The Kronos vs Montage: Which One Should You Buy?

Buying an expensive keyboard is a major decision for most people. Those looking for advanced workstations and synthesizers are often met with confusion as to which one to buy. There are a lot of similarities and differences between the Korg Kronos and Yamaha Montage. Which keyboard is the better buy? In this video we will take a brief overview of each keyboard and address some of their key features so that you can make a decision about the Korg Kronos and Yamaha Montage.
Music Credit:
Downtown Walk by | e s c p | escp-music.bandcamp.com
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@andrewhoward6687]

I love these videos. I mostly play live and am in the market for a new board. Thank you for all of the work you do!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you Andrew! I really appreciate that!

[@Marian1st.]

I love your channel. It’s incredibly informative. I hope you’ll always make these kind of videos. Thank you so much.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for watching!

[@ShakaBrah3]

This is a very informative and enlightening vid, Darrick - thank you. What a trip that Yamaha workstations died with the Motif XF! I have a Motif ES which I -still- love and am very glad that I also own a Kronos 2-61. Liked and subscribed.

[@joonglegamer9898]

I have the Yamaha Montage and it's a complex beast to learn. I learned a lot of stuff I didn't even know how to use from your video Darrick, thanks!

[@darrickkeels6387]

It's truly my pleasure!

[@IMakeBeats]

Nice breakdown and explaining the difference between the two types of keyboards. A lot of people believe a keyboard 🎹 is a keyboard, but not true! Good job here!! Hoping you do a tutorial on the Kronos creating a whole song start to finish!! 🙏🏾🎹

[@Silverfalcon8]

I really Enjoyed this and found it so useful, Thank you.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for watching!

[@narfsounds]

I used to pit them against each other then realized that they're complementary. It's great to own both!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Indeed they are!

[@flowmaka]

Great in depth review of both keyboards.

[@theequalizer5605]

for me, i see the Kronos as being the more 'classical' of the two, the Montage screams 80's and 90's music which is exactly what i wanted, but the Montage has the most earthshaking beats i have ever heard in a synth, and ive owned about 20!. if anything, the bass is so banging and the highs so crystaline that the mids kinda disappear like a valley between two mountains!

[@LeventeZone]

Well, one aspect is what we are comparing. Montage has 2 synth engines, Kronos has 9 plus full-blown actual workstation features. So they are two very, VERY different beasts. The adjusted factual question would be "which one should you buy if you look for certain sound categories"... Some may like a guitar sound on one or the other, but simply put, Kronos has vastly deeper and wider sound design + full workstation features. So it is a personal choice, obviously - as the objective differences are glaring from the feature specifications (and the huge difference between them). Some hate the complexity of Kronos, as they play e.g. piano or use performance keyboard features. In that case, Kronos is vastly over-spec'ed for them, sure. But that's then missing the central point, these are vavstly different instrument categories. Even if e.g. some vendors miscategorised and hyped Montage as a workstation.

[@robson969]

Hi, great content. I have both Kronos 2 72 and Montage 73 instruments. You were totally impartial in the video even though you had your preference for korg Kronos, congratulations. I particularly choose Kronos because of its usability and possibilities, if you add third-party expansions eg Kapro, kronos becomes an even more powerful machine.

[@gabrielcifuentesguerra394]

Can you recomend a good tutorial for the sequencer? Many thanks !!!!

[@IanAlderige]

I've always been a Korg guy since the Triton, I just wish their interfaces were a little more friendly. It takes for ever to find out where things are located. A better touch screen upgrade would also be nice.

[@syariefsynth]

I use Kronos for the synth Lead, Brass & Synth Brass, Pad & Strings, voice, organ, sfx.... And use Montage for Piano, El Piano, Strings or 2-3 Layer Sound....

[@peterbijkerk5810]

Hi Darrick, Thanks a lot for sharing this information on KZbin. Always fun to watch these kind of video's. I'm the owner of a Montage 8 and really like this machine although it is a bit complex in the beginning. What I noticed in your video however is that you mentioned that you can only control 8 slots on the Montage (arround 51 minutes). That is not completely true. You can control all 16 as it is possible to switch between 1 till 8 and 9 till 16. It took me some time to figure this out. In the Performance screen left to the title of the performance there is a little button called View, and there you can select parts 1-4, 5-8, 9-12 and 13-16. It shows in that case just 4 parts, but if you select the parts 9-12 or 13-16 and push View again it shows all parts from 9 till 16. and for all thes parts you can select your instruments similar to slots 1 till 8. I hope this helps. Furthermore it is indeed correct that you have performances that take more than one slot. This is done to add more complexity and depth to the sounds. In many cases in these performance you can morph with the Superknob between variations of thes parts. So I guess it is not only limiting, but also extending the possibilities. Ok, I sound like a fan of this machine :). Nevertheless I hope it helps.

[@darrickkeels6387]

The Montage is a wonderful keyboard! I really love it. I was trying to express (I probably didn't do a good job) that a person can only play 8 parts from the keybed at the same time. Yes you can edit 16 parts and select any of the 16 parts and play them individually but you cannot play all 16 at once. By contrast on the Kronos you can literally play all 16 channels (parts) at once. In "Combi" mode you could literally set up 16 individual trumpets and when you hit a note on the keyboard they would all sound. This cannot be achieved on the Montage.

[@armend316]

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks for the tip! Korg Kronos for me! 🙂

[@jamiesea231]

As a pianist it all comes down to the action. I like the Kronos but the weighted action on the Montage 8 is so much better! I use it as a midi controller for my studio.

[@mateythegreat1399]

Fantastic always mate. Happy new year bro

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you! And happy new year to you. Thanks for stopping by

[@mateythegreat1399]

@@darrickkeels6387 It is always a joy my good man. Your most welcome mate

[@jonathanwillis1143]

You really cannot go wrong with either keyboard. They are both spectacular. It just comes down to how you work, how you perform, and perhaps what you already have. If you are loaded with cash then buy both boards. :)

[@jeffreyreid6981]

They added the sequence, and now the software update it has a sequencer on it now

[@jehovah0121]

Really? I was thinking YAMAHA dropped this part and became less and less functional.@@jeffreyreid6981

[@aristotlekumpis7095]

Good info on the whole workstation/synthesizer concept. I imagine that the next big keyboard by Korg will also follow the same concept.

[@ronaldfinnerty7926]

If you every played the small bar circuit in a big city many digital keyboards are sensitive to the power cycling of the walk in freezer turning on to cool. I started plugging these into a ups to smooth out those power fluctuations as it happened in the old days when you had to reload the samples too if keyboard shut off because of power dips.

[@pauljohnson2049]

I have both of them too. Both great 👍🏾 for different reasons!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Paul, do you mind sharing what you like about each one briefly?

