USED VINTAGE CLASSIC or CHEAP NEW SYNTH - Which Is Best?

[@onthetarmacinc.4210]

Korg Triton Definitely one of the best I've ever owned.

[@depositiveone2677]

As a musician, I still use my Roland XP-80 to this day. I use this on all of my recordings. Its sequencing functions are top notch that most workstation keyboards lack. In addition, a lot of patches are still used in a lot of recordings. Even though it had a floppy disk drive, I recently upgraded it to a USB port. I have two XP80s; one for my studio and one for my live performances. Both are fully expanded with SR-JV80 Expansion cards. This flagship keyboard came out in 1996 and (in my opinion) Roland developed one of the best workstation keyboards, ever.

[@depositiveone2677]

@@Konsider Both XP-80s have the Dance, Hip-hop and House Expansion Boards. The one I use in my studio has the Bass 'n' Drums Board. The other I use in my live performances has "Keys of the 60s and 70s".

[@aanon2550]

I hear you on the sequencer: I have MC-80s and really enjoy using those. XP-80 seems to be almost the same, and even include some extra abilities such as quantising any combination of tracks simultaneously, and giving a better live quantise preview.

[@mstk8845]

I settled for the xp 10 because I could afford the x80. Kinda wished I saved more and got it.

[@mattmckeon1688]

@@depositiveone2677 I regrettably sold my XP-80 in the mid-2000s to upgrade to a Fantom-X7. Even though the Fantom was better spec'd out in most areas, there was just something about the XP-80 that was truly special. I miss it more than I ever missed the Fantom when I subsequently switched to a Nord Stage. In fact, I'd say that was the last line of workstations where Roland could truly punch its weight among the Big 3. I loved the semi-weighted action, the screen, the look, expansion boards. Everything.

[@jeffevansmusic]

I am someone who has repaired a lot of vintage gear and one needs to be careful when investing in an older instrument. There can be some pitfalls. Once these get to around 30 years old and over there are some aspects to the electronics that can fail eg displays and inverters that power backlights and the backlights themselves. Also electrolytic capacitors are drying out and may need replacing in audio and power supply circuitry. Many other faults can arise too due to flash chips loosing their ability to hold code etc...Some synths may not even boot up after a long time. It pays to check into the spare parts situation for your desired purchase as well. Some people do stock parts but only some parts. eBay sellers will often have hard to get parts but at very high prices. When the vintage synths are working great they can provide years of amazing sounds and service. Many legacy instruments still sound excellent and pretty amazing today too. Especially with some of these recent new banks of sounds that are now being created for older instruments.

[@bramboon5546]

I allways buy used, mostly top end instruments, about a year after their release in mint condition for a great price.. i play them for about a year and in general sell them for about the same price i bought them..

[@FrankyGun]

I feel that the Triton is holding up pretty well, given that there is a 20 year gap between the two... In the end, it depends on the musician itself what he/she feels comfortable with. I did a complete reset in the past 2 years and exchanged all old, outdated gear for new. It boiled down to the fact that I got much better (yet less) gear for the money I reeled in by selling the old. I am in synth heaven now 😁👍

[@aussierob7187]

I picked up a damaged triton pro on eBay for $400, couple of keys repaired, added a MOSS board for $500, SCSI2SD $160, vintage keys SIMM and max memory. Love it!

[@geoffk777]

You got a great deal on that MOSS board. I've seen them for over $1000.

[@tamjames1496]

I bought the that Triton and the next Triton studio, both in full 88 keys. The best keyboards I've ever used.

[@donaldfewell8908]

Cool! I bought a used 61-key Triton Studio with the sampling option. I like it a lot. With keyboards, I don't buy vintage keys if they're heavy. I don't drive, so if it's a heavy keyboard, it's a burden on band mates.

[@stagechris2560]

I used to play korg workstation. Very cumbersome to use for me. I switched to a Nordstage 2ex 7 years ago. It was the best decision of my life for live gigs. But use a Korg Wavestation VST via Midi. Sound incredible! 👍 For me important is a very good keybed.

[@nachom1971]

The build construction and the keybed of a flagship is second to none!

[@davellewellyn9306]

Purely because of the availability of spare parts I would go for the newer models every time. I got rid of my triton le as the screen went and I couldn't get a replacement.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

great point, after 20 years components start failing, so yes maintanance is a consideration.

[@PeteMOBie1]

Hi Woody, the "TO HOST" port on the Triton is a computer connector to hook the Triton up to an Apple Mac. The cable used to connect a Triton to an Apple is the Apple Desktop Bus standard that was before USB. The ADB allowed you to hook up an Apple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, Apple Printer and of course a synth. If you are stuck finding an Apple ADB cable, I've heard you can use an SPDIF cable.

[@2kBofFun]

Not SPDIF, but S-Video....

[@PeteMOBie1]

@@2kBofFun Thanks I knew it was a video cable of some kind. I've heard of people using an Apple ADB cable to hook up projectors when they'd lost the video cable, so know they are interchangeable.

[@Diddddu]

@@2kBofFun lol

[@melvinsmudd5484]

The To Host port does not use the ADB protocol but the RS-422 serialtal protocolo in old Macintosh computers! It can be used to vonnect to PCs via RS-232 as well!

[@gourmetoutdoors9172]

Nice comparison. I recently got a Triton in best conditions for under 400 Euros.I love the sound and the way it plays as you described it. Also those devices are repairable. I also got a Korg M1 in Good shape with minor issues that I will be fixing. I am also considering something like a MODX just for fun.

[@samuelcarrillo2914]

Hola,.dónde adquirió su Korg triton? En qué tienda?

