ENGLISH

Quick Start Guide

Contents
About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Main Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Connections and power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
TouchView user interface . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Selecting modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Playing sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Playing sounds in Set Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Playing Programs and Combinations . . . . . 17
Using controllers to modify the sound. . . . 18
Using KARMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using the Drum Track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using the sequencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Recording MIDI and audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Editing MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Template Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Saving and loading data . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Saving your edits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Saving to and loading from disk . . . . . . . . . . 24
Listening to the demo songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Specifications (abbreviated) . . . . . . . . . 28
 IMPORTANT SAFETY The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within
an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to
the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
INSTRUCTIONS within the product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
• Read these instructions.
shock to persons.
• Keep these instructions.
• Heed all warnings.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle
• Follow all instructions.
is intended to alert the user to the presence of
• Do not use this apparatus near water.
important operating and maintenance (servicing)
• Mains powered apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing.
instructions in the literature accompanying the
No objects filled with liquids, such as vases or drinking glasses, shall be
product.
placed on the apparatus.
• Clean only with dry cloth.
THE FCC REGULATION WARNING (for USA)
• Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
manufacturer’s instructions.
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
• Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
• WARNING—This apparatus shall be connected to a mains socket
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
outlet with a protective earthing connection.
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
• Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to
grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
interference by one or more of the following measures:
replacement of the obsolete outlet. (for USA and Canada)
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
apparatus.
to which the receiver is connected.
• Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
• Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long
Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the user’s
periods of time.
authority to operate this equipment.
• Turning off the power switch does not completely isolate this product
from the power line.
• Keep the power plug easily accessible. Do not install this equipment far Notice regarding disposal (EU only)
from a power outlet and/or power strip. When this “crossed-out wheeled bin” symbol is displayed on
• Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required the product, owner’s manual, battery, or battery package, it
when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power- signifies that when you wish to dispose of this product, man-
supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have ual, package or battery you must do so in an approved man-
fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or ner. Do not discard this product, manual, package or battery
moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. along with ordinary household waste. Disposing in the cor-
• Do not install this equipment in a confined space, such as a moving box rect manner will prevent harm to human health and potential
or other enclosure. damage to the environment. Since the correct method of disposal will
• Excessive sound pressure from earphones and headphones can cause depend on the applicable laws and regulations in your locality, please
hearing loss. contact your local administrative body for details. If the battery con-
• Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the tains heavy metals in excess of the regulated amount, a chemical sym-
manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use bol is displayed below the “crossed-out wheeled bin” symbol on the
caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury battery or battery package.
from tip-over.

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Handling of the internal disk drive * KARMA® (Kay Algorithmic Realtime Music Architecture)
Technology has been licensed from Stephen Kay, and is pro‐
• When this device is moved to a location where the tected by U.S. Patents 5,486,647, 5,521,327, 6,084,171, 6,087,578,
temperature is radically different, water droplets may 6,103,964, 6,121,532, 6,121,533, 6,326,538, 6,639,141, 7,169,997,
condense on the internal disk drive. If the device is used in and 7,342,166.
this condition, it may malfunction, so please allow several * KARMA® and the KARMA Logo are registered trademarks,
hours to pass before operating the device. and Kay Algorithmic Realtime Music Architecture, Generated
• Do not turn the power on and off repeatedly. This may Effect (GE), Melodic Repeat, Direct Index, Manual Advance,
damage the KRONOS. SmartScan, Freeze Randomize, Random Capture, Random FF/
REW and Scene Matrix are trademarks of Stephen Kay, Karma‐
• This device begins to access the internal disk drive Lab LLC. This manual copyright © 1994‐2010 by Korg Inc. and
immediately after the power is turned on. Stephen Kay. All rights reserved.
• Never turn off the power while the internal disk drive is * Screen shots from the KARMA software that appear throughout
being accessed. Doing so can cause data on the disk to be this guide are © 1994‐2010 by Stephen Kay, Karma Lab LLC.
lost, so that the next time the KRONOS is turned on, it may Used by permission. All rights reserved.
fail to start up normally. * KARMA Technology can be located on the internet at:
www.karma‐lab.com.
Regarding the LCD screen * This product was developed under license of physical model‐
The KRONOS LCD screen is a precision device, and careful ling tone generator patents (http://www.sondius‐xg.com)
attention has been paid to its product quality. Although you owned by Stanford University USA and Yamaha Corporation.
may notice some of the issues listed below, please be aware * Linux is a trademark or registered trademark of Linus Torvalds
that these are due to the characteristics of LCD screens, and in the United States and in other countries.
are not malfunctions. * All product names and company names are the trademarks or
• There may be pixels in the screen that are always dark registered trademarks of their respective owners.
(unlit) or always bright (lit).
• Depending on the displayed content, the brightness of the
screen may appear uneven.
• Depending on the displayed content, horizontal stripes of
shading may be visible.
• Depending on the displayed content, flickering or moire
patterns may be visible.

Data handling
Incorrect operation or malfunction may cause the contents of
memory to be lost, so we recommend that you save important
data on a CD or other media. Please be aware that Korg will
accept no responsibility for any damages which may result
from loss of data.
Also, when digitally recording copyrighted audio material
from a DAT or CD etc., you must obtain permission for use.
Please be aware that Korg will accept no responsibility for any
copyright violations which may occur through your use of this
product.

COPYRIGHT WARNING
This professional device is intended only for use
with works for which you yourself own the
copyright, for which you have received permission
from the copyright holder to publicly perform,
record, broadcast, sell, and duplicate, or in
connection with activities which constitute “fair use”
under copyright law. If you are not the copyright
holder, have not received permission from the
copyright holder, or have not engaged in fair use of
the works, you may be violating copyright law, and
may be liable for damages and penalties. If you are
unsure about your rights to a work, please consult a
copyright attorney. KORG TAKES NO
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INFRINGEMENT
COMMITTED THROUGH USE OF KORG
PRODUCTS.

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 About this manual

Thank you for purchasing the Korg KRONOS. To help you get the most out of your new instrument, please
read this manual carefully.

About this manual

The KRONOS includes three owner’s manuals: the The backwards and forwards buttons function like the
Quick Start Guide, Operation Guide, and the similar buttons on a standard web browser, letting you
Parameter Guide. All of these manuals are available as move through the pages you’ve already viewed.
PDFs on Accessory Disc 2, and are included in the on‐ The Contents page lets you access any part of the Help
board Help system. A printed version of the Quick system, including almost all of the text and graphics in
Start Guide is also included. both the Parameter and Operation Guides. The Index
Quick Start Guide contains a shorter list of links to important articles.
Please read this first. It introduces all of the basic To close the help display, just press the HELP button
features of the KRONOS, and is designed to get you up again, or press the on‐screen Done button.
and running quickly. *Help is English‐language only.
Operation Guide
Put simply, the Operation Guide is designed to answer
Supplementary Guides
the question, “How do I do this?” Voice Name List
It explains the names and functions of each part of the The Voice Name List lists all of the sounds and setups
KRONOS, basic operation, an overview of each mode, that are in the KRONOS when it is shipped from the
how to edit sounds, how to record on the sequencer, factory, including Programs, Combinations,
and how to sample. This guide also explains the basics Multisamples, Drum Samples, Drum Kits, KARMA
of KARMA, effects, Wave Sequences, Drum Kits, and GEs, Wave Sequences, Drum Track Patterns, Template
the Drum Track. Finally, it contains a troubleshooting Songs, and Effect Presets.
guide and supplemental information such as
specifications. Updating and restoring the KRONOS
This document contains information on updating and
Parameter Guide
restoring the KRONOS software. It’s provided
The Parameter Guide is designed to answer the separately as a convenience; all of its information may
question, “What does this do?” also be found in the Parameter Guide.
Organized by mode and page, the Parameter Guide
includes information on each and every parameter in Conventions in this manual
the KRONOS.
References to the KRONOS
PDF versions
The KRONOS is available in 88‐key, 73‐key, and 61‐key
The KRONOS PDF manuals are designed for easy models. The manuals refer to all models without
navigation and searching. They include extensive PDF distinction as “the KRONOS.” The front panel and rear
contents information, which generally appears on the panel illustrations in the manual show the 61‐key
side of the window in your PDF reader and lets you model, but they apply identically to the other models.
jump quickly to a specific section. All cross‐references
are hyper‐links, so that clicking on them automatically Abbreviations for the manuals: OG, PG, VNL
takes you to the source of the reference. In the documentation, references to the manuals are
On-board Help system* abbreviated as follows.
The HELP button gives you built‐in, context‐sensitive OG: Operation Guide
access to the user manuals, right from the front panel. PG: Parameter Guide
For information on any front‐panel button, knob, VNL: The Voice Name List
slider, or real‐time controller, just hold down HELP
and then press the button or move the controller in Symbols , , Note, Tips
question. These symbols respectively indicate a caution, a MIDI‐
For information on the current LCD page, press and related explanation, a supplementary note, or a tip.
release the HELP button.
Example screen displays
While the help page is on the screen, you can touch any The parameter values shown in the example screens of
of the on‐screen links (highlighted in blue text) for this manual are only for explanatory purposes, and
more information. You can scroll through the text by may not necessary match the values that appear in the
using the on‐screen scroll bars, pressing the Inc and LCD screen of your instrument.
Dec buttons, or spinning the Value dial.
The top of the Help page has “breadcrumb” links, MIDI-related explanations
which show the hierarchy of pages above the current CC# is an abbreviation for Control Change Number.
one. Touch any of these links to jump to the In explanations of MIDI messages, numbers in square
corresponding page. brackets [ ] indicate hexadecimal numbers.

