Korg Krome Vs ASR 10

Ok. Quick question can I use the Korg Krome keyboard instead of the Ensoniq ASR 10 to use chopped and sliced samples up to 61 keys without wasting any memory w/ my mpc2000xl. I really need to know this im doing my research as well just looking for anyone with a quicker solution than mines. Thanks

The Krome as far as I can tell doesn't sample.

Could you use an XL to trigger/sequencer the Korg's internal patches, yes.

A situation with a maxed RAM XL and ASR 10 would give you a total of 48MB. The ASR has more distinct character than an XL in most people's opinion. So it's common to put samples in an ASR 10 and trigger/sequence with an MPC as the MPC sequencer is tighter and easier to use for most people's taste.

I mean MIDI will generally let you hook up anything you can think of, but when you say "chopped and sliced samples" I figure you mean samples loaded or recorded by you into the machines. So I am not sure how the Krome keyboard fits in to sampling.

Are you using the ASR/XL combo currently?

No. Im just now purchasing both. I'm using reason and Im gonna tie in reason with that im still debating cause i now have Pro Tools 10 but i hate reason for its to bright so im going to hardware i been meaning to go to hardware so im just not figuring out what i finally want. So im looking to make the right choice on my purchase(s)

Yeah i think it might be best if I just get both get the Korg Krome for the other sounds i want to use and the ASR for sampling so could you tell me exactly how it specifically works. The ASR and 2000xl combo. Im new to this but im researching as much as I can.

blownerds wrote:Yeah i think it might be best if I just get both get the Korg Krome for the other sounds i want to use and the ASR for sampling so could you tell me exactly how it specifically works. The ASR and 2000xl combo. Im new to this but im researching as much as I can.

I haven't set those machines up together for awhile but it's something I've been meaning to do. (ASR 10's are real heavy so it's tough to have enough sturdy table space for me)

Both are samplers and MIDI sequencers but the sequencer on MPC's is way tighter and a lot easier to program. The ASR on the other hand is a better sampler than most MPC's (really any save a 4000). I mean that from a features standpoint. The ASR can do full keygroup patches and squeeze a really great sound out of just a few MB's even kilobytes of samples. Crossfade looping, non destructive chopping, the board has all you'd need.

But it was released 20 years ago so these features are accessed from a pretty archaic LCD interface and it can be very time consuming to take advantage of all the ASR offers. Chicken Systems has Ensoniq MIDI Disk Tools available. This app only runs on Windows '98 (Or a Win 98 boot disk on 32 bit XP) and you need an internal floppy in that PC to make it easier to make/edit patches on the PC. It does make using an ASR a lot easier if you can get all that old PC stuff together.

If the ASR you get doesn't have SCSI (and some kind of SCSI device to use the interface to save to) it's a little tricky as well. It's floppies that top off at like 1.2-1.5MB of storage. So if you made 16MB of patches on the ASR you need like 20-25 floppies to save your work. The Ensoniq Disk Tools also benefit greatly from a SCSI connection (would need a SCSI connect on the PC though). When hooked up the application basically lets you "see" the patches and layering inside the ASR on the PC screen.

ASR 10/ASR-X's sound fantastic. I think along with the MPC 60/3000/s950 and the SP1200 it's one of the nicest most distinct sounding samplers ever. I have no SCSI board so my current plan to work my ASR back in the mix is to just sample 1-8 bars into it, assign the sample to middle C and just record it right back into the computer. The character of the ASR is the main thing for me at this point.

Generally speaking these older machines are a lot more work and you have to literally work under 10-20 year old limitations. But if you like getting away from a computer screen or like you mentioned how you feel about your sounds from Reason, sample them into hardware and grit them up or whatever. I say that because "bright" was your choice of words. To be honest an ASR can sound equally crack/thump as it can rightfully described as 'creamy" sounding.

I'm no expert, but many here are. But I'll try to answer what I can. I can never sleep I might plug it in tonight even.

This thread's a hundred pages long - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=106526

Thanks! So your basically saying I can't use the ASR 10 on my iMac. cause i was looking at some videos from Kanye which it has nothing to do with him but how was he using it in 2004? when he had a mac? what do you run the ASR and MPC2000 through to trackout audio and why do I need a PC. why can't I use a iMac. if i sound a bit stupid plz excuse me.

blownerds wrote:Thanks! So your basically saying I can't use the ASR 10 on my iMac. cause i was looking at some videos from Kanye which it has nothing to do with him but how was he using it in 2004? when he had a mac? what do you run the ASR and MPC2000 through to trackout audio and why do I need a PC. why can't I use a iMac. if i sound a bit stupid plz excuse me.

Oh no, PC or Mac would make no difference.

What you'd track out with/to would be up to you. The stock ASR has just a stereo pair of outputs. (There is an output expander around though).

It would be best to have a dedicated audio interface for the PC/Mac that you're tracking to. A mixer could be used too but isn't necessary. (Once you have a bunch of MPC's and keyboards then maybe you want/need a patch bay or mixer).

You could record anything you want to just the 1/8" input on the iMac but that recording would not be as good as using a proper interface and either 1/4" analog or digital like SPDIF. Mainly in clarity and signal ratio improving in dB's is where you see an improvement with a separate interface.

If you're coming from software with little or no hardware experience definitely think it all out. (You seem to be taking that approach anyway). Just to make sure it's what you're looking for as an alternative or complement to your software. No one here will discourage from software or hardware but the more you tell us and the more questions you bring up the more we can make recommendations that are actually going to help you and let you know what you in for good and bad if you try new approaches.