[@mattmckeon1688]

Very interesting comparison video. My general rule of thumb is that "workstation" type synths tend to date quicker than niche synths, as the former typically try to do everything and each updated generation benefits from larger patch memory, storage capacity, sample resolution and general processing power. Synths based around a more niche but focused set of sounds can last a long time if they have a unique character to the sound. For these boards the increases in processing power are less important as they're not trying to be mini production studios. A performance synth can happily exist as one in a collection, whereas most people don't keep multiple workstations unless they have the money and time to invest in more than one and get to know all the intricacies of how to operate it. That said, there are some workstations that were so well put together that they are still relevant and usable today.

[@jeffevansmusic]

There is also a good side to getting a vintage synth. And that is the way it is built. Build quality is pretty high compared to a lot of cheaper off the press type synths we have now. They are nice to look at, touch and play for sure. You get the feeling you are playing a nice instrument. That never ages. They can last for years and give totally reliable service. And most often the old synths still sound stellar and draw dropping to this day. I have just repaired a Roland Fantom X6 for someone. Its 20 years old now but it looks great, feels amazing and solid and sounds spectacular. What more could you want.

[@pizzagogo6151]

Thanks Woody, its a valid comparison- having (mostly) old synth you’re always paranoid about something not working and part not being available anymore ( especially screens!), this can quickly eat up any savings from buying old equipment. I’ve played both these and for me (& I think you were very, very polite) the cross keyboard feels like total rubbish, but that’s fair enough for its price and light weight. Other aspects on cross are good. Much ,much better option if you need to something you’ll take out the studio. Let’s face it a lot of these old digitals we just want now, because we can actually afford them😊...BTW it was its (often forgotten) older sibling, the Trinity, that really dazzled us all with its early touchscreen...

[@WoodyPianoShack]

great points, thanks for the comment! yes, the kross is no better or worse than all the other boards at this price range, it's probably fine for its target audience.

[@nihonam]

wish you make review of Ensoniq TS and Kurzweil.

[@paultumelty]

Found this regarding the To Host port :) "The original Triton was pre-USB, the "To Host" connection is meant for a PC parallel port or Mac serial port...both obsolete ways of connecting."

[@procta2343]

Yeah my Kurzweil k2600xs has the same thing too, I think it was mid 2000s when USB started to come into the keyboard world, i know scsi also vanished too a long with the To host port.

[@Nik.leonard]

Back in the days, I used to connect a Yamaha CS1X with a "To Host" serial port. It was more reliable and fast than the 5 pin midi, but the drivers were an issue.

[@ilmostro749]

I’ve got a Yamaha UX256 and a UX96 USB midi interfaces. I use the TOHOST ports on both to connect to my Yamaha MU128 and Roland SC88. Fortunately Yamaha have kept the drivers updated, so still works on latest Windows 10 or Mac OS - hopefully Yamaha keep the drivers going! The advantage of the TOHOST is that it’s based on the Apple Talk serial interface (iirc RS422) so runs at a much higher speed that 5 pin midi ports. So less latency, and multiple groups of 16 midi channels, so 32 instruments at the same time (actually I think it’s even more than that).

[@frama7844]

I got me a Kross2 just for fun and the result is: I just sold my Triton LE because, I´m happy with the Kross. Sure, the keybed hinging is terrible (as you mentioned) but the all in all package of a small, light, modern featured and USB-interfaced workstation just suits me fine. Some of the stock sounds are nice and you can tweak them as you like to get an even better result. Great for sofa or garden practicing on batteries. A pure joy. I really like it but I´m not sure, if it would be a good choice for professional road-use.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

interesting to read, thanks! treat the kross carefully and it would probably hold up for the road, but would easily be knocked off the stand due to its light weight, both a pro and a con i guess :)

[@B1GDINO]

@@WoodyPianoShack Kross2 definately has a vocoder.

[@godzil42]

@@WoodyPianoShack The Triton LE is probably quite close to the Kross in term of interface. I think the LE is the least love Triton because it is really different, no touchscreen, different interface and some missing features. I think it use a similar screen size as the Kross.

[@frama7844]

@@godzil42 you´re right. The LE was the stripped-down prosumer version of the fullsize Triton versions. No Moss, mine had no EXB boards, no touchscreen. The display was somekind different, but the menu structrure was very comparable so Ifeel home when it comes to programming/ getting my results. To be honest - some sounds were way warmer and more organic sounding on the LE and the acoustic Pianos and natural sounds on both are ... well... let´s say dated. But they get the job done live. The Kross shines, when it comes to synth sounds. I don´t see the Kross as a one for all instrument necessarily. More of an addition or a "grab ´n go" keyboard. For A and E Pians I have my MP11 at home (34 kg /74 lbs. w/o case and accessories) and I´m GASing very hard for a Nord Synth (Lead or Wave...)

[@stevehofer3482]

A couple years ago, I saw David Byrne’s American Utopia on Broadway. All the musicians carried their instruments and played them wirelessly, including the keyboard player. What did the keyboard player play? A Korg Kross. It was kind of impressive covering all that ground with an entry level keyboard.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

haha, that is indeed a good story that i enjoyed!

[@fburton8]

When storage was mentioned, I thought we were going to be shown cupboards. :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

sorry to disappoint! i have some awesome wardrobes too.

[@davidosolo]

Only 3 minutes in and I can already see it comin´: these days they don´t make them anymore as in the good old days.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen7520]

Triton WAS korg's flagship model, Kross is low-end. Those are produced for totally different users and purposes.

[@jonathansmith7028]

I'll take the Triton over the Kross any day of the week. I find that the build quality does influence your playing style; nothing worse than playing a cheap keybed. BTW, I believe the Korg Trinity (pre-Triton) was the first of the Korg workstations to feature a touch screen.

[@arcanics1971]

I'm a Kross owner- and I love it- but to be absolutely honest I think you're right. I think it's a nice enough keybed and it never bothers me, but when I play a better keybed it makes a huge difference as you say.

[@Roboprogs]

That is THE thing I dislike about my Juno DS - the keybed. I’m just a hobbyist, no gigs, but even I can tell the difference. The sounds are great. The keys hurt my hands after a while, unlike some other devices I’ve played.

