King Korg Vs. Ultranova

[aaastronomer]

Hi folks. Quick question. Ultranova or King Korg?

I was just about to 'pull the trigger' on an Ultranova when I heard the Sonic State review/demo for the KK. The Ultranova has suddenly been 'put on hold'.

First, the KK is multi-timbral (2). (At twice the price, as well.) Second, it seems to have more vibrant sounds. (Without a side to side test of the two, this is, of course, not verifiable.) So, this is where you, my gentle readers, come in. Anyone out there, using an Ultranova, who's played around with a KK (say, for example, at Musikmesse 2013) care to opine?

Oh, one thing…my synth tastes run to the digital/synthetic side of things. I'm real 'old school':






Don't care much for real analog sounds (except for the Elka Synthex!).

Now, I do like Rob Papen's Blade (although I don't own it) and it seems to me (from the demos I've seen so far) that KK has better FM sounds than Blade. Again, opinions would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has a strong argument that Blade is better at FM than KK, I may have to reconsider getting a KK.

As always: thanks for any input!

[EvilDragon]

KK doesn't have aftertouch, Ultranova does. That alone wins, IMHO. KK has better filters, though. But, lack of aftertouch kills it for me.

[Numanoid]

Hi folks. Quick question. Ultranova or King Korg?

I was just about to 'pull the trigger' on an Ultranova when I heard the Sonic State review/demo for the KK. The Ultranova has suddenly been 'put on hold'.

As always: thanks for any input!

What is a King Korg, is that a new software instrument by Korg ?

[EvilDragon]

Nope, hardware.

[Ingonator]

Hi folks. Quick question. Ultranova or King Korg?

I was just about to 'pull the trigger' on an Ultranova when I heard the Sonic State review/demo for the KK. The Ultranova has suddenly been 'put on hold'.

As always: thanks for any input!

What is a King Korg, is that a new software instrument by Korg ?

Here is a link:
http://www.korg.com/kingkorg


Ingo

[aaastronomer]

Hi folks. Quick question. Ultranova or King Korg?

I was just about to 'pull the trigger' on an Ultranova when I heard the Sonic State review/demo for the KK. The Ultranova has suddenly been 'put on hold'.

As always: thanks for any input!

What is a King Korg, is that a new software instrument by Korg ?

Serious question or just a hint that this is posted in the wrong sub-forum (hardware forum would fit better...)?

Here is a link:
http://www.korg.com/kingkorg


Ingo

Well...I would like a comparison of KK's FM sounds to Blade's, but I think both KK and Ultranova are mostly software driven. Why waste a lot of real estate to circuitry when one or two processors will do the trick? Further, I'm not really concerned about their H/W features as I am about their functional and acoustic qualities. From what I've seen of the recent batch of purely analog (and thus mostly hardware driven) synths, I've formed the opinion that the more 'digital' (I.e., S/W) synths have the broader palettes.. Thus, I posted my query under 'Instruments'. Also, I've recently demoed Lush-101 and find it to be much more sonically 'rich' than Ultranova. So, I guess people having this program could join in. As in the days depicted, the H/W S/W divide was/is very porous.

[Ingonator]

Well...I would like a comparison of KK's FM sounds to Blade's, but I think both KK and Ultranova are mostly software driven. Why waste a lot of real estate to circuitry when one or two processors will do the trick? Further, I'm not really concerned about their H/W features as I am about their functional and acoustic qualities. From what I've seen of the recent batch of purely analog (and thus mostly hardware driven) synths, I've formed the opinion that the more 'digital' (I.e., S/W) synths have the broader palettes.. Thus, I posted my query under 'Instruments'. Also, I've recently demoed Lush-101 and find it to be much more sonically 'rich' than Ultranova. So, I guess people having this program could join in. As in the days depicted, the H/W S/W divide was/is very porous.

Comparing Blade to a VA synth like Ultranova or King Korg is a bit strange at the first look also based on the fact that Blade is an additive synth AFAIK.

Have you ever considered a Waldorf Blofeld? Besides tons of other options it could do some nice FM sounds. I have made a few in my own Blofeld bank.


Ingo

[Numanoid]

Nope, hardware.

Well, so this is one of those hardware rox, software sux threads ?

Posted in the plugin software sub-forum to twist the knife?

[aaastronomer]

Well...I would like a comparison of KK's FM sounds to Blade's, but I think both KK and Ultranova are mostly software driven. Why waste a lot of real estate to circuitry when one or two processors will do the trick? Further, I'm not really concerned about their H/W features as I am about their functional and acoustic qualities. From what I've seen of the recent batch of purely analog (and thus mostly hardware driven) synths, I've formed the opinion that the more 'digital' (I.e., S/W) synths have the broader palettes.. Thus, I posted my query under 'Instruments'. Also, I've recently demoed Lush-101 and find it to be much more sonically 'rich' than Ultranova. So, I guess people having this program could join in. As in the days depicted, the H/W S/W divide was/is very porous.

Comparing Blade to a VA synth like Ultranova or King Korg is a bit strange at the first look also based on the fact that Blade is an additive synth AFAIK.

Have you ever considered a Waldorf Blofeld? Besides tons of other options it could do some nice FM sounds. I have made a few in my own Blofeld bank.


Ingo

Yes: additive! That's the ticket! I've always liked additive better than the other techniques. Up to this point though, I considered Blofeld too expensive, and I completely forgot about it when writing this entry. I purchased Largo long ago and have used it from time to time. KK, though, seems to be able to produce 'additive like' sounds with wavetables. How much of a compromise, in this area, is KK with respect to Blofeld?

[aaastronomer]

Nope, hardware.

Well, so this is one of those hardware rox, software sux threads ?

Posted in the plugin software sub-forum to twist the knife?

didn't think of it in this respect. as far as i'm concerned h/w and s/w have converged, except for those engaged in 'pure analog' synthesis. if a synth has a specific analog circuits for analog sound and then discreet circuits for the others, where does it belong?

consider, a computer produces sound with h/w just as any other way of producing sound. the division shouldn't be s/w vs. h/w since s/w requires h/w to execute. the division should be discreet, hybrid, and analog synthesis.

[EvilDragon]

Blofeld, too expensive? Hahahah, no. Best bang for buck for a small desktop synth.

[Ingonator]

KK, though, seems to be able to produce 'additive like' sounds with wavetables. How much of a compromise, in this area, is KK with respect to Blofeld?

From where did you get that idea?

I know it has digital DWGS waveforms but i don't think it has an additive engine.
DWGS waveforms were also part of the Korg DW-8000:
http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/dw8000.php

Later they were also used in the MS2000 and Radias.


With Largo or the Blofeld on the other hand you got a big amount of wavetables each with many waveforms which leads to thosands of waveforms on your disposal.


Ingo

[EvilDragon]

KK doesn't have wavetables, as in wavetable scanning that Blofeld does.

[Ingonator]

KK doesn't have wavetables, as in wavetable scanning that Blofeld does.

King Korg seems to have some digital DWGS waveforms.

The Blofeld which i mentioned got "real" wavetables.


Ingo

[EvilDragon]

Yep, it does have some single-cycles and PCM samples too.