OASYS okay...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
All right. I’ll admit that I had my doubts about the OASYS synth. I’ll still stand by my feeling that it costs about 2.5x as much as it should, if it was to enjoy any measure of success (I’m sure I’ll be taken to task by the various Korg employees that read and comment on this site for that, as there are some expensive parts in it.) But that said, I just got done watching _all_ the KARMA videos here and am left with the feeling that I would really be much better off if I had an OASYS.
I know that is just gearlust talking, but I don’t think that anyone, love it or hate it, would say that the OASYS isn’t the single most powerful hardware synth available today. That makes it an object of lust, despite its price tag. I mean, I’d like an Aston Martin DB7 too. But I just bought a Dodge Caliber, because while I have DB7 tastes, I have a Caliber budget.
21 comments
The OASYS seems to me to be a great, massive, all-in-one system, if you are in to that sort of thing (like for folks who work big, nightly live shows in Vegas or on network TV).
But I have to say it just does not elicit gear lust in me. I've checked one out in a shop here, physically (especially in person) I find them kind of ridiculous looking. In terms of car analogies, it strikes me more akin to that car designed by Homer Simpson. Which, truth be told, might be pretty cool to have.
There's that. I haven't seen one in real life. I'm sure they are quite ridiculous. I still want one.
I think Korg should send me one just for saying nice things. Then I'll say all kinds of nice things and they'll maybe sell one as a result.
I think Korg probably won't do that.
-CR
Save your coin and get a Q+.
a Q+ ???
is that a Waldorf?
DS.
I agree, Korg should give you one.
It seems nice and all. The PCM sounds are pretty cool. The modeling stuff was pretty average. The arpeggiator tricks are also neat. But is it 4x better than a Karma?
I think it looks cool, until you compare it to all the stuff you could buy for that kind of cash.
I won't say it's overpriced because I'm sure a lot of development went into it, sales volume is not high for such a thing, and the build quality seems to be pretty nice. But it doesn't seem to do much of anything I like to do, whereas my 3-year old PC + Remote SL does everything I want it to do, and even factoring in the price of the software I have it was much, much cheaper.
But yeah, it seems cool for people who need some sort of all-in-one thing. I've never really been very enticed by a workstation though, so it's just the same old shit I don't care about, but more of it.
I just watched a few moments of those Karma videos. Am I the only one here who thinks that it just sounds bad?
i'd rather have a specked out synclavier. since we're dreaming :)
Radias shows the VA trickle-down effect from this R&D already, it will be interesting imo to see the updates to wave sequencing and their physical modelling algorithms show up on similarly priced synths.
ugh, a caliber? I dont wanna be hatin, but why? Its like some mini weird suv thingy? Did your wife dig it?
I have never lusted for any car that much until I saw the photo of the new Audi A5 coupe:
http://www.fourtitude.com/news/uploads/Audi_News/026__scaled_600_010.jpg
YIKES!!!!!
I thought the Karma was the shit until I had one for a couple months. The GUI sucked so bad that it was impossible to make any new karma sounds beyond the presets. Now it's just good for cheesy Triton sounds.
what about that sexy little keyboard with a PC in it.... Neko? Don't know much about it but they say you can use it as a 7.1 home entertainment system when not making hits har har.
A) I give so little fuck about what anyone thinks of what car I bought as to make this entire sentence unnecessary.
(This is a good time to mention, to those of you that don't know, that next to every single post in the higher access version of this site is a link labeled "KILL". I'm literally one click away from never seeing someone's sorry ass again. It's no trouble at all.)
B) I've never used the original Karma, let alone this one. If I'm mistaken in my lust, I'd like to know about it. I had thought that the original Karma was just a Triton with extra shit. The Triton is easy enough to program, and I thought the Karma jank was just layed on top, as it is in the OASYS. Is this not the case?
-CR
For that kind of money i rather have a massive sound design\processing tool like the S.S Kyma
If anything they weigh each other out. The way shit is layed out on the gui of the Triton is much more user friendly.Banks are all set up different and more organized on Triton, touchscreen ,arpeggiator, and sampler all which Karma lacks. However Triton lacks the Karma functions and all the GE fun stuff. Sequencers are identical though. Never used a Triton rack but I wonder if it has the same GUI as Karma just with green LCD. But yeah ,the factory sounds are identical(except for the some of the Karma'd the fuck out presets). I just picked up a Karma off of Craigslist dirt fucken cheap!
Shit if I had the money for an Oaysys I'd probably decline and get everything else on my lust want list.
..oh and you can get Karma functions on the Triton from Karmalab.
The KARMA functions are actually integrated tightly with the Triton synthesis parameters, not just laid on top. That's why the software version of KARMA requires a Triton. Stephen Kay also offers a program called KARMA MW that provides a better GUI for the Karma. (KARMA = the technology; Karma = the keyboard.)
When I reviewed the Karma for EM, I found it inspiring, although the hardware was compromised: http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=33&releaseid=6908&magazinearticleid=115538&SiteID=15
The Karma math engine is interesting and actually very musical. If you find one cheap, it's a fun toy. It will output midi and can be externally recorded (it sounds a lot better on my DSI PEK). The KARMA GUI software from Stephen Kay requires a Karma 'dongle' to be attached. It would a lot more fun if it was sold standalone.
Gah, just seeing this now due to rss feed issues.
You're weirding me out, Chris. First you're drooling over the product I work on (OASYS), then you mention how you just bought the car I've had my eye on.
Anyhow, no freebies on the OASYS (those parts really *are* expensive, industrial motherboard, 10" color vga touchscreen, lotsa metal, etc. Note that it's only about 2x the price of a triton studio), but I'm sure you'd get a big shit-eating grin if you got your hands on one with the MS20/Polysix models (I know I did).
It's amazing how much more flexible they are when they're A) not chewing up your DAW's horsepower and B) using a whole bunch of new lfos/egs/patchpoints that the software and originals lacked.
Note that this is all personal opinion, not corpo-shilling, I don't play that game.
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