New Korg Krome Workstation Priced Starting At $999

Korg Krome Workstation

Korg earlier in the week introduced the Krome keyboard line – a new family of workstation keyboards.

The response here and at the Korg Facebook page was mixed. Some readers were hoping that Korg’s ‘major announcement’ would be a new analog synth, while others were disappointed by what they saw as another “generic, overpriced workstation keyboard”.

Now Korg has released pricing details for the Krome, though, and it looks like the new workstation is priced very competitively, given its features. Krome features include sounds derived from their flagship Kronos keyboard, a 7-inch color touchscreen, unlooped piano samples and integration with your DAW.

The Korg Krome is available in three models:

  • Krome 61 (Semi-Weighted Keybed)- $999
  • Krome 73 (Semi-Weighted Keybed) – $1,199
  • Krome 88 (Natural Weighted Hammer Action) – $1,599

Product Highlights: 

  • Kronos-derived full length, unlooped piano and drum sounds, plus new electric pianos
  • Electric pianos with eight-level velocity switching
  • Korg’s 7-inch color TouchView display
  • Drums offering separately mixable direct and ambient sounds
  • Drum Track plays back realistic grooves at the touch of a button
  • 640 Programs and 288 Combinations
  • Powerful Effects with 5 Inserts, 2 Master, and 1 Total FX, plus per track/timbre EQ
  • Aluminum panel design
  • USB connection to your computer, plus an SD Card slot for data storage
  • You can use the Krome editor to edit sounds on your computer
  • Available in 61, 73, and 88 key models.

We’ve got the official intro video and specifications below. See the Korg site for more details.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrkUoTEpU-M

Specifications:

Keyboard

  • Krome 61: Natural Touch keyboard, semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive (C2-C7, transposable from C1-C6 to C3-C8)
  • Krome 73: Natural Touch keyboard, semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive (C1-C7, transposable from C0-C6 to C2-C8
  • Krome 88: NH keyboard, reproducing the weighted response of an acoustic piano, with a heavier touch in the lower register and a lighter feel in the upper register (A0-C8, transposable from A1-C7 to A3-C9)

System

EDS-X (Enhanced Definition Synthesis-eXpanded)

Sounds

Maximum Polyphony:

120 voices (120 Oscillators) / Single Mode

60 voices (120 Oscillators) / Double Mode

*The maximum simultaneous voice polyphony will vary depending on oscillator settings such as stereo multisamples and velocity crossfading.

PCM Memory:

              3.8 GB, 48kHz/16-bit linear equivalent

1,077 Multisamples (Including 7 Stereo multisamples)

1,609 Drumsamples (Including 116 Stereo Drumsamples)

Program:

Oscillator

OSC1 (Single); OSC1 + 2 (Double): Stereo multisamples are supported

8 velocity zones per oscillator with switching, crossfades and layers

Filters

Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB)

Two multi-mode filters per oscillator (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject)

Driver

Per-voice nonlinear driver and low boost

EQ

Three bands, with sweepable mid

Modulation

For each oscillator: two envelope generators (Filter & Amp)

Two LFOs

Two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp)

Two AMS mixers

Pitch EG

Common LFO

Two common key tracking generators

Combination:

Timbres: 16 maximum, each with split/layer/velocity switching with crossfading, plus modifications via Tone

Adjust function

MIDI Controller Functionality: Customizable MIDI channel and Internal/External/Both settings per timbre

Master Keyboard Functionality

It’s available for controlling external MIDI devices

Drum Kit:

Stereo and mono drum samples

8 velocity zones switch (crossfades and layers)

Sounds:

Program: 640 preload, 768 total locations

Combi: 288 preload, 512 total locations

Drumkits: 32 preload, 48 total locations

The number of Combination / Program / Drum Kit:

User: 512 Combination (288 Preload)

User: 768 Program (640 Preload)

User: 48 Drum Kit (32 Preload)

Preset: 256 GM2 Program + 9 GM2 Drums Program

Effects

Insert Effects:

5 Insert Effects (stereo in/out)

2 Master Effects (stereo in/out)

1 Total Effect (stereo in/out)

Timbre / Track EQ:

3-band EQ per timbre/track

Effect Types:

193, useable as Insert, Master, or Total effects. Note that a double-size effect cannot be used as  a total effect.

