Rumors of Oasys II?

[Kevin Nolan]

To the moderators -

I suggest this thread has run its course. Petty arguing, no useful input and now full indepth posts, sent twice in a row, describing the latest Mofit XS OS.

Surely it's past it s usefulness?

Kevin.

[RobertPlatinum]

Like they say, It ain't over til the Chuck Norris sings!

Jus kidding. I agree with you Kevin.

[EJ2]

NO, wait a minute, that's when Kate Smith sings. She's the fat lady.... or at least was...

[Davidb]

Included are some of the new OS features for the XS. New OS features

Firmware 1.10 for Fantom G is out as well as the new one for the Mitif XS, so I guess we can talk about this for a long time.

In this regard, I just hope Korg dont give up providing OS updates for the OASYS environtment itself, say, sequencer, editing, smooth program and combi switching, new features to improved workflow, new functions to the system, new banks alocation for sounds, and so on, and not just new EXis.

[Daz]

I was going to lock it, but I thought I would wait to see if people would just bring it back to a useful place on their own. I have faith in you folks

There is an interesting conversation still to be had here.

Daz.

[Kevin Nolan]

Grand!

Two identical posts listing the features of the Motif XS just made me cranky! (Nothing against the Motif of course - it's a lovely instrument).


Well, let me add two penny's more -

Talk of an OASYS 2 seems a little naive to me:

- All instruments have their limitations, and just because there are faster processors around does not mean the possibility of an OASYS 2 - there's a lot more to the oasys than that.

- OASYS is probably an experiment which will not be repeated by Korg. Despite its wondrous capabilities, by and large 99.99% of the electronic music production world have not bought into it, or see it as amazing as we here know it to be. Given this, it would seem to me to be poor strategy for Korg to simply respond to our calls of 'more please' and release a faster OASYS. If this OASYS has not done all the wowing and wooing needed to grab the world by the horns, then an OASYS 2 will not either. Again I qualify it by saying that I adore the OASYS and consider it superior to anything in the past 20 years, but we all know that there remain many sceptics out there.

- I suspect that Korg will, and will need to, think more strategically in the future by examining the role of the workstation in particular work scenarios - such as for DJ work, the gigging band and integrate into DAW environments, for example.

But playing devils advocate, my own ideal OASYS 2 would be an instrument with all of the current OS, Karma and synthesis capabilities, but with these added features:

- Half the current price for the basic unit
- Polyphonic aftertouch (really -y ou do not know what you're missing)
- Optional DSP board slots so you can inprove processing and polyphony when you can afford it and to future proof it
- Karma 3 (Karma 2 with KO, better GUI interface, configured for various musical genres)
- Motorised faders and encoders
- The remainder of Z1 and Oasys PCI algorithms made available
- USB Midi
- Librarian/DAW Editor
- KARO to be brought into the fold as true EXi's, with other's such as Arturia, NI, Sony Oxford, SSL... brought on board
- Ability to integrate OASYS and Third Party effects into DAW tracks.

Finally, in the myriad of keyboard controllers and electronic pianos out there; if Korg were to keep OASYS going, but genuinely provide it with the absolute, very very best, no hole barred sample and virtual acoustic versions of:

- Steinway
- Bosendofer
- Yamaha CP80
- Hammond B3
- D5
- Fender Rhodes
- Wurlitzer

and if polyphonic aftertouch was onboard, then many, many gigging keyboard players would feel they'd have no choice but to go for it. But the instruments provided would have to be absolutely amazing - literally the best there is.

Finally - how about Korg OASYS running Logic instruments as EXi's - there'd be a strategic connection that would possibly attract Logic users to use OASYS in the way that Mofit is linked to Cubase.

But I don't honestly see any of that happening of course!!

Cheers,
Kevin

[MartinHines]

I still fail to see why the O cant be updated, and most of you still think it cant. Its just computer bits, ie mboard, processor, and connectors. Surely a hardware, with software update is very feasble,

It's not a matter of "can't", but rather probably "won't".

Korg could take an existing OASYS, put in a new motherboard, CPU, and memory, and modify the OASYS software to work with it. The real questions are "is there a market for it, and it is cost effective to do so"?

Workstation manufacturers have a history of using new hardware on new products, rather than trying to retrofit to existing products.

I suspect that if Korg plans to upgrade the hardware, they would put that hardware in a new product, perhaps "OASYS II".

The big problem with anything related to the OASYS is that it is a high-cost, very low volume keyboard. Given there are a lot of people who purchased the original OASYS, the release of an OASYS II might have an even smaller market.

[Vadim]

maybe not OASYS II,
but OASYS model 2008 or 2 would make more sense

[Mike Conway]

OASYS is probably an experiment which will not be repeated by Korg. Despite its wondrous capabilities, by and large 99.99% of the electronic music production world have not bought into it, or see it as amazing as we here know it to be.

I'm happy that Triton sales allowed the company to take on this "experiment", known as the OASYS. I don't look at it like a typical Big 3 workstation, where there is always a follow up model in the wings.

This is a niche board. As a musician, I appreciate having something that the mainstream people don't have. It's special. It has some unique synth methods, not found on other gear. It's powerful. That's why I bought it.

In an age where low cost software synths slay potential hardare develpment, this machine could only come from an organization that was more interested in how far they could take the synth workstation concept, rather than how many sales they could make off of it. It was never priced to compete for volume.

The only thing Korg underestimated, was how many hardware sequencer users there were (me included). It's understandable to assume that everyone would be using a computer DAW to control their synths.