[@liho26]

Great video. This is exactly what I waited for many month. Now I'm owning MODX. And What I have to say is that MODX can freeze unexpectedly often. Even when I try to design new sound with FM engine. In 6 times from 10 MODX freezes totally and lost reaction on any knobs and faders. I wrote many times to Yamaha support about this problem. They can't believe. So, I will be happy sold terrible Yamaha's product and buy new workstation when Korg will to launch it.

[@ablesam]

Defective unit? Freezing at that rate means something's seriously wrong. Also don't hold out for a new workstation from Korg yet. May have to wait till the end of this year.

[@jackrusso2182]

Amazing video and great work man , does Kronos have instant loop recorder feature like the Montage that you can record and play along without a pause ? I mean I have a Korg PA but I can only record a pattern then I have to save it then play it .

[@darrickkeels6387]

No Kronos doesn't have the feature unfortunately. Thanks for the compliment and thank you for watching!

[@ianwinter7407]

Hi Darrick lovely channel and your videos are very professional and extremely helpful , I’m looking at a flagship synth purchase so far I have a mpc live 2 and argon 8 dreadbox erebus and Roland boutique sh 01a and now looking for final piece, torn between Kronos and montage and prefer Kronos but as it’s being discontinued so not sure if montage safer bet - or may wait if bit longer as pandemic has raised prices and slowed release of newer products - wish I had a crystal ball 🤣🤣

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes a crystal ball would be nice!😂

[@pareshmota]

Very perfect presentation 👌

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for watching!

[@liviou2004]

Basically, I've been playing on Kronos 2 for 5 years. But I was not completely satisfied in accoustic guitar sounds, whatever sounds banks they came from. So I've purchased a Montage. I must say the both are completely complementary. They don't sound the same. One is the best for some kinds of sounds, the other the best for other kind of sounds. Unfortunately, Kornos has definitely come to its end of line. One point too : it is absolutely necessary to connect Kronos and Montage with *Balanced TRS jacks* to be able to compare real sounds differences.

[@sidneythekidney12]

How do the overdrive and amplified stock guitar sounds compare between the two? The heavier distorted guitars on the Kronos 2 sounded tremendous to me when I demo'd it in person.

[@John-lv6uj]

I have both of them...and the New Roland Fantom all are Great

[@anwarsabah2467]

Hi,Great video,best comparison video so far,big applause for u bro! Dear I have two questions in my mind *Is Motif XF a workstation or a synth with a limited sequencer,how about if compare the XF to the Kronos2 ? *What you say about the old Fantom G if compare it to the Kronos2? I am a workstation lover,own the Kronos2 platinum88 & fantom G7 is on my way.I have seen tons of videos regarding multiple issues with the kronos specifically with the motherboard & supply,the most common one is ‘system boot failure’ due to the fear I decided not to use it frequently,because cant take the risk to turn it on & one day the ‘system boot failure’ message popup on the screen,therefore had to order G7 for stress free work.Please share your views regarding the capabilities of both FantomG and Kronos.Thank you in anticipation!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you so much for watching. So the Fantom G and Motif XF are complete workstations. When they were launched the workstation category was very much vibrant. The Motif XF in 2010 was a significant improvement over the XS. The Fantom G was a significant improvement over its predecessor. They both have full featured sequencers and sampling capabilities. Then the Kronos launched in 2011, and really had no competition. To put it in perspective, the entire sound library of the Yamaha XF was 741mb. The Kronos launched with 2gb (over 2000mb) of RAM and a 30gb (30,000mb) SSD with streaming capability. It boasted 9 sound engines. The Kronos 2 gave us 3gb of RAM and a 62gb SSD. The Kronos can suffer from the "failure to boot" issue but there is a relatively simple fix for that. The RAM will have to be reseated. It means opening up the keyboard unplugging the RAM and plugging it back in snuggly. That's a pain...I know. It's not something I have had to do. All of the keyboards you mentioned are capable machines. I'd be comfortable operating any one of them.

[@vincentperry7915]

What is your opinion of Kronos ease of using ‘quick split’ and ‘quick layer’ from 3.1.3. For me, great feature for split/layer on the fly. Generally I do complex splits layers in sequencer mode and save as a set of songs. Additionally the advantage of being able to create accompaniment tracks with or without recorded background vocals/acoustic instruments is a great value to me. No computer, drum machine or additional equipment needed for solo jobs.

[@darrickkeels6387]

The quick layer and quick split feature was a awesome addition to the Kronos' operating system. Too bad it only works for two sounds though. I don't find layer and splitting sounds to be difficult in the Kronos but I do feel like it is more difficult than the Montage.

[@jmf7111]

Hi, I have a Nautilus and I was wandering if you could test it. Thaks bro 👍👍

[@darrickkeels6387]

I don't think I will be purchasing a Nautilus considering it basically a Kronos in a cheaper package. I have the Kronos. And because I do a fair amount of connecting my keyboards to my DAW, I will probably not buy a synthesizer or workstation that cannot transmit on more than two channels via usb.

[@rullirosandi3281]

I have both of them... Both of them have an unique characteristic.

[@darrickkeels6387]

I agree.

[@kambata1]

No! Montage doesn’t have any

[@OptimaMrL]

@@kambata1 did you use one? What did you not like about the Montage?

[@kambata1]

@@OptimaMrL I don’t like the robocop sounds! No good sounds for the songs we play! Some crazy abstract … I don’t know where I can use the Montage… only pianos but in the mix Roland is better

[@gabrielirlanda]

@@kambata1 to me Kronos sounds more robotic tgan Montage. Montage has excellent real acoustic strings, guitars, choirs, drums by factory. In Korg you usually have to edit a lot the instruments in order they sound "nice". And I'm a Korg guy.

[@markferreri5814]

Thank you! Yes, you’ve been VERY helpful. I am saddened to learn that the Kronos 2 in discontinued, I also have an 88 key Kronos. Will they become collectibles? I was considering a Montage, but do have a Fantom 7, which seems to compliment my Kronos well by doing those things the Kronos doesn’t do. After watching this video, I feel that those things still available with the Montage that I miss with the Kronos and Fantom 7 might better be filled with another poly synth, the Polybrute. What do you think? I also have the Integra 7 modular rompler for hardware sounds.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Honestly if you own an Integra 7, Kronos and Fantom, I don’t see what you would “need” from a Montage. Unless there is just something you feel you have to have like the Yamaha Pianos or if you really wanted an 8-Operator FM experience versus the 6-Operator experience the Kronos offers. But it would have to be something specific like that. I think you have the sound categories pretty well covered. The DAW integration with the Fantom is better IMHO than the Montage. The user interface is more approachable on the Fantom as well. You have all of the connectivity you need. So yes, the Arturia Polybrute would give you an actual analog synth with an awesome morph feature, 2 oscillators for each of the six voices, sub oscillator, wave-shaper, noise generator, two different filters, 3 envelopes, 3 LFO’s, Modulation Matrix, and on and on. You woke up the synth nerd in me. 😂 In short, you can produce tones that simply cannot be duplicated by your other machines. So if you are looking at a Polybrute I think that is the better buy over the Montage.

