I read the comments while listening to this demo, only looking up at the video when there was a sound that I loved. Every time I looked at the video he was playing the Roland. This is how everyone should do these videos; if one sounds better to your ears without looking at brand names, etc. you will love that instrument.
I just bought the DS 88 and I must say, the sampling feature, the ability to upload other Roland boards into as well as sample sounds from other boards like Nord and Kurzweil, wins it for me! It also has a step sequencer and the ability to layer sounds and control their volumes in real time! #TeamRoland
*_Definitely one of the better videos!_* Would like to have seen the screens of each to really know the comparison of sounds. Both have their weaknesses and strong points.
Played the Juno DS at the store couple weeks ago, very impressive. It sounded a lot more like a classic synth than I thought it would be. Definitely a good choice. From what I gather in this video, the Korg does well in the cosmic, crystalline like sound.
I needed an 88 to update my workhorse Yamaha. I went with Korg. The weighted keys feel great, sounds are amazing. I own a couple small Korg snyths and am totally happy with them too. I'm sure the Roland rocks too. Enjoy!
I'm really surprised by the comments. I watched, listened and then turned to the comments. I expected everyone to prefer the Korg. I sure did, but this wasn't the case.
If you're playing live with guitar & drums the Kross 2 has a little more sonic clarity - it will hold it's own better. I also hear way more subtle nuances and effects layering with the Kross 2.
After listening and view a lot of reviews to the casio px5, Kurzweil sp88x, korg kross and Juno ds88 i decided by Roland, about the pads sounds and key sensibility and i love it. Totally recomended.
@@RichRocketMan yes, happy but i don't use all the keyboard skills. I choose it because the relationship between the sound of the other instruments and the realism of the key was a perfect balance, in addition to the relation quality-price. Regards
A really useful comparison. Maybe Kross 2 is more of an all-purpose workstation with better acoustic instruments and Juno DS is more capable as a sound-editing synthesizer. Just speculating - I would like to have them both.
Great comment. And true too. The DS has the worst acoustic instrument sounds ever. Worse than my cheesy Casio. But great features for the price. And Roland has NEVER been known for accurate acoustic sounds. You get a Yamaha for that…
@@kbrown649mas equivocado no puedes estar. Ese comentario del casio es una mentira, toda la vida he tenido casio y nunca uno de estos va a sonar como un roland, Halgo tienes en contra de esta marca de instrumento, pero no puedes decidir por todos. Yo tengo un fantom y un juno ds y son espectaculares, no tan solo hay que tener el sonido perfecto sino que hacerlo sonar perfecto. " toma clases".
I just complained about you not comparing piano sounds but realize you have a different video comparing just piano sounds...sorry hehe GREAT VIDEO!! and thank you!
TheMundo I don't think it has any problems. I bought the Roland as well. I like the Korg too but I think the Juno is easier to use in a live setting. I like having the faders to control the levels and the vocoder is fun.
I like the Korg sound but the feel of the key action feels cheaper than the price that it's at. Between these two models, for playing I'd choose this Roland but if somebody else is playing I'll make them choose the Korg, lolz.
I watched many reviews of all the latest synthesizers out there and what I discovered the best bang-for-the-buck was the Roland Juno ds88 got a nice deep keybed with weighted keys excellent piano sounds excellent layering capabilities although it is limited in the sequencing you can only sequence 8 bars at the max so it's not really meant to be a workstation but you can use it with your recording unit and have as many tracks as you want but all in all it's a great piano now I just need to learn how to play but there is a huge learning curve so basically. you have to be a scientist to know how to use these things.But the keybed is why I chose it and its midi capabilities.
I was looking at the 61-key models of both of these boards and the only really appealing feature to me with the Juno DS,is the access to the sound libraries(which is quite a dichotomy though)...as Roland has an enormous amount of extra sounds,but only half of the midi tracks and sampler pads and the f**king keyboard costs $100 more than the Korg Kross 2...wtf!? Roland has always created over-priced disasters,when it comes to workstations(particulalrly the Fantom series(shit sounds,not enough memory,ridiculously overpriced expansion cards) and when they finally got the new Fantom keyboard right(great sounds & functionality)... they want $3,400 just for their f**king 61-key model! Roland is a retarded company...which is why I have NEVER owned a Roland product and NEVER will.