Modulation:

Dynamic Modulation, 2 Common LFO

Effects Control Busses:

Stereo sidechain (Limiter, Gate, Vocoder, etc)

Effect Preset:

32 preset per effect

Polyphonic Arpeggiator

Program Mode:

Single polyphonic arpeggiator

Combination, Sequencer Mode:

Dual polyphonic arpeggiators

Number of pattern:

900 preload, 1028 total locations

5 preset arpeggio patterns

Drum Track

637 preload, 1000 total locations

Configurable Trigger Mode/Sync/Zone

Sequencer

Tracks:

16 MIDI tracks + 1 master track

Number of Songs:

128 Songs

Resolution:

1/480 PPQ

Tempo:

40.00- 300.00 (1/100 BPM resolution)

Maximum memory:

210,000 MIDI events

Template Song:

16 preset / 16 user template songs

Cue List function:

20 Cue Lists

99 steps

Pattern:

605 Preset / 100 User patterns

RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play and Recording):

              1 pattern set per song

Format:

               KORG (KROME) format, SMF format 0 and 1

Media

Load, Save, Utility, data filer functionality (Save and Load MIDI System Exclusive Data)

 

Controllers

*Joystick, SW [1], SW [2]

*Realtime Control

[SELECT] Switch:

REALTIME CONTROL (TONE, USER), ARP

4 Knobs;

REALTIME CONTROL: Real-time Modulation, Arpeggio control

*Drum Track

[DRUM TRACK] Switch On/Off

*Arpeggiator

[ARP] Switch On/Off

User Interface

Display:

TouchView(tm) Graphical User Interface

7-inch color TFT LCD, 800 x 480 pixels

Onboard LCD brightness control

Mode Switch:

[COMBI], [PROG], [SEQ], [GLOBAL], [MEDIA] switch

VALUE controller:

[VALUE] Dial, [INC], [DEC] Switch, 10 key block ([0] – [9], [-], [.], [ENTER], [COMPARE])

BANK Switch:

[A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F] switch (in Combination mode, [A], [B], [C], [D] switch are available)

SEQUENCER switch:

[PAUSE], [REW], [FF], [LOCATE], [REC], [START / STOP]

TEMPO:

[TEMPO] knob, [TAP] switch

Others:

[PAGE] switch, [WRITE] switch, [EXIT] switch, [VOLUME] knob, Contrast knob

Outputs

AUDIO OUTPUT (L / MONO, R):

6.3mm (Mono) Phone jack, Unbalanced

Output Impedance: 1100Ohm, 550Ohm with Mono output

Maximum level: +16.0 [dBu], Load Impedance: more than 10Ohm.

Headphone Output:

3.5mmStereo phone jack

Output Impedance: 33Ohm

Maximum level: 60 + 60mW with 33Ohm load”

Control Input

DAMPER pedal (Half Damper supported)

ASSIGNABLE SWITCH

ASSIGNABLE PEDAL

MIDI

IN/OUT

USB

USB-MIDI Interface (TYPE B) x 1

SD Card Slot

Max: 2 GB / SD memory card

Max: 32 GB/ SDHC memory card

Note: SDXC memory cards are not supported.

Power

Power supply (DC12V 3.5A), POWER switch

Dimensions (W x D x H)

KROME-61 = 40.43 x 12.32 x 3.66 inches / 1,027 × 313 × 93 mm

KROME-73 = 46.89 x 12.32 x 3.66 inches / 1,191 × 313 × 93 mm

KROME-88 = 57.01 x 15.08 x 5.16 inches / 1,448 × 383 × 131 mm

Weight

KROME-61 = 15.87 lbs. / 7.2 kg

KROME-73 = 18.08 lbs. / 8.2 kg

KROME-88 = 32.41 lbs. / 14.7 kg

Power Consumption

13 W

Accessories

AC Adapter

Quick Start Guide

Accessory Disc (Operation Guide PDF, Parameter Guide PDF, Video Manual)

Option

XVP-10: Expression/Volume pedal

EXP-2: Foot Controller

DS-1H: Damper Pedal

PS-1, PS-3: Pedal Switch

PC System Requirements for Krome Editor/Plug-In Editor

Windows

OS:

Windows Vista SP2 and later (32- and 64-bit, all editions),

Windows 7 (all editions, including 64-bit)

Computer:

USB port required

Macintosh

OS:

Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later

Computer:

USB port required

PC System Requirements for Krome Editor/Plug-In Editor

Windows

OS:

Windows Vista SP2 and later (32- and 64-bit, all editions),

Windows 7 (all editions, including 64-bit)

CPU:

Intel Pentium III / 1 gHz or faster, Pentium D or later Core Duo recommended.

Memory:

More than 512MB (Greater than 1 GB recommended)

Monitor:

1,024×768, at least 16-bit color

Others:

Computer with USB port, running Windows 7, Windows XP, or Windows Vista

 

Macintosh

OS:

Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later (32-bit and 64-bit kernel modes supported)

CPU:

Late Apple G4 800MHz (Intel Mac supported)

G5 or greater than Core Duo recommended

Memory:

More than 512MB (at least 1 GB recommended)

Monitor:

1,024×768, at least 32,000 colors

Others:

Apple Macintosh computer with USB port, running Mac OS X.