[@markferreri5814]

Thanx for getting back personally with me . . . . BTW, in software, I have the current Arturia V Collection, the Korg bundle of synths and Rolands Zenology in a Mac ‘Trash Can’ that I control with a 61 key Arturia Keylab Mk II, but those stay in my home studio. As far as synthesizers go, my first was an Aries system with 18 separate modules (VCOs, VCFs, ADSRs, etc) in a couple of cases. There was no MIDI back there in the mid-1970’s, so it taught me the foundations (with nothing but patch cords) to appreciate the digital sophistication we now enjoy. I bought that set of modules for only $2,300, and sold it in 1983 for $4,600. Now I regret selling it and can’t afford the $16,000 it would cost to buy another one, now out of production for decades.

[@mrdali67]

It is really hard to say. They are both good instruments. Right now the answer is, if you can wait a bit, at least wait to see if something comes up untill summer Namm, and see if Korg have anything up their sleeves. I doubt it, but the rumor mongers keep saying Korg is gonna release a new flagship in 2022, but afaik nothing has been official announced about that yet. Would be a bummer to buy a Kronos now and a new board arives in a 2-6 months.

[@MarkSomosoMusic]

@darrickkeels. Thanks for this video . For your opinion and taste wich keyboard will you keep if you can't have them both?........ I own a kronos2 cuz i haven't have time on testing montage 4 years ago..

[@darrickkeels6387]

I would keep the Kronos. It has nine sound engines. That is hard to beat. Not to mention I do a lot of organ stuff and the Montage has terrible organs in my opinion. The Kronos gives you a 60 GB hard drive and a slot to add your own SSD. So I can load it up with tons of samples. If I needed to I can really complete an entire musical project on just the Kronos, while the same cannot be said for the Montage. The Kronos is just more powerful in most areas. That is not a matter of opinion that is just a fact. Just like a DAW and plugins is way more powerful than a Kronos. Now, a person may not want or need such power but that is a matter of preference. With that said as time goes along I am using the Kronos less and less but that has to do with DAW integration, the powerful sequencer in the MPC One and speed of workflow. The Montage has a faster workflow and I am faster on it though I have more experience with Korg. Layering a splitting sounds is just faster. Routing parameters to the SuperKnob or other knobs and sliders is just faster. The arpeggiator is easier and more straightforward than the complicated KARMA functions. Try finding in depth tutorials on navigating KARMA. It's like finding a needle in a haystack So when I have 3 days to create 6 backing tracks because that's my job, the Kronos is not my go to keyboard. But with that said if I had to only keep one, well...the Kronos would be it simply because it is more powerful.

[@kevanbarrett7411]

Excellent presentation Derek. Agree with all you say. I’m fortunate to have both as they do complement each other. Where Kronos is strong, Montage is weaker and vice versa. If I had to only have one the Montage would just tick a few more boxes for my needs. Also worth mentioning is that if you are on a budget or looking for a lighter keyboard to take to rehearsals etc. The MODX can do pretty much what Montage can do and sounds can be loaded from one to the other.😊😊

[@darrickkeels6387]

Agreed. The MODX is a great value. Which boxes does the Montage tick for you that the Kronos doesn't?

[@kevanbarrett7411]

@@darrickkeels6387 Keeping in mind keys are my second instrument, the fact that I can record audio into the DAW via USB is useful, and setting up a performance is much easier for me than setting up the dated 'combie'. The combie screen looks so cluttered and I struggle to get the insert effect for the individual programs to work in Kronos, even when using 'copy from program'. No planes to replace my Kronos though.

[@taggartjs]

Hi, Darrick! Another great video! I recently bought a Kronos and I love it (aside from no piano roll editing 🤷‍♂️). Forgive me if I’ve asked you this before, but have you ever tried to sequence external synths with the Kronos? If so, what was your experience like and would you have any advice on how to proceed? Thank you so much for all your great advice!

[@darrickkeels6387]

I have actually! I connected my Montage via MIDI to the Kronos and used the sounds from the Montage in my sequence. I've also recorded audio from my Montage into the Kronos as well by connecting to the inputs on the back of the Kronos. However, that was just kind of messing around. I really don't use the sequencer in the Kronos anymore. I use my MPC One as a hardware option or Ableton Live. Sometimes both. I have found after getting better with my DAW and really diving into the MPC One, the Kronos just feels too dated at this point. It's functional and gets the job done. But the same job using another device takes much less time and honestly the results are better often times.

[@taggartjs]

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks so much, Darrick! Yeah, man, I’m still thinking about doing the MPC thing. It’s really not that easy making the Kronos be the sequencer to my other keyboards. I’ve read nothing but good about the MPC One (and The Force, too, actually). Great. More options! Lol I guess MY issue is playing live. You might be too young to remember, but I used to use a Roland MC-50 (floppy disk and all) to control all my keyboards live, and it was wonderful. I guess I’ve been looking for that sort of setup again. Squarp Pyramid? Toraiz Squid? MPC? Who knows? I’ll keep experimenting if you keep doing your awesome videos. I’ve really learned a lot. Thank you!

[@armend316]

@@taggartjs I have that Roland MC50! It's a great sequencer! Love it! Paired with my Korg M1 thank you!

[@taggartjs]

@@armend316 That MC50 was/is the best! Mine’s 30+ years old now. I’d love to start using it again, but I don’t think I’d trust it in a live situation anymore. Lol

[@armend316]

@@taggartjs I got mine September 1991 the only thing missing is the adaptor & 2 midi cables, I wouldn't trade that for any type of pc since it always crashes. Thank you! I prefer traditional way of sequencing like on board the Korg Kronos 2 if I had one or MC50😅✌

[@why_do_you_care]

I appreciate the 9 engines in the Kronos but I'm not sure if the VPM engine is as good as the Montage's FMX. I haven't bought either yet but am looking forward to getting one. My interest is more inclined towards the "synthesizer" aspect + vintage synth/EP emulation as we don't get actual vintage ones where I live.

[@peterrezba995]

Thanks for pointing out that important factor that the Montage is a synthesizer The Kronos is a Work Station like yourself it's a great idea to own both if you can afford it

[@wilcandou]

After having a Montage and getting right into the "FM" engine, I was disappointed as the Yamaha SY77/99 had way better features and there was very little liaising of the waveform(s). The montage is very messy sounding in the FM engine and only gives you four waveforms to play with, as opposed to the SY77/99's fifteen! THEREFORE, I would now take the Kronos over the Montage in a heartbeat! Its MOD7 engine is a lot cleaner and has two inputs per operator (as did the SY77/99). ALSO, when it comes to sequencers and tracks, the Kronos is HEAPS better!