i still choose korg kross 2, than roland ds.... even thouht korg is a little bit complicated to use it but if you knw the features better.. maybe you will love it! hehehe :-)
I have the Juno 61. That baby gets it done. I use it stand alone and also in combination with the Akai MPC One and FL Studio. It is a Monster. I also realize, when I get to messing with it time doesn't matter till it hits me...I gotta go to work in the morning...I be all night on the Roland
@@JVJF7 true, but the Kross2 isn't the sequencing, sampling, and FX processing beast that the MPC is, but one can certainly make do without the MPC and laptop if wielding a Kross2
@@ivyriley2916 Yes, the Juno can be hooked up via 5-pin DIN MIDI like most gear. Mastering the Juno's audio output? Depending on how you want to do that, you can try to squash all of the audio at once or go one part at a time. If you meant get multi-track output from the Juno, that can't be done. The MC-707 and Fantom can do that with Ableton, if I'm not mistaken, but those are the only ones, and only with Ableton.
@@Jason75913 thanks for answering,, i just found out that you can connect the roland juno usb the the MPC-one and use the Roland as a sound module in performance mode and can get 16 tracks of sound out of the Roland,, and the MPC would be you main sequencer...
Can you make a demo of how the Kross 2 Update and VST plugg-in works on Cubase? (Or any DAW). I'd like to know whether I can use the Kross 2 sounds while recording with another external DAW like Roland Quad Capture or if losing the "Audio USB" functionality and using the Kross 2 as MIDI controller would unable me to use its internal sounds as VST. Or no demo but telling me if you can do so.
Can you tell me about key bed as in Kross 1 keys were sticky and feeble like a toy so please elaborate further for any improvement in kebed as it matters the most. Juno ds keys are tight but I haven't tried kross2.
I've just purchased a Juno DS 76 .I'll let you all know. The sounds on both keyboards are amazing. The Roland Aira system 8 is fantastic,tried that, too. Just wanted a bigger board
Brian - Hey, there. I'm leaning toward buying your exact board, but the Korg is keeping me up at night debating it. I would REALLY appreciare your thoughts after a year?
@@RichRocketMan Hi, I took the Juno DS back and swapped it for the Roland FA 07. It's more money, but it is a better board. The sounds are clearer, it has Roland's superNATURAL engine. Also, the key bed is more responsive. To be honest, if I was buying a keyboard now, I'd be tempted to go for the New Fantom. I tested it in store, some time back . That is an awesome piece of hardware. So, if you are looking, still at purchasing the JUNO, my advice would be to pay the extra and go for the FA. If you are able to, aim even higher, and go for the Fantom. It is the only keyboard you have to buy, ever. But, it is pricey.
@@mac651000 Brian - Thanks for the comments. You're right, FA 07 is quite a bit more money, but it looks far and away superior. Checking out the Korg Krome EX 73 as a middle of the road option. My goals are portability to move it around the house so I can experiment and come up with song ideas without staring at same wall all day, but no live performances. Want to easily record and import/export tracks. Need rich beautiful piano sounds because that is my passion. On FA 07 looks like you can easily import your own WAV samples and easily save and export recordings to SD card in WAV format? Second question - I was willing to give up 88 keys for some portability, thus the 73 key DS, but 61 keys? Do you miss them? Lastly, the 8 track limit on the DS also gave me pause, where your board goes up to 16. Do you end up using over 8? Thanks so much for your time and input!
@@RichRocketMan You can import and export sounds on the FA. It can be done by USB or the SD card that comes with the board. My FA also came with Ableton 9 LIte, which immediately upgraded to 10 Lite, when downloading. It's been a very useful tool. The 16 track is an advantage. More is always better. It just depends whether you need double the amount? To be frank, I don't utilize the whole 16 tracks, and I must admit, I prefer using my Ableton DAW. Both the DS and the FA comes in a 76 key version (mine is a 76) I don't think I have missed the 12 extra keys. There is an octave shift facility on the FA (and I think on the DS. I can't remember) If you want the 88 key version, I will say, there are better 88 keybeds on the market. The FA 8 does not use the V series found on the RD2000, and now, the new Fantom8. It isn't bad, but I found it stiff. However, the FA 8 has a better keybed than the DS88.
@@mac651000 Brian - Thanks so much for your comments! Going to give it sone thought and a pro/con list. As a creativity, idea exploration tool, looks like I can't really go wrong with either keyboard. Take care!
Hello guys i just want to ask if you already played or seen the 76keys juno ds? I just want to know regarding with the size of the keys, if it is the same with 61keys or the 88 keys? Thank you sir🙏
Korg sounds natural in a way that I would surely consider best. Overall feartures weigh higher on Korg plus it's sound engine. So better Korg which sounds original.
