If you thought you knew everything about Korg workstations, think again! The Kronos 3 is back with surprising new features and a redesigned user experience. Michel Deuchst, a specialist and enthusiast of Korg keyboards and pianos, takes you through this latest generation. Faster, more intuitive, and offering even more sonic possibilities, the Kronos 3 is set to become your next musical companion.
The first strength of the Kronos 3 is instantly clear: its outstanding responsiveness. Thanks to a new built-in PC board, startup and sound loading are incredibly faster compared to the previous version. This technical upgrade is perfect for live performances, where every second counts. On top of that, the Kronos 3 includes more than 200 brand-new built-in programs, taking its sound library to an entirely new level.
The Kronos 3 also comes with all the sounds from the previous versions, so you won’t lose any of your favorites!
9 sound engines: an unlimited sonic palette
The Kronos 3 is powered by 9 distinct sound engines, each with its own sonic identity:
- SGX-2: Ultra-realistic acoustic pianos with 9 GB of samples.
- EP-1: Vintage and modern electric pianos.
- AL-1: Precise and warm analog modeling.
- CX-3: Perfectly recreated classic, jazz, and modern organs.
- STR-1: Plucked string instruments with remarkable detail.
- MOD-7: Versatile FM synthesis in the tradition of the Yamaha DX7.
- MS-20EX and PolysixEX: Faithful recreations of Korg’s legendary analog synths.
- HD-1: PCM engine with classic sounds from the iconic M1 and Triton synths.
These engines can be freely combined to create unique, personalized textures tailored to your needs.
Intuitive touchscreen and simplified navigation
The Kronos 3 touchscreen makes navigation a breeze. Everything feels intuitive, from selecting engines to tweaking sounds in real time. For example, the MS-20EX engine, traditionally monophonic, is now available in polyphony, expanding your creative possibilities even further.
Legendary sounds, reimagined with modernity
What makes the Kronos 3 even more impressive is how it allows you to blend these sounds. Thanks to its flexible architecture, you can instantly combine analog textures with digital pads or mix retro sounds with more modern ambiences. Everything runs smoothly, with no perceptible latency, and feels completely natural to play, even in the most complex setups. This makes it a formidable tool for both stage keyboardists and producers in search of nuance.
For electric piano lovers, whether Rhodes or Wurlitzer, the EP-1 engine is a true gem. The Vector Control lets you quickly shape your sound by adding grit or attack.
With the SGX-2 engine, dive into an immersive acoustic piano experience with samples streamed directly from the hard drive. Enjoy an exceptional variety of German, Japanese, or Australian pianos for unmatched sound quality.
Combination Mode: up to 16 sounds at once
This mode is perfect for complex stage setups. For example, you can assign a bass to your left hand, a piano in the middle of the keyboard, and strings or brass to the higher octaves. Even better: you can manage transitions between sounds with crossfades, velocity zones, or real-time controllers. This creates a genuine live orchestration feel without the need for multiple instruments or keyboards. Combination Mode thus becomes an ideal playground for musicians who love fine-tuning their sets.
Make the most of the 12 insert effects, as well as the master and total effects, to further enrich and personalize your performances.
Karma: instantly create dynamic rhythms
Karma, the exclusive technology developed by Stephen Kay, gives you more than 600 built-in rhythms to automatically generate complex, adjustable accompaniments in real time with intuitive controllers. Michel Deuchst shows us how to effectively combine bass, organ, brass, and various grooves simply and efficiently, for outstanding live performances.
Sequencer and sampling: capture every idea on the fly
You can even record complex loops or multilayered tracks in real time without ever interrupting your session. Everything is designed so that inspiration is never blocked: you hear an idea, you play it, you record it—instantly. Whether it’s for a quick demo or a full production, the Kronos 3 follows your every move.
Advanced connectivity and extended compatibility
The Kronos 3 also offers extensive connectivity, making it easy to integrate into any professional setup or home studio. With multiple audio outputs, inputs for external instruments, USB and MIDI ports, this workstation adapts to any imaginable configuration.
👉 Ready to explore all these new features? Discover the Kronos 3 today and experience music like never before!