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 Main Features

Main Features

English
Nine World-Class Synthesis Engines KARMA
The KRONOS features nine completely different KARMA (Kay Algorithmic Music Architecture) is an
synthesis engines: astonishingly flexible interactive MIDI data generator.
• Three engines dedicated to the most important Much more than a simple arpeggiator, it combines
traditional keyboard instruments: the SGX‐1 many different algorithms into a powerful music
premium acoustic piano, EP‐1 MDS electric piano, generation engine, collaborating with you as you play.
and CX‐3 tonewheel organ. These include drum and instrument grooves,
• Three different virtual analog synths, each with gated/chopped effects, complex controller gestures,
tons of programmability and its own distinct sonic musical phrase generation, arpeggiation, and much
character: the AL‐1, MS‐20EX, and PolysixEX. more. Sliders and switches let you reconfigure and

Français
modulate the algorithms in real‐time.
• A full‐featured sampling and Wave Sequencing
synthesizer, the HD‐1.
Sampling
• The STR‐1 physical modeling synth, for creating
both traditional timbres and unique new sounds. Stereo sampling captures audio from any analog or
digital input, as well as audio CDs (via a USB CDR/RW
• The MOD‐7 VPM/waveshaping/PCM‐mangling
drive). You can also sample through effects, resample
powerhouse.
the output of the KRONOS itself, or import sounds in
Each is worthy of a separate product in its own right, Akai, SoundFont 2.0, WAV, and AIFF formats.
but the KRONOS brings them all together into a single,
integrated musical instrument. There are no separate
cards to manage or polyphony barriers between
Audio and MIDI sequencer
them—and no “CPU overs” to worry about. 16 MIDI tracks and 16 audio tracks (24‐bit, 48kHz) let
you record directly on the KRONOS whenever

Deutsch
All of the synthesis engines share a common theme:
inspiration strikes. You can import and export SMF
superior sound quality. You’ll easily hear the sonic
and WAVE files when working with other platforms.
benefits of Korg’s proprietary HD‐1 low‐aliasing
sample playback oscillators, patented low‐aliasing The Drum Track provides built‐in drum grooves,
analog oscillators, full‐bandwidth resonant filters, and fueled by the KRONOS’s high‐quality drum sounds.
extraordinarily fast & smooth envelopes and LFOs.
Computer Interface and USB Storage
Optimized for live performance USB 2.0 audio and MIDI I/O provide a single‐cable
Smooth Sound Transitions (SST) provide overlapping connection to computer DAWs, and the KRONOS
effects and voices when you change sounds, with no Editor software lets you edit sounds directly from your
special mode necessary. computer. You can download the most recent software
and drivers from http://www.korg.com/kronos.
Set Lists provide easy on‐screen selection of Programs,
Combinations, and Songs from a single screen. Set Two USB 2.0 A‐type connectors are built‐in, making it

Español
Lists also make it easy to rearrange sounds and save easy to expand your storage via external hard disks,
lyrics or notes, and provide a dedicated graphic EQ on removable disks, flash media, and so on.
the main outputs for adjusting to live acoustics.
Superb Musical Interface
Effects Highlighted by a large color TouchView LCD display,
The KRONOS includes 185 different effects types, from the KRONOS features a vast array of assignable
choruses and delays to amp models, a vocoder, and physical controllers—sliders, knobs, joysticks, ribbon,
much more. These aren’t just simple effects, either; and switches—all designed to provide effortless,
there are up to 72 parameters per effect, and plenty of supremely musical control at your fingertips. The
real‐time modulation. Effect Presets let you easily store context‐sensitive online help system makes the
and recall all of the settings for an individual effect. manuals available right on the instrument’s display.
You can use up to 16 of these effects simultaneously, The KRONOS 73‐key and 88‐key models features the
with 12 Insert Effects, 2 Master Effects (for reverb RH3 (Real Weighted Hammer Action 3) keyboard,
sends, for instance), and 2 Total Effects (for stereo bus which replicates the touch of an acoustic grand piano
processing). There are also 32 dedicated three‐band with heavier action on the lower keys and lighter
EQs—one for each MIDI and audio track. action in the higher ranges, responding to every
nuance of your playing.
Finally, many of the synth engines feature specialized
signal processing. The CX‐3, PolysixEX, and EP‐1
include dedicated effects, and you can process live
audio through the AL‐1, MS‐20EX, STR‐1, and MOD‐7.

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 Front Panel

Front Panel
4. Disk Access Indicator
1. Volume 2. Control Surface 3. Data Entry 5. Mode 6. Utility 7. Bank Select

8. KARMA
9. Vector 19. TouchView
Joystick Display
10. Drum
Track
11. SW 1&2

12. Joystick

13. Ribbon

14. Headphone Jack 15. Exit 16. Sequencer 18. Sampling

17. Tempo

EXT
1. VOLUME knob (MAIN/HEADPHONE)
EXT (External) lets you use the control surface to
This adjusts the volume of the main L/R audio outputs, transmit MIDI messages to external MIDI devices.
as well as the volume of the headphone jack.
It does not affect any of the other outputs, including RT KNOBS/KARMA
S/P DIF, individual outputs 1‐4, or the USB output. RT KNOBS/KARMA lets you modulate sounds and
effects with the knobs, and control KARMA with the
sliders and switches.
2. Control Surface
The Control Surface is the set of 9 sliders, 8 knobs, and
TONE ADJ/EQ
16 switches to the left of the LCD screen. It looks like a TONE ADJ (Tone Adjust) gives you hands‐on access to
mixer, but can do a variety of things such as editing sound editing, using the sliders, knobs, and switches.
sounds, controlling the KARMA function, and sending In Combination and Sequence modes, it also lets you
MIDI messages to external devices. You can freely edit Programs within the context of the Combi or Song,
change back and forth between the different functions without making any changes to the original Program
without losing any of your edits. Names and values of data.
the controls are shown on the Control Surface page. EQ is available only in Set Lists. This is a nine‐band
graphic EQ applied to the sound after TFX2, which
CONTROL ASSIGN buttons
tailors the sound from the main stereo outputs
As explained below, you can use the front panel (including the analog L/R outputs, S/P DIF, and USB).
CONTROL ASSIGN buttons to switch between the
various control surface functions. MIXER KNOBS button
This applies only when CONTROL ASSIGN is set to
TIMBRE/TRACK
TIMBRE/TRACK or AUDIO. It toggles the knobs
TIMBRE/TRACK lets you use the control surface to between controlling the pan of all channels or
adjust the volume, pan, EQ, and send levels for OSC controlling the pan, EQ, and sends of the currently
1/2 or EXi 1/2 in Program mode (plus similar controls selected channel.
for the Drum Track, with the exception of pan), the
current Multisample in Sample mode, and each of the RESET CONTROLS button
16 Timbres or Tracks in Combi and Sequence modes. This feature lets you reset the Vector Joystick to the
The LEDs to the right of the switch show whether center position, or reset any of the Control Surface
you’re currently editing Timbres (or Tracks) 1‐8 or 9‐16; sliders, knobs, or switches to their saved value.
press the TIMBRE/TRACK button to toggle between To reset a single control, hold down RESET
the two. CONTROLS and then move a Control Surface slider or
knob, press one of the control surface buttons, or move
AUDIO
the Vector Joystick.
AUDIO lets you use the control surface to adjust the
volume, play/mute status, solo, pan, and send levels of To reset all of the sliders, knobs, and switches of the
the analog, S/P DIF, and USB inputs. In Sequencer current CONTROL ASSIGN mode at once, hold down
mode, you can also choose to control audio tracks 1–8 RESET CONTROLS and then press the currently‐lit
(HDR 1‐8) or 9–16 (HDR 9‐16). CONTROL ASSIGN button again.

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 Front Panel

You can also reset all of the sliders and switches in the 2. Hold down the ENTER key.

English
KARMA Module by holding RESET CONTROLS and 3. While holding ENTER, play a note on the
then pressing the KARMA MODULE CONTROL keyboard.
button. Similarly, to reset a single KARMA Scene, hold
RESET CONTROLS and press any of the SCENE
buttons. 4. DISK access indicator
Finally, you can clear all solos by holding RESET This LED lights up when data is being saved to or read
CONTROLS and then pressing the SOLO button. from the internal drive.

SOLO button Never turn off the power while this LED is lit.
Doing so can cause all or part of the data on the disk
This applies only when CONTROL ASSIGN is set to to be lost, or may cause malfunctions such as disk
TIMBRE/TRACK or AUDIO. It toggles the SELECT damage.
buttons (the bottom row of 8) between selecting the
current Oscillator, Timbre, Track, or Audio Input

Français
(when SOLO is off) or soloing the channel (when 5. MODE buttons
SOLO is on).
The KRONOS is organized into seven different
“modes,” each optimized for a different purpose: Set
3. Data Entry List, Program, Combination, Sequencer, Sampling,
Global, and Disk. Each mode has a corresponding
When you’ve selected a parameter on the TouchView button on the front panel, with an LED to show which
display, you can edit it using any of the four front‐ one is selected. For more information, see “Selecting
panel data entry controls: the VALUE slider, the Inc modes” on page 14.
and Dec buttons, the VALUE dial, and the
numeric keypad.

VALUE slider
Use this to edit the selected parameter’s value.

Deutsch
This control is convenient for making large
changes to the value, such as moving quickly
to the minimum or maximum setting. 6. UTILITY buttons
In three special cases, the value slider sends
MIDI CC #18 and can be used as a modulation HELP button
source, and is not used for data entry: The HELP button gives you built‐in, context‐sensitive
access to the user manuals, right from the front panel.
• On the Program mode P0–Main page,
when the big Program name is selected, or For more information, see “On‐board Help system*”
on page 4.
• On the Combination mode P0–Prog Select/Mixer
page, when the big Combination name is selected. COMPARE button
• On the Set List P0–Play page. Use this button to compare the sound of the Program
or Combination that you are currently editing with the

Español
Inc and Dec buttons saved, un‐edited version of the sound. You can also use
These are used to increase or decrease the parameter this button to make “before and after” comparisons
value by individual steps. They’re convenient for when recording or editing in Sequencer mode.
making fine parameter adjustments.

VALUE dial 7. BANK SELECT buttons

Use this dial to edit the selected parameter’s value. Use these buttons to change banks when selecting
This control is convenient when you want to scroll Programs or Combinations. The LEDs in the buttons
through a very long list of selections. light up to show the current bank. There are fourteen
bank buttons, in two groups: Internal (I‐A…G) and
0-9, –, ., and ENTER buttons User (U‐A…G).
These buttons are convenient when you know the
exact value that you want to enter. Use the 0–9, –, and
decimal (.) buttons to enter the value, and then press
the ENTER button to confirm the entry.
The – button inverts the sign (+/–) of the parameter
value; the decimal (.) button inserts a decimal, for In Program mode, these buttons select the Program
entering fractional values. bank. They are active only on the Play pages. For
ENTER is also used for a number of shortcut details on the contents of the Program banks, see
commands, described throughout this guide. For “Program Bank Contents” on page 18.
instance, if a parameter specifies a note number or To select Program Banks USER–AA…GG, press and
velocity, you can use ENTER to edit the value directly hold a pair of I and U BANK buttons together. For
from the keyboard: example, to select bank USER–CC, press and hold the
1. Select a note number or velocity parameter. I–C button, and then press the U–C button.

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 Front Panel

In Combination mode, these buttons have two

functions: 10. Drum Track
• When you’re selecting Combinations, they choose The Drum Track is a built‐in drum machine, fueled by
the Combination bank. the KRONOS’s high‐quality drum sounds. This button
turns the Drum Track on and off.
• When you’re assigning a Program to a timbre
within the Combination, they select the Program Depending on various settings, the Drum Track may
bank. begin to play immediately, or may wait until you start
to play on the keyboard. If the button’s LED is blinking
In Sequencer mode, when a track’s Program name is
on and off, it’s waiting for you to play.
selected, these buttons change the Program bank.

