Replacement for the Korg Krome. Excellent workstation and ideal complemment for my Hammond XK-5. Arrived with one key not functioning correctly but GAK organised a replacement very quickly.

A Worthy Alternative to the Kronos

According to Korg, the Nautilus is a re-imagining of the Korg Kronos Workstation, to include virtually the same sound set, a smaller control surface, slightly smaller screen and a scaled down Arpeggiator. Korg dropped the fully weighted keyboard on the 73 Key model and replaced it with a full size, semi-weighed synth action keyboard. My first impression was entirely positive, the weight saving was obvious, and the available sound set is the same nine (9) high quality sound engines available on the Kronos. The overall build quality was impressive, with several exceptions. The minimalist control surface should please most players, but not everyone. The Arpeggiator implementation come sans the KARMA software and while the loss of KARMA Arpeggiator functionality may put ... MoreAccording to Korg, the Nautilus is a re-imagining of the Korg Kronos Workstation, to include virtually the same sound set, a smaller control surface, slightly smaller screen and a scaled down Arpeggiator. Korg dropped the fully weighted keyboard on the 73 Key model and replaced it with a full size, semi-weighed synth action keyboard. My first impression was entirely positive, the weight saving was obvious, and the available sound set is the same nine (9) high quality sound engines available on the Kronos. The overall build quality was impressive, with several exceptions. The minimalist control surface should please most players, but not everyone. The Arpeggiator implementation come sans the KARMA software and while the loss of KARMA Arpeggiator functionality may put off some composers (like me), most performers will find the arpeggiator implementation on the Nautilus more than adequate. In the end I guess it depends on where you are coming from. If you have been using the Kronos and just want a lighter, more economical version of the Kronos, you may like what the Nautilus has to offer. Of course, it is not always that simple and it depends on the keyboard you are comfortable with. If you are looking for a hammer action keyboard, then the 88 Key model is the only choice. I liked the Synth Action keyboard allot, it is full size and plays well, but for my requirements it did not measure up. One other issue for me was the use acheap power switch. Not a big deal, but indicative of a lesser build quality that one might expect from Korg. All that said, I would highly recommend the Nautilus.

Fabulous Addition to the Korg Workstation Family

Really impressive - with the same 9 sound engines from the Kronos but in a more efficient package. It doesn't have the Karma Engine - which IMO was hard to programme without the external Karma software.Also much more portable than a Kronos and has a lovely playing feel to it.On the Con's side - I thought I'd be able to copy over my sounds from the Kronos but these are not currently compatible.It would be better if external support for DAW and/or drum/ Arp programming was available

Korg Nautilus

Excellent service and no pressure! Now I have my dream keyboard with 0% financing! Will be doin business at Sam Ash for decades to come! Excellent!

Nautilus is an updated Kronos2 with arp and w/o Karma

I've owned this workstation for 46 days. So it is a keeper. Nautilus has everything I want in a modern 61 key workstation: Multiple synth engines. Realistic pianos. Great analog sounds. Tons of preset patches for string/woodwind/brass/percussion instruments and vocal/choir patches. Both, realistic and synthetic. Sounds that can be edited and created for custom programs and combos. Touchscreen controls, Modern sampling capabilities. 16 audio tracks. 16 midi track sequencer. Vocoder. 100s of onboard effect processors. 4 way joystick. Multiple individual 1/4" outputs. Removable storage capabilities. Large capacity internal storage capabilities. Assignable switch and pedal controls. Its pretty much a 2020 updated Kronos2 without aftertouch, Karma, a ribbon strip, ... MoreI've owned this workstation for 46 days. So it is a keeper. Nautilus has everything I want in a modern 61 key workstation: Multiple synth engines. Realistic pianos. Great analog sounds. Tons of preset patches for string/woodwind/brass/percussion instruments and vocal/choir patches. Both, realistic and synthetic. Sounds that can be edited and created for custom programs and combos. Touchscreen controls, Modern sampling capabilities. 16 audio tracks. 16 midi track sequencer. Vocoder. 100s of onboard effect processors. 4 way joystick. Multiple individual 1/4" outputs. Removable storage capabilities. Large capacity internal storage capabilities. Assignable switch and pedal controls. Its pretty much a 2020 updated Kronos2 without aftertouch, Karma, a ribbon strip, physical vector joystick, digital input/output, 2nd SSD drive bay, gold plated inputs/outputs, and physical button controls for sequencer, etc. I chose it over a Kronos2 and never looked back. 2 minute boot time doesn't bother me. Only issue I have is it outputs only 2 audio channels through USB (same as Kronos2) instead of 16 audio channels. But you can output up to 4 separate audio channels through the individual 1/4" outputs, on a single pass. This Nautilus accompanies my previous legacy workstation in my studio.

