ProjectVastness]

I've a Triton le 61, a yamaha Modx 88 and a kurzweil , happy with all but the warmth and sci fi sounds of the Triton are unbeatable for me. Just with vsts ofc.

[@t.music2023]

Thanks Woody for your videos - which are all very detailed and helpful

[@DaraM73]

Great video, Woody. Fair and balanced

[@johnrockwell2717]

I think the criticism about the keys on the MODX is valid (except for the 88 version). But the sound of the MODX/Montage series just blows me away. Nothing quite like getting FM synthesis from the original source. I thought I'd love the Nautilus, but the units I've demoed haven't inspired me the way the MODX still does, especially for the price. Yamaha really puts serious sounds at everyone's fingertips for an affordable price. I get the fascination with Korg... I just saw Andy Grammer, and his keyboardist tours with a Kronos AND a Nautilus, and I'm sure he was also running some sort of softsynth or rack from the Nautilus. Who are we kidding, this is the golden age of synths and samplers. Everything sounds so good!

[@marcweiss547]

I bought a MODX about 3 months ago and then boom, korg comes out with a new keyboard. But it is $700 more but it has sampling. That said, after seeing this video I can put the Nautilus out of my head. The comments are overwhelmingly in favor of my MODX. Or as one person commented they would spend the 700 bucks on a minilogue or in my case I would choose the Wavestate.

[@n8goulet]

You made the right purchase. No worries. The MODX does offer sampling. You just need to use a computer to do the actual sampling, which pretty much everyone already has. You might even be able to do it with an iPad or iPhone too. Sampling is much better on a computer than on a hardware keyboard. It's an old fashion task to need to sample directly on a keyboard, just like word processing is better on a computer, web browsing is better on a computer than a dedicated device to browse the web. It's just plain silly to do it that way anymore. Yamaha wisely said "why would anyone want to do that?" and saved the effort forcing people into doing it "the right way" to begin with. I've sampled my own sounds into my MODX. Surprisingly easy.

[@marcweiss547]

@@n8goulet Nice, thanks for the feedback. Coincidentally I just ordered the proper USB cable to connect the MODX to my $350 laptop. Hope it is powerful enough to access some of these sound library sites and maybe a basic DAW. At 58 years young some of the computer stuff is over my head but going to explore. Thanks again

[@n8goulet]

@@marcweiss547 It will probably be fine. I'm going on 53 soon. One thing to note, I could not get the onboard audio to work on 3 laptops with Windows 7, but as soon as I used Windows 10 it was fine. System requirements say Windows 7 should work, and it worked just fine using the same kind of driver for my MX49. I even got that to work with Windows XP too. Most laptops in the past 5 years came with Windows 10 anyway, so your likely fine on that issue. If you really find it too difficult, you could always get an iPad Mini (MODX6) or regular iPad (larger MODX like the 7 or 8). But if you run into trouble, be sure to join a Facebook Montage/MODX group and we'll try to help you out, or a group related to the specific soft synths your trying to run. If your using it for live performance, be sure to learn how to disable Windows systems updates. You may want to turn off anti-virus, online it's the onboard Microsoft Defender which probably would be fine to leave running. If just in your home, and you can wait for a system update, then don't worry about it. I play live shows so I can't have that stuff get in the way. Then again, iPad's can try to update without notice too. If playing live shows, always have a backup plan just in case something goes wrong. Over all, you'll probably love it. Incredible sound engines, super portable, super affordable. Many free VST's exist too, that can provide engines you won't find in Montage/MODX, Kronos, Fantom, etc.