General MIDI banks LINKED LED

If the front panel LINKED LED and KARMA ON/OFF
Selecting General MIDI Program banks is a little
switches are lit, KARMA will start and stop together
different from selecting other banks. Each time you
with the Drum Track. For more information, see
press the I‐G button, the bank will step to the next
“Linking KARMA and the Drum Track” on page 21.
GM(2) bank or GM drum bank in the following order:
G, g(1), g(2)–g(8), g(9), g(d), G, g(1), etc.
11. SW1 and SW2
8. KARMA buttons These on/off switches can perform a number of
different functions, such as modulating sounds or
ON/OFF button locking the modulation values of the joystick, ribbon,
This turns KARMA on and off. As with the other or aftertouch. Each has an LED which lights up when
KARMA buttons, the button’s LED will light up to the switch is on.
show you that it is turned on. Also, each one may work either as a toggle, or as a
momentary switch. In toggle mode, each press
LATCH button alternates between on and off; in momentary mode, the
When LATCH is turned on, KARMA will continue to switch only changes for as long as you hold it down.
play even after you’ve stopped holding notes on the
Each Program, Combination, and Song stores its own
keyboard or MIDI In.
settings for what the switches will do, and whether
This is convenient when you want to play on top of a each switch defaults to being on or off.
KARMA‐generated groove, for instance.

MODULE CONTROL button 12. Joystick

In Combi and Sequencer modes, KARMA has four The joystick moves in four directions: left, right,
independent Modules, each of which can generate a forwards (away from yourself), and backwards
different musical effect. When used to control (towards yourself). Each of the four directions can be
KARMA, the Control Surface sliders and switches are used to control different program or effects
five layers deep: one for each Module (A‐D), and then parameters.
a Master Layer which controls selected parameters
The specific assignments can change depending on the
from all of the Modules at once.
current Program, Combination, or Song. Generally,
The MODULE CONTROL button selects whether the though, they will do something like the functions
KARMA Sliders, Switches, and Scenes will control shown below:
either a single Module independently, or the Master
Standard Joystick functions
Layer.
Note that Modules A‐D can only be selected for Move the Controller
Normally controls…
Combinations and Songs. Programs use only a single joystick… Name
Module, controlled by the Master Layer. Left JS–X Pitch bend down
Right JS+X Pitch bend up
9. Vector Joystick Forwards
JS+Y Vibrato
The Vector Joystick is a powerful real‐time controller. (away from yourself )
Depending on the particular Program, Combi, or Song, Backwards
JS–Y Filter LFO (wah)
it may modulate Program or effects parameters, or (towards yourself)
adjust the volumes of different components of the
sound.
13. Ribbon controller
For more information on how Vector Synthesis works,
see “Using Vector Synthesis” in the “Playing and The Ribbon controller lets you modulate Program or
editing Programs” chapter of the OG. effects parameters by sliding your finger left and right
along its touch‐sensitive strip.
As with the other controllers, its specific function will
change depending on the current Program,
Combination, or Song.

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 Front Panel

FF>> button

English
14. Headphone jack
In Sequencer mode, when the Song is playing or
This stereo 1/4” headphone jack carries the same signal paused, this button will fast‐forward the song. When
as the Main L/R outputs. The volume is controlled by you press and hold this button, the button will light,
the VOLUME knob. and the playback will fast‐forward. (Fast‐forward is
disabled during recording, and while the Song is
15. EXIT button stopped.)
In Disk and Sampling modes, this button fast‐forwards
This button makes it easy to return to the main page of
the audio CD.
the current mode:
• Press it once to go to the previously‐selected tab on LOCATE button
the main P0 page. In Sequencer mode, this button will advance or rewind
• Press it again to go to the first tab on the main P0 the song to the specified locate point. This lets you

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page. jump immediately to any point in the current Song.
The default locate point is the first beat of measure 1.
• Press it a third time to select the main parameter on
the P0 page, such as the Program name in Program To set the locate point to the current position, hold
mode. down ENTER and then press LOCATE. You can also
set the Locate point via the on‐screen menu.
Wherever you are in Program, Combi, or Sequencer
modes, pressing EXIT three times (or fewer) will take REC/WRITE button
you back to Program/Combination/Song Select, where
In Sequencer mode, pressing this button puts the
you can immediately use the numeric keys or and
system in record‐ready mode. Once you’re in record‐
buttons to select a Program, Combination, or
ready mode (shown by the button’s lit LED), you can
Song.
begin recording by pressing the SEQUENCER
When a dialog box is open, this button cancels the START/STOP button.
settings made in the dialog box and closes the dialog
REC/WRITE also provides two very handy shortcuts.

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box, just like pressing the Cancel button. If a popup
For more information, see “Auto Song Setup” on
menu or page menu is open, pressing EXIT closes the
page 22, and “Shortcut: Update via SEQUENCER
menu.
REC/WRITE” on page 24.

16. SEQUENCER buttons START/STOP button

This starts or stops recording and playback in
Most of the buttons in this section apply only to
Sequencer mode.
Sequencer mode and, in Disk and Sampling modes, to
audio CD playback from a connected USB CD‐R/RW In Disk and Sampling modes, this button starts and
drive. stops playback on audio CDs.
REC/WRITE is the exception; it has special functions in
Program, Combination, Set List and Global modes, as 17. TEMPO controls
described below.
TEMPO knob

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This knob adjusts the tempo for the KRONOS as a
whole, including Songs, KARMA, the Drum Track,
Tempo‐synced LFOs and BPM delays, and EXi Step
Sequencers. The LED will blink at quarter‐note
intervals of the current tempo.
Note: If the GLOBAL MIDI page MIDI CLOCK
PAUSE button parameter is set to External MIDI or USB, or if it is set
to Auto and a clock is currently being received, then
In Sequencer mode, this button pauses the playback of
neither the TEMPO Knob nor the TAP TEMPO button
the song. When paused, the button’s LED will light up.
will have any effect.
Press PAUSE once again to resume playback, and the
LED will turn off. TAP TEMPO button
In Disk and Sampling modes, this button pauses audio This button lets you enter tempos simply by tapping
CD playback. your finger on the button. Two taps are enough to
change the tempo; for greater accuracy, tap multiple
<<REW button
times.
In Sequencer mode, when the Song is playing or
Notice that the “q =” in the upper right of the LCD
paused, this button will rewind the song. When you
screen will change to show the new tempo. You can
press and hold this button, its LED will light up, and
also enter tempos directly into this field using the data
the playback will rewind. (Rewind is disabled during
entry controls, such as the numeric keypad.
recording, and while the Song is stopped.)
Note: You can also tap tempos using a foot switch. For
In Disk and Sampling modes, this button rewinds the
more information, see “Foot Switch Assignments” in
audio CD.
the Appendix of the PG.

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 Front Panel

18. SAMPLING buttons

REC button
In Sampling, Program, Combination, and Sequencer
modes, pressing this button puts the system in
sampling‐ready mode. The button’s LED will light up.
To continue, press the SAMPLING START/STOP
button, as described below.
Note: Program, Combination, and Sequencer modes all
have an Audio Input/Sampling page, with various
sampling‐related settings. These pages also have an
Auto Sampling Setup menu command, with options to
make various common settings in a single step.

START/STOP button
In Sampling, Program, Combination, and Sequencer
modes, pressing this when the SAMPLING REC
button is lit will do one of three things, depending on
the setting of the Trigger parameter (on the Sampling
mode Recording ‐ Audio Input page):
• If Trigger is set to Sampling START SW, sampling
will begin immediately.
• If Trigger is set to Note On, sampling will begin as
soon as you play a note on the keyboard.
• If Trigger is set to Threshold, sampling will begin
as soon as the selected audio source reaches a
preset volume level.
On the Sample Edit page in Sampling mode, pressing
this button will play the selected range of the current
sample.
Also, whenever you’re viewing a list of files on disk,
you can press this button to play 44.1kHz or 48kHz
WAVE files directly from disk.

19. TouchView display

The KRONOS features Korg’s exclusive TouchView
graphic interface, based on a touch‐panel LCD screen.
By touching items on the LCD screen, you can navigate
between pages, set parameter values via on‐screen
menus and buttons, execute commands, and so on. For
more information, see “TouchView user interface” on
page 13.

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 Rear Panel

Rear Panel

English
2. Power Switch 3. USB 4. Analog 5. Analog
Audio Inputs Audio Outputs

1. AC Power 7. S/PDIF
connector 6. MIDI In & Out 8. Pedals

Use the MIC setting (switch in out position) only when

1. AC Power connector connecting a microphone. Note that some

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Connect the included power cable here. microphones, such as condensers, may require external
phantom power, which is not supplied by the
We recommend that you first connect the power cable KRONOS. In this case, use an external mic preamp,
to the KRONOS, and then connect the other end of the and then connect the preamp to the KRONOS.
cable to an AC outlet.
LEVEL knobs
2. POWER switch These knobs let you make more precise adjustments to
the input level, after setting the basic levels with the
This switch turns the power on and off. Before turning MIC/LINE switches.
KRONOS off, make sure that you’ve saved any edits to
your Programs, Combis, Songs, or other user data. The MIN setting is unity gain; the MAX setting
provides about 40dB of gain above unity.
After turning the power off, please wait for at least
ten seconds before you turn the power on again.
5. Analog AUDIO OUTPUTS

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3. USB 2.0 A & B ports All of the analog audio outputs use balanced TRS 1/4”
connectors, and are referenced to a +4dBu signal level.
There are two high‐speed USB A ports, for connecting
storage media such as hard disks, CD‐R drives, and (MAIN) L/MONO, R
flash media. These are the main stereo outputs; their volume is
The high‐speed USB B port lets you connect to a Mac controlled by the VOLUME knob. All of the factory
or Windows PC, for sending and receiving MIDI and Programs and Combis are programmed to play
audio, and for connecting to the computer editor through these outputs.
program. If no cable is connected to the R output, L/MONO will
carry a mono summation of the stereo signal. Use this
4. Analog AUDIO INPUTS when connecting to a device (such as a keyboard amp)
which has only a mono input.