[@armend316]

Well said and spot on! Korg user here too! I used to work for Yamaha though ✌ Thank you!

[@oscarsheen3045]

Hi there, the Yamaha Genos and PSR series-are these not Workstation equivalents? I’m new and was wondering why they wouldn’t be. Very informative video. Thanks.

[@ablesam]

Workstaiton is the combination of a tone generation engine, linear sequencer, sampling functionality and a keybed or pads of some kind in one keyboard. The Genos and PSR series have a tone generation engine (AWM) and a sequencer but they miss critical things such as, being able to edit in the sequencer, not having a sampler functionality despite having sample storage, no dedicated mode for songs and other features. Yamaha calls the Genos and PSR SX series 'digital workstations', but in comparison to their previous MOTIF-XF workstation, they are nothing alike.

[@briangottlieb5602]

I enjoy reading reviews of top notch gear and in a Sound On Sound magazine review of the Montage 7, in the authors -Reservations- section of the review he comments on the Montage 7 keybed being slightly shorter than standard and his dislike of it. Have you read this review and what do you think ? Thanks and I really enjoy your playing .

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes the Yamaha keys are not as wide as a standard key. If I am switching from my Fantom 7 to the Montage, the first few minutes of my playing will inevitably be a bit sloppy until I adjust. I only notice it when I need to play fast riffs. Yamaha's semi-weighted keybeds are always slightly thinner than standard. I am not completely sure why. It is not a dealbreaker for me but I could understand how a person could look elsewhere for a keyboard.

[@chrisj777]

Depending on what you're playing. You get better acoustic sounds from the Kronos and more synth feel from the Montage. Now if you want that Weeknd 80's groove then look at the Fantom series.

[@danwentz]

Montage sounded great while playing, but there was no comparison to Kronos in terms of interface and depth, for me. Hard to believe the 2011 Kronos is based on the Korg Oasys which came out in 2005! If I recall they originally came out for around 9k… Korg learned a lesson by streamlining things a bit for Kronos.

[@kaikiefer8303]

One Remark - I followed your MODX/MONTAGE+MPC combo vids last year ... started to add to my MODX7 a MPC 0ne - that pair is a is my dream "workstation" with best of the 2 worlds for less the 2k€. Very musical workflow. No PC and very expandable. Not sure if this competes with the KRONOS in terms of producing finished / tracks. For my purpose of jamming and drafting ideas this is very cool and a wide range of sounds. And the integration with the new MPC 2.10 version super dope linking Midi and Audio with a single cable ...

[@darrickkeels6387]

I think the MPC paired with a MODX is a better setup for production than simply a Kronos alone. On the MPC I can "explode" drum tracks so that the kick, snare, hi-hat, cymbals, etc are all on separate tracks. I can then easily mix my drums. This is not possible on the Kronos. Plus the MPC allows for up to 128 MIDI tracks per sequence. The Kronos gives me 16 per song. Now the Kronos does give 16 tracks of audio and the MPC only gives 8. But I simply add a lot of my audio files to the pads. That circumvents the 8 track limit. The MPC has a grid view (piano roll) which gives me the ability to quickly and easily edit my MIDI notes, velocity, timing etc. The Kronos gives you a list of notes and MIDI events so editing is much more laborious. And like you said I can connect an MPC to an audio interface and get 32 inputs and 32 outputs. This is not possible with the Kronos. The MPC at it's heart is a sampler. It's far better than the Kronos at sampling. The touch screen makes it a breeze to cut, time stretch, transpose, reverse or do whatever you want to with your samples. It has an auto sampling feature as well. So I don't have to input all the keys, velocity levels, loop points etc. It does it on its own. That saves a lot of time. What the MPC lacks is stuff like great acoustic piano sounds, deep sound editing features, a keybed, 😂😂. All the things it lacks you can find on the Montage or MODX (or honestly the Fantom, Kronos or any high end synthesizer or workstation). The MPC really makes the Kronos feel dated in the sampler and sequencer departments. So now I use my MPC for production and live scenarios when I need backing tracks.

[@kaikiefer8303]

@@darrickkeels6387 thanks for sharing your thoughts … btw nice presentation.

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@kaikiefer8303 Thank you.

[@fantomandjupiterx864]

Like both had a Kronos about a year ago very nice but Yamaha montage sounds good too👍👍

[@docsax7769]

I must get the Kronos!!! I'm selling my Montage ASAP. I love the fact that you can do a whole lot more sound adjustments with the korg

[@TonyLopezMusic]

I have a kronos 2 73, what montage do you have? Might trade? 🤔

[@docsax7769]

@@TonyLopezMusic too late. Already sold the montage for Kronos. No keyboard comes even close

[@foru8242]

Hi Darrick, thank you so much for this wonderful information 👍🏻..!! Please help me. l am planning to buy a new synthesizer keyboard. Please guide me, i am totally confused. I am a musician and a key programmer, i use to work in daw logic Pro from strat to mix and master. So Please guide me, i use to work in following Genre's Soft rock, Pop, Trance, Classical, Dance, Cenimatic, Re Recordings, Blues, Jazz, Heavy metal etc etc. So which would be better out of these brands (please specify with model). Yamaha Montage. Yamaha Modx plus. Yamaha Nautilus. Korg Kronos: model ? Kurzweil: model ? Nord: model ? Or any latest New one ? Or Synth boards like, Aurturia polybrute, prophet 8, udo super 6, Waldorf quantum etc (I am in dilemma to buy any one or more too). (the reason i am going for these keyboards are ........ quality and ......... options which cannot be replace by .........).

[@DjSouljaSid2010]

I have Kronos 1 still amazing keyboard but I wish it like the Oasys have LED faders and knobs it would be nice if Korg will did the same in the Kronos

[@edcollante]

Mate, very informative & great playing. I have a kronos 2 and an old motif xs...I was wondering, don't you find Yamaha's EPs to be much better sounding than Korg's? I think Yamaha's have more bite to them. End of random comment.

[@darrickkeels6387]

I don't actually find the Yamaha EP's to be better. The Korg rivals Keyscapes as far as realism is concerned in my opinion and that is saying a lot. Furthermore with the wide variety editing features I can give the Kronos EP's all the "bite" I need. In the Kronos I can have tremelo, an amp cabinet simulator with overdrive, chorus, a specific reverb all on one EP using insert effects. This cannot really be achieved on the Montage because you only get two insert effects per part. So I have to choose between chorus, tremelo, overdrive, and reverb. I could add more parts but then you can phase cancellation issues. But at the end of the day they both sound amazing. Some people like Lamborghini and some prefer Ferrari. Truthfully they are both super sporty and fast. And I never lose sight of that. Thank you for watching!