I don't see an OASYS 2, as much as a super-duper follow up to the M3. Over time, it becomes more cost effective to implement features that were initially expensive to develop - just like the cost of RAM going down, as size increases.

I could see Korg going with the synth plug in route, but not simple plugins, like the DX plug, with the Motif, but rather the kind of engines that you are seeing on the OASYS. Imagine, instead of 4,000 owners, 150,000 owners buying a cool base synth and then shelling out $200 a pop, for another synth expansion.

The Fantom G is a good example of a base workstation. If you added 6 engines to it, it would cost near what the OASYS does. I imagine the reverse would be true - strip down the OASYS to a ROMpler type of M3 (but with a bigger screen) and Korg could sell a low priced (less than the competition), but quality base station, while recouping money on MOD-7, STR-1, Legacy, Radias etc. modules.

Or....., I could be wrong and Korg will make an OASYS 2 for a mere 4,000 buyers. I would say, "No chance", except for the fact that it happened, once.

[Kevin Nolan]

Hi Mike -

I agree with most of your very well made points.

I could see an OASYS 2 really taking the world by storm if, and I mean if, Korg work very hard to literally make it a 'no brainer' mouthwatering prospect.

While I keep harping on about polyphonic aftertouch, I genuinely believe that a more cost effective OASYS with polyphonic aftertouch would make it unique, by virtue of the fact that no other keyboard in existence today has that. Many keyboard players would go for it by default.

But I also believe the OASYS, to sell in very large numbers woudl also need:

- staggeringly good pianos, acoustic and electric - to a quality where magazine reviews would say 'these are the best there is'

- better GUI/genre configured Karma

- Stunning reprogramming of the major synth engines, most especially AL-1, STR-1 and MOD-7. How many classic synthesizers became classics through just a few programs? Currently OASYS has amazing synth engines and quite average programs. What blew me away initially about Karma was where I read something like '44 programmers spent two years programming the various GEs'. I remember thinking to myself - wow! - that's a lot of work that I will not have to do. In like fashion, currently only a few percent of the power of STR-1 and MOD-7 are exploited through current programs. If korg were to get amazing programmers to produce a small number of incrediby useful and incredibly distinctive programs, that would draw significant attention (just look at the anticipation for the Spectrosonics OMNI on the basis of just one program demo).

Overall, I believe that a multiple of the curent user base of OASYS rejected it on the basis that they see a very powerful but very expensive instrument. But - money is NEVER the reason why someone doesn't buy (I did a stint in a keyboard shop years ago - and believe me - money is NEVER the issue).

The issue, IMO, is that OASYS, superficially, hits an 8/10 in many departments such as its piano, organs, synths, sequencers, audio quality; and so many reject it because it's not perceived as the very best in each of those departments. It's only us users who have spent time on it that realise it's true underlying power, quality and uniqueness.

But if Korg were to make every department a 10/10 - keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch; stunning legacy keyboard instruments; stunning program sets for existing synth engines, fantastic DAW integration, optimised Karma, DSP expandabilityand so on; the I do believe it would bring many more buyers on board and definitely create a new buzz.

I certainly do not see that happening - I don't think Korg could do it quick enough and there would be a risk.

As we all know, OASYS as it stands is truly limitless - it is a serious and hisrotically significant instrument. But I believe that in an ideal world that OASYS would sell like hot cakes, even a $8000, if it raised the bar on some of the features being compared to its commerical rivals, where it woudl then put keyboard players / synthesists in a position of not being able to reject it on the basis upon which they currently do.

Kevin.

[milkojnr]

What about Korg releasing a Version 2 software for the Original One.

Makes more sense.

I would not pay the money i have done on another Oasys again. It has no where near reach the goals it was set out to do.

[RobertPlatinum]

Korg will probably charge for a OS 2 update. I wonder if they will also sell there first set of expansion effects and use the function button. Korg can make money for the next 10 yrs off of this keyboard if they wanted to. I have a feeling that in the next couple of weeks we will find out what's going on with any new developments anyway. (Wishful thinking perhaps.)

[EJ2]

Why would Korg charge for an OS update? They haven't done that with any instrument they've produced and I do not believe they will ever do that with the OASYS. Korg continues to bring enhancements to the operating system software without charge. Now, expansion instruments, sample libraries etc., that's a different matter. Just the same, the cost of the recent expansions is reasonable given what you get. Where can you buy a full blown programmable and enhanced FM synth (MOD-7) for under $300; or an integrated collection of MS 20, Polysix synths (LAC-1). Compare these with Roland's new ARX for the Fantom G and you get my point.

[Bachus]

What about Korg releasing a Version 2 software for the Original One.

Makes more sense.

I would not pay the money i have done on another Oasys again. It has no where near reach the goals it was set out to do.

Problem is, they can't make any more OASYS in the current hardware config, as they have run out of parts..

So the question is, will there be any more OASYS produced with more powerfull hardware but the same software, or will there be a newer variation of the OASYS with more powerfull hardware that allows for better software...

Or will KORG stop producing the OASYS....




Smartest thing would be to stop producing OASYS, and make a new top model synth with Karma3, an ableton live type of sequencer, a new improved sound engine and the option to load all samplebanks of OASYS and all software instruments...and maybe even some arranger stuff added (extra functionallity that comes for free by cutting/pasting an arranger from the PA series) or even directly controlling vst's on a remote PC.

So the OASYS stays the OASYS, and there is a new star just behind the Horizon...

[markuk]

I would feel gutted if a new one with better hardware came out and ive only just bough mine.