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You can use the audio inputs for recording, sampling,
and real‐time mixing through the built‐in effects. (INDIVIDUAL) 1…4
These 4 additional audio outputs let you isolate
Mic/Line Inputs 1 and 2 sounds, audio inputs, or audio tracks for recording or
The inputs use balanced 1/4” TRS connectors, and can complex live sound setups. For more information, see
accept either microphone‐level or line‐level signals. “Effects selection and routing” in the “Using Effects”
Each of the two inputs has an identical set of controls, chapter of the OG. Note that these outputs are not
as described below. affected by the VOLUME knob.
MIC/LINE switches
These set the input’s nominal signal level. Set these 6. MIDI
switches according to the type of device that you’re MIDI lets you connect KRONOS to computers or other
connecting, and then use the LEVEL knobs (described MIDI devices, for sending and receiving notes,
below) to optimize the gain. controller gestures, sound settings, and so on.
Use the LINE setting (switch pressed in) when
connecting to mixers, computer audio systems, signal
processors, electric guitars, or other synthesizers. The
7. S/P DIF IN & OUT
nominal level is +4dBu, with 12dB of headroom. These jacks provide 24‐bit optical S/P DIF input and
Note: Guitars and basses with active pickups can be output. Make sure to use optical cables desig1ned for
connected directly. Passive pickups can also be used, digital audio.
but the impedance mismatch will cause both a change Whenever you use digital audio connections, make
in tone and a reduction in volume. For best results, sure that all connected systems are set so that there is
route such guitars through a pre‐amp or effects unit one and only one word clock master. Set the KRONOS
before connecting them. word clock using the System Clock parameter on the
Global P0: Basic Setup page.

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 Rear Panel

2. After setting the polarity, calibrate the pedal using

8. Pedals the Half Damper Calibration menu command on
the Global P0: Basic page.
DAMPER jack
For the damper–also known as the sustain pedal– you ASSIGNABLE SWITCH jack
can connect either a standard footswitch, or Korg’s This lets you connect a simple on/off footswitch, such
special half‐damper pedal, the optional DS‐1H. as the optional Korg PS‐1. The footswitch can perform
The DS‐1H is a continuous pedal designed specifically a wide variety of functions, such as modulating sounds
for piano‐style damper control, with the look and feel and effects, tap tempo, sequencer start/stop, etc.
of an acoustic piano’s sustain pedal. It allows more The switch’s function is set on the Controller tab of the
subtle control of the damper than a simple switch; the Global P2: Controllers/Scales page, so that it always
further down you press the pedal, the more that the works the same regardless of the current Program,
sound sustains. Combi, or Song. For more information, please see
You can also connect a simple footswitch, which will “Setting up the Assignable Switch and Pedal” in the
work as a standard on/off damper pedal. “Global Settings, Wave Seq., Drum Kits”chapter of the
OG.
In order to ensure that the pedal functions correctly,
please adjust the switch polarity on the Controller tab ASSIGNABLE PEDAL jack
of the Global P2: Controllers/Scales page.
This lets you connect a continuous controller pedal,
When using a half‐damper pedal: such as the Korg EXP‐2 foot controller or Korg XVP‐10
1. Set the polarity. EXP/VOL pedal, to use as an assignable modulation
source.
For the DS‐1H, use (—) KORG Standard.
Like the ASSIGNABLE SWITCH, the pedal’s function
is set on the Global P2: Controllers/Scales page.

Connections and power

Turning on the KRONOS Turning off the KRONOS
Before you use the KRONOS, you’ll need to plug it in When you’ve finished working with the KRONOS,
and turn it on! To do so: press the rear panel POWER switch to turn off the
1. Connect the power cable. power.

First connect the included power cable to the When you turn off the power, the Programs,
KRONOS’ power input, and then to the power outlet. Combinations, Global settings, etc. will revert to
their unedited state. If you want to keep your edits,
2. Turn the KRONOS’ front‐panel VOLUME knob you’ll need to Write them. For more information, see
all the way counter‐clockwise, to the minimum “Saving your edits” on page 24.
position.
Similarly, Songs and user Multisamples and
3. Connect the KRONOS to your mixer or monitor
Samples will disappear when you turn off the
system.
power. If you want to use these songs, user
Connect the KRONOS’s AUDIO OUTPUT (MAIN) multisamples, and samples the next time you turn
L/MONO and R jacks to your mixer or amplified on the power, you’ll need to load them again.
monitor speakers. If you’re monitoring through
Note: Samples and Multisamples can be set to load
headphones, connect them to the headphone jack on
automatically at startup. For more information, see
the left front of the KRONOS. The headphones carry
“Automatically loading RAM and EXs sample data”
the main stereo outputs, just like analog outputs
under “Global Settings, Wave Seq., Drum Kits” in
L/MONO and R, S/P DIF, and USB.
the OG.
4. Turn on the power switch.
Never turn off the power while data is being written
Press the rear panel POWER switch to turn on the into internal memory. The display will show the
power. Wait until the startup screen has finished being message “Now writing into internal memory” when
displayed. this is in progress.
5. Turn on your stereo amp or powered monitors. Never turn off the power while media such as the
6. Play the keyboard, and gradually turn the internal disk is being accessed, such as while
VOLUME knob clockwise until the volume is at recording or playing audio tracks, or sampling to
an appropriate level. disk. Turning off the power while disk access is
In some cases, the KRONOS will not start up occurring may render the media unusable. The
properly if certain USB devices are connected. In DISK LED shows when the internal disk is being
this case, disconnect the USB devices, wait 10 accessed.
seconds, and then turn on the power again. After turning the power off, please wait for at least
Formatting the device on the KRONOS may solve ten seconds before you turn the power on again.
the problem (see “Formatting media” on page 184
of the OG).

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 TouchView user interface

TouchView user interface

English
Mode name Page group number and name i: Check box Page name j: Page menu button

a: Current page
b: Category popup button

c: Popup button

d: Edit cell

Français
e: Knob

f: Slider

g: Page tab

h: Page group tab

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The KRONOS uses Korg’s TouchView graphical user Pin Pin
interface. By touching objects displayed in the LCD
Many popup menus have a “Pin” in the
screen, you can select pages, set parameter values,
upper left. This controls what happens
enter text, connect virtual patch cables, and more.
after you select a value. Touch the pin
Important - calibrate before using! graphic to switch between open
(unlocked) and closed (locked).
Make sure to calibrate the touch‐screen before using,
or when you change the angle of view (for instance, When locked (pin closed), the popup menu will remain
when you move between sitting and standing): displayed even after you select a parameter value. To
close the popup, either unlock the pin, or press EXIT.
1. Press the GLOBAL button to go to the GLOBAL
P0:BASIC SETUP page. When unlocked (pin open), the popup menu will close

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immediately when you press a parameter value, or
2. Press the page menu button to open the menu, and
when you touch the screen outside the menu.
select the Touch Panel Calibration command.
3. Follow the on‐screen instructions.
d: Edit cell
For best results, calibrate using a stylus or fingernail,
and press the exact centers of the calibration boxes. When you touch a parameter in the LCD screen, the
parameter or its value will usually be highlighted
(displayed in inverse video). This is called the edit cell,
a: Current page and the highlighted item is now selected for editing.
From the left, the top of the display shows the current The parameter value of the edit cell can be modified
mode, the number and name of the page group, and using the VALUE controllers.
finally the name of the individual page.

e & f: On-screen sliders and knobs

b: Category popup button
To modify the value of an on‐screen slider or knob, first
When you press this button, a tabbed popup menu will touch the object, and then use the VALUE controllers
appear, allowing you to select Programs, to modify the value.
Combinations, or GEs organized by category.

g & h: Page group tabs and Page tabs

c: Popup button & menu
Press the lower row of tabs to select the page group,
When this button is pressed, a popup menu will and then press the upper row of tabs to select the page.
appear, showing a list of options. In some cases, these The top of the screen shows the name of the current
will be parameter values. In others, they may be lists of page and group; see “a: Current page” on page 13.
items, such as Multisamples or FX Presets. To enter a
parameter value, touch the desired value.

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 TouchView user interface

Text edit button

i: Check-box (and radio buttons)
Check‐boxes turn functions or options on and off, and
radio buttons select between a small set of options.
Tip: You can select check‐boxes and radio buttons by
touching their text labels; you don’t need to touch
directly on the graphic boxes and buttons.

j: Page menu button

When this button is pressed, a list of menu commands
will appear. The available commands will vary
depending on the current page. To select a command, Cancel button OK button
just touch it.
The page menu will close when you press the LCD Text edit button
screen at a location other than the page menu, or when Pressing this button brings up an on‐screen keyboard,
you press the EXIT button. for changing the name of Programs, Combis, Songs,
Although each page may have its own unique menu Wave Sequences, Drum Kits, etc. For more
commands, the menus are standardized as much as information, see “Editing names” under “Writing to
possible. For instance, WRITE is usually the first menu internal memory” in the OG.
item in Program, Combination, and Global modes.
Other objects
Menu shortcut: ENTER + numeric keypad
You can use a shortcut to access any of the first ten Patch panels
menu items: The MS‐20EX and MOD‐7 use on‐screen patch panels
1. Hold down the ENTER key. to route audio and control signals. To make a
connection between two patch points:
2. Press a number (0‐9) on the numeric keypad to
select the desired menu command, starting with 0. 1. Touch one of the two jacks (either input or output).
For instance, press 0 for the first menu command, 1 for A yellow square will appear around the selected jack.
the second, and so on. 2. Touch the same jack again.
If the menu command just toggles an option on and off The yellow square will blink, showing that you’re
(such as Exclusive Solo), then you’re done. If the about to make a connection. To cancel and return to the
command calls up a dialog box, the dialog will appear normal selected state, touch the same jack a third time.
on the LCD, and you can proceed just as if you’d
3. Touch the other jack.
selected the command from the touch‐screen.
The two jacks will now be connected by a patch cable.
Dialog box To delete a connection between two patch points:
Many menu commands use dialog boxes to make
1. Touch the input jack.
additional settings. The dialog box that appears will
depend on the currently selected menu command. Note: you can also select the output jack. However, if
the output is connected to more than one input, all of
To confirm settings in a dialog box, press the OK the connections from that output will be affected.
button. To exit without making changes, press the
Cancel button. After pressing either OK or Cancel, the 2. Press the Disconnect button.
dialog box will close. The selected connection will be deleted.

Program Play page Overview/Jump graphics

The main Program P0:Play page (see “Selecting
Programs by bank and number” on page 17) features
an interactive overview of the most important
parameters, such as oscillators, filters, envelopes,
LFOs, and so on. Just touch any of these overview
areas, and you’ll jump to the corresponding edit page.

Selecting modes
The KRONOS is organized into seven different
“modes,” each optimized for a different purpose. Each
mode has a corresponding button on the front panel,
with an LED to show which one is selected. We’ll
introduce each of the modes below.

