Korg KROME 88-Key Music Workstation

Korg KROME 88-Key Digital Piano Consumer Reports

Our digital piano consumer reports and reviews look at the 88 key version of the KROME Music Workstation .

The Korg KROME 88-Key Music Workstation Keyboard & Synthesizer is an 88-key keyboard with a wide spectrum of sounds for live performance: acoustic and electric pianos and drums. It totally raises the bar comparing it to other ROM-based synths for this price. It has most of its brother KRONOS’s sequencing too, so its bang for the buck is quite remarkable.

Features you’ll value

SPECTACULAR SOUNDS

The Korg KROME 88-Key Music Workstation Keyboard & Synthesizer provides a spectacular piano sound, using unlooped samples of every key.

The KROME has a selection of the most used sounds for keyboard instruments as piano and electric piano, as also drum sounds, so you have the basics covered. This selection of sounds makes this keyboard different from the rest of its class, as it has a superior sound quality than most, making it the best 88 key keyboard of its range. Also, it has features that are usually only available in high-class keyboards, as the editor and display.

ACOUSTIC PIANO

When we talk about sounds, we all know that piano sounds are inmensely important for a keyboard instrument. The Korg KROME-88 key workstation uses the “German D Grand” sound created exclusively for the KRONOS line. Also, apart from the 88 unlooped samples (which are full length, by the way), it has damper resonance.  The memory used for this sound by itself is 10x more than the typical memory used by a workstation, so you can imagine the level of detail and realness achieved with this sound.

ELECTRIC PIANO

And if you are not so interested in acoustic piano, this keyboard has 3 types of electric pianos. The keyboard uses 8 velocity levels, to adapt to the musicians playing. Part of the PCM memory has multiple samples for the electric piano, to make this possible. It also has a classic, vintage amp, and cabinet effects that are quite realistic, so that the final sound will be very pleasant.

DRUM SOUNDS

Almost any song will include drum sounds, and this workstation includes this type of sound also. The Korg KROME uses the “Jazz Ambient Drums” that are featured in the Korg KRONOS.

Again, with the high capacity memory, the sounds are very realistic, with a high level of response.

You will be able to adjust the balance between the direct and ambient sound, just as you like it.

EXTRA SOUNDS

Want to use something extra other than drums or electric or acoustic piano? Use one of the 640 programs or 288 combinations included in the workset. And if you don’t like any, you can always create your own sounds.

DESIGN

The Korg KROME comes in a metallic color, Its aluminium panel design makes it have a sense of great quality. It comes with two differenciated panels, giving it a sleek look.

The 7-inch color display with TouchView technology makes it very easy and clear to control. This is a feature that will make everybody look at it.

CONNECTIVITY

You can connnect the Korg KROME 88-Key Music Workstation Keyboard & Synthesizer to your computer via USB or use an SD card for storage, so you can connect your music anywhere!

 

KEYBOARD

The KROME 88-key keyboard comes with the Korg’s NH keyboard (Natural Weighted Hammer action) to ensure that all of your expression and creativity is reflected whilst playing.

TOUCHVIEW panel

The 800×480 pixel display shows multiple parameters, so you can have a view of almost everything going around.  The You can also edit with your finger, so you can use them to use the knobs directly on the screen. It also includes a stopwatch and a calculator.

It’s a resistive touchscreen, and its not responsive as an iPad would be, but its still OK. Even though it’s a color touch screen, the color is barely used in it, its only used to accentuate some items, so the user does not get confused.

The screen is not tiltable, so sometimes you cannot see well while you are seated, but standing you will have no problem.

Its interface is Windows-like. So you move via tabs and buttons. Sometimes you will even have pop-up windows for context dialogs. If you know how to use a computer you will have no problem using this.

Most of the screen controls are usable without problem except for the ones in the corners of the touchscreen, sometimes they got hard to press.

And some controls, like the equalizer that is used in each program, can be controlled with physical controls too, as using the low-frecuency equalizer, and also using the dial to adjust the frequency.

GENERAL FEATURES REVIEW

• From the KRONOS family, it has unlooped full length piano and drum sounds
• New electric piano sounds for extra creativity.
• The KROME’s electric pianos have an 8-velocity switch, which is perfect for exchanging expresions.
• Perfect for any style of playing the piano.
• Its Drum Track provides realistic grooves.
• The drums have both direct and ambient mixable sounds that have studio-grade quality.
• Includes sounds (640 programs and 288 preload combinations).
• Aluminum panel
• 3.8 GB High capacity PCM Memory.
• Exclusive 7-inch TouchView color display.
• The Krome editor is available for your computer.
• Including USB connection and SD card slot for storage.

All of these features make the Korg KROME 88-key Music Workstation Keyboard & Synthesizer the best 88 key keyboard in the market.