King Korg Vs. Ultranova

[Ingonator]

This is from the specifications of the King Korg oscillators:

"Structure: 3 Oscillators (Analog, Noise, DWGS, PCM, MIC IN)
Number of Types: 127 types (Analog & Noise: 32 + DWGS: 64 + PCM: 30 + MIC IN)"

link: http://www.korg.com/kingkorg

Much more interesting seem to be the 18 filter types which seem to include models of some famous synths (e.g. Prophet 5).

The CV/Gate output for controlling analog synths is interesting too.



This are the specs for the oscillators of the Ultranova which was asked for too:

"Waveforms include:
Square, sine, tri, sawtooth, pulse, 9x saw:pulse combinations.
20x digital waveforms
36x wavetables"

link: http://us.novationmusic.com/hardware-sy ... ifications

I don't know if "wavetables" means "real" wavetables like in e.g. the Waldorf synths. A "real" wavetable consists of several waveforms with interpolations which could be scanned trough using e.g. an envelope (or jsut use a single one of those waveforms).


Ingo

[Ingonator]

There are a few synths that use a more or less simple additive engine (16 partials or more) to create your own waveforms.

A few of them are:

- GForce ImpOSCar 2 (16 partials)

- Dmitry Sches Diversion (lots of partials but also a free draw mode for the waveform, could also import and export WAV files)

- Ableton Operator (with the latest versions)

Operator is a 4 OP FM synth but you could create your own waveforms with a simple additive engine


Ingo

[EvilDragon]

I don't know if "wavetables" means "real" wavetables like in e.g. the Waldorf synths.

Yep, it does. I was surprised, too.

[Ingonator]

I don't know if "wavetables" means "real" wavetables like in e.g. the Waldorf synths.

Yep, it does. I was surprised, too.

There were many cases in the past where "wavetable" just meant a single waveform or a sample which is quite confusing...
One of those examples seems to be Cakewalk Rapture. There was a thread about that confusion here:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=284952


BTW during the Beta testing of Tone2 Rayblaster i found that it could do wavetable scanning with any waveform. This is based on the fact that with the "harmonic" parameter you could "zoom" in and out of a waveform and modulate the start phase parameter to scan trough the waveform. Based on that i had created and used my own wavetables by using multiple waveforms and crossfading (the corresponding feature in the loop editor of Wavelab Elements 7).


Ingo

[faun2500]

I don't know if "wavetables" means "real" wavetables like in e.g. the Waldorf synths. A "real" wavetable consists of several waveforms with interpolations which could be scanned trough using e.g. an envelope (or jsut use a single one of those waveforms).


Ingo

The ultranova has 9 waves in a wavetable that you can scan through.

I bought a ultranova about 1 week about. I also saw the sonicstate demo of king korg. I did like the king korg sound but you are comparing a £415 synth to a £999! Thats a big price difference. The king is a lot bigger thats a pro or con depending on your needs. The ultranova is a controller keyboard as well, great quality too. I was thinking about getting a controller keyboard from novation and having a wicked digital synth inside it is a great bonus! lol


Personally I don't think a direct comparison between these 2 is fair. But it all comes down to want YOU need and like. I will just give a thumbs uo for the ultranova.

[aaastronomer]

I don't know if "wavetables" means "real" wavetables like in e.g. the Waldorf synths. A "real" wavetable consists of several waveforms with interpolations which could be scanned trough using e.g. an envelope (or jsut use a single one of those waveforms).


Ingo

The ultranova has 9 waves in a wavetable that you can scan through.

I bought a ultranova about 1 week about. I also saw the sonicstate demo of king korg. I did like the king korg sound but you are comparing a £415 synth to a £999! Thats a big price difference. The king is a lot bigger thats a pro or con depending on your needs. The ultranova is a controller keyboard as well, great quality too. I was thinking about getting a controller keyboard from novation and having a wicked digital synth inside it is a great bonus! lol


Personally I don't think a direct comparison between these 2 is fair. But it all comes down to want YOU need and like. I will just give a thumbs uo for the ultranova.

yeah...i thought about the cost difference between the synths. yes, comparison was kinda unfair. however, i really wanted those 'in the know' to compare them sound wise.

i think i have my answer (thanks Ingo): blofeld! (the youtube videos look goood! i had forgotten this one.) i may add the ultranova later.