Programs are the basic sounds of KRONOS. In

Program mode Program mode, you can:

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 TouchView user interface

• Select and play Programs • Re‐order the sounds using cut, copy, and paste

English
• Edit Programs • Create sets of sounds for live performance,
Make detailed settings for oscillators, filters, amps, recording projects, or keeping your favorites close
EGs, LFOs, effects, KARMA, vector synthesis, Drum at hand
Track, etc. The specific parameters will vary
depending on the synthesis engine being used. Sampling mode
• Play and control one KARMA module Sampling mode lets you record and edit user Samples
• Sample external audio, or resample the sound of and Multisamples. For example, you can:
the Program • Sample external audio sources, including sampling
through effects
Combination mode • Edit RAM Samples, set loop points etc.
Combinations are sets of up to 16 Programs that can be • Create and edit Multisamples, which consist of one

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played simultaneously, letting you create sounds more or more Samples spread out across the keyboard
complex than a single Program. In Combination mode,
• Quickly convert Multisamples into Programs
you can:
• Sample (“rip”) directly from an audio CD
• Select and play Combinations
• Use KRONOS as a 16‐channel multitimbral tone
generator
Global mode
• Edit Combinations Global mode lets you make overall settings for the
entire KRONOS, and edit Wave Sequences and Drum
Assign Programs to each of the 16 Timbres, each Kits. For instance, you can:
with separate volume, pan, EQ, and keyboard and
velocity zones; make settings for effects, vector • Make settings that affect the entire KRONOS, such
synthesis, Drum Track, and KARMA. as master tune and global MIDI channel
• Set up sample (.KSC) auto‐loading at startup, and

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• Control and play up to four KARMA modules
manage sample data in memory
• Sample or resample
• Create Drum Kits, Wave Sequences, and user scales

Sequencer mode • Rename Program, Combination, and KARMA GE

categories
Sequencer mode lets you record, play back, and edit 16
• Set up the assignable pedals and switches
MIDI tracks and 16 audio tracks. You can:
• Transmit MIDI System Exclusive data dumps
• Select and play Songs
• Use KRONOS as a 16‐channel multitimbral tone
generator Disk mode
• Assign Programs to each of the 16 MIDI Tracks, Disk mode lets you save, load, and manage data using
with separate volume, pan, EQ, and keyboard and the internal SSD drive and external USB 2.0 storage
velocity zones; make settings for effects, vector devices. You can:

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synthesis, Drum Track, and KARMA • Save and load Programs, Combinations, Songs, Set
• Edit MIDI data Lists, Drum Kits, Wave Sequences, Drum Track
Patterns, KARMA User GEs, Samples, and Global
• Record up to 16 MIDI tracks and/or 4 audio tracks setup data
simultaneously
• Format disks and storage media, copy and rename
• Mix using automation files, etc.
• Control and play up to four KARMA modules • Load AKAI, SoundFont 2.0, AIFF, and WAVE
• Sample or resample samples, and export RAM samples in AIFF or
Sample audio inputs during playback, and use In‐ WAVE formats
Track Sampling to automatically create a note event • Export and import sequences to and from SMF
that triggers the sample in the Song. (Standard MIDI Files)
Resample an entire song, and then use Disk mode to • Save and load MIDI System Exclusive data for
create an audio CD. other devices
• Record patterns and assign them to keys, using • Create and play back audio CDs
RPPR (Real‐time Pattern Play/Recording)

Set List mode

Set Lists make it simple to play and organize any of the
sounds loaded into the KRONOS, without regard for
whether they’re Programs, Combinations, or even
Songs. You can:
• Use large on‐screen buttons for fast sound selection

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 Playing sounds

Playing sounds

Playing sounds in Set Lists

Smooth Sound Transitions (SST) let the previous sound
Overview and its effects ring out naturally, making it easy to
Set Lists make it simple to play and organize any of the change sounds during a live performance. SST is active
sounds loaded into the KRONOS, without regard for in all of the KRONOS modes—not just in Set Lists.
what bank they’re stored in or whether they’re There are 128 Set Lists, and each Set List has 128 Slots,
Programs, Combinations, or even Songs. each of which can be assigned to any Program,
Large on‐screen buttons make sound selection fast and Combination, or Song. One way of thinking about this
foolproof, and the Program Up or Down footswitch is that a Set List is a “bank” of Slots.
assignments can be used for hands‐free sound
changes. Cut, copy, paste, and insert tools make re‐
ordering a snap.

Set List popup

Current Slot

Comment

Slot buttons

Previous button Next button

Edit

4. If you like, play a few notes to hear the sound of

Selecting Set Lists the first Slot in the Set List.
The large name in the Set List display is the name of 5. When you are satisfied with the selected Set List,
the current Slot, so that you can easily see the sound press the OK button to close the popup menu.
that you’re playing. The Set List name is in smaller text Alternately, you can press the Cancel button to return
at the top left‐hand corner of the screen. to the previously selected Set List.
With the factory settings, Set List 000 will appear when
you turn on the power.
Selecting Slots
To select Set Lists:
Selecting within the current group of 16
1. Press the SET LIST button to enter Set List mode.
16 Slots are shown on the screen at once, each
2. Press the Set List popup button (to the left of the
represented by a button. To select one of the 16 Slots
Set List name).
shown on the display:
The Set List selection dialog appears.
1. Press the Slot’s button.
3. Press one of the names in the list to select a Set
The button becomes highlighted, and the large Slot
List.
number/name at the top of the screen are updated
The selected Set List will be highlighted, and the accordingly.
keyboard will immediately switch to the first Slot in
the Set List.

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 Playing sounds

Also notice that the comments area, above the Slot Each Slot can play either a Program, a Combination, or

English
buttons, updates to show the contents for the selected a Song. When you change the Type, the Bank &
Slot. Number and Category or Track parameters will
update accordingly. Category appears for Programs
Selecting outside the current group of 16 and Combinations; Track appears for Songs.
To select a new Slot outside of the current group of 16: 4. Using either the Bank & Number or Category
1. Use the next and previous arrow‐buttons at the popup menus, select the desired Program,
bottom of the screen to browse through the groups Combination, or Song.
of 16. Note that you can use the same sound in multiple Slots
The labels for next/previous will vary depending on within the same Set List. For instance, you might have
the current group of 16; for instance, if the current a favorite piano sound which you use in a number of
group is 0‐15, the buttons will show 112‐127 and 16‐31, different songs. You can create any number of Slots
respectively. which use this same piano sound, each with different

Français
As you browse, the current selection does not change names and comments.
until you actually press one of the 16 buttons. Writing your edits
NOTE: If you browse outside of the current Set List, When you’ve finished adding sounds, make sure to
any edits to the Set List will be lost. Be sure to write save your edits by writing the Set List:
your edits first.
1. Select Write Set List from the page menu.
2. When you see the desired Slot, press the Slot’s
The Write Set List dialog will appear.
button.
The button becomes highlighted, and the comments 2. If you wish, edit the name by pressing on the “T”
and large Slot number/name at the top of the screen are text edit button.
updated accordingly. 3. Optionally, use the Set List popup menu to write
the Set List into a different number in memory.
Other ways to select Set Lists and Slots 4. Press OK to write the Set List, or Cancel to exit

Deutsch
without writing.
You can also select Set Lists and Slots using the front‐
For more information on the Write command, see
panel Inc/Dec buttons, the VALUE dial, or the numeric
“Saving your edits” on page 24.
keypad, or step through Slots using the assignable
footswitch. For more information, see “Selecting and
playing sounds” in the “Set Lists” chapter of the OG. Adding items to the Set List from other
modes
Choosing a sound for a Slot Program, Combination, and Sequencer modes each
1. Press the Edit tab to go to the Set List Edit page. have an Add to Set List command in their P0 page
menus.
2. Select the Slot that you’d like to edit.
Notice the parameters which appear above the 16 Slot When you use the Add to Set List command, the
buttons. These let you set up the current Slot. current Program, Combination, or Song is inserted at
the current Slot of the current Set List, similar to using

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3. At the top left of the parameter box, select the the Set List Edit page’s Insert command.
desired Type: Program, Combination, or Song.

Playing Programs and Combinations

To select banks USER–AA…GG, press and hold a pair
Selecting Programs by bank and number of I and U BANK buttons together. For example, to
Programs are the basic sounds of the KRONOS. select bank USER–CC, press and hold the I–C button,
and then press the U–C button.
1. Press the front‐panel PROG button (the LED will
light) to enter Program mode. Press the I‐G switch repeatedly to cycle through banks
GM, g(1)…g(9), and g(d).
The upper left of the LCD screen shows the name of
the current page, PROGRAM P0: Play. This is a good
home base for playing Programs.
Notice the large, highlighted characters in the upper
part of the LCD display. These are the name and
number of the current Program. When these are
highlighted, you can press the / buttons to select
the next or previously numbered Program.
You can also turn the VALUE dial to move through the
Programs in larger steps, or enter Program numbers
directly from the numeric keypad.
2. Use the BANK SELECT I‐A…G and U‐A…G
buttons to select Programs from other banks.

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 Playing sounds

Program bank contents

Selecting Programs by Category
Bank Contents Bank Type
There are other ways to select Programs, but here we’ll
explain how to select programs by their category, such I-A SGX-1, EP-1, “best of” all EXi EXi
as keyboard, organ, bass, or drum sounds. I-B…F HD-1 Programs HD-1
For other ways to select Programs, see the “Playing GM (I-G) GM2 main Programs
and editing Programs” chapter of the OG.
g(1)…g(9) GM2 variation Programs *1 GM
1. In the LCD screen, press the Category popup
button. g(d) GM2 drum Programs *1

See “b: Category popup button” on page 13. U-A HD-1, including ambient drums

The Category popup menu will appear. U-B AL-1

2. Use the tabs at the left to select a category. U-C AL-1 and CX-3
The space on the right will then show all of the U-D STR-1 Bank type
Programs in that category, in all of the internal banks. can be set
U-E MS-20EX & PolysixEX
to either
3. Optionally, press one of the inner tabs to select a
U-F MOD-7 HD-1 or EXi.
sub‐category, to narrow the selection.
U-G Initialized HD-1 Programs
If any of the categories or sub‐categories can’t be
selected, this means that no Programs have been USER–AA…DD Initialized EXi Programs
assigned to that category.
USER–EE…GG Initialized HD-1 Programs
4. Select a Program from the list.
You can either touch the name of a Program in the list, HD-1 and EXi Bank Types
press the / buttons, or use the Value dial. You EXi Programs are used for all synth engines except for
can play the highlighted Program from the keyboard the HD‐1, including the AL‐1, CX‐3, STR‐1, MS‐20EX,
without leaving the popup. PolysixEX, MOD‐7, SGX‐1, and EP‐1.
5. If not all the items in the list can be shown in the Banks can contain either HD‐1 Programs or EXi
screen, use the scroll bars to view the rest of the Programs, but not both. This assignment is fixed for
list. the Internal banks, but can be set separately for each of
6. When you’ve found a Program you like, press the the User banks with the Set Program User‐Bank Type
OK button to close the dialog box. Then go ahead menu command on the Global P0: Basic page.
and play!
Make sure to try out all of the controllers, too. For more Selecting Combinations
information, see “Using controllers to modify the
sound” on page 18. A Combination consists of up to sixteen Programs that
are split and/or layered together. It also uses up to four
KARMA modules simultaneously (a Program can use
Program Bank Contents only one KARMA module), letting you produce far
KRONOS ships from the factory with almost 1,800 more complex sounds than a Program. To select
Programs loaded into memory. Another 1,024 Program Combinations:
slots are left open (“initialized”) for your own 1. Press the COMBI button to enter Combination
programming, or additional sound libraries. All of the mode.
factory Programs can be over‐written with your own
The COMBI LED will light up.
edits, if desired–except for the GM banks.
Once you’re in Combi mode, you can select and play
Combinations by either bank/number or category, in
the same way as you did Programs.