[@bobobear1977]

You're right about the Trinity, in many ways the OS was almost identical. Also, while the Triton has a number of nice new features over the Trinity, the older board still blows the Triton out of the water when it comes to the sound, mainly because of the Trinity's filter section being much more flexible than the Triton's (a design decision that was often critisised since the Triton first appeared in 1999).

[@mgabrysSF]

I'd hope that Korg having a winner with the Kross will update it with a slightly pricier model with metal and an improved keybed, but it's still a hell of an intro workstation when they were astoundingly out of reach in price/performance for anything remotely considered 'entry-level'. I've looked longingly at workstations for decades and this one was the first that nearly gave me whiplash when I saw it. Plus the size is nice for those who don't have a dedicated home studio with walls of keyboards.

[@bobobear1977]

@@mgabrysSF Take a look at the Krome, friend!

[@6581punk]

Glad it is you making this video not me (not that I make videos). Nearly every vintage synth I've bought with clicky tact switches has needed them replaced. Dirt gets in them or they oxidise. I do these replacements myself but that makes them less of a bargain if you need someone else to do it.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i seem to remember soldering in switches on a 20 year old roland d10. i definitely bought replacements, but maybe got away with squirting in contact cleaner.

[@Hyper5nic]

Thanks Woody for this honest comparison between the Triton Classic and the Korg Kross 2. And if you're wondering what the PC-host connection is on the Triton, it's to connect to a computer with an old old serial connector. I tried to connect my old Korg X5 with a connector I found second hand online, but without succes. So this type of connection is the pre-pre-pre-decessor of the USB connection. ;-)

[@daeone1514]

Triton classic just has pin midi and sczi drive. Now, triton does have a series of keyboards as well and the later models, such as Triton Extreme and TR, has Class compliant USB, as well as pin midi. Korg M50 and krome has the same layout as the Triton, with m50 having the same sounds as m3.

[@VictorEzell]

Or you can invest in the Korg Triton VST for Windows and Mac OS. I purchased the VST so that I didn’t have to carry my Triton to my gigs because even the 61 keyboard is pretty heavy. I downloaded the VST onto my MacBook Pro which is much lighter to carry along with one of my MIDI controller. Plus there isn’t enough PCM slots inside to fit all of the EXB PCM sounds cards, but with the VST you get all of the extra PCM sounds for one full price.

[@Am71919]

I love old music gear, any instrument made before 2002 is built better, sounds better, lasts longer and has better resale value, and when you really think about it, when we listen to all the classic hits that we love and grew up listening to, we're listening to vintage music gear

[@YrjoPuska777]

Quality digital vintage and new analog for me, thanks. Nice comparison!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

can't really disagree with that policy!

[@godzil42]

Great video! I think you cover most of the differences ! I know I come back always to the Triton Extreme, but it’s probably more fair against more modern synth as 4 year added to it lots of modern thing that the classic do not have : USB and Flash media (even TOSLINK in and out but I think that’s useless in most cases) The extreme come with both USB B to connect to a PC (mood only sadly , no audio :( ), USB A to connect a CD Burner or any type of mass media storage (HD or even thumb drive) and use Compact Flash for main storage, a bit outdated but easier to find and use than floppy or SCSI hard drive. I’m pretty sure I forget something, but can’t remember what. As far as I understand the Triton sequencer have a step,sequencer mode but not as easy as modern synth using the an approach like Roland TR Rec. as for,arpeggio and drum sequence the Triton have tons upon tons of them without counting user made one. I’m not sure I would call the HI Synth a subtractive synth, but if you are talking about the oscillator → filter layout as in most (virtual) analog synth ok I agree The RAM in the Triton is only used for sampling, it is not used by the sequencer, there is another volatile storage in the synth to,store your parameters, patches and sequences. Hmm. I fully agree the touch on the Triton is a nice feature but can be quick clunky, there are time,I turn around for a couple of minutes to find the option I’m looking for and still haven’t fully understood some pages, there are some really cryptic things. I’m not sure the hinge on the keys is that high it’s more the way the keys are attached which make the difference. Not keen to open mine at the moment, but will try to do a comparison between my Triton and my Roland A800 pro (as both have Aftertouch) And I also agree that it is a hard choice between both. If I didn’t had a thing for the extreme before hand, I,probably would go for the Kross as it being brand new, but it’s hard to say. I really like the look of the Extreme (especially the fancy valve with the blue LED to make it glow 😂) About the screen, have you tried to use the contrast knob? The screen is supposed to have a blueish tint, that’s the technology Kong used on that model. And sorry it was a long comment in the end 😆 Edit: oh I remember, it was about he keybed, the Triton seems to be more noisy than the Kross. Not a big deal in reality but yet makes a bit more noise. If I compare it to my A800 or my System8 which have “cheaper” keybed it is more noisy

[@WoodyPianoShack]

awesome long comment, i think i agree on all points!

[@godzil42]

Sorry for some type and weird coma, iOS really don't like to type properly :/ "mood" in the USB part was suppose to read MIDI :D

[@mrdali67]

@@godzil42 I think Apple baught the spelling checker and gramar suggestion module from Microsoft. How hard can it be today to get a system that can detect what language your writing in and not replace ever 2'nd word .. hell ... even google translate can (for the most part) detect what language your text is in.. :p

[@desreb740]

Triton hands up. They built fun into it

[@Gibson1976uk]

I still have my Korg Microx! which was the cheap way of getting the current Triton sounds at the time :)

[@HighlandStudio91]

