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Author Topic: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8  (Read 13335 times)

Offline Treon

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Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« on: November 12, 2012, 01:15:14 PM »
I Really Want to know which one of these boards are the best. I love Yamaha's filters but I also love the direction that Korg is going with this new Kronos. Just want you guys to kick around some ideas.
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Offline ltljake

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2012, 07:50:34 PM »
Both boards are great. Be aware that its only a matter of time before Yamaha releases an answer to the Kronos. If you took the plunge for a XF, you may regret it. Kinda like if you bought an iPad 3 within the year. The Kronos has the edge in my honest opinion for versatility. All of those synth engines built in and the piano streamed from a solid state drive, Korg has released a cutting edge keyboard. Though If you bought a Kronos when they first came out, it is now old as the Kronos X is now out. I hear the Motif piano in so many gospel albums its ridiculous. Yamaha's piano sound is distinct to my ears. Almost as distinct as Kurzweils.  Overall, Sound is subjective. The best board is the one thats best for you.

Offline Treon

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2012, 09:59:07 PM »
Thanks for the reply, IMHO it seems like the Yamaha brand of keyboards are usually seen "more" in the professional scene, but I think i'm going to purchase the Korg Kronos X.
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Offline GospelEngineer

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2012, 07:05:51 AM »
Great choice, imo the sounds on the Kronos are much better than the XF. The Kronos is my dream board right now lol

Offline apex

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2012, 08:35:37 AM »
wow... you guys are talking about the Kronos and didn't invite me!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?  LOL.  j/k

I own a Kronos as well as an XF.  My XF has a VERY specific position in my rig and that is for it's pattern mode.  I use it live at church, not just for drums and bass but full length backing tracks for our choir (and I play organ or piano) over the tracks.  I do love my XF.  I don't think there are many if any sounds that I'd go to the Motif for vs the Kronos (if I had to make a choice)

My Kronos is very very rarely IF ever leaves my home studio.  But in the few times that it has, it's been awesome.  (the reason it doesn't move is because I have the 88 key version, vs the XF7 being easier to move)

I MUST add this though, because in a fair comparison it MUST be brought up.  There have been some hardware/software issues with the Kronos.  Most of them have been ironed out.  But I have run across a few people that have had issues DURING live performances.  I don't know if I've ever read or heard about these types of problems within the Motif XF systems.  They are just rock-solid.  But even with that said, if I had to choose between the two... it would pretty much be the Kronos (hands-down)

The Kronos is just SOOOO versatile.  Best pianos (arguably) best EPs (arguably) VERY VERY NICE and versatile organ, plus 5 other synth engines that are dedicated specifically to a certain type of sound... and please don't forget HD-1 one of the best sounding romplers available. 

And if you really want to put the icing on the cake, let's consider User Sample Streaming...  (in the same way that can take a very large piano (4GB) and stream it directly from the SSD drive with Korg's default pianos, you can also create YOUR OWN user sample libraries and stream them directly from the SSD and since the files stream, you can use very large sample sets and they take up minimal space in RAM.  This is ground breaking... even more-so than the Flash concept that the Motif XF is using right now (and its comes standard with the Kronos vs having to spend $300-$500 on flash chips to install in your motif.

And to make sure that the Motif gets it's rightful props as well... 

The motif is ALSO a very versatile instrument.  It's pattern mode is like non other and EXTREMELY useful (at least in my opinion)  It's sounds have become classics that some can't be without (but you can get that same classic soundset in a module (motif rack classic (under $300) motif rack es (under $400) motif rack xs (under $700... MAYBE even closer to $600).  So if that classic motif sound is what you just HAVE TO HAVE, get a Kronos and spend a few hundred on the Motif rack... (you won't really need it, but if you just HAVE TO HAVE IT... that's certainly the better option)

The motif is the standard that is a proven fact.  You see them everywhere ALL the time (which is the primary reason I started pushing Korg more in the first place... (under rated). 
But Korg has certainly raised that standard.  Who knows if/when motif will introduce a new workstation.  It certain is being rumored... but we don't know for sure.  (they did just release their new MO series.  I think it's called the MOXF - same pattern they have always followed)

This is just an intro comparison.  If you want to discuss further we can talk about something else that is pretty important across both boards.... Combi mode (Kronos) and performance mode (Motif XF)  This is the mode used to layer multiple sounds together.  There are some MAJOR differences between the two.  Both boards also allow you to layer sounds within their single voice mode - Program mode (Kronos) Voice mode (Motif XF).  Again Major differences between the two

I hope this helps.  And I hope we get to discuss the two instruments more in depth later. 