[Gribs]

If I were choosing between those two I would pick Ultranova for the aftertouch and the wave tables. They are smaller wave tables that Waldorf Synths, having only nine wave forms each (see the Ultranova user guide that you can download from Novation's web site), but they are real wave tables with wave index as a destination in the modulation matrix. Also the modulation matrix is pretty decent-sized, with 20 slots (again according to the manual).

Also, you can use the Ultranova as an audio interface and it comes with Automap (if you care) and what appears to be a rather decent software editor.

[faun2500]

Thought I would add that my ultranova is going back. I made some great sounds with it but the rubber coating on the modwheel started peeling off!! The ultranova has some limitations that I am not used to as well and the software in reaper is so buggy it is nearly unusable.

Good sound for VA but I am swapping it for a dsi tetra and will look at another wavetable in the future (waldorf maybe).

[Wormhelmet]

Blofeld is nice but I've noticed it gets buggy with my midi setup using the USB cable in Live. As far as sound quality goes, it's got great sound and sound making potential, but I would be interested to try a KK. I like my Venom synth better than the blofeld so far.

I don't think the DSI tetra will come close to filter types in the KK, but you got analog and you can chain several. Don't regret the blofeld purchase at $499, but $189 for an Amazon sale on the Venom was my clear winner and its an audio interface, has a decent editor. I think they are regular $250 or something now. It also has some bugs and is dropped by M-Audio for support. It is as is with one firmware update available and a newer editor just released several months ago. Blofeld KB is a different story. Nice keybed and comes with sample memory unlocked already.

Arp functions on blofeld and Venom are both amazing. Korg Radius would be another option here. Blofeld factory sounds are a mixed bag and volume differences on presets are kind of a PITA to adjust everything right. Big, big LCD though, so editing isn't too bad.

DSI tetra vs Waldorf Rocket might be the better one to one compare.

Splits on the Venom are really easy to configure. There is a vst editor in beta from MKDR, but still a ways off from finished and uses the ins and outs of Venom exclusively, so you can't use the keyboard as controller for other synths if using VenomED vst by MKDR.

He's also working on a Tetra editor I think and already has the Mopho editor down good.

Also read many reviews on the Radius that say it sounds a bit like the Virus in quality. One reason I would be tempted to try a KK. They do VA very well.

[Wormhelmet]

Blofeld keyboard has AT also. Nice as Ultranova keyboard.

[faun2500]

I am interested in the Blofeld but will look into the radius as well. I don't think the rocket and the tetra would be a fair comparison but as I don't own either I will say no more about that.

I have been using software for the last 15 years or so and have never been happy with the sound. I always thought it was my technique that was at fault (probably still is) but after listening/testing & comparing some analogue hardware, I have realised that some sounds I have been trying to make are better done by analogue synths. The filter is an area I have never been happy with. The slim phatty for example (with its overdrive and filter) has its own unique sound. From what I have heard of the demos the DSI stuff has a 'sound' that I have been trying to do for YEARS with software.

Software that I do think sounds (or features are) unique are Massive, FM8, Alchemy, iris, and kontakt. Nothing really 'VA' so I think they are good at what they are: Digital!


The sonicstate demo of the king korg had an amazing 90's piano patch. I would buy it just for that tbh...

[Aural Chaos]

No one has moved this to the proper forum yet?

Anyway, not sure about the KK, but the Radias and MS2K ARE able to scan through the waves, I think it is called ModSeq.
It is way more limited than what you could do on the Blofeld though...

[Numanoid]

No one has moved this to the proper forum yet?

+1 It's time to move it move it

[rod_zero]

If you are looking at tetra I would better pick an Elektron analog four: better interface, better support, better features.


I tried KK on store, i really think the built quality is not good, specially the KB, but for analog like sounds it's better than ultranova, but for anything else ultranova is better.

And then blofeld seems better than both.

[sys2074]

Just watch the promo videos by musictrack.jp for the UltraNova and the KingKorg ...




It will make your decision easier (even without knowing Japanese ).

I've recently bought the UltraNova and am very happy with it. But I only bought it as a bonus on top of a Korg KronosX I've bought at the same time. The UltraNova can be learnt within approx. 30 minutes (something I can't quite claim about the Kronos ). The Nova is fun to use but the KingKorg definitely has the edge on filters.