Korg Kronos 3 61-Key Music Workstation (Demo)

New sounds, unmatched expression

In addition to the thousands of included sound programs and combinations, Kronos 3 introduces 256 additional programs, carefully crafted to elevate your musical creativity. Central to this update are 128 brand-new sound programs, including a stunning Italian piano with gorgeous, transparent resonance, and Tine EP I Early, an electric piano tone that authentically replicates the earthy, vintage sound of metal rod (tine) mechanisms. These additions, alongside FM electric pianos, versatile synth pads, lush leads and more, give you a broad palette of truly useful sounds spanning every genre – from timeless classics to modern chart-toppers.

Complementing these are 128 expertly curated sounds from the Kronos Sound Libraries. Developed in collaboration with 12 world-class sound designers, these sound programs include the best of their creations, handpicked to inspire and expand your sonic palette. This selection also features new piano voices ensuring Kronos 3 remains your ultimate go-to keyboard.

Streamlined control, unparalleled intuitiveness

The Kronos control system has been meticulously refined over generations to deliver a performance interface as intuitive as it is powerful. Its layout – featuring eight realtime knobs, nine sliders, and a suite of performance controls – remains comfortably familiar, empowering musicians to focus on their craft and perform intuitively. At the heart of the interface lies the large, responsive TouchView display, now faster and more responsive than ever and offering at-a-glance access to vital information and settings. This seamless design ensures anyone familiar with previous Kronos models can effortlessly dive in.

Optimized for speed and precision

Kronos 3 takes performance efficiency to new heights with its significantly improved startup process. Thanks to a reengineered system architecture, startup time is now 60% faster than previous models, drastically reducing downtime. Coupled with an enhanced TouchView interface, Kronos 3 provides unmatched responsiveness, ensuring every interaction feels instantaneous and intuitive.

Kronos Sound Libraries, a vast library of extended sounds

Kronos Sound Libraries, a library of extended sound samples and programs, has been released steadily since the first Kronos was introduced, and boasts a lineup of more than 300 titles, each with a unique selection that is different from the preloaded programs in the main unit. These titles can be purchased separately and used with all Kronos products. The Kronos sound engine is designed to accommodate any genre of music, and to be used in a variety of situations by any user. Kronos Sound Libraries allow you to find and purchase your preferred sounds and genres that are not included in the main unit, and change your Kronos 3 to your liking.

Massive sound selection

Kronos 3 comes equipped with thousands of sounds created using various synthesis modes and calling upon over approximately 21GB of preset waveform data covering a variety of genres. Each one has been carefully crafted by the Korg sound design team. The internal SSD offers a generous 62GB capacity, providing enormous space for user sampling or downloading additional Kronos Sound Libraries. These optional Kronos Sound Libraries add new professionally programmed sounds without the need to add any new hardware. Artist Signature Programs provide the priceless sounds actually used by top-ranking musicians. Additional Song Programs are named for the classic rock and pop songs whose signature keyboard sounds these programs recreate. Use these universally well-known sounds to pay homage to the originals, or as the basis for personal sonic explorations.

Natural Touch Semi-Weighted Action

For those who prefer the ultra-quick response of a synthesizer keyboard, need to focus on organ performances or are seeking the ultimate in portability, the Kronos 3 61-key model is equipped with a lightweight and expressive semi-weighted synthesizer key action with aftertouch.

Set List mode

Kronos 3 can organize all of the resources you need to get through a song or a set using Set List mode. Using Set List mode, the TouchView display can host 16 color-coded touch-screen buttons; each one can instantly call up the appropriate Preset, Combination or Sequence – regardless of mode! You can even add handy performance notes ('sing on chorus,' 'transpose down,' 'wait for sax solo,' etc.) to each one. Set List mode adds a dedicated nine-band graphic EQ, allowing the overall tone to be tweaked to match the venue. Set List mode allows for even deeper customization with many slot color options, text size variations and a full-screen text editor. Connecting a USB computer keyboard makes it simple to enter text and numeric values.

Karma

First appearing on Korg's Karma Music Workstation in 2001, this revolutionary algorithmic music technology instantly produces sophisticated phrases, drum grooves and full-blown backing tracks. Based on the notes and chords you play – and the intuitive operations you perform with the knobs, sliders and switches – Karma can create musical effects that exceed anything you imagined. Now and offering features like Karma Wave-Sequencing, Note Mapping and 8 scenes per layer, Karma is standard equipment on Kronos 3. It will expand your conception of a song, and will be an enormously inspiring creative asset for all composing.

