Korg Forums

[Kevbo]

I'm trying to do research on Karma, thinking it's an "effect" within the Kronos, but rather keep finding results for the Korg Karma (a physical keyboard).

When you all say you enjoy Karma, or you hope "said" keybord has Karma, do you simply mean you hope the keyboard also contains the Karma engine from that Karma keyboard?

Seems like so many of you enjoy Karma, but I'm not entirely sure what Karma is. I currently record into my DAW using my Korg Triton factory sounds, and some VSTs, also controlled by the Triton.

Does Karma just add more real-time effects, or is Karma a way of playing a certain way (i.e. bringing in certain instruments at certain times, and cutting them back out, all in real-time)?

Thanks for any input, or direction I can go to read/watch/learn more!

[19naia]

Karma basically pays you back in multiples, for every input you act upon it.

You can input a lot of things, a good variety, and get back a wider variety of pay back.
Be sure you know what you are doing when you get into it, because if you go wrong in what you put in, it can pay you back in ways you were not wanting.

The most basic aspect of Karma is note patterns that play along with you.
You press one key and karma pays you back with numerous notes.
And the patterns you get back, can be adjusted in real time via many parameters that alter the pattern qualities as it plays.

But then Karma does so much more. Midi routing solutions, note mapping solutions, control setups that include setups to bring sounds or groups of sounds in and out at the touch of a switch.
It does even more and i doubt any one karma user uses most of karma features in any one set of songs.

The way that it does its thing is the real treat. It can be complicated in comparison to some other products, but karma offers a unique type of flexibility and broad utility all in one place.

I am sure others can add to list of things Karma does.

I don’t know everything it can do but...
I am certain it does not wash dishes.

[HardSync]

Well... that's an interesting question.

OK, the KARMA in your Kronos has evolved quite a bit since the original KARMA keyboard, but it is essentially built upon that concept.

There's a fairly long-ish article here on the KARMA wiki about what it is: http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/karma2:how-does-karma-work

Anyway, you can make KARMA to be almost anything you want it to be, spend as much or as little time with it as you like. It can function as an arpeggiator, or do psuedo-arranger styles like stuff. You can use it as a drum machine if you want. You can modify its output in real time based on what you play or how you move the controls. You can do all of those things together in one combi or song. It is extraordinarily complex under the hood so to speak, but it is simple to use. Switch it on, play some chords, switch a scene, twist a knob, move a slider.... see what happens. You can even buy the software that makes it all happen and create your own stuff -- but you don't need it.

And when you want to know how it is doing all of those things, well... that's a story for another day. :)

[Liviou2004]

[GregC]

keep searching and persisting.

Your musical life will be better if you have and use and give Karma

_________________
Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams
https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994

[Kevbo]

Thank you, all! Going to start reading and watching now. Very informative, and I can see how passionate you are about your KARMA. I really do appreciate your time giving me this information.

Thanks again!