33 thoughts on “New Korg Krome Workstation Priced Starting At $999”

    1. I don’t know about that. the $999 price (a bit less on the street) is actually an excellent deal for the 61-key version, even though I’m not usually a fan of workstations. Korg’s stuff is always built to very high quality, they have a decade of experience with touchscreen user interfaces, you can load your own waves into it, and DAW integration is a lot cheaper than something like a Virus TI, even if it doesn’t have any input/sample ability .

  2. Shay: “they don’t have to list the price yet for me to know it will be overpriced. i’m guessing 2500-3000 USD – if it’s under 2000 i’ll eat my hat.”

    Hat, mouth. Mouth, hat. 😉

  3. There’s a lot to be said for working from a workstation’s palette…. the Neptunes sound, for instance. How to mitigate having too much choice but also promote understanding of the entire spectrum sound is something that I’m still trying to get to the bottom of..!

  4. Just for the sake of argument, I tried calculating what it would cost for something *comparable* on a laptop. Admittedly, it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges, but here is what I came up with:

    Bottom-of-the-line Dell 15″ laptop – $450
    Low-end USB audio interface – $100-$150
    Low-end 61-key semi-weighted USB controller keyboard – $200
    DAW software for midi sequencing (Reaper) – $60
    Sampler VST with around 1000 presets (Sample Tank XL) – about $200
    Total: around $1060

    Of course, the price would go up if you used a more expensive DAW, got a better quality keyboard with a few knobs and sliders and sturdier construction, invested in something like NI Komplete 8 in order to get a REALLY wide palette of sounds, etc. But, you also have a 15-inch screen, compared to 7-inch, much easier editing of midi sequences, a more flexible and expandable system, etc., etc.

    I’m not trying to start a flame war. I’m just playing devil’s advocate, and was curious to see how prices would compare. Personally, I prefer the flexibility of using a computer. But it seems like Korg has actually done a decent job of creating an affordable option for people who want to use a workstation.

    2. For people who really want to play or to perform live, these workstations make a lot of sense, because your not booting anything up, loading drivers & piecing gear together, you just turn it on and play.

      This looks like a nice step up from a good control keyboard too.

      How flexible is the synth engine on this?

      1. There’s also the question of what kind of player you are; as came up in the product announcement chat, if you’re doing jazz sessions or playing in a rock band, stage pianos and workstations are still the rig of choice, overall. It’s a shame in a way, ’cause a decent controller plus something like Pianoteq can cover most player’s needs, but the lock-in factor is pretty strong in this part of the “market”…

      2. >> How flexible is the synth engine on this?

        Wow, look, someone actually asked about the synth itself instead of the color of the case or bitching because its not analog! I used to run a Korg into a MIDI splitter and control 2 outboard synths with it. Each got a track of the 16 available and it worked beautifully. Since when did people decide that workstations were inferior in some way? I seem to recall having up to SIXTEEN patches running at once without a hiccup. With USB controllers starting at about $200 for cheesy ones and topping out at over $1000, Krome seems perfectly competitive, especially if you are a home-studio type, as most of us are. You guys have become spoiled by having too many choices, ahem!

      3. The M50’s synth engine is pretty flexible (2 filters in parallel etc) and still really lots of fun to edit, and this should be even better, if not for anything else, then at least for its bigger and better screen, virtual sliders and knobs and user loadable samples!!!

        I’m saving for Kronos for even more bang of buck, but this should be the one to watch in 1k$ league!

    3. Leon,

      Your comparison between your mediocre laptop set-up and the Korg Krome is utterly erroneous.

      First of all,$450-at the most,will buy a 500GB HD and 4GB of RAM.About 60%of the Sonik Synth sounds that are in Sampletank are garbage and in no way,shape,or form,do the pianos even remotely measure up to what is in the Krome.
      As for performance,if you tried running more than 8 tracks in the DAW,you would overload the CPU and after about a month or two of recording,the storage of all that data would slow that laptop down to a crawl and it wouldn’t be long before you’d crash it.

      That fact that the Krome offers more than any other budget hardware keyboard out there and undercuts all of the competition price-wise AND has complete PC integration,make your contrasts null in void.

  5. I’d have to play one to see if the sounds that I need are represented in an ok fashion. As for the price, $1000 for a decent workstation keyboard with a healthy variety of decent ROM sounds, and a pretty advanced looking sequencer seems like a reasonable deal. The fact that it has an SD slot makes me think it should be able to load user samples, but I didn’t see any mention of it above. Does anyone know?

    1. Yeah, won’t be replacing my m3 anytime soon. No karma on this board but I imagine that the pianos are much better. Pricing is very competitive. This will definitely give Kurzweil something to worry about when compared to the PC3LE

      1. Actually looking at the Korg line I think I will start collecting backward and get some of the old stuff at least until they decide to build something I cannot resist.