[@Roboprogs]

@@n8goulet iPad (and phone) has a “do not disturb” feature in the settings which seems to disable unwanted popups, as well as calls or other messaging. An iPad on a controller keyboard is my budget 😊

[@n8goulet]

@@Roboprogs That would be find of funny at a gig I ran an iPhone synth and my phone rang. LOL. The iPad format has some advantages & disadvantages from PC VST's or Mac. Probably easier for the average person to figure out how to get it to work. The iPad's can be much smaller (like the Mini), longer battery life, and also that the software often costs far less than the same software on a computer. The laptop's advantages are far more synths available, especially in Windows format. Even tons of very good free synths. Probably much better hosting software if you want to run a rack of synths and not just start one App up at a time. Another big iPad/iPhone disadvantage is Apple largely feels the software is more like a rental. They frequently make changes, and their Apps stop working or your forced to update. One huge example is they forced all software to update to 64 bit. This instantly eliminated 75% of my software over night a few years back, and we're talking over 100 Apps. Some were not available to work in 64 bit, others had a complete redesign and no longer operated the same at all. On my Windows laptops, I bought models I can swap the hard drives and disable updates. If I want to upgrade an OS, I can do it on a separate drive and test everything out before I commit to it. Not sure this could be done on a Mac too easily, unless your running a Hackintosh, which might be a good advantage in doing so. The new M1 Mac's look pretty good though for the money, but I can't bare to think of loosing a bunch of soft synths or buying a lot of updates. I think I'll stick with Windows. My iPhone synths are sort of a backup too, but most for use traveling. I"d take them on vacation with my Oxygen 8 25 key battery operated keyboard and run iPhone Apps with even on airplanes.

[@DynamteKid316]

Design of the Nautilus is like my Korg M1 thank you! 🙂 Korg Kronos 2 88keys & Nautilus for me! 2nd. Roland Fantom 3rd. Yamaha Montage 7 thank you!

[@dykodesigns]

The design of the Nautilus looks very clean and sleek. The MODX looks a bit buisy in comparison. A glass multi-touch screen would't be that expensive anymore these days wouldn't it? Having one could really improve the UI. As a heavy user of Korg apps on the iPad there would be some cool potential there. They know how design great user interfaces for their apps, so next Nuatilus should get a multitouch screen in my opinion. Just imagine the possibilities....

[@thomjohn98]

I owned a Nautilus 88 for a few months.. Hated it.. The design was very difficult due to the rounded edges getting it out of the case. I was always afraid of dropping it.. The weight on the 88 is heavy, and when you add a case with wheels even heavier.. I used it on 2 gigs, the rest of the time was in the studio.. I own a Modx 7and it has stayed in my rig for 2 plus years and is a mainstay.. I can't say the same for the Korgs I've owned.. Yamaha has great sounds, works great with an expression pedal to bring sounds in and out.. Live Set which works like Set List on the Nautilus.. The screen on the Modx is more responsive and an almost instant boot up time.. Check one out, I was going to buy another Kronos, but I think a Modx8+ would serve me more... Take care and all the best..

[@independent144]

True. Inevitable comparison... :-) ... thanks for this.

[@OMNS777]

I just ordered the modx 6 plus today :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

woop, congrats and enjoy!

[@thorstenweimar1190]

⚓ for me! It is deeper in sound design, the MODX is great and has a lot of flexibility, especially when playing live. Yamaha sounds like Yamaha (since the 80's), which is amazing or maybe not so amazing ;-). Of course it also has modern sounds...but the Nautilus gets deeper and Iike its synth engines more. To make it short, ⚓ is fantastic for interesting advanced sounds. Yamaha is packed with its great bread and butter sounds... Nautilus looks great, I personally get 😩 by the blinking of the MODX. If you would like to compose without a DAW, having some fun without staring at your Computer than the Nautilus is better. For live or occasionally purposes, the MODX rules the game. And soundwise for me the Nautilus has got more beef. Great video by the way, Thanks!

[@tomlangmusic9623]

Very helpful video, thanks! I've been researching both but for me the Nautilus is likely to win out. I've tried, but I cannot get used to the narrow, spongy keys on my MX61 though I love the sounds. I understand it's the same keybed - huge deal for me. This is my main reason for updating my 2nd tier keyboard - I get more enjoyment from and play better playing my Nord E6. Also, I'm a gigging keyboardist and all the DAW/Sequencer features are un-necessary as I use a laptop for that. YMMV!