Again both are great boards and you will be happy with either one.  It just boils down to which system you understand more and which one motivates you to want to play and explore. 

Great sounding music can be made on either instrument.   GOD BLESS!!!!
I'm Blessed To Be A Blessing!!!!!!!!!!

Offline thunderkat

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2012, 10:41:20 AM »
wow... you guys are talking about the Kronos and didn't invite me!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?  LOL.  j/k

I own a Kronos as well as an XF.  My XF has a VERY specific position in my rig and that is for it's pattern mode.  I use it live at church, not just for drums and bass but full length backing tracks for our choir (and I play organ or piano) over the tracks.  I do love my XF.  I don't think there are many if any sounds that I'd go to the Motif for vs the Kronos (if I had to make a choice)

My Kronos is very very rarely IF ever leaves my home studio.  But in the few times that it has, it's been awesome.  (the reason it doesn't move is because I have the 88 key version, vs the XF7 being easier to move)

I MUST add this though, because in a fair comparison it MUST be brought up.  There have been some hardware/software issues with the Kronos.  Most of them have been ironed out.  But I have run across a few people that have had issues DURING live performances.  I don't know if I've ever read or heard about these types of problems within the Motif XF systems.  They are just rock-solid.  But even with that said, if I had to choose between the two... it would pretty much be the Kronos (hands-down)

The Kronos is just SOOOO versatile.  Best pianos (arguably) best EPs (arguably) VERY VERY NICE and versatile organ, plus 5 other synth engines that are dedicated specifically to a certain type of sound... and please don't forget HD-1 one of the best sounding romplers available. 

And if you really want to put the icing on the cake, let's consider User Sample Streaming...  (in the same way that can take a very large piano (4GB) and stream it directly from the SSD drive with Korg's default pianos, you can also create YOUR OWN user sample libraries and stream them directly from the SSD and since the files stream, you can use very large sample sets and they take up minimal space in RAM.  This is ground breaking... even more-so than the Flash concept that the Motif XF is using right now (and its comes standard with the Kronos vs having to spend $300-$500 on flash chips to install in your motif.

And to make sure that the Motif gets it's rightful props as well... 

The motif is ALSO a very versatile instrument.  It's pattern mode is like non other and EXTREMELY useful (at least in my opinion)  It's sounds have become classics that some can't be without (but you can get that same classic soundset in a module (motif rack classic (under $300) motif rack es (under $400) motif rack xs (under $700... MAYBE even closer to $600).  So if that classic motif sound is what you just HAVE TO HAVE, get a Kronos and spend a few hundred on the Motif rack... (you won't really need it, but if you just HAVE TO HAVE IT... that's certainly the better option)

The motif is the standard that is a proven fact.  You see them everywhere ALL the time (which is the primary reason I started pushing Korg more in the first place... (under rated). 
But Korg has certainly raised that standard.  Who knows if/when motif will introduce a new workstation.  It certain is being rumored... but we don't know for sure.  (they did just release their new MO series.  I think it's called the MOXF - same pattern they have always followed)

This is just an intro comparison.  If you want to discuss further we can talk about something else that is pretty important across both boards.... Combi mode (Kronos) and performance mode (Motif XF)  This is the mode used to layer multiple sounds together.  There are some MAJOR differences between the two.  Both boards also allow you to layer sounds within their single voice mode - Program mode (Kronos) Voice mode (Motif XF).  Again Major differences between the two

I hope this helps.  And I hope we get to discuss the two instruments more in depth later. 

