Music Workstation Korg KROME-61 EX

Korg KROME-61 EX

An evolved go-to synthesizer with a focus on "FUTURE BASICS". KROME, the best-selling synth focused on packing the most usable sounds into an easy to use platform, has received a major refresh. Updated to meet the needs of the current music scene, KROME EX has a special emphasis on sounds that can immediately fit into productions of all types. In addition to standard sounds that will never grow old, KROME EX provides numerous new programs and PCM data, including piano programs prepared specifically for this product. This instrument provides high-quality and immediately-usable sounds that take full advantage of the KROME's high performance specs. The new body also features a newly revamped build and look to accompany the new sounds.  A music workstation for gigging musicians and producers of all stripes. The KROME EX.

Carefully selected sounds with immediate usability

Keeping up with a worldwide music scene that evolves daily is a challenge for any instrument designer that Korg is excited to take on. KROME EX answers the question "What sounds should be provided by today’s go-to workstation synth?"

First we focus on EDM (Electronic Dance Music) that has conquered the world. Rich, effect-laden polyphonic sounds that evoke massive rooms, clear and crisp synth leads, and punchy drum kits that get listeners moving are some of the new staple sounds that we've added. Ethnic instruments such as steel pan, kalimba, and kokyu, as well as Hollywood-type sound effects frequently used in movie trailers or commercials are also newly provided. KROME EX features a musical catalog for today, where users can simply select a program and immediately begin composing fresh-sounding tracks.

The best of the basics

Having bread-and-butter sounds that are always usable is a top priority for our sound designers. The KROME EX is equipped with sounds that are intended for longevity, such as the piano and electric piano that are the foundation of any keyboard, as well as drums that are indispensable for a workstation.

KROME EX’s piano sounds are crucial

Piano sounds are critically important for nearly every keyboard instrument. The KROME EX is equipped with new grand piano sounds. These sounds were recorded under the supervision of Seigen Ono, the authority on DSD recording and mastering, and provide a beautifully clear sound that builds on the success of the "German D Grand" that exemplifies the original KROME, further expanding the range of piano sounds. An upright piano frequently used in pop is also newly included.

Electric pianos with beautiful warmth and realism

For many keyboardists, a realistic electric piano sound is just as critical as an artisanal acoustic piano sound. KROME features three types of electric pianos. Eight velocity levels have been used to ensure faithful expression response. Lavish amounts of PCM memory have been used for this purpose, to the extent that just one of these electric piano types contains more sample data than the entire sound memory of a typical PCM synthesizer. In addition, the vintage amps, cabinets, and classic effects so important to these timeless sounds have been painstakingly modeled, offering a fully immersive electric piano experience.