[@edcollante]

@@darrickkeels6387 Good points there. Thanx for taking the time to reply. Have a good one.

[@Eyesfornature]

hello whats the name of the piano piece you was playing on the montage when testing the cfx piano sound ????

[@Sam_Utah]

I have and love them both. It gets really interesting and sometimes over the top if you MIDI KARMA to Montage performances and Superknob. Sometimes musical, sometimes not but such fun. But why Yamaha never gave as a footswtich for scenes with all the options it provides. Mystery to me.

[@user-nz9kx9rw2w]

I don't know about that but does it really matter I don't think so the Kronos is a full sampler is use to create sounds because I'm a sound creator and have friends that worked with the Kronos in addition I have to correct you but the Fantom 07 falls on the workstation category however you do a pretty good job in explaining the features on the Keyboard.

[@TheFaximana]

can somebody tell me whats the difference between a synthesizer and a workstation?

[@sny8317]

Hey which is he best keyboard I could buy to play in church ? I already have a Yamaha Psr sx600 and I’m looking to buy one more keyboard I have looked at modx6 plus

[@Marian1st.]

What synthesizer/keyboard is the best for a person who plays the organ? Looking at KORG Nautilus, PA1000, Yamaha Montage, MOD-X, PSR SX900, Roland Fantom and Nord.

[@Lainer1]

Nord

[@Marian1st.]

@@Lainer1 Thanks.

[@bozziewald]

Thankyou!!!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thanks for watching

[@carltheriot8107]

I’ve been looking at the Kronos for years, trying to get better at my digital piano before buying. I’ve been hearing that the Kronos is being phased out. Do you think they will come out w/ a better replacement? Or are we stuck w/ the Nautilus?

[@darrickkeels6387]

It's really kind of tough to say. No one really knows. I would honestly be surprised if they came out with another "workstation." I could see them producing something more along the lines of the Roland Fantom. Something very powerful in the sound, sound design and DAW integration. The majority of serious producers out there are simply not producing inside of their keyboards. I guess time will tell though. I hear from people who work at music stores that the Roland Fantom is selling really well.

[@carltheriot8107]

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks so much for this reply. I’m guessing you are correct that the all in one Workstation is on its way out! But, I will wait a while till Korg let’s us know if they are going to come out w/ something new! Like you say, they could come out w/ another mind blowing synth that has more power and sounds, plenty of memory and speed (boot up speed), and unbelievable integration with a DAW like Ableton Live!

[@mrchow3233]

@@carltheriot8107 I have a Kronos 2 might sell it, for $2,100. Only reason is i’m a drummer/percussionist, and don’t turn on the keyboards much. I do have someone interested in it though. That being said, I’ve been hearing there may be a Korg Pa4x replacement. Nothing new as a Kronos replacement. But not 100% sure. But then again, we won’t know until NAMM show.

[@carltheriot8107]

@@mrchow3233 Thanks, but I’m going to wait until after the NAMM Show this summer.

[@tjsound1258]

@@darrickkeels6387 Jordan Rudess has a video comparing the Nautilus and the Kronos. He clearly states that the Kronos is superior. I recently asked a Sweetwater rep about the possibility of Korg discontinuing the Kronos. She said she was not aware, and that the Kronos remains their flagship and a top seller. I'd really like to acquire a Kronos. I see nothing that compares.

[@samiam9059]

Kronos has an 1200+ page parameter guide seperate from the owners manual with 9 separate synth engines. It is the Boss architecture wise. The Korg O/S is the deepest and would put Kurzweil next(imho).

[@darrickkeels6387]

I believe it is still the most powerful keyboard on the market.

[@youngmo77]

Facts. Korg Oasys is still the OG. 1800+ pages of parameters guide. That keyboard is from 2000s . ,🤯

[@samiam9059]

@@darrickkeels6387 Probably as they claim you cannot exhaust all the sounds it can make. I owned one for 10+ years and then gave to a friend. Probably only got through 30% of what it could do. Now the Yamaha is an extremely powerful idea and they make fantastic gear. A lot of companies are going to simpler programming for those that do not want the depth. Roland does that also. I always liked to dig so that was why Korg and Kurzweil are a favorite. But also see the benefit of are you going to play and put a piece together or program. Have a Roland integra and that is a nice balance to have but wish it had been a keyboard🙃....

[@samiam9059]

@@youngmo77 Oasys is not even in production for how many years? Going back a ways there. Without listing all the features Kronos has that Oasys does not. ________KRONOS: _____OASYS: SGX-1: --100 voices--------- 0 EP-1: ---104 voices--------- 0 HD-1: ---140 voices--------- 172 AL-1: ----80 voices --------- 96 CX-3: ---200 voices --------- 172 STR-1: ---40 voices --------- 48 MOD-7: ---52 voices --------- 52 MS-20EX: -40 voices --------- 48 PolysixEX: -180 voices ---------172

[@stanleytomczak340]

I really enjoyed your opinion of both keyboards and I'm at a crossroad of buying the Yamaha because of the piano sounds or going with the new Roland fantom where i think it has better integration with daw software, I would like to hear your comment......

[@darrickkeels6387]

If DAW integration is the priority for you, I would definitely do the Fantom.

[@lbamusic]

@@darrickkeels6387 ..see my reason for posting the specs of the Fantom ...

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@lbamusic I think you were attempting to show the Fantom is a workstation. What I said in the video is that Roland the manufacturer of the Fantom does not call it a workstation. I said if you go on their website, they call it a synthesizer. You then copied and pasted specs from retailers' websites to show it is a workstation. But Sweetwater, Kraft, Guitar Center, American Music Supply or whomever else is not Roland. They are stores. No where on Roland's website do they call it a workstation. No where on their official KZbin Page will you see a video calling the Fantom a workstation. Many people believe it is a workstation and are then disappointed in it's very limited and minimal sequencer. They want to record a jazz piece in 5/4 time on the Fantom and cannot because 5/4 time is not currently available on the Fantom. Nor 6/8 time, nor 2/2 or 2/4. It loops automatically after 32 measures so if you play classical music you cannot really record an entire piece in one take. You can on the Korg Kronos, Nautilus, Krome, Roland FA06, and Kurzweil K2700 because those are workstations and their manufacturers call it such. But the reality is, it doesn't matter because this video is not about the Roland Fantom. It's a comparison between the Yamaha Montage and the Korg Kronos. So posting the specs of another keyboard to prove me wrong makes no sense because it's not even the topic of this video at all.

[@lbamusic]

@@darrickkeels6387 no problem..I didn't check Roland's website, I just was on Sweetwater's and assumed that was the official name that I saw. Hard to believe there are only 2 workstations being made now.