[@lundsweden]

Yeah, the crappy Yamaha keybed rules it out for me too

[@TheCasalinthesky]

Hey Woody great job on this video! I have been watching your videos for a while now and must say you are a really down the earth dude. I own a MODX 8 love it! I think the big difference with MODX and Montage is the Polyphony. I think MODX is only 64 vs Montage 128!!

[@n8goulet]

Most sounds use the AWM2 engine. Some sounds use FM-X or a combination. It's only the FM-X portion affected on polyphony, reduced to 64 in the MODX. AMW2 sounds still have 128. Hope that explains it.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

appreciate that, thanks! yeah, poly might be something you want to compare if you're doing a lot of multi-timbral sequencing for sure! it seems the seamless sound switching better implemented on korg too, doesn't always seem to work on modx, if that's important to you.

[@erichkohl9317]

I too get a little frustrated at the boot up time of my Krome EX… but I still love the keyboard.

[@Naotaku]

It's crazy that the Yamaha has motion sequencing and Korg doesn't :) (Wavestation) Super tempted to get the MODX, and I'm normally a Korg fanboy :D Thanks for this comparison video.

[@jgh548]

Think I'd either buy a new MODX or a used Kronos. Already have the Kronos, mind you! The MODX seems like a good package for the price, although the looks and plastic construction are a shame.

[@n8goulet]

That is exactly what I would except 99% of people to do. Choose between MODX or Kronos. Nautilus almost shouldn't even been on the market.. Almost pointless product. I hope Korg returns to the company that previously was my favorite synth manufacturer for many years. Nautilus just distances them from that.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

used montage good option too, arguably the best build quality and keys in the business!

[@jgh548]

@@WoodyPianoShack Yes, I'd be tempted by one of those to complement my Kronos.

[@astrangeandmysteriouspodca7168]

The korg Nautilus is on sale right now…$1699 for the 61 key.

[@TheAceReviews]

Great comparison! I'd like to see you review the Roland Fantom 2019. Probably the easiest workstation to use.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

maybe, i have no plans currently to review the fantom, we'll see what pans out!

[@yeoldmedic7572]

@@WoodyPianoShack :0

[@lassel1644]

Kinda flattering for the Modx to be compared to that high priced product..🤔

[@carltonpowell452]

I have owned a kronos, but sold it and went for the modx8 which for me has way better sounds, the pianos in particular have such a lush rich texture, as well as the rich anologue sounds etc. Yamaha modx all day every day. Great video woody.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

congrats on the modx, interesting that you found it superior in the sounds to the kronos, thanks for sharing your point of view.

[@JuliusDeBerryJr]

Wow.... Swapped the Kronos for the MODX???

[@varunkamal91]

@@WoodyPianoShack So do I. Every sound sounds synthetic in a Korg. The Acoustic pianos, sax and guitars on Korg are atrocious. A cheaper Yamaha keyboard imitates acoustic sounds much better.

[@musicbycandlelightmbc3225]

Hi Woody!! I have provided all the current Canadian prices as of January 23, 2021 for the flagships and for the scaled down versions that you are demonstrating. I love that keyboard stand you had used outside. Seems really heavy duty. Love your playing and omg you play really low. You appear to be quite tall and from what I saw, the keyboard seemed set really low....lol. Or was it Jedi mind tricks?...haha. I can only window shop and envy those that can afford the plethora of keyboards many YT users have along with their boxes and boxes of toys. Love your channel Woody! Current Price in Canada for KORG keyboards Jan, 2021: * Korg Kronos 88 - $5,299.99 CDN * Korg Kronos 73 - $4,849.99 CDN Compared with: * KORG Nautilus 88 - $3,649.99 CDN * KORG Nautilus 73 - $3,249.99 CDN Current Price in Canada for YAMAHA keyboards Jan, 2021: * Yamaha MONTAGE 8 - 88 - $5,199.99 CDN * Yamaha MONTAGE 7 - 76 - $4,599.99CDN Compared with: * YAMAHA MODX 88 - $2,599.99 CDN * YAMAHA MODX 76 - $1,999.99 CDN

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thx for that, helpful for some I'm sure! prices on kronos have fluctuated more than bitcoin in last 6 months :) i'm very fortunate with my free loans, grateful to the manufacturers for making these videos possible!