Open Sampling System

Using Korg's Open Sampling System, Kronos 3 can quickly sample an external audio source, regardless of whether Kronos is in Program, Combination or Sequencer mode. Open Sampling Mode can even resample the performance of Kronos itself! The user sample bank, which extends the convenience of the EXs sample library to user samples, allows custom samples to be loaded and played, taking advantage of the large SSD capacity. AIFF, WAV, SoundFont 2.0 and AKAI S1000/3000 format samples can be loaded via USB memory. Additionally, you can use a USB ethernet adapter to exchange large amounts of sample data with your computer at high speed. Instruments or samples that you've previously created on your PC can be used to construct a music production setup based on just Kronos 3.

16 onboard effect processors

Kronos 3 provides 16 internal effects to add impact to your sonic creations. Each of the 12 Insert effects can be applied to individual or multiple timbres in a combination, or to individual or multiple tracks of the sequencer. In addition, two Master effects can be applied to sends 1/2, and two Total effects can be applied to all tracks at the final stage of the sound. A separate three-band EQ is provided for every timbre, for every sequencer track and for every audio track for adjusting subtle tonal balances or for creatively modifying the overall sound.

Smooth sound transitions eliminate dropouts when changing sounds, regardless of the mode you're in

When you switch program sounds during a performance to get ready for the next section, or when you switch from Program mode to Combi mode, the sound that's currently being output is always given priority and its effects are maintained during the program change, ensuring a seamless transition with no dropouts, something that has earned high praise from pro musicians.

EP-1 electric piano sound generator

The Kronos 3 EP-1 sound engine is dedicated to faithfully recreating six of the most popular classic electric pianos, and the Tine EP I Early has been added to the list. The MDS (Multi-Dimensional Synthesis) technology eliminates the transitions between velocity-switched samples and does away with the unnatural behavior of looped samples. Smoothly responding to the nuances of the player's touch, yet allowing your performance to reach an energetic climax, this modeled engine features an astounding dynamic range that exceeds what one might expect from digital sound generation. For each of the six different models, different amps, cabinets, speakers and standard vintage effects are realistically simulated. From the samples to the touch and the effects, all aspects affecting the sound are coordinated into a single package, making this the ultimate electric piano.

HD-1 high-definition synthesizer PCM sound engine

HD stands for 'high definition,' indicating HD-1's superior sound, starting with Korg's proprietary low-aliasing sample playback oscillators, full-bandwidth multimode resonant filters and extraordinarily fast and smooth envelopes and LFOs. HD-1 is the most powerful PCM sound engine in Korg's history, into which Korg has poured all the PCM knowhow accumulated since the M1. All of Korg's acclaimed PCM sounds are painstakingly created by specialized technicians. Data that was reluctantly omitted from previous models due to limited memory has now been called back into service on Kronos 3. The amount of waveform memory rivals a PC-based sound engine. Yet the real difference is in the completely different level of high quality audio finish that is obvious when you play these sounds as instruments on Kronos 3. The finest technicians, working on the finest platform and aiming at the finest quality: that's HD-1.

PolysixEX analog modeling sound engine

Polysix first appeared in 1981, offering six-voice polyphony, program memory and a surprisingly competitive price tag. With its self-oscillating four-pole filter, smooth analog oscillator and sub-oscillator, plus a lush chorus/ensemble effect, PolysixEX extends the abilities of the original in many creative ways. The strings and pads that were such a major feature of Polysix will be invaluable when you need the sounds of the early 80s. The classic arpeggiator built into the original Polysix is also provided. As a bonus, it's also capable of extremely high polyphony.

MOD-7 waveshaping VPM/FM synthesis sound engine

This sound engine uses VPM synthesis based on the VPM (Variable Phase Modulation) technology that powered two classic instruments, Korg Prophecy which appeared in 1995 and Z1 which appeared in 1997 as a further evolution, and adds PCM sample playback, multi-mode filters and external input to create a freely patchable semi-modular synthesizer. Combine Variable Phase Modulation (VPM) from Korg's classic Prohpecy and Z1, add in some wave-shaping, a little ring modulation, mix in a few samples and add subtractive synthesis plus a modular patch panel system and you have MOD-7. Exceptionally versatile, it offers everything from classic FM keyboards, bells and basses (including the ability to import sounds from vintage DX synths) to rhythmic soundscapes and sparkling, epic pads.