Using controllers to modify the sound

Joysticks, ribbon, and switches Control Surface overview
Notice the many controllers located on the left side of Notice the mixer‐like arrangement of sliders, knobs,
the KRONOS’ front panel. You can use all of these and switches on the left side of the front panel. This is
controllers–including the joystick, vector joystick, called the Control Surface. You can use it in a variety of
ribbon controller, and SW1/SW2 switches–to vary the ways, such as editing sounds, controlling KARMA,
sound as you play. For more information on these mixing, or sending MIDI messages to external devices.
controllers, see their sections under “Front Panel” on For instance, to set up the Control Surface for quick
page 6. sound editing and controlling KARMA:
The result will differ for each Program or 1. In the CONTROL ASSIGN section, press the RT
Combination, so try them all out to see what each KNOBS/KARMA button.
controller does for the selected sound.

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 Playing sounds

The button’s LED will light. Now you can use the 7. Touch the PolysixEX graphic around the Cutoff

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knobs to modify the sounds and effects, and use the and Resonance knobs.
sliders and switches to control KARMA. The display jumps to the main PolysixEX page.
You can use these controls regardless of the page 8. Experiment with playing while using the Control
shown on the LCD display. However, there is a page Surface sliders, knobs, and switches.
which provides more information about the Control
Notice how the graphics respond, as well. You can also
Surface assignments and values.
select a graphic control on the screen and edit its value
2. Go to the P0: Control Surface page by pressing the using any of the data entry controls.
Control Surface tab, located in the lower right of
the LCD screen.
Restoring the sound to its original state
This page shows all of the Control Surface sliders,
knobs, and switches, along with their current When you’re editing a Program, you can compare back
assignments and values. When you move a controller, and forth between the edited and saved versions.

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the corresponding object in the LCD screen will also 1. Press the front‐panel COMPARE switch.
move.
The COMPARE LED will light, and the Program’s
saved settings will be recalled.
Using knobs to vary the timbre 2. Press the COMPARE switch again, to return to the
When the RT KNOBS/KARMA button is lit, the eight edited settings.
knobs at the top of the Control Surface modulate The COMPARE LED will go dark, and the sound will
various aspects of the sounds and effects. return to the edited version. You can switch back and
Knobs 1‐4 have dedicated functions, as printed on the forth as many times as you like.
front panel: Filter Cutoff, Filter Resonance, Filter EG
Resetting individual controllers
Intensity, and Release Time.
You can also reset individual controllers to their saved
Knobs 5‐8 can be assigned to a wide variety of
values, such as the vector joystick or any control
functions. Often (though not always), knobs 5 and 6

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surface slider, knob, or switch. To do so:
modulate synthesis parameters, knob 7 controls the
depth of a chorus or other modulation effect, and knob 1. Hold down the front‐panel RESET CONTROLS
8 controls reverb depth. switch.
For a detailed tutorial, see “Editing sounds & effects 2. While holding down the switch, move or press the
with the Realtime Knobs” in the OG, under “Quick control that you’d like to reset.
edits using the knobs, sliders, and switches.” 3. Release the RESET CONTROLS switch.
The controller will be reset.
Using Tone Adjust
Tone Adjust lets you use all of the sliders, knobs, and
switches on the Control Surface to edit Program
parameters, like the knobs and sliders on an analog
synth. Each physical control can be assigned to any one

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of a number of Program parameters.
The specific parameters available through Tone Adjust
will vary depending on the type of Program. HD‐1
Programs support a certain set of parameters; each EXi
also has its own set of parameters. The PolysixEX
works particularly well with Tone Adjust, so let’s take a
look at it now.
1. In Program mode, press the button for Bank I‐A.
2. Select Program I‐A074 Phunky Power Bass.
This uses the PolysixEX.
3. Under CONTROL ASSIGN, press the TONE
ADJ/EQ button.
4. Play the keyboard while moving sliders 1‐4 and
knobs 1‐2.
Notice as the knob graphics on the display move as
well. Sliders 1‐4 control the envelope shape; knobs 1‐2
control the filter cutoff and resonance.
5. On the display, press the Control Surface tab.
This page shows the assignments and values for all of
the sliders, knobs, and switches.
6. Press the Main tab to return to the main Play page.

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 Playing sounds

Using KARMA
Each scene independently remembers any edits that
Turning KARMA on and off you make via the sliders and switches. Edits to all 8
To turn KARMA on and off: scenes are stored when you write the Program.
1. Press the KARMA ON/OFF switch, so that the 6. Move the sliders and press the bottom row of
LED is lit. switches, and listen to the effect that they have on
the sound.
When the LED is lit, KARMA is on.
The sliders and switches will control different things
2. Press a key, and KARMA will begin to play.
depending on the current Program and its KARMA
(Note that in some sounds, KARMA may be set to settings.
respond only to notes played in a specific keyboard
range.)
Using KARMA in Combination mode
Note the front‐panel LATCH switch. This switch
controls whether or not KARMA continues to play KARMA uses “modules” to generate phrases or
after you remove your hand from the keyboard. patterns. Programs can use a single KARMA module,
but Combinations can use up to four simultaneously.
If the LED is lit, Latch is on. KARMA will continue to Each module can play a separate sound (or group of
play even after you remove your hand from the sounds) if desired.
keyboard. If the LED is dark, Latch is off; KARMA will
stop when you remove your hand from the keyboard. Modules are routed to different sounds via the
module’s MIDI input and output channels.
Link to Drum Track 1. Use the front panel MODULE CONTROL switch
If the front panel LINKED LED and KARMA ON/OFF to select the module that you want to control.
switches are lit, KARMA will start and stop together Select MASTER to control all four KARMA modules
with the Drum Track. Importantly, KARMA will not simultaneously.
start if the Drum Track is not turned on. For more
information, see “Linking KARMA and the Drum Select A–D to control the individual KARMA modules.
Track” on page 21. 2. Move and press the KARMA sliders and switches.
The sliders and switches will control the pattern or
Using the KARMA controllers phrase generated by the selected module.
All factory sounds are set up for use with KARMA. Playing chords with the Pads
Some are stored with KARMA on by default, and
The KRONOS includes 8 virtual “pads,” which can be
others are stored with KARMA off, as shown by the
played by touching the screen, from MIDI input, or
LED on the KARMA ON/OFF switch.
from compatible USB MIDI pad devices. You can use
1. Press the PROG button to enter Program mode. these Pads to trigger chords for KARMA.
2. Select a sound that you like, and press the To play the pads from the screen:
KARMA ON/OFF button to turn on KARMA.
1. Press the EQ/Vector/Control tab, and then select
The button will light up. the Pads tab.
3. Press the RT KNOBS/KARMA button under This takes you to the Pads page.
CONTROL ASSIGN.
2. Make sure that the on‐screen Enable Pad Play
When this button is lit, the Control Surface sliders and button is lit.
switches will control KARMA.
3. Touch the pads to play their chords.
4. Go to the Control Surface page.
Dynamics are controlled by where you touch the pad;
This shows all of the assignments and current values touch higher for louder, and lower for softer.
for the sliders, knobs, and buttons.
You can also play the pads using Korg USB MIDI
The sliders and the lower row of buttons are the controllers equipped with drum pads, including the
KARMA Sliders and Switches. These control nanoPAD and nanoPAD2, padKONTROL,
parameters within KARMA, which will vary microKONTROL, and KONTROL49.
depending on the Program.
To use any of these Korg controllers, simply connect
The upper row of buttons select KARMA Scenes, them to one of the KRONOS’s two USB A ports. The
which store values for the KARMA Sliders and KRONOS will automatically determine the MIDI
Switches. assignments of the controller’s pads 1‐8, and map them
5. Press the upper row of buttons, one by one, to directly to the KRONOS pads.
select different KARMA Scenes. For more details, see “USB MIDI controllers” in the
Notice how this also changes the KARMA SWITCH Appendix of the Parameter Guide.
and KARMA SLIDER values, as shown in the display.
You can move between entirely different settings of all
these controls simply by pressing a KARMA SCENE
switch.

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 Playing sounds

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Using the Drum Track
Turning the Drum Track on and off Linking KARMA and the Drum Track
1. Press the DRUM TRACK switch. You can link KARMA and the Drum Track so that they
Depending on various settings, the Drum Track may start and stop together. This is controlled by the Link
begin to play immediately, or may wait until you start to Drum Track check‐box on the KARMA Triggers
to play on the keyboard. If the button’s LED is blinking page.
on and off, it’s waiting for you to play. 1. Go to the Program P7: KARMA Module
For more details on Drum Track start/stop and Parameters‐Trigger page.
synchronization, see the chapter “Using the Drum 2. In the Control section, enable the Link to Drum
Track”in the OG. Track check‐box.

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The front panel LINKED LED will light.
Selecting the Drum Track pattern & 3. Turn the KARMA ON/OFF switch on.
sound When linked, KARMA will always wait for the Drum
Track. So, unless the DRUM TRACK switch is on,
Program mode KARMA won’t start yet.
In Program mode, the Drum Track has a special
4. Turn the DRUM TRACK switch on.
reserved mixer slot and a dedicated Program select
parameter. To set up the Drum Track in Program KARMA will start to play along with the Drum Track,
mode: according to the Drum Track’s Trigger Mode.
1. Press the Basic/Vector tab, and then press the For more details, please see “Using KARMA and the
Drum Track tab. Drum Track together”in the “Using the Drum
Track”chapter of the OG.
The Drum Track page will appear.

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Note the Drum Pattern section, in the upper left of the
display. The Pattern parameter has two popup menus.
The one on the left selects between the Preset and User
banks; the one on the right selects the pattern within
the bank.
2. Set the Bank and Pattern as desired.
Note: If the selected pattern is an empty User pattern or
Preset P000: Off, the DRUM TRACK button won’t turn
on.
Next, note the Drum Track Parameters section of the
page (to the right of the Drum Pattern section). This
area contains a few parameters for adjusting the basic

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sound of the Drum Track.
3. Press the Program popup button.
The Category/Program Select dialog appears. By
default, the Drum category will already be selected.
4. Select a drum Program for the Drum Track to play.
You can actually select any sound, even outside of the
Drum category—but in general, the patterns will only
make sense when playing a drum Program.