    2. I agree….I will stick with my M3 as my live rig…I added the Korg PS 60 (under$500) as my second tier…best live performance synth for quick tweaking….the two together are incredible for lush pads and string…

  8. I don’t think anyone will view this as an innovative keyboard. For its strengths, bigger/better sample ROM (but even then, probably not without it’s clunkers), price, build-quality is probably decent (but that’s just a guess), sequencer is probably good, touch-screen, etc.

    Can’t load your own samples, and probably a somewhat limited modulation matrix.

    Could be just the right rig for some kinds of gigs.

  9. At $1600 for the 88-key, it’s not a bad deal if the action is good. I’m one of those that assumed it would be $3K, so Korg definitely came in under my expectations. It seems like a better deal for a gigging keyboardist than as something for sitting in the studio (assuming the studio already has a computer and a MIDI controller).

  10. These threads are funny. This is a gig ready axe that goes for the price of a half decent guitar. Guitar players will think nothing of using a particular guitar for a specific tone, maybe for just one song in their set. Are keyboardists cheaper than guitar players?

    1. This isn’t a guitar though, it’s a keyboard. Comparing it to how some musicians use guitars has no relevance to whether it’s a good value keyboard, or whether it sounds good. Different worlds.

      Unless you’re one of the less subtle Korg reps on patrol again. I can’t think of anyone who’d say “This is a gig ready axe” unless they worked for Korg.

      1. This is an instrument that is meant to be played, as in with your own hands, using up to ten fingers. If you can’t play, probably it is not for you. If you can, you cannot judge “good value” from a brochure or a spec sheet, especially in a case like this where price seems reasonable for any playing musician, hence comparison with guitars that, oddly enough, tend to be more expensive than keyboards these days. It is you who seem to be selling something here. Not that I care if you do, but if you don’t, your undercover sales rep paranoia is something you should worry about. BTW, my own main board is a Roland. (I have several guitars, too)

  11. Now do the synth half of the Kronos for the same price! Would buy!

    Personally, with synth sounds I prefer a groove or rhythm oriented interface with tempest or MPC style pad layout, or no keys, because I already have nice key action and besides Korg mod sequencers are fun and powerful, but either way. Do it Korg! 🙂

  12. Definitely interested. Been frustrated with the lack of 73/76 note keyboards and controllers that don’t weigh so much. Was considering the Roland Jupiter 50 but thought it is over priced. Don’t care for Kurzweil organ sounds. Had and liked the Yamaha MOX6 and was considering a MOX8 but really wanted a 7. Love Nord sounds but too expensive. Was considering a computer setup for gigging and like the thought of the versatility that it would make available but not the expense and setup time.

  13. A decade ago this would have been very interesting. For now… the very best masterkeyboard 88 keys Doepfer LMK is cheaper. So you have a soundmodule and sequencer for the rest of the money. And for that money you can buy really interesting plugins and logic pro.

    I think it would have been nice to make it all half price and just masterkeyboards.

    Is it really so hard to innovate for a reasonable price?

  14. >>> Is it really so hard to innovate for a reasonable price?

    Short answer: Hell yeah. There are not only the basics of circuit design and balancing materials against price point, but also trying to adapt to new formats such as Thunderbolt and the fickleness of people who sway back and forth with the trends. Its becoming harder to do, too, because “innovation” has given way to refinement. We’ve reached the point where the hassles of 3 decades back are just insider lore now. Computers can be pissy, but MIDI has long since been stable and only serious analog synths drift in pitch at all. Once they settle in, they tend to stay
    on target. So aside from better stability in a few areas like conflicting drivers, exactly where do we need “innovation?” It looks to me as if its back on the user to make good music.

    1. I agree, but understand why many studio guys will feel underwhelmed.

      The whole workstation concept needs a serious overhaul, mainly due to the popularity of DAWs, plugins, and software/hardware hybrids… Also, everyone who owns a workstation needs a DAW to (professionally) track out the music they have made.

      With that in mind, Krome becomes less of a bargain for those looking to actually record their own music. Krome owners will eventually have to buy a computer, interface, cables, etc… to finish what they started on their workstation.

      The fact is that all of the modern workstations, including Krome, lack the depth and versatility of Software. In many cases, plugin romplers sound more authentic, with multi-gigabyte instruments containing hundreds of times more samples per program. Also, a Workstation is nothing more than a glorified computer running custom software. With this in mind, I’m positive that the big 3 could make a better product. They just need to re-think how people will be using their products.

      For live musician/band/church guys, YES. This is cool. For everyone else, there are better, more powerful, less expensive (in the long term) options.

      1. You do realize that the Krome can be used as a VST plug-in,in a DAW,don’t you?And are you also aware that no other budget workstation(aside from the MOX),can do this?

        This being said,I think the Krome is one hell of a bargain.

        Granted,the Krome having the same synth sound set as the M50 is disappointing,but then that is were PC software comes in.

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