Specs

• Keyboard: Semi Weighted Keyboard. Velocity sensitive is supported, after touch is not supported. Standard C2 - C7 (transposable in the range [C1...C6]-[C3...C8])
• System: EDS-X (Enhanced Definition Synthesis - eXpanded)
• Sounds
  • Maximum Polyphony: 120 voices (120 Oscillators) / Single Mode, 60 voices (120 Oscillators) / Double Mode
  • PCM Memory
    • 4 GB (In case of 48 kHz, 16-bit Linear PCM converted)
    • 728 multisamples (including 44 Stereo multi-samples)
    • 2,502 drumsamples (including 574 Stereo Drumsamples)
  • Program
    • Oscillator: OSC1 (Single); OSC1 + 2 (Double): Stereo multisamples are supported 8 velocity zones per oscillator with switching, crossfades and layers
    • Filters: Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB). Two multi-mode filters per oscillator (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject)
    • Driver: Per-voice nonlinear driver and low boost
    • EQ: Three bands, with sweepable mid
    • Modulation: For each oscillator, two envelope generators (Filter & Amp), two LFOs, two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp), two AMS mixers, Pitch EG, Common LFO, two common key tracking generators
  • Combination: Timbre Number: Max 16. For each Timbre, keyboard and velocity split/layer/crossfades. Modifications to the program settings via the Tone Adjust function
  • Drum Kit: Stereo and mono drum samples. 8 velocity zones switch (crossfades and layers)
  • The number of Combination / Program / Drum Kit
    • User Combination: 768 Combination (512 Preload)
    • User Program: 1536 Program (896 Preload)
    • User Drum Kit: 80 Drum Kit (48 Preload)
    • Preset Program: 256 GM2 Program + 9 GM2 Drums Program
• Effects
  • Insert Effects: 5 Insert Effects (stereo in/out)
  • Master Effects: 2 Master Effects (stereo in/out)
  • Total Effect: 1 Total Effect (stereo in/out)
  • Timbre / Track EQ: 3-band EQ per in 1 Timbre / in 1 Track
  • Effect Types: 193 types (Usable as insert, master, or total effects. However, double-size effects cannot be used as a total effect.)
  • Modulation: Dynamic Modulation, 2 Common LFO
  • Effects Control Busses: Stereo side chain (Limiter, Gate, Vocoder etc.)
  • Effect Preset: 32 preset per effect
• Polyphonic Arpeggiator
  • Program Mode: 1 unit
  • Combination, Sequencer Mode: 2 units are available
  • Number of pattern: 5 preset Arpeggio pattern, 1,088 User Arpeggio pattern (960 Preload)
• Drum Track
  • Preset Patterns: 710 patterns (Common with the preset pattern of the Sequencer mode)
  • User Patterns: 1,000 patterns (Pattern created in Sequencer mode can be converted to drum track user pattern)
  • Others: Configurable “Trigger Mode / Sync / Zone”
• Controllers
  • Controllers: Joystick, SW [1], SW [2]
  • Realtime Control: [SELECT] Switch: TONE, USER, ARP
    • 4 Knobs: Modulation, User, Arpeggio control
  • Drum Track: [DRUM TRACK] Switch: On/Off
  • Arpeggiator: [ARP] Switch: On/Off
• User Interface
  • Display: Touch view graphical User Interface, 7 -inch Color TFT LCD, 800 x 480 pixel, Onboard LCD brightness control
  • Mode Switches: [COMBI], [PROG], [SEQ], [GLOBAL], [MEDIA] Switch
  • VALUE controllers: [VALUE] Dial, [INC], [DEC] Switches, 10 key block ([0] - [9], [-], [.], [ENTER], [COMPARE])
  • BANK Switches: [A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F] switches (in Combination mode, [A], [B], [C], [D] switches are available)
  • SEQUENCER switches: [PAUSE]、[REW]、[FF]、[LOCATE]、[REC]、[START／STOP]
  • TEMPO: TEMPO
  • Others: [PAGE] switch, [WRITE] switch, [EXIT] switch, [VOLUME] knob, Contrast knob
• Outputs
  • AUDIO OUTPUT, L／MONO, R: 6,3 mm (Mono) Phone jack, Unbalanced. Output Impedance: 1,1[kΩ] (L / Mono terminal: in case of Mono output, = 550[Ω]). Maximum level: +16,0 [dBu], Load Impedance: more than 10 [kΩ]
  • Headphone Output: 3,5 mm Stereo phone jack. Output Impedance: 33[Ω]. Maximum level: 60 + 60 [mW] (In case of 33[Ω] Loaded)
• Control Input: DAMPER (Half Damper supported), ASSIGNABLE SWITCH, ASSIGNABLE PEDAL
• Others
  • MIDI: IN, OUT
  • USB: USB-MIDI Interface (TYPE B) x 1SD Card SlotMax 2 GB / SD Memory Card is supported. Max: 32 GB/ SDHC Memory Card is supported (SDXC Memory Card is not supported)
• Principle Specifications
  • Power: Power supply (DC 12 V 3,5 A), POWER switch
  • Power Consumption: 13 W
  • Dimensions (W x D x H): 1,027 mm × 313 mm × 93 mm
  • Weight: 7,2 kg
  • Included Items: AC Adapter

User Manual