WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Information and updates on the latest and popular Portable Keyboards

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Korg’s brand-new Music Workstation, the KRONOS unveiled at the recent 2011 NAMM show. Kronos is more than a new instrument. It is a single keyboard instrument that brings together multiple synthesis sound engines in Kronos. Korg Kronos features 61-keys, 73-keys or 88-keys, the 61-keys features semi-weighted action whereas, the 73 and 88-keys feature fully weighted hammer-action keyboard. Kronos boasts a complete nine different synthesis sound engines, new interactive performance features, as well as a host of tactile elements, including a new 8″ color touch screen, for easy access to parameters and real time control.

The foundation of any keyboard instrument is the piano and no workstation would be complete without piano sounds, and the Kronos is no exception - a choice of acoustic piano; German Model D - grand and Japanese C Model - robust (presumably based on Steinway and Yamaha grands, respectively) pianos are available using the SGX-1 engine, and each has been sampled at eight velocity levels per key. Their realism is further augmented by the fact that none of the samples are looped, and both models recreate the sound of key and pedal noise, and sympathetic string resonance. Naturally, classic electric piano sounds are also incorporated and are accessible via the EP-1 engine and these sounds are generated on the fly using what Korg call Multi-Dimensional Synthesis (MDS) technology. Six electric piano models are available and due to their synthesized nature each can be extensively tweaked. The EPS-1 engine also includes emulations of cabinets, amps, speaker and vintage effects.

Additionally, a tonewheel organ model is also present, and this comes courtesy of the CX-3 engine. Another modelled affair, this recreates the sound of the classic Hammond organ, complete with valve amplifier, vibrato/chorus and the obligatory Leslie cabinet. The imperfections of the original, including leakage, tonewheel noise and pitch instability, have also been obsessively analysed and recreated. STR-1 is a string-synthesis engine, besides generates guitar, harp, harpsichord, clavinet and other real stringed-instrument sounds, user can also create entirely new sounds. It also allows user to use the synthesis engine to process external audio sources, via the Kronos input jacks. The remaining five sound-generation engines are based either on traditional synthesis techniques or classic hardware synthesizers. The MS20 EX and Polysix EX emulations from Korg  Legacy collection have been incorporated here, with MS20 patching achieved via the touchscreen, and the Polysix EX featuring the original classic arpeggiator.

Korg KRONOS Music Workstation, there is a lot to mention about this monstrous music workstation and many more than could be mentioned here. The portable keyboard comes complete with all of the extras required of a modern workstation, and has exceeded the demands of the modern player. The KRONOS is  a single keyboard instrument designed for live performing musicians,  artists creating in a studio or computer-based production environment and for musicians and sound designers seeking the ultimate synthesizer. Weight 12.5 kg,  20.3 kg and 23 kg respectively.


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Roland’s new addition to Juno line, the Roland JUNO-Gi Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder Keyboard. The Juno-Gi brings the synthesizer into another level of realism. This highly portable power-synth keyboard’s super-charged features include 61-keys with velocity, more than 1,300 high quality fresh sounds; instrument sounds and musical styles, maximum 128 voices Polyphony, Tone Category buttons, enlarge LCD display, Live Sets; four-way splits and layers, eight-track digital recorder with 64 virtual tracks; enable multi-track digital recording, BOSS GT-Series professional guitar effects, USB audio/MIDI interface, Controllers; powerful mod, pitch bend, and D BEAM, Cakewalk Sonar LE 8.5 software.

The Juno-Gi comes with a whopping 1,379 high quality brand new sounds derived from 128 MB ROM and the sounds are organized into Live Sets. Live Sets are made up of 788 custom tones, 256 General MIDI-compatible tones and 256 user-created Live Sets . A Live Set or a multi-patch sound preset, can have up to four tones, and tones can be layered. And the keyboard can be split into four zones, each playing from one to four tones with ease. With 1,379 presets sounds, selecting the sounds you want is also a breeze. User can search sounds according to individual’s criteria by filtering base on type of sound; Rhythm, Piano, Electric Piano, Keyboard/Organ, Bass, Guitar/Plucked, Strings/Orchestra, Brass/Wind, Vocal/Choir, Synth/Pad, and FX/Others. Additionally, user can also filter and organize presets by Favorites.

Roland Juno-Gi’s new and unique 8 track digital recorder is my favorite among all. The digital recorder brings the Juno-Gi beyond merely a performance keyboard into a viable and powerful compositional tool. The 8 track digital recorder can store a maximum of 99 songs. User can record any one song directly to a single SDHC card for up to 192 hours of possible recording time with a single 32 GB card. A special ninth track is reserved for built-in rhythm patterns. User can select from hundreds of drum and percussion grooves built into the Juno-Gi, or creates own patterns and styles on the pattern-edit screen. When you lay out the structure of your piece within the arrange window by selecting and repeating rhythm patterns, this quickly and easily creates a bed to record your tracks over. Roland Juno-Gi’s sound quality is excellent and can simply be recorded with a mic or guitar, or enhance with insert effects or pro guitar effects. Simply plug into the line and record, and up to two tracks can be recorded simultaneously, then master and export your mix to the Juno-Gi’s SDHC card and transfer it to your computer by using an SD card reader.

