Korg Kross 2 61 Keys Synthesizer Workstation

The Korg KROSS 2 is a highly popular and versatile synthesizer workstation that’s known for its portability, powerful features, and extensive sound library. It’s a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the original KROSS, and has become a go-to instrument for gigging musicians, home studio producers, and synth enthusiasts on a budget.

Key Features and Highlights:

• Portable and Battery-Powered: This is one of the KROSS 2’s defining features. The 61-key model weighs a mere 3.8 kg (8.4 lbs) and can be powered by six AA batteries, allowing for up to seven hours of use. This makes it an ideal choice for busking, live performances where power outlets are scarce, or simply creating music on the go.
• Massive Sound Library: The KROSS 2 boasts a huge collection of over 1,000 preset sounds. This includes a diverse range of high-quality sounds, from multi-layered pianos, electric pianos, and lush strings to modern drum kits and synth sounds suitable for EDM and other contemporary genres. It also has a built-in 128 MB of expansion PCM memory, allowing you to add more sounds from optional libraries.
• Sound Engine: It utilizes Korg’s EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis – integrated) sound engine, which is a powerful and versatile engine inherited from Korg’s professional synthesizers. This provides a rich and expressive sound with a polyphony of up to 120 voices, a major improvement over the original KROSS.
• Built-in Sampler and Pads: The KROSS 2 adds a new pad sampler with 16 trigger pads. This allows you to sample audio directly from the Mic or Line In inputs and assign it to the pads for playback. You can even record audio for up to 14 seconds on each pad.
• Dual-Functionality as a USB Audio/MIDI Interface: This feature is a game-changer for many home producers. You can connect the KROSS 2 to a computer via a single USB cable to transmit both MIDI and audio data. This means you can use it as your main audio interface for recording your performance, your voice, or external instruments into a DAW without needing any extra hardware.
• Mic and Line Inputs: The KROSS 2 includes dedicated 1/4″ mic and 1/8″ line inputs. This allows singer-instrumentalists to connect a microphone and an external audio player, respectively, directly to the keyboard and use the onboard effects, including a vocoder.
• Real-time Control: The user interface is designed for quick and intuitive control. It features a dedicated real-time control section with two knobs that allow you to quickly edit parameters, effects, and vocoder settings. There are also dedicated buttons for Layer/Split, Favorites, and other commonly used functions.
• Onboard Sequencer: The KROSS 2 is a true workstation with a 16-track MIDI sequencer for multi-track recording and song production. It also includes a step sequencer and a drum track feature with a library of 772 preset drum patterns.