Korg musical instruments

Introduction to OASYS

Detailed Speciﬁcations: Drumkits

• Stereo or mono drum samples

• Four-level velocity switches or crossfades

KARMA

The OASYS’ KARMA (Kay Algorithmic Music

Architecture) function is an enhanced version of the

Korg KARMA Music Workstation. Based on the notes

and chords you play, KARMA instantly generates

phrases and patterns of MIDI data, and you can create

highly sophisticated musical changes simply by

operating the KARMA realtime controls.

KARMA is an algorithmic MIDI data generation

technology that does not simply generate MIDI data in

a one-sided manner; it changes its own internal

settings according to the notes and chord forms that

you play, and responds to the input from the KARMA

realtime controls to automatically vary the musical

data it generates. This lets KARMA contribute to your

musical creativity in an enormously powerful way.

The heart of KARMA consists of GEs (Generated

Effects) and KARMA modules. A GE is an algorithm

that takes the notes and chords you play, and generates

phrases, patterns, and tonal changes in response. The

OASYS provides a generous assortment of 2,048 preset

GEs. The vast number of GEs are organized into 12

categories according to their purpose, for quick and

easy selection.

In Program mode you can use one KARMA module,

and in Combination and Sequencer modes you can use

up to four KARMA modules. You can store up to eight

“scenes” – sets of parameter settings that determine

how the KARMA modules generate performance data

– and switch between them as desired. Additionally,

you can use the control surface of the panel to control

the KARMA function in realtime. Virtually inﬁnite

performance possibilities are at your ﬁngertips.

Module Control functionality lets you control each

KARMA module separately or together. The new RTC

model automatically sets-up typical realtime control

parameter settings for each GE, provides a

revolutionary leap of efﬁciency in setting up a song.

Note Map Tables let you obtain a rich palette of

variations from even a single GE. The Scene Matrix

function gives you centralized management of the

eight scenes maintained by each KARMA module. The

new KARMA Wave Sequence functionality uses

KARMA to switch between multisamples of a PCM

oscillator.

The KARMA function on the OASYS has been reborn

to a completely new level of power, functioning as a

supplementary musical brain that will assist you in

everything from production to performance.

Detailed Speciﬁcations

• KARMA modules: 1 module in Program mode, 4

modules in Combination and Sequencer modes

• GEs (Generated Effects): 2,048 presets

• Controllers: ON/OFF, LATCH, CHORD ASSIGN,

MODULE CONTROL, KARMA REALTIME

CONTROL SLIDERS 1–8, KARMA SCENES 1–8,

KARMA SWITCHES 1–8, Auto RTC (Real Time

Control) Setup function

Open Sampling System

Mono/stereo sampling

The OASYS provides high-quality 16-bit linear 48 kHz

mono/stereo sampling functionality. Samples can be

either recorded into RAM memory or written directly

to the internal hard disk as WAVE ﬁles.

The amount of RAM available for sampling depends

upon the currently loaded EXs samples, as described

under “Sampling and RAM” on page 119. When there

is 500MB of RAM available, for instance, you can

sample up to approximately 91 minutes (monaural) or

45 minutes 30 seconds (stereo).

When sampling to the internal hard disk, a single

sample ﬁle can be up to 80 minutes long for either

monaural or stereo. Samples recorded to the hard disk

can be loaded into RAM memory and used as tone

generator waveforms.

You can load sample ﬁles in AIFF, WAVE, AKAI

S1000/ 3000, or Korg formats; all will be handled as

Korg format data once they are loaded. You can also

export sample data as AIFF or WAVE ﬁles. You can use

the internal CD-R/RW drive or a USB CD-ROM or CD-

R/RW drive to rip audio data in the digital domain

from an audio CD. Alternatively, you can capture the

playback of an audio CD from the AUDIO INPUT

jacks.

Open Sampling System – take advantage of each

mode’s functionality while sampling

The OASYS lets you sample or resample not just in

Sampling mode, but also in Program, Combination,

and Sequencer modes. In Sequencer mode, the In-

Track Sampling function lets you sample an external

audio input source while the song plays, and will

automatically create a note event at the appropriate

point in the track to play back this sample at the right

time. In Program or Combination modes, you can

resample complex sounds and performances utilizing

functions such as wave sequencing, advanced vector

synthesis, and the KARMA function. In Sequencer

mode, you can resample the playback of the song itself,

and use this capability to create portions of a song that

you can layer into complex compositions or use as tone

generator waveforms.

Sample editing functionality that rivals dedicated

units

The full range of sample editing operations include

Truncate, Normalize, Cut, Copy, and Reverse, and

even advanced functionality such as Time Slice and

Time Stretch. The grid display and waveform zoom

functions are a great convenience when you need to

make precise edits to a waveform. The OASYS

provides not only a great set of editing operations, but

also features that make sample editing easy and

efﬁcient, such as a Use Zero function to automatically

detect zero-crossing points that won’t produce noise.