We never know when inspiration will strike, and having a simple and effective device to harness ones musical ideas is a wonderful thing. The Mobile Synthesizer is a powerful composition tool that is handy, easy to use, with abundance and high quality sounds and quite reasonably priced. The portable keyboard is ideal for professional singer songwriter on the go, live performance and keyboardist. The lightweight Roland Juno-Gi Synthesizer can be battery-powered and weigh merely 5.7 kg.

Cons: Limited tone editing capabilities. No editor software.

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Arturia, the French manufacturer has introduced an even more self-contained system: the Origin Keyboard. Arturia is known for its faithful software emulations of classic analog synthesizers, with its first hardware synth, the Origin - the tabletop model. Now, the new Arturia Origin Synthesizer Keyboard features 61 keys semi-weighted action keyboard, with velocity response and channel aftertouch, New duophonic aftertouch, more than 600 presets, modulation and pitch-bend wheels, joystick, assignable ribbon controller, maximum 32 voices Polyphony, LCD display.

The 61 keys semi-weighted keyboard’s new duophonic aftertouch is a breakthrough. With duophonic aftertouch, keyboard pressure affects only the lowest, highest, or last note played, depending on the setting. The joystick enables user to graphically adjust the velocity curve’s five breakpoints and the aftertouch curve’s three breakpoints. The 40cm ribbon controller is fully programmable and can modulate any destination available or use it to trigger notes. It can also change pitch - any amount from one to 48 semitones up and down from its zero point, with stepped quantization or a smooth glissando. Mimic the tabletop model, the Origin Keyboard accurately models modules from the most famous synthesizers - the Moog Modular, Minimoog, ARP 2600, Yamaha CS-80, Roland Jupiter-8, Sequential Prophet-5 and Prophet VS, and also enables user combines virtual circuits from different instruments together. Playing multichannel presets from the keyboard or a DAW is straightforward. User can assign each program within a multi to a zone and assign each zone to a MIDI channel. In addition, user can assign hardware controllers such as the pitch-bend wheel and ribbon to affect only the desire zones. User can specify a note range for each zone by defining its low and high notes, by either playing them on the keyboard or turning the value knob.

The Arturia Origin keyboard is a well designed instrument for keyboardists and musicians, while provides tools for music creation. The standalone portable keyboard weight 23 kg. I am impress with the versatility of the ribbon controller. In my opinion,  the integration of the ribbon control is indeed a blast. Though the synthesizer keyboard is not cheap but, for a well designed keyboard like the Origin Keyboard, it is at a fair price.

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The Minimoog Voyager XL is a new addition to Minimoog and synthesizer family. The NEW! Minimoog Voyager XL Synthesizer is a monophonic analogue performance and production synthesizer. The semi-modular synthesizer is designed to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the Minimoog and to mark an important milestones in the Moog synthesizer legacy. Based on the Model D and legacy sound engine, it incorporates the entire sound resources and functions of Minimoog Model D and Voyager, including exclusive features from high-end Moog’s modular synthesizers legacy.

The Minimoog Voyager XL features a 100% analogue sound engine, 61-note velocity sensitive keyboard with after-pressure and is identical to the Voyager 44-note keyboard, extensive front-panel patchability, a 500mm ribbon controller with pitch and Gate CV Outputs, touch surface controller, pot mapping and a host of MIDI control functionality.

Under the hood, the notable Minimoog Voyager XL’s intuitive user interface, touch surface and rugged design make it incredibly ideal for today’s performance, sound design and production. The high-end musical instrument is akin to a monster analogue mono-synthesizer.


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The Novation UltraNova is a NEW! addition to Novation and synth family. In designing the UltraNova, the needs of today’s music-makers remained front and centre. The Novation UltraNova Analogue-Modelling Synthesizer features a 37-note Fatar keybed, gooseneck mic, brand new single-part synth engine, 18 note polyphony - dynamic voicing, illuminated pitch and modulation wheels, eight assignable touch-sensitive rotary encoders, a 144-character LCD, a software editor, and a large knob for fine control of parameters.

The UltraNova’s Touch feature is a unique system that brings a new level of performance control to synth players. Press the Touch button and the eight rotary encoders become receptive to finger contact, so you can control dramatic modulations and envelopes with the touch of a finger. Similarly, the corresponding Tweak feature enables you to group your favourite parameters to said encoders for real-time patch editing - and a large knob for extra-fine tweaking, which means that you literally have control of the synth at your fingertips. What is more, a free plug-in editor provides easy access to the synth controls and patches - 300 built-in sounds and 200 users, from within your music software. The UltraNova sound quality is utmost important, and  the moment that we plugged in to a keyboard amp, a high standard was immediately apparent - a huge bank of preset sounds that range from the fatter, retro squelches through to ambient , shimmering pads and more.

For me, the notable ease of accessing and tweaking individual patches is one of the biggest immediate sell. Offering dedicated controls, touch and tweak features, brand new wavetable synthesis, and remarkable ease of use, the Novation UltraNova Analogue-Modelling Synthesizer is a refreshing change and at an affordable price tag. As for the design, there is a familiar retro feel of the portable keyboard.

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