Kronos and FA-8
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flowerkings
- Posts: 29
- Joined: 22:39, 21 April 2011
Kronos and FA-8
Now that this synth is about a year old I was wondering what users of both think about the sounds. The piano's organs, etc. What synth has the better quality sounds, and what people like, just sound wise not overall keyboard.
Re: Kronos and FA-8
I own both keyboards and think they're both top notch, and you can't go wrong with either of them. Just like with any other instrument, neither of them do everything perfectly so there is always room for improvement. The FA is disgustingly underpriced, and I love Roland for going this route with these keyboards. I actually bought the FA-06 with the intent of pairing it up with a Korg Kronos and as it turns out, this is a phenomenal combination. The FA-06 made my entry into the workstation world relatively painless.
If I ignored overall keyboard and focused only on sounds, between the two, the FA wins. The only thing the Kronos does better is strings and winds. Everything else the FA minimally equals, and often surpasses. Both boards have excellent acoustic and electric pianos. I might describe the FA as warmer and a bit livelier, whereas the Kronos has more detail and, sometimes, sounds more realistic. My YES rig's B3 sound is powered almost entirely by the Roland clonewheel engine, with the Kronos providing a few B3 sounds where I need them.
The FA is a synthesis beast, highly programmable and capable of anything from simple vintage analog sounds to off-the-wall psychedelia, and the SuperNATURAL engine is considerably more accessible than the Kronos' three distinct synth engines (especially because I am not at all familiar with the real-world equivalents), but the Kronos can deliver some astounding and unheard-of results if you take the large amounts of time required to master what is available.
Obviously there is more to consider than JUST the sounds, because any of the mass manufactured keyboards available produces some very nice sounds here and there, while missing the mark on others. Plus the FA-08 is considerably cheaper than the Kronos, which is a flagship board boasting a flagship pricetag. By combining keyboards together can you produce truly optimal results. Sadly, quality keyboards are very expensive so it can be difficult to amass a collection but it's worth it, because each keyboard will always be firing on all cylinders. You choose the best sound you need from the boards you have, so nobody ever hears the weak points.
-Tom
If I ignored overall keyboard and focused only on sounds, between the two, the FA wins. The only thing the Kronos does better is strings and winds. Everything else the FA minimally equals, and often surpasses. Both boards have excellent acoustic and electric pianos. I might describe the FA as warmer and a bit livelier, whereas the Kronos has more detail and, sometimes, sounds more realistic. My YES rig's B3 sound is powered almost entirely by the Roland clonewheel engine, with the Kronos providing a few B3 sounds where I need them.
The FA is a synthesis beast, highly programmable and capable of anything from simple vintage analog sounds to off-the-wall psychedelia, and the SuperNATURAL engine is considerably more accessible than the Kronos' three distinct synth engines (especially because I am not at all familiar with the real-world equivalents), but the Kronos can deliver some astounding and unheard-of results if you take the large amounts of time required to master what is available.
Obviously there is more to consider than JUST the sounds, because any of the mass manufactured keyboards available produces some very nice sounds here and there, while missing the mark on others. Plus the FA-08 is considerably cheaper than the Kronos, which is a flagship board boasting a flagship pricetag. By combining keyboards together can you produce truly optimal results. Sadly, quality keyboards are very expensive so it can be difficult to amass a collection but it's worth it, because each keyboard will always be firing on all cylinders. You choose the best sound you need from the boards you have, so nobody ever hears the weak points.
-Tom
Re: Kronos and FA-8
Pianos, Electric Pianos, great. Acoustic Bass Amazing... Other Synth and bass sounds very very good, Strings, very good... Vocal sound average to good.... Brass sounds a little thin, Hammond, average but I am picky about Hammond sounds and still a work in progress. The hard thing about this synth is there are so many sounds you keep looking in case one might be better and the choices are extensive.
Overall, the sounds are fantastic...
Overall, the sounds are fantastic...
Re: Kronos and FA-8
I am speaking strictly FA.. Kronos too expensive and heavy for me.