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!!!!