It seems that both timbres are the same after each other with minimal differences, is there any competition here, that after the release of one instrument and its listening by a competitor. A second synthesizer came out to catch up, but from a different company? And who came out to whom? Who rolled it from whom? Who came out the winner in the end? Question for the pros: which one of them has an easier and simpler synthesizer control?
What the dealbreaker could be is the ivory feel keys vs the gloss top keys. I don't know if korg picked up on that but roland keys are so aesthetic flat
Funny, he's playing I'm A Believer by the Monkees on both keyboard. In our band, I also have a Korg Kross 2 and I play I'm A Believer live on it. I love my Kross 2 and am thinking about buying a Roland DS 76 for my bottom board.
I've started looking at these as I am gigging with a korg karma which I love, but know it's age is getting on a bit. I have a Roland Fantom and a Trinity V3 in my studio which are awesome synths but very heavy to gig with. I think both the kross and DS would do the job with no problems. My residing factor will be the key action. So I will be making a trip to try them out myself. Great video.
Yo tuve un Kross 2 y honestamente los órganos y los strings se me hicieron mucho mejores que los del Juno DS, aunque no me arrepiento de haber obtenido el Juno, pues es buenísimo en sus sonidos en cuanto a piano acústico y piano eléctrico hablamos
I think Korg's pianos and e-pianos aren't strong as the same sounds in Roland, but more realistic. Organs are better on Korg, but leslie simulation on Roland is more clear and realistic. Synths are better on Roland. I have a problem :D
I'm a drummer, but just checking out the boards. I have Bose headphones on and they sound awesome. I couldn't find the word to describe the one I liked a tad bit more, which is the Roland. It sounds warmer..
Hey Ryan. I was surprised to see another drummer here ( im a multi instrumentalist ) but the drums are everything! WITHOUT THE GROOVE? There isnt any music that is going to TOUCH YOU! Anyway, Listening to these two synths, the drums on the Korg sound so much more REAL the rolands drums to me sound very sterile and electronic. What style of music do you love to play on drums?
@@rockybalboa2526 Greetings.. I like all genres of music, because I enjoy listening to good musicians. I have a R & B band that plays hip-hop, rap, pop and a few jazz pieces all with a funky swing to them.I really don't have a favorite to play, but I enjoy listening gospel the most.
@@ryanspeed4671 Hey, would like to talk about possibly playing drums on 3 full albums of new 80s music i am remaking? There is a bigger opportunity here too. But first things first. Check out these 2 songs and imagine playing acoustic drums on them ( with reverb/delay / in stereo ) : )
Seems that the velocity settings was higher on the Korg. Listen and watch it carefully ;-) Anyway, the Roland sounds more digital and compressed. I would prefer the Korg sound in music production because its more natural and have an "open" feeling, the programing of effects sounds also much better to me
Hmmm to me the Roland sounds more assertive, more harmonic content and dare I say sounds more expensive (at least on the BT speakers I'm listening on - could be totally wrong ;-), not much on it but the sequencer on the Korg wins it for me. I've already got decent synths and keyboards and just want a cheap portable (battery powered) 'do it all' workstation that I can take to a quiet room and records some ideas without having to piss about with cables, laptops or any other gear.
maybe the best comparison is to see if you can make them both sound like the other. I'm guessing the Roland would be easier to make sound like the Korg and possibly the Korg can't be made to sound like the Roland.
Hello thanks you for the démo ! Somebody Can Say me actually, for 61 keys, which as the best electric piano sounds... ? I like reface CP but not enough place to use a master keybord+ a reface CP... Thank you !
are all sounds amazing? some people say Juno or XPS30 have bad quality sounds... is it true? or does it need a good amplifier like roland or BEHRINGER to have the best sound? THNAKS
I recently acquired the juno. Infact i debated, researched as much as i could on these exact 2 models. I knew they would both have great feeling sounds. It boiled down to vocoder/pitch control, ease of using the interface and the learning curve. After a few videosand live in-store sessions i was drawn to the ease of the roland to get in and out manipulating anything then get out and play. I am sour about its usb step for sampling since korg can plug and play samples. However if you are not familiar with an intro synth, the roland wiĺl be quick fun and rewarding to learn. Ive had it about 2 weeks and the Sounds are sweet. My main gripe is the manual is literally only 15 pages long???? Everything else is a pdf file for paremeters etc. If you really are interested in dropping 700 dollars on a piece of plastic this machine truely has some awesome effects tweaks and customization abilities to make it your own. Off topic, what is the name of that keyboard stand???
