Korg Kronos X + DP

[SixStringGeek]

It occurs to me that I was never more productive than when I was writing material on an ESQ-1, largely because I had the sequencer and sounds at my fingertips, and while DP and plugins are great, fiddling with the mouse and the keyboard, finding a patch, populating a track, etc....take time and slow me down and I'm feeling like it is getting in the way of getting my ideas down.

So I'm looking at the Kronos with its nice 16 track sequencer and liking it for getting something down fast. But naturally I'll want to move the thing to DP for finishing up once I get the bones down...so any Kronos users out there have any tricks on how to do this? Is it just slave DP to the Kronos, set up a multi-record template with 16 MIDI tracks on it, and pressing play? Is there a more elegant way to do this?

Thanks for any tips on getting the most from a Kronos/DP combination.

[jbyerly1]

I've been using a Korg X-3 for years. My Laptop is still running 7.5. My patch list showed up and connected with a MIDI/ usb. Stereo out of the key board. Rock solid

[SixStringGeek]

I've been using a Korg X-3 for years. My Laptop is still running 7.5. My patch list showed up and connected with a MIDI/ usb. Stereo out of the key board. Rock solid

Do you used the X3 sequencer? If so, how do you move sequences from the X3 to DP?

[David Polich]

Well I think that creating a sequence first on any workstation and then "transferring" it to
DP to finish up is a complete waste of time. Here's why:

You'll be using the Kronos sounds in your sequence. You'll be using the Kronos sequencer to
generate your MIDI data. But, you will then have to transfer the MIDI data back to DP, and
record the sounds of the Kronos as single audio tracks, in order to mix the project in DP.
Simply put, you're just doing the same work twice.

Yes it takes some additional time to start your computer and launch DP. But transferring the MIDI data and recording the audio from the Kronos actually increases the amount of time you'll be spending on finishing the project, vs. the time consumed if you simply start the project in DP from the beginning, using the Kronos as a sound source.

As good as the sequencer in any workstation is, it will never be as flexible as the one in a
DAW. Nor will you have the luxury of viewing everything on a large monitor if you do it
all on the keyboard workstation.

[HCMarkus]

I'll second David's perspective… use the DP sequencer. If using an external synth as a sound source, you need not necessarily transfer the sounds to individual audio tracks before mixing, especially for demo projects.

[Tobor]

Interesting. I resemble some of the OP's remarks, but kind of by accident. I realized that I hadn't bought a workstation keyboard since around 2000, as since then obviously the explosion of technology has been in the box. I'm certainly happy with my Axiom and more sounds than I can possibly explore in a lifetime, DP and plugins galore yada yada yada.

I've been gigging with my trusty Triton all this time and although I didn't 'need' a new keyboard for gigging, I suddenly had GAS for one. As it turned out, the GAS led to not only a Kronos X but also a MOXF 6. I had intended these keyboards to provide some added dimensions for gigging, but they're currently stacked in the studio and I'm having great fun with the new sounds and the creative stimulation of Karma and Yammie arpeggiators, so have used them for recent commercial projects lately as well.

But as David and HC have mentioned, I've been recording them exclusively to DP at this point. I had to dust off the MTPAV! That's not to say it wouldn't be wasted time to learn the respective onboard sequencers, since it's probably easier to record the arpeggiator MIDI output that way, although I discovered how to record it into DP and it wasn't difficult. Sometimes less is more, though, and the more creative possibilities the better.

I guess this isn't terribly helpful info, just thought it interesting that I've also stumbled back into using hardware in the studio after all these years of replacing it with soft solutions. Not as a permanent replacement, however!

[kwiz]

I understand and agree with both standpoints. David's point is absolutely right, but I sometimes do what Six String does. At times I'll have an idea that I just want to sketch out real quick without turning on my entire system. I'll just plug in some headphones into my M3 and sequence a few tracks. I'll refine later after I copy the MIDI data into DP. Extra work? Yes, but also a time saver, at times.

[SixStringGeek]

I was thinking about it like the difference between a pad of paper and pencil vs photoshop - sometimes I just want to sketch quickly while I still have the picture in my head. I can do a higher quality rendering later. After all, I still sing lines into my iphone, those aren't going into the final production either.

Anyhow, thanks for the thoughts. I've ordered one of the things, I'll be exploring how it might best work with DP over the next weeks.

[cowtothesky]

I use a Korg M3 and love it. The only thing I don't like about Korg is the toggle mod. I much prefer mod wheels for VI work. I see that the Kronos and their newer one, Krome, also has toggle mods.

I agree with others though. I would use DP sequencer.