A very entertaining video....but one thing about your assessment of the Kross 2 which I did not think was all that fair, is the complaint about the power supply(for 2 reasons.) One of which, is the Kross has a plastic tab to the right of the power input, whereby you can fasten the power cord around it, to protect that barrel input and secondly...if a gigging musician is really that concerned about damaging that power input....one can simply do away with the power cord while gigging, by simply using the battery option(which buy the way, lasts about 7 hours.) As for the Triton...I think it's quite silly to buy a used Triton(as who know how long it will last, or how long replacement parts will be available)... especially when you consider that you can have all of the Triton's wonderful sounds & features via the software package($250 for the Triton AND the Triton Extreme....who in their right mind, would pass that up??) While I agree that the Kross's modest screen is a bit tedious for song writing...well...I think that any serious song writing is best left for desktop PC's anyway( as even spending a few hours on the Triton keyboards 4 X 5" display, can be tiresome.) The way I see it, the Kross 2 is a scratch pad for laying down ideas and doing a bit of fine tuning on those ideas and every so often....just sitting down with the Kross while one is taking a break from the computer....is a nice little departure from the studio and one can just experience the joy of hardware( and do it very inexpensively.) I personally cannot deal with the financial hardship of making huge monthly payments on expensive hardware gear anymore and the Kross 2 fits this demographic so beautifully. 😃

[@pamboscharalambous3770]

I bought a triton classic 61 with 100€ in the middle of the night... I couldn't pass the opportunity.. with lots of contact spray and cleaning the bloody thing works like a charm :P.... Full factory reset everything works...

[@JoseVGavila]

As an owner of quite a lot of old and new synths, I think building quality has gone down greatly but capabilities have gone upwards quite a lot... So, well, it depends on what you value more. Did you know that the keybed on the Triton is a Yamaha FS-61?. BTW, I guess in 20 years the Triton will be a proud member of CGES (Cherised Gold-Era Synth) but the Kross will be as a cheap old CASIO is to us nowadays

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that's funny about the yamaha keybed, i know that those brands have collaborated in the past. what else used the FS I wonder?

[@nixinedoesvgm]

@@WoodyPianoShack M1, 01/W, Wavestation, DX7, and massive slew of others. such a great keybed.

[@JoseVGavila]

@@WoodyPianoShack Some more just from KORG: i2 . i3 . i30 . M1 . 01\/W . PROPHECY . T2 . T3 . Trinity . Trinity Pro .Triton . TRITON EXTREME (61 & 76 key) . Triton Studio (61 & 76 key) . Triton Pro . Wavestation . Oasys (76 key) . Z1. Then of course YAMAHA SY77, SY99, EX5, ... The FSX is the follower of that great keybed, and it is fitted on YAMAHA Genos, Montage 6 and 7 and perhaps some other keyboards

[@jenniferbrandt4782]

I like my vintage Triton 61, and Roland G-1000 setup. I currently only have $500 invested in the whole setup.

[@jesuscuadrado2920]

I have owned a Korg Karma (Triton engine) for many years and recently bought a Korg Kross 2 as it was very cheap. The result is that the Karma was with me for many years doing its job very well and instead I returned the Kross 2 after a week because it is one of the worst workstation synthesizers I have ever tried. It has a very low build quality and most importantly: sounds really poor for what is usual in Korg. For me, at the same price, it is much better to buy a used workstation with a few years of use, like the Triton, than a brand new entry workstation like the Kross. The only advantage of the Kross is that some presets (the drum patterns, especially) are more contemporary, but in the end, all presets end up out of fashion.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

brilliant opinions, thank you for sharing, I intend to do a thorough evaluation of the Kross sounds during the autumn... i've heard mixed opinions.

[@Lucrativecris]

Korg karma has a very awesome color 😍

[@wavesequencer]

The Roland DS88 seems to hit a good middle ground of features / price if looking for a decent keybed workstation. I don’t think quality these days has really gone down if you spend the inflation adjusted price of the Triton on something new (top end workstations). What’s happened is that the DSP / memory had come down in price so much that similar sound quality to top end keyboards can be had in cheap plastic form factors.

[@mstk8845]

I picked up the Juno DS8i a few years back who would have thought it would be worth more now. It is solidly built. I got it over the Kross 2. I would have gotten the Kreme ex if it had an audio interface.

[@andypennington524]

had a Kross 2, sounded great but got sick of the deep menu diving ... think there is an APP now you can use instead of the dreadful menus.

[@madness8556]

I've recently gotten a Kross 2 at a great price. It's sounds are awesome and I really reminisc about my old Korg synths when playing it and enjoying its fabulous programs and combinations. The build quality and keyboard action certainly aren't the best but for the price, they're both more than adequate. The Kross has numerous newer sounds not available on the original Triton including improved acoustic drum kits and improved acoustic pianos and guitars. I'll sooner take the Kross out for a gig than a Triton simply because of the weight and portability. I did plenty of gigs with my Triton back in the day but it wasn't the lightest instrument back then and would be even more painful to cart around 20 years later now that I'm 2 decades older! The Triton Classic that I had could have a maximum of 64mb of sample RAM. The Triton Studio and Triton Extreme could have up to 96mb of sample RAM. The Kross 2 has 128mb of flash RAM as standard which is frankly pretty minuscule compared to the likes of the Yamaha K8FX+ that has 1.75gb of flash ram as standard!

[@davidmartin123]

Good observation about keybed hinge point affecting key response. I agree that for a new keyboard shopper, the Kross 2 would be a better choice versus a 15-20 year old flagship workstation for the same price. I have owned just one keyboard since 2008, a Triton Extreme 88 (with a well-hinged keybed). The Kross 2 does offer features the Triton Extreme doesn't have (like Drum Track and pads). The Kross 2 also has a much better sound layout for preset banks and categories. I have considered trading in my Triton for a Kross 2 61, but ultimately find myself uncompelled to do so since they do sound much the same. It would be essentially an exchange for newer technology and support at the expense of a better keybed and 88 keys. I have learned most of the Triton's features, quirks, and workarounds over the years to customize it to make it function how I want and in some ways like the Kross 2 can out-of-the-box. So I'm staying on the sidelines, content with what I've got for now.