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@lbamusic The Roland Fantom is an awesome keyboard. Though it isn't for everyone, it does sit nicely in a modern setup. It's DAW integration with Ableton, Logic and Mainstage will really make things a lot easier on musicians. I think the "traditional" workstation keyboards have reached the end of the road. Unless someone creates a keyboard that can really compete with a DAW in the power department, DAW integration, fast workflows, and upgradable sounds will replace the on board sequencers in the priority department. I no longer use the sequencer on the Kronos.

[@superprim12]

Total agree... I own both of them... Just added the Sequential take 5 to complete my crack systh addiction

[@darrickkeels6387]

😂

[@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic]

does the Kronos still sell in stores^^^^ Im going Modx+ and some other analogue synth to make up for the loss of analogue i wont have by not buying the montage. Montage nseems to be out of print also because first we heard it was shipping slowdowns but here is the modx+ arriving no problem. I think something big and new is coming from yamaha. the modx+ is to squeez as mych profit out of the montage as possible.

[@rrrrrrtt1]

Depends on the individual's or band's goals. :)

[@elpmettsol]

So, I picked up the Nautilus a few weeks ago, and picking up the Montage sometime this month. The Montage will act as the main board due to how I can use their integration for motion control. This applies to not only for sounds but effects, volume, etc. Basically any parameter on the board. The Nautilus is the perfect compliment, as I didn’t need the external features of the Kronos, I was mainly interested in the sound engines. Which BTW, can be accessed from the Montage via MIDI AND... be able to use motion control from the Montage for control of all the sounds and parameters of the Nautilus just like it was the Montage itself. More to come. STAY TUNED... 😊

[@roggyo]

You said stay tuned. Would please you give us some feedback since it’s six months since then? 🙂

[@elpmettsol]

​@@roggyo No Montage yet😒 Apparently they are "STILL" on backorder. Looking into the k2700. If there is a way to use their ribbon controller similar to the way you would you the super knob of the Montage (and can be controlled via foot switch,) that would work. I will contact Kurzweil this week to explain the objective and see what they come back with. If so, then I may go with the k2700 (added bonus... it's a thousand bucks cheaper!) Side note: I have some concerns with Yamaha with regard to their lack or inability to supply product, not just with the montage but with other products they made that were EXTREMELY critical to my intended workflow. I don't find this problem with other manufacturers.

[@elpmettsol]

FYI... I picked up the Montage last week, got a killer deal on it! I’ll let you know how it works out, stay tuned!😊

[@RGMultimedia]

New Year greetings to the world but more so to you Darrick. I have a MOTIF XS6 but the C# and G are not playing on each octave, so I need a new board. Was thinking the YAMAHA MODX 6 or 7 but the costing is really alot especially for me in JAMAICA. I need a new board because my church audience is suffering when they not getting the quality sounds , I NEED HELP!!!!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Happy New Year! If you control it via MIDI with a midi controller do you have the same issue?

[@ablesam]

The Motif-XS has a better keybed, a proper and fully functioning sequencer and sampler. It is a full workstation. The keybed on the MODX isn't as good but it has the better converters, sound engines, super-knob and newer useful functions. If the keybed, sampler and sequencer isn't important to you, then go with a MODX 7. I always recommend 76 over 61 keys.

[@RGMultimedia]

@@darrickkeels6387 I never thought of that, Hmmmm... I may have to try that... thanks 👍

[@j.frankgutierrez3276]

I'm a tech and I'm always fixing lots of Korg hammer action keys. So I go for the montage because is more reliable for the money.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Unless, of course, you want a fully featured sampler, sequencer with the ability to record audio tracks. And the ability to layer and split 16 sounds and play them all from the unit itself.

[@j.frankgutierrez3276]

@@darrickkeels6387 yep

[@akira8522]

I stop to see the comparison of keyboards video clips two years ago after got my own summary like these …. if you focus acoustic sound > YAMAHA, if you like key touching, variety used and friendly interface > ROLAND if you focus synthetic sounds > KORG the more money you paid, you get high quality of sampling bit rates sounds, jut that.

[@dy6682]

Like them both but cannot afford any ! Not nice . Great presentation bro!

[@ytpremium7649]

The crazy thing is you don't need a Kronos or Nautilus If you know how to play, a 1999 Korg Triton will sound absolutely fantastic and out of this world. The pianos on the triton are still fabulous My $300 Korg N5EX is still rewarding

[@museonfilm8919]

True. I still have a humble Korg Triton TR (the upgraded Triton Le). The sounds are still amazing, just need to turn off all those wispy effects and chorus that seem to be loaded on EVERY patch!

[@DutchKC9UOD]

I use a UPS battery power supply in my house wouldn’t think of not using one live?

[@brenthensley2489]

How do you export on these when using the USB to MPC One ?

[@darrickkeels6387]

So I don't actually export audio via USB with the MPC One. The MPC only receives MIDI through USB. I have my keyboards plugged into mixer and the mixer has stereo outs that connect to the MPC One.

[@brenthensley2489]

So if I connect the Kronos to the MPC One like you did in the previous video all of the audio comes from the Kronos and I'd just have record to a mixer like the Tascam Model 12? Also what if I want to do the drums and 808 sub on the MPC One and instrument tracks from Korg Kronos would the export process you said be the same?

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@brenthensley2489 Well technically you could record to the MPC One as well. If you had the Kronos connected via USB and simultaneously had the analog outputs connected to the inputs on the MPC you could capture the audio.

[@jokumvildmoosehawkfield3176]

It’s stuped on the Yamaha that there is a big rounding down at the back of the synth so you can’t see the text to what the ports are on the rear of the synth.

[@SaverGC3]

I have a question about power pack backups. Do you professional musicians carry power backup batteries when gigging? I know you guys hate extra weight. 😅

[@jonathanosborn4800]

I thought the Montage had some addition that makes it now more technically a workstation? Regarding the organ, though, the Montage doesnt actually have an organ engine

[@TonyLopezMusic]

What's the song called at 49:30?

[@darrickkeels6387]

It's actually an original song I wrote years ago.

[@TonyLopezMusic]

@@darrickkeels6387 I want to hear all of it! 😁 is it recorded?

[@Adilson-gravacoes]

duas marquinas melhores do mundo

[@Dmaccabees]

💯

[@jasonrose7090]

The Montage is not limited by 8 draw-bars for the organ sounds. You can assign the super knob as the ninth draw-bar. You can even program custom draw bar sounds to work with the super knob.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes you can, you are in fact correct. But there are only 8 sliders. For organ players that adjust drawbars on the fly often times by grabbing 2 or 3 drawbars at a time, the SuperKnob option is not a practical solution. Just like Classical pianist would be limited by a 61-Key keyboard. The fact that it has octave buttons would not help the pianist while they're actually playing pieces by Bach or Chopin.