I've sequenced on the korg triton all my life just never purchased it never had money to. Do me a favor get str8 to the point what all do I need with the MPC and the ASR 10 cause you confused me on the post before you said something about using a PC saying this app only runs on windows 98 and idk what app your talking about LOL... what do i Need i have a imac for start so is that cool? I also have pro tools 10 so is that cool as well? i know i need the SCSI im reading more about that and what it does and whats it is for.. I just need to know what do I specifically need tools and compatibility so I won't have to run into the small mistakes. give me the basics and some advance things i need to know. also elaborate explain cause some terms your using is to in depth for me its 2am. im tired Lol.

blownerds wrote:I've sequenced on the korg triton all my life just never purchased it never had money to. Do me a favor get str8 to the point what all do I need with the MPC and the ASR 10 cause you confused me on the post before you said something about using a PC saying this app only runs on windows 98 and idk what app your talking about LOL... what do i Need i have a imac for start so is that cool? I also have pro tools 10 so is that cool as well? i know i need the SCSI im reading more about that and what it does and whats it is for.. I just need to know what do I specifically need tools and compatibility so I won't have to run into the small mistakes. give me the basics and some advance things i need to know. also elaborate explain cause some terms your using is to in depth for me its 2am. im tired Lol.

Cool that you're used to hardware, a lot of people who ask what you asked have no idea how different it is. You know what to expect.

The app I described is a way to make an ASR easier to use if a computer is around. If you don't have an old windows box don't even worry about the app. I will say a Windows '98 box could be found on craigslist for like $15 if you did ever want to explore the Ensoniq disk tools application. Again not necessary but a useful tool.

PT 10, any DAW, Logic , Live ,Cubase whatever they all will do what you need with their audio and MIDI features. Reason is the only one that's limited because it can't send MIDI out.

The SCSI board is an add on for an ASR 10 that is quite rare nowadays and usually sells for 2/3rds what the keyboard itself does. Sometimes the board is already installed. Then you can track down a SCSI HD or a external CF reader/writer and saving your ASR stuff is A LOT easier 1.5MB<most anything else.

What interface do you use with PT 10? Or are you just using the inbuilt Core Audio on the iMac?

After an ASR and/or MPC all you really need is some inputs (2 will do 4-8 are better just in case) and then at least one set of MIDI I/O, either on an audio interface or a separate USB to MIDI box or cable.

im gonna get the 8 I/O for the MPC. im hoping whom ever I buy the ASR from already has the SCSI installed im going to look at it tomorrow hopefully at the Guitar Center. Im looking to get the standard interface with my pro tools 10 what kind of interface would you recommend im not looking to save money so don't give me one to save money unless its needed but if I need those extra I/O on the interface then stick it to me but I know that on pro tools you have to use the M-Box correct? whats a SCSI HD?

I believe since PT10 you may use any interface you like, but double check that.

If you want an interface that's top quality with at least 8 analog inputs try looking at the Presonus Firestudio Project ($399), anything that MOTU makes that has that amount of ins ($600-$1000), anything by RME ($749-$2299 but they are amongst the best interfaces on the planet).

In many cases after the outs and ins and preamps are considered what you really pay for is rock solid engineering/drivers that give ultra low latency performance when using your VST/AU/RTAS/AAX plugins. It takes a meaty interface to get the latency close to hardware levels when using software. Maybe not a factor for you but certainly a good thing to have.

SCSI HD is just a hard drive that uses the older/extinct SCSI date protocol standard. (actually very fast for such old tech). It's just a port/protocol that was prevalent in the 80's and early 90's when these samplers were first released. I'll warn you SCSI HD's and CD-ROM reader/writers are somewhat scarce and cost a lot for the amount of storage you will get. ($200-$300 at times for just a 9GB SCSI HD for example).

GC sells ASR's a little high, but their used prices vary wildly on everything from state to state. So maybe they have a decent price hopefully with the SCSI board already in. I think it's fair to say that $400 would be the upper limit of an ASR 10 with no SCSI generally.

Also these machines get hot as hell. Hope that the one you look at has a purple screen. Those are the later ones and they don't overheat as badly. I just use mine until it gets too hot, it's a bigger issue in the summer.

okay, so whats a more reasonable interface with PT 10 and the gear which im gonna be using is ASR 10, Korg Krome & MPC 2000XL? im looking to spend no more than 500-600 for an interface.. Another question when doing all of this how am I gonna save and pull my work up like do I load everything from each bord or if its on slave mode and if im loading it up from the master will everything pull up or do i load it individually on each hardware piece.?

Maybe the Presonus I mentioned. Finding 8-10 inputs for less than $5-600 is rare but that one does it at $400. But the amount of I/O is the main thing with choosing the interface, they all do generally the same job.

If the MPC has the 8 outs you'll probably come up short on inputs when you factor in the total of 4 additional ones from the Korg and the ASR. Just how it goes really. I'm looking at my RME that was around $1250 and it only has 8 analog inputs. I use a Mackie mixer when I need more.

But you don't have to use all 8 of the MPC's assignable outs at once necessarily. So you could still have all 3 external pieces piping audio and MIDI back and forth to the Mac.

For saving you could probably save program changes and MIDI bank data in the PT session and hopefully have everything back up when you load the PT session and the machines powered up.

I tend to keep it simple and just sample the hardware I have and save the MIDI data. Bu I never save MIDI master/slave DAW/hardware setups with program changes and lsb/msb messages. Just about everybody else here does though and I know that's been a standard way to work for many for a real long time. Just ask later today when more users are awake and maybe you'll have some of those guys elaborate on this thread.

so your saying save the project in pro tools and if im not done with it or if i am i can just pull it up in there and finish where ileft off?

ok what if i dont wanna use pro tools. how do i save y work then what if i just wanna use all hardware and no computer. what type of workstation would you recommend? roland VS-1880: 24-bit Digital Studio Workstation? Perhaps?