keyboard synthesizers

see also:

• digital audio workspaces (DAWs) / VST synthesizers
• sound
• audio cables, adapters, bluetooth speakers, karaoke for camping
• battery powered speakers for synths and PA

• most current synths in the 2020's run 32bit modified Linux on 64bit PC motherboards of the 1990's era which are limited to under 4Gb RAM and under 128Gb SSD hard drives, and are usually limited to under 128 voice polyphony

• Roland XV-88 keyboard synth
• Korg Nautilus keyboard synth
  • 16 part, after touch only on AT version

• Intel D510MO motherboard with a dual-core Atom D510 at 1.66GHz running 32bit Linux, 2Gb RAM, 60-120Gb SSD
• 16 MIDI + 16 audio track audio sequencer
• 9 synth engines (HD-1, SGX-2, EP-1, CX-3, AL-1, MOD-7, STR-1, PolysixEX, MS-20EX)
• 100 dual stereo voice polyphony (400 mono voices)
• each Program Sound can have two component sounds of same or different synth engines
• each Combination sound can have up to 16 Program Sounds
• “Smooth Sound Transitions” (Nautilus and Kronos 3 only?)
• 8“ TouchView display
• 12 insert, 2 master, 2 total FX
• sampling and resampling
• 73 and 88key models have RH3 hammer action, velocity and aftertouch
• 61 key models are semi‑weighted keyboards
• NB. Korg Nautilus keyboard synth is a cut down version of the Korg Kronos 2 with added Italian Grand Piano but no after touch (a later AT version adds this)
• Korg Kronos 3
  • released 2025 although disappointingly, not a massive upgrade over the 2014-2015 Kronos 2
  • faster boot time and 120Gb SSD instead of 60Gb
  • adds an Italian Grand Piano (from the Nautilus?)
  • 2nd gen Karma engine
  • faster touch screen response
  • “ultra‑low‑aliasing oscillators and refinements”
  • updated deep FX
• reported issues with Korg Kronos synths
  • very slow boot time although improved on the Kronos 3
  • better FM than Roland and Yamaha, the added features of waveshaping and ringmod and audio input make it a real powerhouse.
  • better smart voice allocator than Roland and Yamaha - “you can make 200 voices do wonders”
  • “cheap chinese output 1/4 inch jacks break if you gig allot and plug in weekly. you loose a channel off and on and have to open it up and try to resolder new 1/4 jack to single layer cheap little board.
  • Korgs sound vsts sound amazing
  • cheap joystick results in coarse, uneven data transmits
    • ” vst library's require you to be a fader player, not a musician. Its impossible with the Korg joystick as it springs back to center and you get some bend cc data too”
    • no DC input - requires 60W AC power

• Yamaha ModX M (8 part no after touch) and Montage
  • 3 main engines:
    • AWM2 wave sampled synth - 11Gb, up to 128 elements per part
    • FM-X synth - 8‑operator FM
    • AN-X 12 note analog synth
  • 2 main engines under Motion Control – AWM2 sample‑based and FM‑X
  • performance recorder, arps and scenes, but no full DAW‑style audio multitrack like Kronos
  • very strong for evolving textures and EDM/pop performance
  • extensive arps, scenes and deep modulation
  • ModX:
    • 61/76 synth‑style or 88‑key GHS graded hammer, no aftertouch on many models; notably lighter than Kronos for gigging; 16V DC input as well as AC;
  • Montage compared to ModX:
    • 128 FM‑X voices instead of 64
    • can maintain up to 8 parts with Seamless Sound Switching instead of limit of 4 parts
    • provides two insert effects on all 16 parts plus A/D input, while MODX gives dual inserts on 12 parts plus A/D, leaving 4 parts without inserts
    • offers 16 channels of USB audio out and 6 in, whereas MODX offers 10 out and 4 in
    • supports sampling rates up to 192 kHz over USB; MODX is limited to 44.1 kHz
    • has 8 faders, 8 encoders and more dedicated buttons; MODX has 4 faders, 4 encoders and fewer panel buttons
    • uses FSX keybeds with aftertouch on 61/76 and graded hammer on 88; MODX keybeds lack aftertouch and use lighter actions
    • has a metal chassis, internal PSU and balanced outputs; MODX has a plastic chassis, external PSU and unbalanced outputs
    • thus while MODX can create essentially the same sounds, the Montage gives you more headroom (polyphony/FX), better feel and I/O, and far more real‑time control on the panel
• reported issues
  • Montage screen looses all it colors only showing grey within 12 months if you use it daily.
  • “AN-X on Montage M sounds too sterile, Korg AL-1 beats it easily”
  • unlike Korg Kronos, doesn't have a physical modeling engine
  • FM sounds good but “Efx sounds are worthless” - “sound like cheap $20 plugins.”
  • MIDI may not work to your needs
    • “ not multitimbral with midi anymore you gotta create all these stupid work arounds”

• reported issues
  • “real piano samples are stellar but the new virtual piano sounds like a cheap obvious imposter”
  • “Screen lasts long time on it. Very clean sound”
  • unlike Korg Kronos, doesn't have a physical modeling engine

• three sections (Organ, Piano, Sample Synth) rather than multiple deep synth engines
• excels at bread‑and‑butter stage sounds rather than complex synthesis or workstation use
• no onboard sequencer or multitrack audio
• very light; 61/73 semi‑weighted waterfall or 73‑key hammer‑action portable (HP) variant, no aftertouch but classic “organ plus piano” feel

• Piano, Organ, full Wave 2‑derived Synth with 3 synth layers (analog, digital, FM, sample oscillators, full envelopes, LFO, advanced arp)
• Multiple layers per section, 3 independent synth layers; LED faders per layer; up to 3 split points (4 zones)
• Piano + 1 GB sample memory for the synth section; doubled sample memory vs previous Stage gen
• no touch screen but lots of physical controls which seems to be better quality than the Korg ones
• 88 weighted triple‑sensor with aftertouch, plus Compact/73 options, premium action tuned for stage versatility