Korg Zero 4/8

JamieG · Post by **JamieG** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:19 am

I see that the Korg Zero 4/8's are released at the end of this month. Has anyone pre-ordered one?

theque · Post by **theque** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:41 am

nah, waiting for some other suckers to buy one first and check out the reviews

anthonymacc · Post by **anthonymacc** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:28 am

I just got the Korg Zero8 in the mail today..

Just finished programming 4 channels for Ableton, have 4 channels left for CDJs and hopefully some live instruments. I've had it for about 6 hours non stop now, and I have come up with a few good configuations.

I tried controlling Ableton both with the built in Firewire to my macbook, and also attempted Midi Out from the Korg to my M AUDIO Fasttrack Pro. Both configurations were successful and took no time at all to figure out, including programming.

For now, it's just a matter of how exactly I want to configure it.

When the Midi Channels are switched on, you get a blue glow, vs the red audio glow. I thought it was best on the eyes to separate, so I took 4 Channels of Ableton and made them on 1, 3, 5, 7, and used the rest for Audio.

Image Below

The only weird thing I have not been able to figure out so far is the Cue. It seems that I have to actually assign one of my 8 channels to be a part time cue control. I need to send the cue out of Ableton into the mixer, so it seems that I lose 2 channels if I want to use Cue inside of Ableton. I could always just switch it back to CDJ or Turntable when i was done listening.....great piece.

ekwipt · Post by **ekwipt** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:05 am

so jealous

the girl next door · Post by **the girl next door** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:02 am

ekwipt wrote:so jealous

Nice ain't it !!

BinaryB · Post by **BinaryB** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:30 am

How is the sound quality of the mixing bus and fx ? looks mad.

ekwipt · Post by **ekwipt** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:37 am

I'd really like to know about sound quality and audio latency etc... how are the effects?

Could i say pulg seratos SL1 interface into 2 channels, having them playing on say channel 1/2 and 3/4 and then be able to route them into ableton effects on 5/6 and 7/8, so effectively having two of each channel across 4?

Grabbing loops off the fly!!!!! and letting the track play underneath......

Ideas, ideas...

Serato is coming out with midi functionality soon, can i have two laptops plugged into the 1 Korg Zero 8?

Laptop1 serato, midi controlled with Korg zero 8

Laptop 2 Ableton Live, midi controlled with (u guessed it) Korg Zero 8

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:18 am

How solid does it feel? Stand up to life on the road, or is it more of a studio only device?

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:37 am

Seems very expensive for what it actually does. Ok, its all in one unit, that's pretty cool. But for a fraction of the total cost, you can get a couple of units seperately that do the same thing.

I wouldn't buy it unless it was 250/$500. But I priced up the Zero-8 and it was £1000 !!! You can get so much stuff for that!!

Dr Dub · Post by **Dr Dub** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:55 pm

it isn t cheap for sure, and you could probably get "better" an more specialized
gear for the price, but don t you think it s sexy? I m sure one can have LOTS
of fun with one plus a Laptop and some Monitors.

I don t plan to get one, but i start thinking... if i put my Interface and my
controllers on eBay.... Fuck - not enough....

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:01 pm

I think it looks nice for sure, just not THAT nice where I would spend that much.

thelike5 · Post by **thelike5** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:52 pm

Amberience wrote:I think it looks nice for sure, just not THAT nice where I would spend that much.

And you won't have to if you wait a little bit...

Both the Zero 4 & 8 will drop in roughly 6 months. Korg and Roland are both notorious for dropping prices after awhile. It happens with erything they put out. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Look at the Radias, the rack vesrion is down to $999 after being introduced at roughly $1399. It took aboout four months becuase nobody was buying it. The ESX and the EMX electribe were $699 when they were released. It took a little while (year or so) but they are now $499.

My prediction is that both the Zero4 and Zero8 won't sell all that well, at least at first. No fault really of Korgs as I'm sure it's an amazing mixer but how many people are actually going to spend that much on it? There are other options out there. Plus, Allen & Heath released the Xone 3d well over a year ago and the people with lots of cash just bought that. I don't think you are going to sell two mixers to them this soon.

I personally am stoked to pick up a Zero4 but not for a dime more than $800. I think it will be possible soon, too. It's just too overpriced for a huge company like Korg. They aren't exactly a hand-built, boutique company that demands that much money in return.

anthonymacc · Post by **anthonymacc** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:53 pm

Someone above mentioned the effects processor. Let me tell you that it seamlessly integrates with both my laptop and an external audio source. You can also have 3 effects running simultaneously, by using the effect for master, channel, or send. Send is limited to what you can do, but you can still technically run 3 effects...Plus everything Ableton has to offer.

I have been on the hunt for about 6 months looking for the perfect mixer, and I think I found the one.

D K · Post by **D K** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:02 pm

please post specs:
exact usable latency, please!
cpu usage?
how is the midi ...firewire vs. midi cable....
thanks!

ctx · Post by **ctx** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:19 pm

Amberience wrote:Seems very expensive for what it actually does. Ok, its all in one unit, that's pretty cool. But for a fraction of the total cost, you can get a couple of units seperately that do the same thing.

No argument that the zeros are not cheap, but I think you are (seriously) underestimating how much it would cost you to replace their functionality, especially with anything that is not crap.