Eric, I picked up a 'DS recently as well. I've really only put in 2 sessions fidgeting with the patch parameters, but I can tell you that the Juno Di editor program is very helpful for helping to visualize the signal routing while you edit. The only gotcha I ran into was that the Di editor didn't seem to be compatible with the parameter in the first "tab" on the DS edit screen (on the keyboard itself), so I had to do some fidgeting on the keyboard menu there rather than on the computer screen, notably to assign and save the resulting patch in a user patch memory slot.
how do the key beds feel comparatively? Everyone seems partial to the sound which means it comes down to the feel and the UI. I feel this is the case with most models excluding analog
Kross2 61 keybed is junk, the Juno's keybed is a lot better, any version of it. The Kross2-88 keybed is okay, but the black keys are not balanced correctly and feel awkward to use. Juno-DS88 has a better keybed than the rest, even versus the more expensive Krome EX 88 and MODX8.
Wszystko zależy od zespołu i jego tendencji do brzmienia w pewnych pasmach. U mnie w kapeli lepiej się klei Korg, bo mój basista brzmi bardzo tłusto i Motif i Roland giną w miksie. Jak kręcę eq, żeby się wbić w pasmo, to podcinając dół tracę pewne ładne artefakty, które nadają brzmieniu charakteru, gdy brzmi solo. W tym porównaniu Rolanda sample podobają mi się bardziej, są mniej przenikliwe i słodsze, ale wiem, że w moim zespole lepiej zagadałby Kross.
Trudne zadanie w sensie oceny. W mojej opinii k jest bardziej miękki a co za tym idzie elastyczny. R natomiast ma lekką agresję. Ma jednak przewagę w sensie modulacji nie tylko w sesji ale nawet na żywo. Myślę że ostatecznym rozstrzygnięciem będzie konfrontacja obok na żywo. Innej możliwości nie widzę.
Korg has more insert effects than Roland... but you cannot assign a Reverb and a Delay at the same program/combi , The Sound Cutting at a program/combi change bothers some ppl...DS has the same problem, but only in performance mode, Two great Machines, I'd love to get a Kross2, but I have not decided yet.
AnAmericanGuitarist Yes I’m With Roland first and for most... . But Korg Has Just way way more features Under the hood plus A library thanks to the (classic triton series)and the largest sound banks on earth 🌏
You did not play any piano sounds. I have had Roland's keys and Korg and without any doubt Korg doesn't have the best piano sounds. I've had many Korgs all the way too blue Triton extreme work station. Roland has always beat the piano sounds if you don't believe me go to music store and try them urself the Roland Juno DS 61 keys to start is a good buy. It has great sounds. The first piano sound on list is grand piano and you can hear how beautiful it sounds add strings and you sound like you shud be playing in a heavenly choir that's how good Roland keyboard sound. Korg still my 2nd choice to have on the aside.
I don't have much experience with Kross, but from Kronos on Korg's piano took a great turn for better, and I think it was exported to both Krome and Kross 2. Thus we should expect Kross 2's pianos to be a lot better than Triton's. Mind you however that I'm talking about Piano quality between Korg gear, I'm not comparing with Roland's because I don't have any experience with their equipment.
I own both - sort of. My DS is the DS88 - weighted and heavy. My Kross is a 61. The Kross sounds better on most patches - particularly piano, organ and e-pianos. I think the strings, brass and synths are equal. I am looking to dump the DS and get something different. The Kross is more versatile. If they were the other way around (88 key Kross and DS61, I would keep the DS).
Witam. Czy w Roland JUNO DS można załadować własne sample perkusyjne przypisując je np. do dzwięków C1, D2 itd. i tworzyć swoje DrumKits ??? Dziękuję za odpowiedź oraz świetne prezentacje instrumentów... Pozdrawiam.
Having a hard time deciding on the roland Go keys, VR09, jv30 and juno ds 61. which one has the best hammond sound. Can't remember which one has the stops
The vr is more like a gigging keyboard. The Juno ds is more like a does it all keyboard. If you want organ with drawbars the vr would be it. The Juno could be setup as a drawbar organ with switching sound patches and a lot of tinkering. The other option is to download more organs from the axial website.
BOA TARDE EU TENHO UM XPS 30, GOSTO DE TOCAR COM ACOMPANHAMENTO AUTOMATICO, TAVA PENSANDO, TROCAR PELO KROSS 2 ELE TEM ACOMPANHAMENTO AUTOMÁTICO DE RITMOS. EU NÃO TENHO FACILIDADE PARA PROGRAMAR TECLADO, TOCO MAIS EM CASA.