Again both are great boards and you will be happy with either one.  It just boils down to which system you understand more and which one motivates you to want to play and explore. 

Great sounding music can be made on either instrument.   GOD BLESS!!!!


Very nice review.

I myself have always been a Motif guy and never really liked Korg. I love Korgs synth and lead sounds but their pianos always turned me off. Quality piano sounds are a must for me.

With that being said, in my opinion Kronos pianos sound great, along with many other sounds. I haven't gotten a chance to really dig in to the board but from the little time that I have spent on it I can say that I like it.

I'd definitely consider buying one for my next board... if only I had the $$$.

Offline berbie

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2012, 12:02:04 PM »
The Kronos seems to have a lot of quality issues.  Especially the keybed and the fan, and some spurious re-boots(with a two minute boot-up time). Everybody says that even so, it is the best board out there.  I wonder about the Krome, though, as it is supposed to have very good pianos. Apex is is very up to date on Korg units.  If I am not out of order, I would like to ask his opinion about the Krome as compared to the two mentioned.

Offline apex

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2012, 03:17:51 PM »
The Kronos seems to have a lot of quality issues.  Especially the keybed and the fan, and some spurious re-boots(with a two minute boot-up time). Everybody says that even so, it is the best board out there.  I wonder about the Krome, though, as it is supposed to have very good pianos. Apex is is very up to date on Korg units.  If I am not out of order, I would like to ask his opinion about the Krome as compared to the two mentioned.

The keybed issues have been completely resolved with the newer units (serial #s 3000 or so and above (i think that's the number) and the Kronos X also has no kebed issues.  Fan issues are far and between... even my macbook pro has a loud fan (at times)... with that said the fan in my Kronos has never been a problem.  As mentioned in my first post though, some people do have the reboot issues, but it's kinda being blamed on user error (not a good constant source of power being supplied to the unit can cause this).

In my educated opinion (and I don't mean that any other way (snobish, conceded, negative AT ALL)... simply educated... the Kronos is the best workstation available at this time. 

Especially when you consider bang for your buck.  With that said, you can achieve needed results with even a Korg Triton Classic, Motif Classic, or Roland Fantom X.... (meaning you don't HAVE TO GET THE NEWEST AND HOTTEST THING OUT)... but the results achieved with the Kronos (if you dig in and put the time in...) can be overwhelmingly satisfactory.

I can discuss the Krome if the original poster would like for me to.

Again for the record (as I've stated in other threads), I am not endorsed or employed by Korg.  Just an experienced user. 

I hope this helps.  Let me know if there is anything else that I can help with.
I'm Blessed To Be A Blessing!!!!!!!!!!

Offline apex

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2012, 03:21:01 PM »
I apologize I misread the post.  You were saying that you wanted me to discuss the Krome.  I misread it... thinking you said, 'you would ask my opinion'.... meaning you were suggesting that the original poster should ask me.  I went back and re-read it and realized you were saying that YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY OPINION....

sorry for the confusion.  I'll post back here later today about the Krome!!!!

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Offline Treon

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2012, 01:08:57 AM »
I  thank you all for your comments and opinions, I really am amazed about the Korg Kronos and will be purchasing it by Christmas time rolls around. Thank Apex i think i will get the Kronos and eventually purchase one of the Motif racks
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Offline berbie

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2012, 07:04:41 AM »
Surely you will enjoy your Kronos, Treon.  I have heard that it has the best sounds and features of any unit available.  I didn't mean to intrude with the Krome question.  I will start a new thread on that unit.  Don't forget to let us know how the Kronos works for you.

Offline apex

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2012, 11:44:13 AM »
great choice.  i'm sure you'll enjoy it.... !!!!
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Offline berbie

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Re: Korg Kronos vs. Yamaha Motif XF8
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2012, 08:57:02 AM »
Since you are buying the Korg Kronos, there is a Korg Forum that is very informative on that unit. You might already be familiar with it, but if not, it might be helpful to read some of the posts.  Just enter Korg Forums on the search bar.(or www.korgforums.com)
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