[@mrdali67]

This is why you don't buy entry level keyboards as a performing musicians. Kinda also why you don't buy the cheapest midi controller you can find. buy a cheap 90's synth and use it as controller. The keybeds on most mid to upper tier 90's synth will usually be way better than what you get today for anything up to 2000$ Some of them totally blows away a modern Fatar bed. I would go for the Triton any days since its high quality yamaha Keybeds inside plus it actually sounds better than the Kross too.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

I took my Triton to church one time and no one wanted to use it because they were afraid to touch anything they thought it was too complicated which i couldn't understand lol.

[@mr_floydst]

Great video, once again! I'd go for the classic synth. New gear will loose much of it's market value in the first years, while the prices of old gear are pretty stable, so you don't loose money when reselling.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that's so true floyd, all the vintage synths I featured on the channel were bought used and sold for similar price (although I always seem to lose something). at the end of the day it's like free rental.

[@dbefore7165]

I think the triton + moss is a different league to the kross, even after all this time. Even more so if you replace floppy with usb/get scsi card reader

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah, have to agreem triton + moss is pretty unrivaled, even 20 years on

[@juantullo75]

My analogy in other similar comparation is....a Ford Focus 2019 Vs Mclaren F1 1994.

[@asdifasi]

Hello Woody .I'm happy to see that you got a triton in such good condition.i told you many times that triton is the best choice from Korg if you like all in one kb. The first Korg with touch screen was Trinity another type animal with it's specific sound. Do you have the moss or expansion s in your Triton?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

Hi! it's a borrowed triton from a kind viewer, and yes it's fully loaded with MOSS, I did many separate videos including MOSS demo, so take a look if you want more content!

[@xp50player]

You can use the retaining tab on the Kross to keep from yanking out the power cable inadvertently.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

the kross is so light, you wouldn't yank out the cable from the synth, you'd yank the synth off the table :)

[@ChrisCebelenski]

You've hit on the main points very well. Old vs. New isn't really the argument - it's all the "other" stuff that might matter. The sample set in the Kross isn't too much different, and being able to sample in the Triton evens it all out with some work. If you're a player, the Triton is the winner. If you're a programmer, doesn't matter. Space and portability may matter to someone too. For me, I'll skip the hardware entirely, get a good MIDI controller, and go with the VST. Problem solved. :-) (For a gig these day's I'm laptop based anyway)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

great summary, yes, in the box is another great alternative! well, for studio, live, not so much.

[@aleksandarbonchev2593]

Very nice video. I was also on the same dilemma... Should I buy korg kross or PA600, or to go on some used older model (korg triton). And I decided for newer model kross. Everything you said is absolutely true, bad keybed, bad finish, but very light, very portable, full with features (more than triton), fully functional USB connection (also audio), playing wav files, memory expendable... So, much more features than triton. And, I don't complain. If I had to, I will do the same choice. But I do hope from korg to give us more expandable sounds, specially woodwinds, and accordions. You cannot imagine how light is this keyboard, how easy is to carry on on the stage. It is inreplaceable.

[@geoffk777]

It really depends on your situation and what you're buying it for: - An instrument to carry to gigs and play internal sounds. Kross, no question. It's much easier to transport. May have a warranty. And the internal piano, electric piano and other sounds are vastly better and more realistic. - A master controller for your VSTs and Racks.. The Triton, probably. It has a much better keybed and performance controls to map, as well as more outputs and inputs. You do lose the USB connection, though. - A source of vintage sounds. Triton, but it's really not a big advantage. The VST version has all of the original Trition sounds, and being digital, you don't lose much by emulating it in software (unlike, say a CS-80 or Jupiter 8). The only exception is if you have a MOSS board, but these are rare and expensive (more than both instruments combined). A piano/EP substitute - Neither is ideal. You'd be better off with a new digital piano in the same price range. But the Kross is way ahead on acoustic piano sound, so it wins. For me? I have lots of flagship modern instruments, so I wouldn't buy a Kross. I also have a Triton rack, so I wouldn't buy a Triton. But if I were buying a cheap new instrument to gig with, than I might get a Kross (or more likely, a MODX). If I saw a different inexpensive vintage keyboard that I wanted (like my SY99), I'd definitely consider getting it as an addition to my studio.

[@NathanMendel]

19:49 that is an exact sound used in SimCity 3000 soundtrack!

[@geoffk777]

As a studio MIDI controller - The Triton, although you'll need to add some VSTs or IPad apps for better pianos and some other sounds. As a self-contained instrument or for gigging - Kross, as the basic samples are much better and it's more portable and reliable. My choice - spend th extra money for a MODX, which has a better keyboard and screen. But, if $500 is your budget, than the Kross is a usable choice. Of course, you could split the difference, and get something like a Yamaha MOXF, which is a gigging keyboard with decent sounds and keybed, if not totally modern.

[@savoirfaire8979]

Some of the retailers are offering zero interest payment plans, which has undoubtedly changed musician purchase decisions in favor of brand new models. Even a used high-end unit will still involve a large transaction.

[@ytpremium7649]

My homie is still programming fresh sounds into his 1983 DX7

[@mynameisjinhong]

In China, musicians still use Vintage synth on today’s stage and studio. Like the Korg Triton and Yamaha Motif.

[@arcanics1971]

KROSS OWNER BIAS WARNING: "...be prepared to do a lot of menu diving..." Oh yes, tell me about it. I like to be able to take a preset and alter it to taste and it's a pain on the Kross sometimes. And the tiny headphone port is a bit annoying but I keep my adaptors handy so it's bearable. As for sound quality, I think it sounds pretty sweet through my speakers but to be honest, I mostly use it to input audio into a DAW which I then adapt to my project with plug ins etc. For the card, I advise sticking to 32 GB cards. There are issues with the bigger ones and they're overkill anyway. (I can't remember what they issues are, I just remember when I got it, it really didn't like my bigger cards but has been fine with the 32s.) And yes, there is a Vocoder. But for all that- and I do love it- I'm already looking at upgrading to something better. In an age of Montage and Kronos, it's a poo relation. Worth it? Sure. But it while I am still looking at Triton's and thinking they're a classic, I already think the Kross is just another budget workstation. I struggled to choose between it and the similar Juno and tbh, I don't think there's much difference other than some minor feature differences. The Triton will be loved for a long time, the Kross will be on an episode of Bad Gear in 2030.

