The Korg Kross 61 is a lesser known model by Korg, but many feel it is a very underrated product. My evaluation of this synthesizer is going to be quite similar to the MS20 mini review because in its respective price range, the Korg Kross is impressive. The instrument is very powerful, and for an entry level workstation it’s a great value product. The Kross is a keyboard that is very easy to use, but it is no way a basic instrument with few capabilities. It isn’t going to do the same things as a Montage 8, but it’s still great enough for it to be considered one of the best in 2023.
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User Interface/Style
Korg kept the UI of this synthesizer simple and easy to use. The buttons are laid out elegantly in an organized fashion and the knobs are secured tightly in place. Will it be as simplistic to use as the OP-1? Of course not, but if you’re looking at higher-end synths you will find that the Korg Kross 61 is probably more easy to use than the majority in the highest tier of synthesizer workstations. You shouldn’t have a hard time at all playing around with the different features and sound functions as everything is laid out in a relatively straightforward manner. It’s not entirely a synthesizer for beginners, but a beginner would not have hard time using this instrument. The layout is almost reminiscent of the Krome, granted the Korg Krome is slightly more complex and has quite a few more capabilities than the Korg Kross 61 synthesizer. The style is nearly the same to most other synths in the price range and if you’re accustomed to using Korg synths you shouldn’t have any problems adapting to this device. One thing I will say though, is that this is a lightweight synthesizer, and it is pretty mobile even for a 61-key keyboard. It’s been touched on before, but portability is becoming a huge factor for people when deciding which instruments to buy, and mobility is definitely one of the Kross’ strengths.
Sounds
For an entry level synthesizer, the variation of sound effects and functions on the Kross 61 are pretty spectacular. For most people, this synth workstation will only be limited by your imagination, and not the tools present at your disposal. The quality of the sounds themselves is satisfactory. The real piano noises on the Kross are very nice and rich, but something like the electric piano noise might not sound as full when looking at what other synthesizers are doing in 2018. You have to remember though, I’m basing this on my experience with other synthesizers which is quite plentiful. You might not feel the same way in regards to how the sounds hit your eardrums, so I would advise you to listen to this instrument being played on a platform like YouTube to get a feel for what you can expect from the Korg Kross 61 synthesizer.
Features
Surprisingly, this instrument can do quite a bit and has a nice edge of versatility to it. This is surprising because you typically can’t expect this much from a product in this price range. It has a wide variety of sounds utilizing twice as much PCM memory as previous instruments, a pro-quality EDS-i sound engine, with a total of seven effects available for simultaneous use, a step sequencer inherited from the Electribe, MIDI sequencer, drum track, and an arpeggiator, and much much more.
Overall – Is The Korg Kross 61 Worth It?
It’s obviously not the best synthesizer workstation, but the Korg Kross 61 stands its ground. Check out my other synthesizer reviews to see the top dogs on the market if that’s what interests you, but just know that the Kross is no joke. There are many pros and cons to each item you can buy, but it seems like Korg did an excellent job at squeezing out as much potential with this synthesizer given the budget and price, and consumers should be happy with what they’re getting in this instrument. I can highly recommend this synthesizer for beginners, intermediate performers, or anyone looking for a fun, versatile new workstation. Check out the Korg Kross 61 keyboard today.