[@_mickmccarthy]

I was willing you to make that Montage pun at 5:35, excellent work. Your videos have definitely sold me on picking up a MODX7 (partially influenced by the fact that I'll have a 'DX7' of sorts!). Don't suppose you're set up as an affiliate with any online stores? Think it's only fair you get a slice of the purchases you're responsible for! Keep up the great work!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks for asking mick, only with Thomann in europe, links on my website.

[@funkmachine6420]

@@WoodyPianoShack after the whole brexit shambles it might be worth trying to establish a link with a UK supplier as well now

[@willchin5655]

Link the super knob to an expression pedal And open a portal to another world

[@doordedeur]

I prefer the Nautilus. In my musical genre I don't need FM sounds. The Juno-60 was used a lot more. That can be replicated with the Polysix engine of the Nautilus. Plus the Nautilus has more keyboard zones.

[@yeoldmedic7572]

And with the nautilus you get FM and ability to load DX7 and all FM presets :}

[@СССРТВНижнийНовгород]

Woody Piano Shack Hi. I had a MODХ 8. I sold it. I didn't like the controls. Very confusing. I'm thinking about the Roland Phantom 8. The controls are much clearer there . I think so. Now I have a Yamaha SX-900 . I also like Кorg Nautilus very much. I think it is more intuitive to manage than MODX .

[@n8goulet]

What did you find confusing? One of the great things about the MODX is all the support available online. If you don't understand something, there are a ton of people that probably already know how to do it that are willing to help you out. This could be either a MODX user or a Montage user since the Montage operation is identical. Nautilus users are on a totally different page than Kronos users when it comes to support, and being a new instrument that many of us are skeptical if it will be a success and sell in any significant numbers, Nautilus owners could be in the dark as far as finding any free online users to get support from as we enjoy on the MODX/Montage platform. There were some things I didn't understand about the MODX, and thanks to the huge user base of this synth, people were quick to help out. All kinds of online tutorial videos are made, and if they are made for Montage, they work too. They've helped me figure out things like how to assign an expression pedal to control the Leslie speaker speed and all kinds of stuff. If you don't understand something about MODX, you simply post a question asking. What could be better than that?

[@СССРТВНижнийНовгород]

@@n8goulet I know what you're talking about. This is all clear. However, the hardware capabilities of the Roland Phantom or even the Korg Nautilus are more to my liking. Especially the Phantom. I want to buy it at the first opportunity. Now I have a Yamaha SX-900 Arranger.

[@СССРТВНижнийНовгород]

@@n8goulet I guess I'm not from the "computer" generation.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

@@СССРТВНижнийНовгород I understand.

[@Roboprogs]

I hear you. Every time I hear the MODX sounds, I love it. But when it has been in front of me in the store, I’m lost. (I’ve worked programming computers since the mid 80s, and I don’t need this kind of hassle in a recreational activity) My Juno DS has easy to understand controls. While the sounds are basic, it’s easy to understand the layout: performance/mixer controls on the left, patch and combo selection / editing in the middle, and rhythm / pattern playback on the right. Easy for my brain to grasp after a hard day at work. Too bad the keybed is so shallow with a hard stop at the bottom...

[@collinpople1076]

I'm selling my MODX6 I just can't play the cheap keybed with any dynamic control or feel. So I got a Montage 7! And will probably get a MODX8 too. Paired with a YC61 and I'd be ready for any gig you could throw at me 👌

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah, that's a killer rig, and yes, the Montage has a fabulous keybed, just like the motif before it.

[@anthonybennett3226]

Thanks Woody. Excellent Job As Always. Except For the Fact That Now I Want Both Of Them. Lol

[@n8goulet]

If Korg had done what they should have, I might have wanted both of them. Nautilus should have been priced similar to MODX. It should have operated identical and been full compatible to Kronos, and it should have weight about half of what Kronos does. Korg failed on all three points of interest.