[@arcanics1971]

As another commenter said the issue with the bigger cards is that the Kross is SDHC so it won't take more than 32!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks for all the tips, and great to hear from a fellow krossie! love the bad gear reference, i wouldn't be surprised...

[@brianxhaust2723]

Very good video Woody. As a keyboard player in a band, registration (storing and quickly retrieving patches during a gig, and within a song) is VERY important to me. My unexpanded Triton classic is pretty bad at this, though I've found work arounds. My MOXF, OTOH, is fantastic for this in MASTER mode. I still use the Triton as my top tier MIDI'd to the MOXF though to play organ and synth. The keybed on the Triton 61 is simply awesome, the best I have found. But it weighs more than my MOXF8. And overall, the sounds of the Yamaha are superior, especially pianos and other acoustic instruments.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

good point about calling up presets, modern synths have this nailed with favorite banks, set lists and so on. back in the day though, i had memorized all the preset numbers and could punch them in super quick in between or even during the performance!

[@godzil42]

@@WoodyPianoShack in modern day you would,also,probably have a computer nearby that can send the midi command to switch mid note the patch you need!😉

[@marcindrej5647]

Hi, I'd love to see you try some Kurzweil keyboard on the channel

[@procta2343]

yeah it would be nice to see woody have a wack at a Kurz! When i was looking for an upgrade to my alesis Qs 8.1, The kurzweil, K2500/2600 was said to give the Triton a run. The Kurzweil i think is more geared for live classic sounds, rather than Electronic Dance, which is what the Triton was geared towards. I am toying with the idea on getting a Triton Rack, so i can have the best of both worlds!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i would love to wack away at a kurz too, got a real soft spot for the vintage units.

[@marcindrej5647]

@@WoodyPianoShack I have Kurzweil PC3, love this key.Woody get the Kurz K2600X and make a video about it on you tube

[@procta2343]

@@WoodyPianoShack its a shame you are not in the uk, i could have lent you mine

[@mvoproject]

Why Woody still doesn't have a couple of the hundred thousand subs!! Thanks for the nice video explaining, Woody!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

puzzling to me too :D

[@prewinder]

USB is very practical. Less cables and a new user don't have to get a separate midi-interface. So as a newcomer I would definitely get a new synth with usb midi and audio.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen7520]

Kross is much handy and mobile, and way lighter than TRITON(3.8kg for 61 keys). And it has some modern features that TRITON doesn't have, vocoder or pad controllers, for example. Kross can be good option for beginners, or people who won't buy the used ones. You know, for most people, TRITON is not so irreplaceable option.

[@andreassonnenschein1250]

I think the important think between Old and new is the possibility to use USB-Ports to connect to PC/DAW, or load new Samples, edit Patches and store Songs. Modern Keyboards most have more or better Sounds, because there is more Built-In-Storage vor Samples. And you even don't know if some of the Parts (like Battery, Harddisk or Screen) is empty or broken, or just in time to go there. Sometimes it is better to take more money and buy you an modern Flagship to be happy :D (For me, I was trying to buy a Keyboard at 1995 and begin at 800$, then look to the next Level at 1500.. And after some time I was up to 8000 to get my "Dreammachine", but dont have enough money.. The next keyboard I bought was 20 Years Later for 700$ and has more features than the old by 8000$... The old one costs actually about 100$ :D )

[@WoodyPianoShack]

indeed, the best option perhaps is a used modern flagship, if you're lucky enough to find one!

[@KarlBate]

Internal PSU's are an issue on devices, as they can have a potential to fail and then it is a bigger issue to repair, so the AC adaptor is actually a better option.

[@procta2343]

yeah i have seen a few fail, i bought Kurzweil K2600 for bits, and the PSU was dying, to the point the instrument would not produce sound, and other Features like the disk drive would not power up. With in a few hours of me testing it, the keybed and other usable parts. the PSU went pop. But then if you can get your hands on a replacement, its a sake of opening it up and swopping it over. But it can be pig depending how the wires are ran etc.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that's an advantage for sure, plus easier and cheaper for manufacturers to handle different voltages and plug types.

[@godzil42]

@@WoodyPianoShack multi votage support are not that much a problem nowadays, most modern power supply are supporting all the range from 60V AC to 250V AC. Obviously as DC jack are somewhat standard replacing one is easier than the internal power supply, but repairing a power supply is not necessarily that hard if you know electronics. I would not recommend beginner to play with repairing that though.

[@kiskadar69]

Use of external PSUs: selling directly into several countries with all sorts of different consumer electronics rules and regulations governing power supplies, it's the best solution.

[@mrdali67]

like others said, external adapters is used for convenience for selling in different countries with different regulations. Not as much because of different power standards, but more because in some countries you have to get EACH type of equipment you plan to sell tested and approved wich takes time and cost money. But as a user these AC adapters is friggin annoying to put it mildly... to have to use. The chords are thin and often break, the different devices uses all kind of different voltages, so I clearly have to disagree with that statement. There is a MUCH higher chance you will damage your keyboard if you by mistake use the wrong adapter that outputs 12 or 18v to a device using a 5v input, than you will ever get a blown internal psu failure. And repairing a psu is something that is fairly easy to repair. Most of those things use less than 20 components. The simple one: 1 trafo, 1 rectifier, caps for noise cancelling.. thats it. They most often have some more comonents for safety and other stuff, but if you have ever learnt just some basic electronics, one of the first things you learn is how to build a powersupply and what the different components do, and for the most part a powersupply can be fixed with just a soldering iron and a standard multimeter. You don't really need a more expensive osciloscope to measure it and find wich part is not working. If I could get 3 free wishes fulfilled, one of them would be to get rid of all power adapters for various electronics that isn't supposed to be running primarily on batteries and put a friggin internal ~250v 50/60Hz psu in them...