Hah. I own the DS. Some of the Korg patches sounded better to me :-) In fairness, they both sound pretty good, especially when you consider that they are well under $1K. I like the control layout on the Juno DS better, BUT, Korg has a "real" sequencer in it, and I suspect the arpeggiator is better as well. (maybe not???). I can't say how the keys feel on the Korg, but I like the synth action keys on the DS. (I don't have much experience, nor recent, on a piano, so I *like* light weight keys)
@Roboprogs, I think one criticism for me is the mod wheel for organs. Correct me if I am wrong, but when you have a organ patch on, how do you keep the rotation on fast instead of holding the mod wheel?
Sometimes a warm sound is great when recording or playing at 3at home but may get lost in a live setting. You may need a brighter sound to cut through the mix. Also the comment on the rotary speaker efect on the mod wheel. Most synths especially the korgs have the fast/slow on a latch on the mod wheel/stick. So it's just a case of hitting it on/off by hitting the stick up. Some can also be assigned to a pedal. Works for me 😄
Can you make a demo of how the Kross 2 Update and VST plugg-in works on Cubase? (Or any DAW). I'd like to know whether I can use the Kross 2 sounds while recording with another external DAW like Roland Quad Capture or if losing the "Audio USB" functionality and using the Kross 2 as MIDI controller would unable me to use its internal sounds as VST. Or no demo but telling me if you can do so.
Roland ds ! you can edit and save a patch with layer of 16 and 16 split and the memory is morethan 200 or 220 can save in his bank But the korg kross2 is 512 buit in memory can save your edited patch so u can save a 512 a different song in the bank About the sound you can edit both So i take the keyboard who can realy high memory that i can save so many patch song Both is good sound
Using a headset makes it easy to see how Korg has a more sophisticated sound. I doubt the quality of the instrument and the best mechanics of the keys to play.
Honestly the only reason I found myself preferring the Juno was because of the sounds feeling bigger than the Korg’s. However in reality the tones from the Juno just seemed larger to me because it felt like they were panned harder to the left and right than the Korg. Once that notion got into my head I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Juno’s sounds were all left and right with much less center, and that’s what did it for me. Korg.
No, the Roland has a thicker sound. Both can pan left and right just as hard, it's up to the user. There is no "lack of center" on either. If you have that much difficulty to decide based on sound, don't forget that the features are very different, and very worth considering as well. In the end, they are both awesome. :)
When I take output the sound quality of kross 2 sucks whether I take one or two outputs the quality is very bad. But it works perfectly with headphone. Does anyone know about this
Assuming that you have a general idea with regards to the: KORG Kross2 and the Roland DS-61, which is better; in terms of SYNTHS, as presented in the video, its modification diversity such as; (waveforms, oscillators, attack, release, cutoff, editing every preset patch, creating and saving new patches, etc.)? I would like to create a satisfactory purchase achieving a synth lead, ambient, and acoustic sounds whilst U.I. navigation is rather satisfactory.
UIs are very similar with parameters organized into pages. Roland factory presets cannot be overwritten but Korg ones can. The Juno has more waveforms but its synth waveforms (JP sawtooth, MG Sine, etc.) don't quite sound as good as the Korg's sometimes. Korg oscillators are a bit more limited, but it has more modulation capabilities. The Korg gets multiple filter options, best sounding one being the parallel filter, while the Roland requires a little improvisation to achieve the same. Both have ADSR envelopes to tweak. The Juno has a "frequency cross-mod" option to make its sounds more industrial or outright distorted, as well as oscillator drift if you want a sound to imitate vintage gear a little more. Which is better? Depends on what you want to do with it. The Korg has the far better sequencer and a nifty sampler, the Roland has the better acoustic sounds and keybed, and its synth sound palette is different from the Korg's; however, it can still manage making synthpads and bell sounds that wouldn't come out as nice on the Korg while the Korg can make better leads and basses. They are both even in terms of plucks and stabs, it seems to me so far. I picked up the Juno recently, and just sold my old Kross1 to upgrade to the Kross2. Having both the Juno and Kross2 is even better than just one or the other. ;) But if you have to pick just one, it depends too much on you for me to just tell you, "get this one."
@@ricomajestic in terms of insert effects and their parameters, but the Roland can stack two reverbs for very phat ambient sounds, unlike the Kross, but the Kross' effects are a bit worse-sounding than the Juno's and sometimes metallic
@@ricomajestic Recording a performance to an SD card vs a DAW via USB would be a start. Both are great keyboards (no argument) but for a workstation that allows you to sketch untethered - that' the KORG.