[@user-wl4rp9tk2y]

DOESNT MUCH MATTER BEING THAT BOTH ARE DISCONTINUED. AND THE BEST THING SMOKING OUT NOW IS THE MONTAGEM8X

[@everytingcris9238]

I Need,,,, both of them😜

[@darrickkeels6387]

They do compliment each other nicely.

[@davidruffin4599]

Is it an used, mint condition, Kronos 2 (73 keys) for $2400 a good deal today in 2022?

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes

[@davidruffin4599]

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks! Gonna try to get it 💎

[@jordanking7711]

The Kronos to me seems more user friendly. Yes you would have to learn the 9 different engines, depending on who you are of course, but as far as the UI goes, the Kronos as I said is more 'user friendly' The Montage, while it seems like a beast of a keyboard, ever since the MOTIF, the Yamaha keyboard seem the most confusing to learn as far as the UI and front panel goes. And even if you did have to learn the 9 different engines, to me that's half the fun and enjoyment of exploring a keyboard. The same could be said about the Montage by the looks of things, but more complicated than the Kronos. But to each their own I guess.

[@margix1172]

Montage and Roland looks like toys without wood...I really hope the next generation workstation/synth will use a much more attractive aesthetics .

[@woodyforrest313]

> Which One Should You Buy? Easy. Roland Fantom

[@DojoOfCool]

I got my Kronos six months ago so now that Korg has discontinued it I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it. Kronos is a very powerful and great sounding keyboard, but way more keyboard than I need. It has a great selection of keyboard sounds, I love the EP sounds it has. If I sell my Kronos I will miss the keybed it feels really good. For me I feel a good stage piano is all I need and a workstation is over kill again for me.

[@MattF12765]

Have you looked at the Korg Nautilus then? You would need the 88 key as the 73 is only semi weighted.

[@DojoOfCool]

If I have a Krono why would I want any Nautilus. If I get sell my Kronos I will get a stage piano like a Nord Stage 3 or a Yamaha YC88.

[@MattF12765]

@@DojoOfCool because you said you were trying to decide if you should keep it and that it was way too much keyboard than you need. If you don’t want answers then don’t ask questions.

[@DojoOfCool]

​@@MattF12765 Maybe you should try reading the original post and understand the difference between a Kronos and a Nautilus. The Nautilus is basically a Kronos with less physical controls, a few OS updates, and different case. So if a Kronos is more than I need so would a Nautilus. In my original post I said I if I sell my Kronos I would go to a stage piano, A stage piano has less functionality than a workstation, that is what I meant by less keyboard.

[@MattF12765]

@@DojoOfCool maybe you should learn some manners you rude git

[@FranciscoDiazMusic]

No way Kronos has been discontinued?? Where did you get this info?

[@darrickkeels6387]

The Kronos has been removed from the Korg UK website and a few others around the world I hear. They haven't made a big announcement but they seem to be quietly phasing it out. They may fear if they announce it's discontinued, people may shy away from buying them. However, I hear some retailers are saying they cannot get anymore right now but it hadn't been discontinued.

[@FranciscoDiazMusic]

@@darrickkeels6387 this can go one of 2 ways: either Korg releases a successor to the Kronos OR something tells me this might have been the last all in one flagship workstation. From what I see everyone leans more to software. Might be the end of the workstation era. I really hope I’m wrong 🙁

[@ablesam]

@@FranciscoDiazMusic That is the Nautilus, not a successor but more of a transition keyboard. It's like what Roland did with the Fantom-G and FA series. They discontinued the Fantom-G series and brought out the FA till the new FANTOM synth came out. They want to maintain a place in the market so the Nautilus becomes a sort of 'transition' keyboard while they can either release a new flagship or finish working on it. Korg started the Workstation concept back in 1988 with the 'M1' so I doubt they want to move away from it. They will probably improve the concept of a workstation with more sound engines, more storage space, DAW integration and other stuff. Or like Roland focus on synthesizer aspects of a workstation and create something like FANTOM.

[@ablesam]

@@darrickkeels6387 My theory is that the Nautilus was created to sell remaining Kronos parts without increasing the manufacturing costs. They cut down on the live controls, touch screen, I/O, aftertouch and a few other things to cut down the manufacturing price, but they're just selling Kronos in another body. Then there is a global chip shortage and the number of Nautilus's shipped haven't dropped but only the Kronos. Just saying.

[@johnjackson4268]

I think, next time is coming a VST Workstation from Native Instruments 🎉

[@on9987god]

I really wanted a Kronos 8 years ago but could not afford that 3k+ price tag as a kid. Now I could afford one but it's retiring. I guess the concept of "workstation keyboard" is dying as software solutions beat them in every aspect. I don't do live performances but I think having a great stage keyboard could help to immerse into the mindset of a keyboardist when composing, then there are other great keyboards like those from Nord. Or I could spend more on software plugins and stick with my MIDI controller, tough decision to make...

[@darrickkeels6387]

It is a tough decision because we have so many great options nowadays

[@robinsonramirez1324]

In my opinion: As Main Keyboard (For Piano specially) i like Montage; As second key (Speaking about versatily) i lile Kronos.

[@jonathanosborn4800]

Why not the Forte?

[@darrickkeels6387]

While Kurzweil makes a good product overall, I tend not to be the biggest fan. There was once a time around 30 years ago that they simply had a realism in their sampled instruments no one else had. Their violins, pianos, woodwinds, etc. sounded closer to the real thing than their competitors. Those days are over they are no longer ahead of the pack. I went flipping through the sounds on the Forte years ago and many of them were the sounds from their keyboards decades ago. Those sounds simply no longer cut it. I have the same gripe about Roland but the advantage Roland has is a modern interface. It's editing parameters go very deep but it is implemented in a much more modern UI. Kurzweil seems to be stuck in the early 90's. The Forte is such a deep machine and it has a tiny screen. Their "V.A.S.T" architecture allows for up to 32 layers per program. This sounds great but it is handicapped by only 128-Voice polyphony. The KB3 organ engine is a separate engine with its own polyphony though. But if you aren't using organs in your sound design that doesn't help. Kurzweil really lacks a team like Yamaha and Roland that actually demonstrate how to use the instrument. They have a few demos of a few people playing some presets. So, I would be stuck reading a manual to learn "Kurzweil" language. Not that I am against manuals. But with such a dated user interface, I'd be cracking the manual to do some of the most basic tasks. In short, I think there are simple better options out there today. I already feel keyboard manufacturers live in the past but Kurrzweil seems to be the most dated out of everyone.