Pretty awesome

Pros: You get the meat and potatoes of the Kronos at a good discount. All the same sound engines as the Kronos, powerful programmable synths, and from what I understand, can use Kronos patches which is a big deal. Nice key action (I have the 73 which is non-weighted) Amazing patches in general. Amazing pianos. I'm blown away by the amount of effort that went into programming the presets (which I'm used to being a let-down in most equipment). The majority of the presets are actually usable. In addition, the pre-mapped effects and modulation parameters mapped to the knobs for each preset are tastefully thought out. For instance reverb or delay cranked all the way up is really as much as a pro would really want...unlike most products where the parameter ranges go ... MorePros: You get the meat and potatoes of the Kronos at a good discount. All the same sound engines as the Kronos, powerful programmable synths, and from what I understand, can use Kronos patches which is a big deal. Nice key action (I have the 73 which is non-weighted) Amazing patches in general. Amazing pianos. I'm blown away by the amount of effort that went into programming the presets (which I'm used to being a let-down in most equipment). The majority of the presets are actually usable. In addition, the pre-mapped effects and modulation parameters mapped to the knobs for each preset are tastefully thought out. For instance reverb or delay cranked all the way up is really as much as a pro would really want...unlike most products where the parameter ranges go overboard deep into the unusable zone. Sound quality is top. Powerful arranger that has the functionality to be the center of a studio with one caveat... Cons: - Screen: Touch screen is not sensitive enough sometimes. I find myself pressing multiple times to perform actions. UI layout/design amplifies this factor with a lot of tiny buttons that are difficult to press. Display is also not clear/crisp. I often lean over it squinting trying to read the text. The screen also just needs to be bigger in my opinion. - Parameter knobs and joystick feel cheap. Knobs are not easy to grab and turn accurately for performance...also slippery, too small, and too close together for my liking. Joystick is too small as well and physically sounds crunchy (that might just be my particular unit) - Gripes: power switch is on back and needs ti be used every time for proper shutdown. You can't leave it on and power it on and off with a power conditioner like most equipment. The unit takes a while to boot up. The box literally had nothing in it except the board and power cable (no warranty info, software, literature...nothing. Summary: Great sounds and keybed (which is most important). Not so great for performance if you use a lot of modulation. Not so fun to work in the interface. If I didn't accidentally scratch it taking it out of the box, I would have returned it and upgraded to the Kronos.

Review of Refurbished Nautilus 73

The acoustic sounds have improved massivelyover the years. Speed to programme once you are familiar with the OS is superb. Potentially my 'one stop shop/only one keyboard needed' for live.

Warm and Wonderful

I see some folks around the internet complaining that there's no aftertouch, Karma and that it's not as good as the Kronos. These folks are IMHO crybabies. No, it's not a Kronos. It's a Nautilus. Go buy a used Kronos. This board is perfect as it is. For this price range you are getting some of the finest sounds/samples in any board. Over 2000 of them. The keybed is great. KORG delivered a winner.

outstanding piece of HW and SW and Keyboard

This is a great keyboard for combo patches/programs. the sounds are great. The computer software editor is not the best, it seems dated in that regard. Surface controls are minimal, compared to others, but things work. You need a perfect stand with the 88 key version. Built very solid, boot time is long. Loading sounds is a bit longer than others. A great keyboard for a single purchase or to add to an ensemble of keyboards. Detailed instructions.