Gearank

Gearank High Notes

• 2022.02: Highest Rated Keyboard Workstation from $2000 to $5000
• 2021.05: Highest Rated Keyboard Workstation from $2000 to $5000
• 2020.05: Highest Rated Keyboard Workstation from $2000 to $5000
• 2018.03: Highest Rated Keyboard Workstation from $2000 to $5000

Gearank Recommended

The Kronos 61 appeared on our recommended list for Keyboard Workstations Between $2000 and $5000 when we published the first edition back in March 2018.

It has had the highest rating in its price category ever since, which means it has also out-ranked its bigger 73 and 88 key siblings.

It came off the recommended list in September 2022 due to a lack of availability.

Overview

The Korg Kronos 61-Key version showcases its enhanced SGX-2 Grand Piano engine, which offers resonant piano sounds and quality string patches.

It also provides real-time controllers, such as Korg's 4-way Vector joystick, a responsive ribbon controller, and a tap-and-drag color TouchView display for a more intuitive and hands-on control.

Its nine sound engines provide a huge collection of presets for a number of possibilities of combining different sounds.

It also has a sequencer that can record up to 16 MIDI tracks and 16 audio tracks.

Specifications

• Keys: 61 Natural Touch Semi Weighted keys
• Polyphony: Varies Per Engine: SGX-2: 100 voices*3, EP-1: 104 voices, HD-1: 140 voices, AL-1: 80 voices, CX-3: 200 voices, STR-1: 40 voices, MOD-7: 52 voices, MS-20EX: 40 voices, PolysixEX: 180 voices
• Sound Engine(s): 9 Engines: SGX-2: Premium Piano (Acoustic Piano), EP-1: MDS Electric Piano (Electric Piano), HD-1: High Definition Synthesizer (PCM), AL-1: Analog Synthesizer (Analog Modeling), CX-3: Tonewheel Organ (Tonewheel Organ Modeling), STR-1: Plucked Strings (Physical Modeling), MOD-7: Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer (VPM Synthesis), MS-20EX: Component Modeling Technology (Analog Modeling), PolysixEX: Component Modeling Technology (CMT Analog Modeling)
• Controllers: Vector joystick, joystick, ribbon controller, switches 1 & 2
• Effects: Over 197 Effects
• Audio Recording: 4-track simultaneous recording, WAV file format 16bit/24bit.
• Audio Playback: 16-Track Playback
• Sequencer: 16-track MIDI sequencer + 16-track hard disk recorder + 1 master track.
• Audio Inputs: 2 x 1/4" Line-in
• Audio Outputs: 6 x 1/4" Line-out, 1 x 1/8" Headphones
• MIDI Inputs/Outputs: In/Out/Thru
• Other Connections: 3 x Pedal Input, 1 x S/PDIF Digital Input, 1 x S/PDIF Digital Output
• USB: 2 x USB A (TYPE A), 1 x USB B (TYPE B)
• Dimensions: 40.94” x 5.28” x 14.33”
• Weight: 31.53 lbs.

Demo