Combination mode
In Combinations (and Songs), the Drum Track simply
sends MIDI to play one or more of the 16
Timbres/Tracks.
For more information, see “Drum Track settings in
Combination mode”in the “Using the Drum
Track”chapter of the OG.

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 Using the sequencer

Using the sequencer

Recording MIDI and audio

7. Play what you’d like to record, and then press
Auto Song Setup START/STOP when you’re done.
The Auto Song Setup feature copies the current
Program or Combination into a Song, and then puts Adding an audio track
the system in record‐ready mode. When inspiration
strikes, you can use this function to start recording Continuing from above, let’s record an audio overdub.
immediately. To do so from Program mode: 1. Connect a dynamic microphone, guitar, bass, other
1. Hold down the ENTER key and press the synth, etc. to AUDIO INPUT 1.
SEQUENCER REC/WRITE key. For more details on connecting different types of mics
The Setup to Record dialog box will open and ask “Are and guitars, see “MIC/LINE switches” on page 11.
you sure?” 2. If you’re using a mic, set the input’s MIC/LINE
2. Press OK. switch to MIC; otherwise, set it to LINE.
The system switches to Sequencer mode, with record 3. Go to the Audio Track Mixer tab of the Sequencer
already enabled. P0: Play/Rec page.

3. Press the START/STOP key to start the sequencer 4. Turn the Multi REC check‐box on again.
and begin recording. In general, Multi REC is the best choice when
With the default settings, there will be a two measure recording audio.
count‐down before recording starts. 5. Press Track 1’s PLAY button once, so that it turns
4. Play what you’d like to record, and then press red and says REC.
START/STOP to stop recording. Note that the Input is already set to 1 by default.
The sequencer will automatically return to the Next, we need to set the level.
beginning of the Song (beat 1 of measure 1, as shown in 6. Press the Preference tab.
the upper right‐hand corner: 001 : 01 . 000). This takes you to the Preference page, which includes a
5. Press START/STOP to hear what you recorded. meter for the record‐enabled audio tracks.
Since you started in Program mode, your playing will 7. Keeping an eye on the meter, adjust the rear‐panel
have been recorded on Track 1. If you used the Drum LEVEL knob until the level is high but not
Track, it will have been recorded on Track 10. For clipping.
Combinations, more tracks are used as needed. Use the rear‐panel LEVEL knob, and not the on‐screen
slider. If the signal clips, you’ll see the message “ADC
Adding another MIDI track OVERLOAD!” appear over the meter.
1. If KARMA was on, press the front‐panel KARMA 8. Press LOCATE to go back to the start of the Song.
button to turn it off. 9. Press REC/WRITE to enable recording, and then
2. Turn off the Multi REC check‐box, in the upper press START/STOP to start.
right of the display. 10.Play what you’d like to record, and then press
Auto Song Setup turns this on to record the Program’s START/STOP when you’re done.
Drum Track, or multiple channels in a Combination.
Un-saved audio files
Track Select
When you record audio tracks, they’re initially stored
Category in a folder named “TEMP” on the internal disk. If you
Select Popup
Multi REC then turn off the power before saving the Song, the
Bank/Program Song will be lost, but the audio files will still be on the
Select Popup
disk. The next time that you start up, you’ll see the
following message:
3. Below the Song name, open the Track Select There are un‐saved audio files from your previous
popup and select MIDI Track 02. recording session.
This controls both the track that you play from the Do you want to restore these files, or delete them
keyboard, and (with Multi REC turned off) the track from the disk?
that’s recorded.
[Restore] [Delete]
4. Using the Category or Bank/Program Select popup
Since the Song was not saved, all the track audio event
menus, select a Program for Track 02.
data and region data is gone, but you can still restore
5. Press LOCATE to go back to the start of the Song. the WAVE files and use them to create a new song.
6. Press REC/WRITE to enable recording, and then If you want to keep this data, press Restore. If you
press START/STOP to start. want to delete this data, press Delete.

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 Using the sequencer

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Editing MIDI
You can modify your performance after recording, if 3. In the page menu, select the Quantize command.
you wish. For instance, you can erase misplayed notes, The Quantize dialog appears.
or correct their pitch and timing.
4. Set the Resolution to the desired rhythmic value.
Timing correction is done through Quantization. This
As a general rule, choose the shortest note‐value used
takes the notes you played and lines them up to the
in the recorded performance.
nearest beat or fraction of a beat, based on the
resolution you select. It can also be used to add a 5. Press the OK button to quantize the selected data.
“swing” feel. Let’s try quantizing the MIDI track we If the result was different from what you had expected,
just recorded. press the COMPARE switch to restore the song to the
1. Go to the Sequencer P4: Track Edit page. original state before the quantization was applied.
Experiment with different Resolutions, set Intensity to

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This page includes a graphic which shows each track
less than 100% in order to preserve some of the natural
in the sequence. The small rectangles represent
feel, or raise the Swing value to create a shuffle or
measures which contain audio or MIDI data.
swing feel.
2. Select MIDI Track 01 from the popup above the
You can also apply quantization during recording,
graphic.
using the REC Resolution parameter at the top of the
Using the From Measure and To End of Measure P0 page. Choose the desired resolution, and
parameters at the bottom of the display, set the range quantization will be applied as you record.
of measures that you wish to modify. For now, set
From to 001, and To End to 064. For more information, see “Song editing” in the
“Creating songs (Sequencer mode)” chapter of the OG.

Template Songs

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Template Songs store pretty much everything in the 4. Press the OK button to load the template song, or
Song except for the MIDI and audio data itself. This press the Cancel button to exit without making
includes Program selections, track parameters, effects changes.
and KARMA settings, and the Song’s name and tempo. When you press OK, the Template Song’s settings will
The factory preset Template Songs let you get up and be copied into the current Song.
running quickly with matched sets of sounds and If Copy Pattern to MIDI Track too? was checked in
effects for various styles of music. You can also create step 3, the Copy Pattern To MIDI Track dialog box
your own Template Songs with your favorite sounds will appear.
and setups.
5. Use the Bank (User or Preset) and Pattern popups
Note that Template Songs do not include MIDI data for to select a pattern to copy.
song tracks and patterns, audio data, and so on.
6. In the To MIDI Track field, select the track to use
While loading a Template Song, you can also for the pattern.

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optionally load one or more Drum patterns to a
Note: In each of the eighteen preset Template Songs,
specified Track.
track 1 is always assigned to a Drum Program. (In
1. In the Sequencer P0: Play/REC page, press the some cases, other tracks may also have Drum
page menu button and select the Load Template Programs.)
Song command.
7. In the Measure field, set the measure on which
A dialog box will appear. you’d like the pattern to start.
Following the names for each of the 697 preset
patterns, the musical style and the name of the most
suitable Drum Programs are partially displayed.
By loading a Drum Program and the corresponding
preset pattern, you can instantly set up a drum track to
match the Template Song.
8. To load the pattern, press the OK button.
2. In the From field, choose the Template Song you After the pattern is loaded, the Measure will count up
want to load. automatically. You can then copy another pattern if
3. Check the “Copy Pattern to MIDI Track too?” desired. For instance, you can use different patterns
check‐box. one after the other to build up a song, with different
patterns for verse, chorus, and bridge.
When this box is checked, a dialog box for copying a
pattern will automatically appear after Load Template After you’ve finished adding patterns, press the Exit
Song is complete. button, and you’re done!
If this is not checked, only the selected Template Song
will be loaded.

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 Saving and loading data

Saving and loading data

Saving your edits

The text edit window will disappear, returning you to
Understanding Write and Save the main Write dialog.
There are two ways to store your work on the 4. Under “To” at the bottom of the dialog, press the
KRONOS: Write and Save. popup button next to Program to bring up the save
You can use Write for Programs, Combinations, Set location dialog.
Lists, Wave Sequences, Drum Kits, and FX Presets— 5. Select a location to save the edited Program.
everything except for Songs, Samples, and From the factory, banks USER–G and AA…GG are left
Multisamples. Write stores into the internal memory, open for your use, containing only initialized
which persists even if you turn power off and on again. Programs. If you like, you can also overwrite any of the
Save stores data to files on disk—either the internal factory sounds (except for the General MIDI sounds in
drive or USB storage devices. You must use Save for I‐G), and easily re‐load them from disk at any time.
Songs, Samples, and Multisamples. Save is also handy Important: HD‐1 Programs can only be written to
for all the other data types, though. For instance, you HD‐1 Banks, and EXi Programs can only be written
can easily Save the entire state of the KRONOS, to EXi Banks. For more information on the default
including all user‐editable data, in a single step. Bank types, and on how to change them, please see
Hundreds of these files will fit onto the internal drive. “Program Bank Contents” on page 18.
You can use this for backups, and for saving and
recalling setups for particular projects, gigs, and so on. 6. After selecting the location, press OK.
7. Press OK again to start the write process.
Writing Programs 8. If you’re sure you want to write to this location,
press OK one more time.
To write a Program to the internal memory:
After that, you’re done!
1. Select the Write Program command from the page
menu, at the upper right‐hand corner of the screen. Saving edits to GM Programs
You can also call up this menu command by holding You can edit GM Programs, but you must then save
ENTER and pressing 0 on the numeric keypad. them to a Bank other than I‐G; the GM Programs
This brings up a dialog box which allows you to save themselves cannot be over‐written.
the Program. Optionally, you can also select a new Shortcut: Update via SEQUENCER REC/WRITE
location, change the Program’s name, and assign it to a
sound category (such as keyboard, guitar, etc.). You can also use the SEQUENCER REC/WRITE button
to quickly update the current Program, using the
2. Press the “T” button to bring up the text edit existing name, bank, number, and category. To do so:
dialog.
1. Press the SEQUENCER REC/WRITE button.
You can give the Program a descriptive name using the
on‐screen keyboard. The Update Program dialog will appear.