[@RICHFOW]

Little Black knob on back left Middle controls display contrast.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no dice, still barely readable contrast however you turn the knob. :)

[@jamestaffae5178]

I try always buy used because much like a car value drops a lot once it leaves the store. I have owned a music shop so I know used prices very well. Now the Triton I am not as familiar with as the Kross, but Korg in general rehashes sounds over and over again so it really is pointless to own more than one Korg. I made the mistake of buying a Kross myself and I can’t tell you enough about how big of a waste of money that was. Again Korg rehashes sounds found in their instruments 10 years ago. Buy a Korg every 10-15 years when they come out with a new “flagship” synths only then will you find updated sounds like Triton or the new Nautilus. Every synth that comes out in between years will be rehashed sounds from previous years. Yes, buying newer gear does provide technology updates such as color screens, multiple USB ports or a promised better connectivity with your pc. Bottom line, don’t buy new unless you enjoy spending money. Otherwise wait a month after the release. Someone will always be selling because the can’t make rent.

[@lt15_27]

And what about Nautilus? I love my 2000 Triton: stunning patches! Should I buy a new Nautilus?

[@bldn10]

In a different price range.

[@davetbassbos]

Korg Poly 800!, best of both worlds: vintage and cheap!

[@autoy]

Vintage, cheap, really good sounding: pick two

[@2kBofFun]

Get a DW8000, 8 voice with analog filter per voice instead of a single shared one.

[@jml7916]

Where I live, the Krome EX is only 30% more than a Kross 2 and a much better keyboard. I bought my MODX6 gently used for $100 less than a new Krome EX. Best option yet I think.

[@davidmartin123]

I think the Kross is better than Krome. The Kross has a built-in audio recorder. The Krome does not. This means if you want to record the song you just sequenced on the Krome, you have to use its audio outputs and use an external recorder. The Kross has a better logical layout of sounds within Banks. The Krome is kind of randomized with a mix of different categories within banks. Krome does have better effects and a touchscreen. The Yamaha MODX is a good choice.

[@rhitosparsha]

@@davidmartin123 A few more advantages the Kross has are the pads, and that it supports audio over USB!

[@abohsukampret]

The Kross 2 was released on late 2017 btw. Other than that, awesome video!

[@MuzixMaker]

With the vintage gear a concern is finding replacement parts for things like displays when, not if, they go bad. New stuff, even semi pro, is built cheaply and in my estimation won’t be working long enough to become vintage.

[@aleksandarbonchev2593]

I won't agree with you. I have kross 2, and being playing on gig 2 years before pandemia (April 2020). Three times on week, every week, and every day turning on for practicing. IT NEVER GOES WRONG! Never stuck, never accidentally turning off, never clipped sound, never anything. And I'm using samples. Triton users must reload samples every time they turning on their synth. How much time it takes for that. Do you know how much time it takes for kross to turn on? 36 seconds!!! And with samples! 36 seconds. Remember this. This little synth, his electronics, is incredible solid. And mainly that is because it don't have big touch screen. And believe me, if don't fall down, if don't crack, it's electronic will last far far more than you can imagine

[@WoodyPianoShack]

way to go Aleksandar, keep on rocking that kross!

[@volvoxrock]

Woody your videos are amazing, greetings from Argentina (the ass of the world)

[@FLH3official]

I'm not a workstation guy at all, I even never had an M1!, but for the same "services", no question for me, I would chose the vintage one: Build quality, aesthetic, you get a REAL synth, good keyboard, something sturdy, made with real metal, not a black plastic thing. It's a real object. Period. But: I never carry my synths unless I move my studio, which is quite rare hopefully, and I work mainly in the box, plug a vintage synth, tweek the sounds and record directly the audio in the current project.

[@UnitedPebbles]

Eh the Kross is still a metal chassis underneath? Black carbon plastic is the ideal since it is light and electricity shock could be a problem w sensitive circuits?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

kross is just your regular plastic throughout.

[@gabrielgil5956]

I still use my Korg 01/W fd and Korg M1

[@svencarstenberger2131]

I think these 90's, 00's monster worktations are probably preferrable to the newer synths that have same features and a more up-to-date soundset. I have a Triton and used to own an XP-60 around 20 years ago. The old workstations will reward you when spending time with them and going really deep into the features. the build-quality is definitely better and you will be more likely to learn from standard "old-school implementations" of features than newer and often more obscure features. Old DAWs were built to cover all bases and give the owner plenty of options which was a requirement at the time to justify thier prices. Yes, storage is an issue with older machines but the lack of storage forces you to make good decisions and to think exactly how you want to approach any given project. #mytwocents

[@thaeronline]

Thank you

[@knikk77]

I am torn between buying high end vintage triton, or cheap budget synth (that costs more than the Triton), i know someone that bought a Yamaha MX88, not a synth though, still you would expect the piano sounds to be better than a 20 year old synth, but no... the piano sounds on the triton are imho way better on the Triton. The triton has a way bigger sceen and I can configure the sounds on it. Not a fair comparison, I would have to rather compare the triton with the Kronos. Sometimes the old is better than the new. Like guitars, I find old Jackson guitars are way better feelwise than the newer models.

[@oktavision5094]

Nearly every company has dropped the build quality nowadays in order to produce affordable products, but their lifespan is quite reduced and the serviceability is nearly impossible most of the times. I'd go with the Triton anytime.

[@jvusa]

Nice comparison, How do I know triton extreme has MOSS or not?

[@kiskadar69]

If included, the Triton Extreme will display "EXB-MOSS" under "OPTIONS".