[@elpmettsol]

Nautilus is all around, simply a better machine. It has much better build quality and does in fact, have balanced outputs. That doesn’t however, take away from what the MODX offers. Which is better tactile control, especially retaining motion control. That’s a really powerful function! More powerful (and capable,) of sound design/creation than some may realize. But the biggest down side to both of them (IMHO,) no AFTERTOUCH!

[@ErraticFaith]

I wouldn't see either as main flag ship boards. Preserving the right bed for aftertouch is additional cost. They dropped the price for these, thus the features. Korg barely ever feature AT unless it's the tip top. Nautilus isn't. It's a tide over for the next gen [kronos] tier. Using the old tech with new paint until then. The world climate at large made that the right choice. ModX is the montage light. And a great top board. No need for AT on something like that.

[@DaraM73]

So Korg has ditched the chipboard plank that featured on the underside of the Grandstage?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

on the 61 for sure, can't speak for the others, but typically used on 88s for some stability.

[@DaraM73]

@@WoodyPianoShack oddly, I’m excited by the 61key wavestate

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Ehhh...not a comparison when you can add a MinilogueXD to a Yamaha for the same price as the Nautilus (true hybrid; Analog/FM/PCM. Maybe Korg should concentrate on the importance of the keybed quality and longevity instead of the case. My singer/songwriter friend has a Korg Krome88 and her keybed was all bad after just 6 years, and after repair still not right. I played her Korg when new, and thought the keybed was un-playable, it did not respond (touch to sound) like it should. While my YamahaP95 keybed of the same age is like new ((I practice 10x more than she). Even the YamahaMX49 ( I own) has a keybed that is fantastic, I would expect the MODX to be at least as good. Morphing is underrated we need it on all high voice count polys. I think your best deal today is the MOXF for $1000. Remember sound design on the Yamaha is an 8 oscillator synth + FM, very powerful sound design. An extra 4 outputs is a BIG deal, good for Korg. Great review of the two Woody!!!

[@n8goulet]

Agreed, except on the the MOXF being the best value. For $400 more (and sometimes less), you get a whole lot more keyboard. Agreed on the MX49 keybed too. I have one, and thought it's nothing fancy, it works great. The MX49 is the smallest and lightest weight keyboard in the MOTIF family, which the MODX/Montage is sort of the next version of. All of the sounds I used in my MX49 were included in the MODX. And all of the sounds on my MOTIF ES were included in the MX49.

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

@@n8goulet I already own a Reface DX and love it, don't need the FM from the MODX. I won't be buying the MOFX very likely, not enough money this year and I am sure it will be discontinued soon as the MODX will be its replacement. I would sure like to try that 8 oscillator sound design, have you tried it?

[@bruin4937]

Woody, you are always so on top of things! Yes, I am among those who were wondering about these 2 instruments and how they compared with each other, so thank you for this comparison video. BTW, what's the story behind you playing your MODX outdoors at dusk?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

glad it was helpful, not much of a story really, just one of the crazy things i like to from time to time, treat my synths to a nice outing! started with the wavestation i think...

[@bruin4937]

@@WoodyPianoShack Nice! I think by doing so you are also inspired - I like what you were playing in the final clip.

[@edrumsense]

Initially, I was planning to purchase the Modx+ instead of the Roland 06. However, I am currently feeling extremely unsure about the poor quality of the plastic bridge keys in the MODX, which I have observed through your camera angle. I am uncertain whether the new Modx+ has the same keys. It is frustrating that in this day and age, a key hinge mechanism like that is still present. I find it hard to believe that even a low-cost MIDI controller priced at 100 USD can have superior keybeds.

[@noitnova]

I own this 2 synths but the Nautulis wins this battle.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Not for many of us.