[@rachelnewyorktruth2564]

Thanks for buying every keyboard on the market and explaining them to us. Woo Hoo. Very awesome

[@darrickkeels6387]

You're welcome but there are quite a few keyboards I do not own 😄

[@vanessajazp6341]

At 4:42 you state that Yamaha no longer makes a flagship workstation. I think the Genos would qualify as a workstation/arranger keyboard, yes?

[@darrickkeels6387]

The Montage is the replacement for the flagship Motif series of production workstations. The Genos is more of an arranger. There's no deep sound design parameters. It lacks the sampling features and in depth sequencing functions that allow you to create songs from scratch. The Genos really is designed around styles that are preprogrammed to follow your chord changes. So sure they can tack on the title "workstation" at the end of it because technically you can create a song on it from start to finish. But the Tyros Series evolved into the Genos. They were always arrangers. The Motif Series evolved into the Montage which is no longer a workstation but performance synthesizer.

[@vanessajazp6341]

@@darrickkeels6387 Yeah, real bummer that they got rid of the sequencer with the Montage. I still can’t figure out the reasoning for that. I thought the Genos - which is more pricey than the Montage 8 - had a lot of in depth sequencing functions.

[@lordbachus]

The Fantom? Its interface is another step forward..

[@darrickkeels6387]

Indeed it is.

[@rarvind7934]

Please launch Yamaha genos with 61 keys because first time I saw this keyboard I got inspiration and it brings lots of ideas please launch this keyboard please with 61 keys and with same feature and it's easy to understand for every keyboard player or pro keyboard player

[@gpr4eva]

Yamaha need to add the Super Articulation 2 voices from the Tyros/Genos. Those horns and strings sound so damn good bruh

[@darrickkeels6387]

They should indeed!

[@gpr4eva]

@@darrickkeels6387 them Revo Drums cold too

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@gpr4eva I am actually surprised that those sounds are not included in the flagship synthesizers. The Montage is designed for keyboardists that need to cover a variety of sounds. One day the lead guitar player didn't show up in my band. My MD looked at me and said "You cover the guitar parts." I have had to cover sax parts, trumpet parts, vibes, and of course strings, etc. Having the most realistic acoustic sounds Yamaha has to offer would really come in handy.

[@ablesam]

@@darrickkeels6387 How many non-keyboard parts do you cover on a usual gig? I've had to do strings, bass (left-hand), solo strings (violin, cello, harp), brass sections and a few more. You've got more experience than me brother Darrick, any tips you got while covering these types of sound? Thank you for another video!

[@ablesam]

@@darrickkeels6387 Regarding to why Yamaha doesn't put those awesome Revo Drums and SA2 is because they use a different engine. Genos and the PSR-SX series uses AWM while their high end synths use AWM2. The difference seems to be that AWM2 is more efficient and can store more samples while using less space and offering more quality in sound while being compressed in comparison to AWM. Remember the Motif with expanded articulation? That was SA2 in the AWM2 version. Yamaha also has this attitude of, "that's a synth so only those sound engines are appropriate for it" (AWM2 and FM-X) and "that's a stage piano so that sound engine is appropriate" (SCM) and finally "that's a stage piano/organ so........" (VCM organ and AWM2) you get it. Instead of making an updated Montage with their best engines (SCM, AWM2, FM-X, VCM organ, their modelling and virtual analog tech) they make excuses like these. Don't get me wrong, I love Yamaha, they been my first PSR-170 years ago when I was a kid and have a special place in my heart but this attitude, mahnnn it's annoying. Look at what Roland and Korg are doing. Their best in one keyboard. Fantom and Nautilus (RIP Kronos till clearance stock is over).

[@IanAlderige]

I've always been a Korg guy since the Triton, I just wish their interfaces were a little more friendly. It takes for ever to find out where things are located. A better touch screen upgrade would also be nice.

[@darrickkeels6387]

I agree

[@rompepale]

KRONOS BABY!

[@Serkii28]

definetly montage🤟🏼

[@dwaynecladd]

That is 16 channels via USB to DAW. I use it all the time.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes the Kronos has 16 MIDI channels to a DAW. Almost all modern workstations/digital synthesizers can do this. That has been the case for decades. What the Montage can do is send 16 stereo AUDIO channels and receive 3 stereo audio channels all simultaneously. The Kronos' audio interface is not capable of this. It sends out one stereo audio signal.

[@edwardtheodore1427]

So why ar eyou comparng them they tw different categories of board. The only thing ne should compare is the sound quality of sounds.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Because they overlap in many areas. And musicians looking to buy a new keyboard in this price range are often deciding between the two.

[@edwardtheodore1427]

@@darrickkeels6387 Fair enough. My interest in it has grown. i just can't bring mself to buy a 61 note, clicky key workstation. Although the price is phenomenal, i'd rather have at least, a solid 76 note board. For this reason, i have stopped right there and am waiting to see if Akai would be bold enough to enter the market completely. 88keys Then we can compare. Truley, it is a very good board at the momment and thats an improvement in my attitude towards it.

[@edwardtheodore1427]

@@darrickkeels6387 I think they had a Kronos in their lab when they design this every day lol

[@zdravkozdravka4313]

Roland Fantom 🔥💪💪💪😁

[@darrickkeels6387]

The Roland Fantom is another great keyboard. Do you own one?

[@zdravkozdravka4313]

@@darrickkeels6387 No. Unfortunately, I don't have it. Maybe in the future I will be able to buy it..

[@randytrader3026]

Which one to buy ?? Neither one , they want way to much money .. after covid hit I ended up having to sale 6 out of 7 synthesizers.. I'm just now at the point where I can gradually start building my rig again.. and so for I've bought 2 Behringers.. for the price of brand new equipment Behringer can't be touched. But if someone wants to donate the Korg or Yamaha, I'd be tickled pink to take one..

[@darrickkeels6387]

I am sorry to hear you have to sell most of your synthesizers. However, I don't think these are "too much." As a professional musician these boards pay for themselves. Also I haven't seen a Behringer that has the quality of piano, guitars, saxophones, organs, trumpets, trombones, or the deep editing synth engines these two keyboards have. I do like the sound of the Deepmind 12 but it's not really in the same category these two keyboards featured.

[@randytrader3026]

@@darrickkeels6387 you got me on the piano and organ sounds, but after 40 years on the road I'm retired to my little studio.. lol. I always thought Yamaha had the best piano sounds.. and it started with the 200lb Yamaha Electric baby grand.. and I had one .. now the Yamaha's sound even better and weight.. what 10 or 15 pounds??

[@wilcandou]

I can't believe you can only hear the track you're recording and not hear the others at the same time. Every recording sequencer in living memory does this. Surely you must have overlooked something.

[@darrickkeels6387]

You can hear the other tracks. I believe I showed that in the video. But the Kronos has multiple recording "modes." There is a mode in which you cannot because of what it is designed to do.