3. After entering the name, press OK. 2. Press OK to write the program.

Saving to and loading from disk

Multisamples and Drum Samples. Note that this is just
Saving data a list of which samples are loaded; the actual data is
Anything that you create or edit in the KRONOS can stored separately.
be saved to disk. There are a number of file types for You can store all of this data together in a single step.
different types of data, but for now we’ll concentrate
1. Press the front‐panel DISK button to enter Disk
on the three main types: .PCG, ,.SNG, and .KSC files.
mode.
PCG stands for “Program, Combination, and Global.”
2. Press the File tab, and then the Save tab, to go to
These files can also include Set Lists, Wave Sequences,
the Disk–Save page.
Drum Kits, user Drum Track patterns, and user
KARMA GEs. PCGs are variable in size; they may 3. Optionally, Press Drive Select to select the drive to
include only a single bank of Programs, for instance, or which to save.
all 13 banks of all data types. The internal disk is the default. Unless you want to use
SNG stands for “Song.” These files store all of the an external USB device, you don’t need to select
Songs from Sequencer mode. anything different.

KSC stands for “Korg Sample Collection.” This is a list 4. Select the directory in which you want to save the
all of the RAM multisamples and samples in internal data.
memory, along with all of the loaded EXs

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 Saving and loading data

Press the Open button to move to a lower level, or When you use Load PCG to load a .PCG file, the

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press the Up button to move to an upper level. identically‐named .KSC file will also be loaded so that
Depending on how you work, you may wish to create the correct multisamples/samples will correspond
directories for different projects. To create a new automatically.
directory, move to the level at which you want to create
the directory, and use the Create Directory menu Loading data
command on the Disk–Utility page.
You can load the entire contents of memory at once,
5. On the Disk–Save page, press the page menu including sound data (Programs, Combinations, etc.),
button to open the page menu, and select the Save Songs, and sample data. To do so:
All command.
1. Press the DISK button to enter Disk mode.
This command will save a set of .PCG, .SNG, and .KSC
2. Press the File tab, and then the Load tab, to go to
files all at once.
the Disk–Load page.
A dialog box will appear.

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3. Optionally, Press Drive Select to select the drive
from which to load.
The internal drive is the default.
4. Navigate to the directory that contains the file you
want to load, and select the .SNG file.
Select a directory (shown as a folder icon) and press
the Open button to move to a lower level, or press the
Up button to move to a higher level.
The selected .SNG file will be highlighted.

6. Press the text edit button (“T”) and enter a name

for the files.

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All of the files will share the same name, with different
suffixes to show the data type (.PCG, .SNG, .KSC).
Note: If the Songs include audio tracks, the audio data
will be saved as WAVE files. These are stored in a
directory named after the .SNG plus “_A” (for Audio)
at the end, in the same directory as the .SNG file itself.
7. Press each Selection button to note the items being
saved, such as the individual banks of Programs
and Combinations.

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5. Press the red Load button at the bottom of the
page.
(You can also use the Load Selected menu command.)

You can choose to save only some of the data. This is A dialog box will appear, containing a number of
handy, for instance, when saving a bank of sounds to options.
share with other musicians. For now, however, let’s 6. Select the “Load [filename].PCG too” and “Load
leave all of the boxes checked, so that all of the internal [filename].KSC too” check boxes.
data is saved. When these boxes are checked, the system looks for
8. Press the OK button to Save the data to disk. .PCG and .KSC files with the same name as the main
When the save is complete, the system returns to the .SNG file.
Save page, and the display will show the resulting 7. Set “.PCG Contents” to All.
file(s). The amount of time required will depend on the Optionally, you can load only some of the data from
amount of data being saved. the .PCG file.
If there are User Multisamples and Samples in RAM, 8. Use “Select .SNG Allocation” to specify how the
they will be saved to disk as .KMP and .KSF files, Songs will be loaded, and whether or not existing
respectively. Directories for these files will be created Songs will be erased.
automatically.
Append loads the Songs into the first free Song
NOTE: When saving Combinations, remember to also numbers following the song(s) which are already in
save the Programs it uses, as well as the Drum Kits and memory.
Wave Sequences used by the Programs. Similarly,
Clear will erase all songs from internal memory, and
when saving Programs, remember to save the Drum
load the Songs into the exact numbers from which they
Kits and Wave Sequences used by the programs.
were saved.

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 Saving and loading data

9. Use “Select .KSC Allocation” to specify how the Automatic reference correction
sample data will be loaded, and whether or not
If you set .PCG Contents and To to different banks,
existing sample data will be erased.
any references in the data will be updated to match the
Append will leave all currently‐loaded RAM and/or new bank. For instance, let’s say that you’re loading
EXs data intact. RAM Multisamples and Samples will from the PCG’s Bank I‐A into Bank U‐G. If the PCG’s
be loaded into the next available vacant numbers Combinations used Programs from Bank I‐A, they will
following the existing data. be updated to the use the Programs’ new locations in
Clear RAM will erase all multisamples and samples Bank U‐G. The same is true for any Drum Kits or Wave
from sample memory (RAM), and load the data in the Sequences used by Programs.
same configuration with which it was saved. Existing If you’re loading sequencer data at the same time (with
EXs data is left intact. Load .SNG too checked), any Program and Bank
Clear RAM & EXs is similar to Clear RAM, above, but Change messages within the Songs will also be
also un‐loads existing EXs data before loading the new corrected.
.KSC file. This frees up the most memory for the new
.KSC. Loading multiple files at once
You can use the information at the bottom of the dialog You can select two or more files at once, and load them
box, including Memory Required, (Memory) in a single operation. To do so:
Available, and Enough slots for Samples & MS, to
determine whether or not you need to free up room for 1. Press the Multiple Select check‐box at the bottom
the new .KSC. of the screen, so that it’s enabled.

10.Set the Load Method as desired. This can be handy for loading multiple sample files at
once, importing banks of DX sounds, and so on.
This sets the preferred way to load the EXs samples in Multiple Select works for other disk operations as
the KSC: load them into RAM, use Virtual Memory, or well, including Delete (so be careful!).
use the setting stored in the KSC. If the KSC has no EXs
samples, this will be grayed out. Note that when Multiple Select is on, you can’t change
to a different directory. When you’re done, turn it off
11.Press the OK button to load the data. again.
Never disconnect USB devices or remove data‐ You can also use “wild cards” to select multiple files.
storage media while loading or saving. For more information, see “Loading multiple files at
When loading Programs, Combinations, Songs, Set once” under the “Load selected” menu command in
Lists, Drum Kits, Wave Sequences, or KARMA User the PG’s Disk chapter.
GEs, make sure that the Global Basic Setup page’s
Memory Protect settings are turned off (unchecked).
If they are on, you won’t be able to load the data.

Loading individual banks from a .PCG file

1. Go to the Load page.
2. Select the .PCG file containing the data you want
to load.
3. Press the Load button.
4. Set the .PCG Contents to load the desired
individual banks.
5. Select the bank to load into via the “To” parameter.

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 Saving and loading data

English
Listening to the demo songs
Loading the demo songs Playing the demo songs
1. Press the DISK button (the LED will light) to enter 1. Press the SEQ button (the LED will light) to enter
Disk mode. Sequencer mode.
2. If you’ve edited or created any new sounds or If you haven’t done anything with Sequencer mode
songs, save them before proceeding! since turning on the power, the P0: Play/REC– MIDI
Loading the demo songs will replace the contents of Track Prog Select/Mixer page will appear.
the internal memory, including Programs,
Combinations, Songs, sample data, and so on. If
you’ve made any edits, save them to the internal

Français
disk or a USB drive before you proceed.
3. Press the File tab and then the Load tab, to go to
the Load page.
4. Make sure that “Drive Select” is set to
HDD:INTERNAL HD.
The contents of the hard disk will appear.
5. Touch the FACTORY directory to select it.
6. Press the Open button to enter the directory.
7. Touch the PRELOAD.SNG file to select it.
This file contains the demo song, along with all of the
sounds that it needs.
If this page is not displayed, press the EXIT switch

Deutsch
several times. Although the exact number will depend
on the page you’re in, pressing the EXIT switch no
more than three times will always bring you back to
this page.
Let’s start by listening to song S000.
2. Verify that song S000 is selected.
If another song is selected, touch the song name to
highlight it. Then press the numeric key 0, and then the
ENTER switch.
3. Press the SEQUENCER START/STOP switch.
The LED will blink, and the song will begin playing
back.

Español
4. If you want to stop playback mid‐way through the
song, press the START/STOP switch once again.
File tab Drive Select PRELOAD.SNG Load tab
Load tab
Let’s listen to the next song.
5. Select the song name by touching it on the display.
8. Press the Load button to open the dialog box.
6. Press numeric key 1, and then press the ENTER
9. Select the “Load PRELOAD.PCG too” check box.
switch.
With this option checked, the matching .PCG file will
This selects Song S001.
be loaded along with the .SNG file.
Alternatively, you can press the Song Select popup (the
10.Select the “Load PRELOAD.KSC too” check box.
round button located at the left of the song name), and
With this option checked, the matching .KSC file will a list of song names will appear. Select a song, and
be loaded as well. press the OK button.
11.Set Select .SNG Allocation to Clear. 7. Press the SEQUENCER START/STOP switch to
12.Set .KSC Allocation to Clear RAM & EXs. begin playback. To stop playback, press the same
13.Press the OK button to load the data. switch once again.

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 Specifications (abbreviated)

Specifications (abbreviated)
Operating conditions
+5 – +35 °C (no condensation)

Keyboard
61-note Natural Touch Semi-weighted action with
aftertouch, or 73- or 88-note RH3 Real Weighted
Hammer Action with aftertouch

Power
AC Power Supply terminal, POWER On/Off switch

Dimensions (W x D x H)
61 Keys: 1052 x 362 x 134 (mm) / 41.42”× 14.25” × 5.28”
73 Keys: 1243 x 411 x 145 (mm) / 48.94”× 16.18” × 5.71”
88 Keys: 1455 x 411 x 145 (mm) / 57.28”× 16.18” × 5.71”

Weight
61 Keys: 12.5 kg / 27.56 lbs
73 Keys: 20.3 kg / 44.75 lbs
88 Keys: 23.0 kg / 50.71 lbs

Power consumption
60W

Included items
AC cable
KRONOS Quick Start Guide
Accessory Discs including PDF manuals (Operation
Guide, Parameter Guide, Voice Name List), Korg
USB-MIDI driver, and system restore data

Options
XVP-10 expression/volume pedal
EXP-2 foot controller
DS-1H damper pedal
PS-1 or PS-3 pedal switch

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS

This product has been manufactured according to strict specifications and voltage require-
ments that areapplicable in the country in which it is intended that this product should be
used. If you have purchased thisproduct via the internet, through mail order, and/or via a
telephone sale, you must verify that this product isintended to be used in the country in
which you reside. WARNING: Use of this product in any country other than that for which
it is intended could be dangerousand could invalidate the manufacturer’s or distributor’s
warranty. Please also retain your receipt as proof of purchase otherwise your product may
be disqualified from themanufacturer’s or distributor’s warranty.

4015-2 Yanokuchi, Inagi-city, Tokyo 206-0812 Japan

© 2011 KORG INC.

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