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

Can either do decent B3 Hammonds and All Stops open Pipe organs (like Nord and Kurzweil)? If not can decent organ sounds be loaded into them from an external sound library? Yamaha Motif XS does a beautiful 'Notre Dame' Pipe organ! Nautilus appearance really reminds me of Korg Krome (which I own)

[@lumpichu]

"read somewhere they are balanced, but don't quote me on that, not sure where I read that" - staring at the panel where it says "outputs (balanced)" I know, these things happen :D

[@brunodadivore9606]

Now the real competitor, returning back to a lot of buttons and control on facade with the best touch screen is the Fantom0 serie

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

The Fantom 0 is a worthy competitor, but I prefer the MODX. The MODX touch screen however is much larger. I found the Fantom 0 screen too small and over crowded. MODX wins for the touch screen.

[@justjoeblow420]

I've been going back and forth between these two on which one to buy but ultimately the Korg won out with it having more synth engines and having a more fleshed out sequencer. The engines on the Kronos and Nautilus are no slouches especially that physical modeling one I've heard some really impressive stuff out that one in the right hands. Now that the Kronos is MIA it was an easy decision to go with the Nautilus as seemingly no dealer in the US has any Kronos in stock not sure if Korg is going to end the line and introduce a replacement or if it's just from the chip shortage. MODX does seem nice but being mostly limited to FM outside of sample based stuff is a real mood killer for me, plus the organ on the Nautilus sounds noticeably better to me which is a huge plus. The boot time of the Nautilus isn't an issue as mine is gonna be purely a studio device and I can make do with a 3 minute boot time as some one that has used analog synths before and oh boy 3 minutes is down right speedy compared to the MS-20 Mini I owned that could take upwards of 30 minutes for the tuning to stabilize on. I think a lot of the compromises on the Nautilus make sense if you look at it as more studio oriented. Which is fine with me as that's my use case for either one. So for me the extra price is worth it.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

make sure you don't overlook the fantom-0, just to make your decision ever more complex! but that's half the fun...

[@MarkSomosoMusic]

Great comparison. I loved your video. Amazing synthesizer. I also play korg kronos.. And Yamaha p125 roland fp30.... I play piano also on my channel

[@WoodyPianoShack]

great channel and playing, i dig your style, best of luck with it :)

[@MarkSomosoMusic]

@@WoodyPianoShack appreciated your positive response

[@larrbaII]

i have a Krome Ex and it works for me, but why lose the ribbon strip on the nautilus that the krones had?

[@frama7844]

I my opinion: the Nautilus is 500,- too expensive in comparison to MODX or Kronos. For 2000,- I´d rather get a 2nd hand Kronos. But for me personaly: I really like my MODX6 and I see no real reason to change. The Kronos´/Nautilus´ workflow, boot time and the "lacky" touchpanel don´t catch me. Thanky, Woody for confirming my desicion :)

[@thewoodster]

As I first time synth buyer I'm leaning towards the MODX7+. Being such a novice I have a basic question I'm almost embarrassed to ask. Is there a pattern sequencer on the MODX models? I've seen some videos of the Roland JD-Xi crossover synth. Different beast but the pattern sequencer looks very simple to programme using the physical keys.

[@keyboyrecords]

Sent my MOD X back for a Kronos with no regrets.

[@brianpetersen3429]

Excellent comparison.

[@junkokinoko7277]

Great demo Woody is the memory on the MODX expandable?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

not the onboard flash memory, but I guess you can load additional stuff from usb thumbdrive? don't know for sure though.

[@federicovalmassoni3827]

What about the keybed action quality of 61 keys version? I tried Nautilus 61 and it was very bad but Nautilus 73 and Modx7+ had really nice action...how can it be possible in Korg this difference?

[@Culture_of_Ghosts]

Another excellent & informative upload Woody, although the status of the Nautilus is still a head scratcher. Why produce such a high quality instrument with what would seem high quality keybed without after-touch???? If the Nanokontrol does the job we all hope it would do with this synth, that combined with after-touch makes the choice somewhat easier. If the new arpeggios don't apeal to you, I believe a pre-owned Kronos 2 would be the better choice, especially at current prices.