[@agst2006]

I would look the keys first especially for aftertouch capability

[@savoirfaire8979]

What song starts at 16:29?! I remember the chord changes but can’t recall the song! Driving me nuts!

[@Lucrativecris]

Can you do a comparison between Korg N5 vs the Korg Kross 2

[@WoodyPianoShack]

only have access to the KK2, so probably won't happen, but I thank you for the suggest and interest.

[@Lucrativecris]

@@WoodyPianoShack hey no problem

[@lamotta6]

Woody, I love your videos. You are terrific as you explain your points. I have a question? I have the Yamaha PSR SX 900. Would you call this keyboards keys cheap, where they might be problematic on the backend of the keyboard? I await your response eagerly!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

you can gauge public opinion better by checking the threads on psrtutorial, mine did get a bit clacky like many people complain about. but otherwise they are quite ok, but not the best.

[@Jesoteric]

I usually have a rule I never buy used gear it usually backfires, I just recently broke that rule to buy a Roland fa 06 because I wanted that particular keyboard through musicians friend second hand and the whole experience has been horrendous and I’ll never do it again

[@WoodyPianoShack]

bad luck! for me, whenever buying anything i check first if i can find one used!

[@Jesoteric]

@@WoodyPianoShack it’s very difficult now to actually buy something second hand and see it first, you end up having to roll the dice on a online purchase

[@Demontage_Montage]

Korg Triton always ❤️

[@279oxygene]

Dear Woody, 1st; I own/owned both (and much more ;-)), but sold the Kross2; its ok for Entry Levels, but words apart from the Triton, esp. when you have a T Studio or T Extreme. Just the feel of it and the keY bed... Kross had the worst key bed I ever tried. Its like a toy, in comparison to a Triton Studio. Soundwise the Kross2 is more detailed and the bread & butter sounds are way better. But big Sound scapes, with lot of swirling and spherical pads....Triton... Just the pure fullness and power of the sounds, rich, saturated, powerfull... And yes...it takes time, and yes it misses a usb port (not the extreme, I think it has one)...but there is almost nothing you can Not do with a Triton Studio. Even bought a Triton LE, instead of a Kross.... And my trusty Roland FantomX just blows away all the New Roland DS and VR stuff... they’re may be old but hey...what machines they made... 2nd: Woody...besides my beloved Triton (just can’t aford a Kronos or Nautilus); I own a Kurz PC3 and K2500XS...and they are just Monsters... How about a Video on a topic Kurzweil?? Like the brand new K2700, or the PC4 or Forte? Thank you very much for all your efford and videos... Because of you thinking about a MODX...but again...Sounds great but playability and plastic chassis and external power supply and...just does not seems to be made for 20y gigging... Best regards from 🇨🇭 Switzerland.

[@i-tiyahman6519]

I have a reggae band and I have two mint Tritons they look impressive in the stage they built like a tank the keyboard 🎹 feels great TRITON wins every time

[@maplegreen6900]

thanks , Korg M3 Vs. Yamaha Motif would be great , or Korg Pa1x Vs. Tyros 2

[@user-ih3ry4rs9k]

Hey woody, think the Triton "studio" version would be the flagship model. Your one is the "standard" ;)

[@s.kxx1956]

Buy a used triton, the kross looks and feels like a toy, i had a triton taktile (not the original triton) its a midi controller with triton sounds and it had those cheap keys and it wasnt nice. Also korg was still under yamaha ownership and so used yamaha keys for a while which are lovely ! The only benefits of the kross is modern connectivity.

[@UnitedPebbles]

Triton, Fantom is desktop studio? The latters are for regular usage?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no hard and fast rules here.

[@Chalisque]

My first, and so far only taste of an entry level synth is the Yamaha MX49. It sounds ok, but the keyboard itself is poor, quality wise. I'm getting into the Korg VST, driven by either a Roland A88, a Yamaha CP50 or a Novation SL49 Compact. I kind of wish Yamaha would do to their older Motif keyboards what Korg have done for the Triton. But I kind of understand that Yamaha are still rocking the same AWM2 tech that they were 20 years ago.

[@nigelreadon8381]

i would get the cross... but already have a cheap yamaha e463.

[@daeone1514]

M50 and krome are laid out just like the Triton

[@yavamaystudio8045]

Can you tell us about sampels, are they tinned in the same way (ATRAC) on both instrument, before Korg put them to memory ? By the way, which instrument have samples richer in harmonics, ? I know the don't have Aural Aphex exciter inside like An1x.. My choice is Triton and Motif against....plastic bath.

[@Jzh733]

My fantom x eats my bandmates’ vr09 alive at live playing

[@2kBofFun]

The saying goes "Everything we need is already there"....

[@olimilo1402]

Did you know that you can load sounds (pcg-files) into the triton, e.g. on www.korgformus.com there are a few for free download.

[@Jtcrawford3]

Love my korg kross2 88 and 61 never played a triton so I don't know what I'm missing

[@techboy3851]

good day , thanks for the nice video. what do you think about the Korg KROME EX ? i think korg wanted to represent the old triton in a new technology with KROME EX (in my opinion). it has almost the same shape but alot of good new tech . but again the build quality is a mater to think about. im a yamaha and roland user and im thinking of gitting korg but im not shure which one i should consider there is the krome ex and there is the kross(the newer) and the old trinity and triton would you please give an advice thanks

[@MrCapitolist]

Can you not connect the Kross to the Triton by MIDI giving the voices of the Kross to the key Ed of the Triton.

[@user-wf9wq9kq6u]

Hey Woody, all considered, would you suggest getting a Triton classic (nomoss) 61, which I found on sale at a good price, to cure nostalgy I still have for the Trinity (i had one in the 90s)? do you like the sounds of your Triton?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

I only borrowed the triton for a short while, but why not, if you get a good deal then get the triton! probably a bit late now, how did you get on?