Just released! CATALYST Volume 1 - 32 new KARMA-fied Combis

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:12 pm

Catalyst Volume 1 has now been released, for the Korg OASYS!

The first chapter in our new Catalyst Series, this collection will catalyze your creativity with a burst of inspirational jaw-dropping grooves. More info, including the combi list and the extensive User's Guide:

Catalyst Volume 1 Page

Programmed by Eric J. Sawyer and KARMA Developer Stephen Kay, with each combi going through a rigorous testing and quality control program, this fully KARMA-fied set of 32 combis represents hundreds of hours of work over the last year. Starting with an earlier set of combis released by Eric J. Sawyer as "Eclectric," Stephen Kay "deconstructed" each combi, rebuilding it from the ground up with new scenes, effects, and mixes - so if you purchased that earlier set rest assured you are getting something very new.

Demos and a few free sample combis will be posted in the next few days. In the meantime, Catalyst Volume 1 can be ordered from the Karma-Lab Store for $32 - that's $1 per combi - where else can you get two days worth of work for a dollar?

Buy Catalyst Volume 1

Post by **Sharp** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:37 pm

Thanks Stephen, thanks Eric.
Can't wait to get my hands on them.

Regards
Sharp.

Mordheim · Post by **Mordheim** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:06 pm

I just ordered mine!

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:36 pm

Thanks gents.
Looking forward to this set. Did buy the original will be interesting to listen to these.

Billy

Kevin Nolan · Post by **Kevin Nolan** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:16 am

Congratulations Stephen and Eric. Looking forward to buying and using these.

Stephen - not sure which version to buy from your web site. I own KO software but do not use it too often, so I also want to use the Combi's on the OASYS standalone and am not sure what to buy. Can you advise?

Thanks,
Kevin.

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:23 am

Kevin Nolan wrote:Stephen - not sure which version to buy from your web site. I own KO software but do not use it too often, so I also want to use the Combi's on the OASYS standalone and am not sure what to buy. Can you advise?

I'm sorry this seems to be confusing some people. I'll try to clarify the store page. The OASYS + KO version contains the OASYS PCG *and* the KO KDF file. Choose that one.

EDIT: on second thought, I'm just going to bag the format option at this time. All people will be sent to the page that contains the KDF as well. If they want it, they can download it. If not, they don't have to.

t_tangent · Post by **t_tangent** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:23 am

Hi Kevin,

I just asked the same question about an hour ago and Stephen kindly informed me as to the reason which can be found on this link

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=40831

Hope that helps

steve m · Post by **steve m** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:38 am

I've just ordered these Combi's, but here's a silly question that I have to ask because I don't fully understand the file structure of the Oasys.

When I load the Combi's into bank D for instance, how Does the Oasys find all the right program's to use when everyone's Oasys is set up differently ? What if , for instance, a new Combi needs to use a program 'synthA' in Bank D33 on Stephen/Eric's Oasys, but on mine it may have been deleted , or edited or renamed to 'synthB' ?

If you don't load up the same program structure, how can the Combi work properly ?

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:45 am

steve m wrote:When I load the Combi's into bank D for instance, how Does the Oasys find all the right program's to use when everyone's Oasys is set up differently ? What if , for instance, a new Combi needs to use a program 'synthA' in Bank D33 on Stephen/Eric's Oasys, but on mine it may have been deleted , or edited or renamed to 'synthB' ?

Well, that is an issue you have to be aware of. Not just for Catalyst, but for any Combis that third party developers provide. The collection uses the default factory preload, including STR-1. ANd there is not a Producer version at the moment. It does not use any LAC-1 or MOD-7 programs, other than one combi, and that combi is also provided in a "revoiced" version that doesn't use LAC-1.

If you have modified all your programs, then I suggest backing the whole thing up and reloading the factory preload to hear the file correctly.

Really, there's nothing else that a third party combi producer can do. I can't go through and take all the programs that it uses, store a copy in some other bank, and try to assemble a few banks of programs that get loaded at the same time (which are all duplicates of factory programs anyway). I mean, I suppose I could, but what if it comes to 3 banks of programs or something? Nobody's going to want to have to have 3 banks of available program space just to load duplicates of the factory voicing in a different order for a bank of combis to reference...

steve m · Post by **steve m** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:56 am

Hi Stephen

Thanks for your quick reply. On my Oasys, I have only ever changed programs and saved them to user program banks, the top row of programs are all original, so it should all just work in theory.

So the way I understood how it works is correct after all.

Hopefully when I get home tonight the new Combi's will be in my Inbox, and I can have a a play with them.

Cheers :3dbeer:

MrT-Man · Post by **MrT-Man** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:46 am

Thanks for your hard work, Eric & Stephen -- well worth the purchase price!

AnthonyB · Post by **AnthonyB** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:48 am

Thank you Stephen

EJ2 · Post by **EJ2** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:00 am

steve m wrote:Hi Stephen

Thanks for your quick reply. On my Oasys, I have only ever changed programs and saved them to user program banks, the top row of programs are all original, so it should all just work in theory.

So the way I understood how it works is correct after all.

Hopefully when I get home tonight the new Combi's will be in my Inbox, and I can have a a play with them.

Cheers

Hi Steve,
If all of your factory/default programs, including the updates (STR-1 etc.) are in place, you don't have anything to worry about because each combi's timbres, except for Dark Side <LAC-1>, point to factory programs. Just the same, as we recommend, back up all of your pcgs etc.

We 3rd party developers have always maintained that unless you intend to alter every single sound including combis in your OASYS, Karma, M3, M50 etc., it's a huge mistake to overwrite or replace Korg's factory default programs. That would be like throwing the baby out with the bath water; or something like that....LOL

Thanks for all the postitive comments everyone.
Cheers,
Eric

steve m · Post by **steve m** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:31 am

Hi Eric

Thanks for taking the time to develop Catalyst and to reply to my question along with Stephen

I got the new combi's tonight and have played them already. I took some of Sharp's 'Assault' flute and vocal samples and put them in your Flute Fantasy and it sounds really good. That combi and Sharp's samples are a match made in ( Irish ) heaven !

Time for some more fun..........

MauroR · Post by **MauroR** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:27 am

Very nice, now it's Korg turn to give us something new. I've repented to have bought the Oasys, the worst purchase of my life. Wasted money.