[@n8goulet]

The biggest head scratcher is why would Korg come out with a new keyboard with Kronos DNA that is completely incompatible with it, that operates differently, and is just barely cheaper? I see little point in the Nautilus existence. When someone chooses the MODX over a Montage, they are helping the whole platform. Now the user base is that much bigger. More people to make new sounds. More people to sell new sounds to and hardware accessories to. More people to share technical knowledge for support, and perhaps, they will at some point buy both. Nautilus is the opposite. It hurts the whole Kronos platform. Now their user base instead of growing could be shrinking as some people will foolishly buy this over Kronos, which puts them on a totally different page than Kronos. But I don't think Kronos users have too much to worry about, because most people will be smart enough not to buy this keyboard unless Korg drops it below the price of MODX. Then they might gave people a good reason to buy it. And if they did that, it would hurt the Kronos platform in doing so. I love Korg, but I don't know what they are thinking sometimes. And this is not the first time they have done this kind of thing, and they seemingly have fallen flat. But I think Korg has a replacement altogether for Kronos anyone just around the corner. Kronos technology has been out a decade now. I'd be hesitant to spend that kind of money and that amount of time learning something that complex only to likely have to abandon it in favor of something new that could be on the market soon. If I were serious about getting that technology, I'd hold off altogether and see what they come out with in the next year or so.

[@Culture_of_Ghosts]

@@n8goulet Nautilus is a bit of a mystery, I'm still going to hold out for something else though. I'm quite content ATM with my analog polysynths and for anything digital/sampled/wavetable based, my plug-ins take care of that like you have mentioned on this thread. I'm always interested in new gear though, and I think Roland are way overdue with a replacement for the FA series, so would be quietly interested to see what will come there!

[@n8goulet]

@@Culture_of_Ghosts If your happy with what you already have, then stick with it. I do think as someone mentioned, a ZenCore replacement for the FA series from Roland would make sense. Another option, get a great deal on a used MODX. They're making a ton of these synths, therefore, find a great deal on used one should not be too hard. I scored an amazing deal 2 months after the MODX came out on a demonstrator. If something else comes out you like better, you could probably just sell it and get your money back if you bought it cheap enough to begin with. I've tried out the ZenCore synths. I think I'd still prefer the MODX, but good to have both.

[@vikrampatik34]

Korg NAUTILUS is perfect

[@romanokoenmusic]

Hi. Great video. I think they're both amazing workstations. I have played the MODX 7 and 8 and I am very pleased with it. However, being a Korg guy (I own a Krome 73) I like the Nautilus much more based on my experiences playing the Kronos.

[@agparag]

I own krome 61. Better to get nautilus or modx ?

[@romanokoenmusic]

@@agparag hi there. That is a great question but unfortunately I cannot tell you which is best for you. That is something you may be able to determine with more research into the product features and your needs as a music creator. I would be happy to help, feel free to DM or email me at [e-mail] The Nautilus 88 is right for me because: 1) The user interface, parameters and features of Korg workstations are familiar to me so I'll be more effective upon unboxing the Nautilus and there will be no testing or searching for the sounds I want to use and minimum disruption to productivity. 2) I prefer the sound engines on the Nautilus and Krome even compared to most of my virtual instrument libraries. 3) Korg instrument samples are highly customizable with add-on libraries available via their website. 4) I already own a Krome 73 so I will have plenty more, high-quality sounds at my disposal as well as the additional keyboard and user assignable MIDI control surface features thus providing me with deeper MIDI and Audio integration and control for my studio. All the best with your music endeavors.

[@agparag]

@@romanokoenmusic Thanks for the reply , that's helpful. I need for as a performance keyboard . Krome unfortunately is not meant for this as there are no scenes.

[@romanokoenmusic]

@@agparag okay. I may be able to help with that depending on what you may require your scenes to do. Are you referring to Scenes as featured in the MODX?

[@agparag]

@@romanokoenmusic yes , scenes like the modx so to perform live in front of audience.

[@tomasgarcek]

Don't know how about Nautilus, but Kronos defly can do sidechain effect. If Nautilus uses the same engine, it does it probably too.