Have You Explored KARMA Combis? Do You Use KARMA?

latnjazfan · Post by **latnjazfan** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 12:38 am

I originally avoided the KARMA Combis because I generally couldn't use them in their unaltered state and didn't know how to edit them. In the past, I've created my own (very simplistic) Combis - usually comprised of bass, drums and keyboard(s).

Somehow, a month ago, I began messing with a KARMA preset. It prompted me to really explore the KARMA programs. I spent weeks reviewing and evaluating all of them - and there are hundreds. The effort resulted in a distilled list of well over 130 really interesting and useful programs.

First of all, I offer my congratulations to whoever created them. . . Mr. Kay and his staff I presume? They Are Wonderful. Inspiring.

The KARMA Scenes buttons provide a wealth of program sound variations - in real time. Also, the arrangements and drum tracks are quite effective and elaborate: Way beyond what I would be able to create with my level of Kronos programing knowledge. But easy to "tweak" and customize for my purposes.

IMHO: The KARMA tracks greatly expand the functionality of the Kronos.

When or where do you use KARMA?

Bolder · Post by **Bolder** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 2:13 am

I have found using the 4 separate A,B,C & D module controls in the Kronos sequencer with KARMA GEs to be most interesting. This involves using the KARMA CONTROLS and manipulating them while in record mode until you get something interesting.

I have never been a big fan of the "hold a key down and trigger an entire musical idea" concept. But after working with KARMA GE's in the sequencer and recording them to a track, you can easily work with another 4 tracks in the same manner and create cool layers. Then after that - edit, muted, mix to your hearts content. So I am quickly changing my biased attitude in that regard.

The results can be quite surprising and musical. Definitely a different way of working than I have done in the past. Quite a bit of fun as well.

Corgy · Post by **Corgy** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 6:16 pm

For me Karma was an important feature to get the Kronos at all. I wanted to get some companions to jam with and got something that keeps me inspired since more than a year. I am not using it for life playing, but got a lot of song ideas just by improvising with Karma accompaniment.

ed_f · Post by **ed_f** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:05 am

I use Karma a lot and think it has huge potential I haven't even realized yet. I agree with the things Dennis (Bolder) said in his post.

While working on his world music sound set we found some really interesting ways to create Karma GEs of loops samples so you have control of tempo and randomness etc.

I have create percussion GEs that I think give a very natural and realistic performance. By putting sounds and patterns into karma correctly, slight vartiaons of the real time control can give an interesting feel of live performance and improvisation.

Putting together some ensemble Karma groups is really useful to spark ideas or allow working on a project without being tied to the repetition of an arranger type keyboard. Using foot pedals to change scenes really lets me move through ideas and not feel so locked in.

I also think it is incredibly useful for musical parts that to tend to be "locked in" - for example, even if you have a simple bass part that only need root-fifth - you can add just enough random alternate notes to keep you from going mad.

There are lots of great GEs in the machine, but many don't quite do what I need. Using the Karma software opens up all those possibility too. I recently have been putting together a small collection of bodhran patterns because nothing on the Kronos (that I could find) worked.

I could go on... it seems to be underutilized. There are so many open slots of user GEs. I have started filling them up, but I don't hear much about it from other folks.

timg11 · Post by **timg11** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:16 am

latnjazfan wrote: The effort resulted in a distilled list of well over 130 really interesting and useful programs. .....

I'd love to see your list of the 130, I have some favorites, and I hope to get over the learning curve with the software.

Yuma · Post by **Yuma** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:33 pm

I only use Karma when I'm jammin' for fun on my Kronos.
In my own tracks, I don't use Karma at all (except for one track from my previous album).

latnjazfan · Post by **latnjazfan** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:06 pm

timg11 wrote:
latnjazfan wrote: The effort resulted in a distilled list of well over 130 really interesting and useful programs. .....
I'd love to see your list of the 130, I have some favorites, and I hope to get over the learning curve with the software.

timg11 What I did was review each KARMA preset by pressing the scenes buttons while playing chords to the rhythm. (This can take several minutes or more. It's hard not to get "side tracked" playing around with some of the really clever presets). Then, I tried to envision how I might use it specific preset when playing a song I already know. Some are way too fast, so slowing them down revealed a very different and cool effect. Also by muting certain timbre sounds, you can really change the overall effect. What I found was that many of the KARMA presets are wonderful with just slight "tweaking" to the drums. A lot of the background sound effects are based on the specific drum patterns. By selecting a different drum rhythm, you may get a very different result. This is where the COMPARE button serves you well - because you can restore back to the original with 1 key stroke - and try again for something better.

I came away with an appreciation for how much effort went in to KARMA presets, and how really good so many are - with just slight personalization.

jamsire · Post by **jamsire** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:21 pm

I bought the KARMA software editor and have never looked back! That thing is absolutely amazing.

ed_f · Post by **ed_f** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:15 pm

jamsire wrote:I bought the KARMA software editor and have never looked back! That thing is absolutely amazing.

+1
Totally agree with you

Diego5150 · Post by **Diego5150** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:26 pm

I was thinking of buying the Karma software when it was on sale late last year but there were no videos that showed me what it can do for me personally. I was hoping Mr Kay would put out a promotional video tutorial using Karma on the Kronos and how the software editor enhances the product.

Bertotti was great in explaining why he chose the editor and I just did not get the full grasp from Qui's tutorial. I think I need to explore and spend more time with Karma in order to get a better handle on it.

apex · Post by **apex** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:58 am

while using the Karma software is it possible to make the karma generated notes to ONLY play when you have pressed OR are pressing certain keys??? and then karma do nothing when you play other notes?

like for example if I am holding the D key... then karma will generate the ge. but then when I release the D key and play other notes in the riff karma will then stop generating notes and the Kronos will ONLY play the notes that I am playing in the riff?

I tried to GE setup and keyzone parameter... and I locked the zone into just the 1 note that I wanted karma to recognize... well this worked... but when I played notes outside that zone... I heard nothing.

maybe I could use 2 programs that are the exact same... one with karma on and the other without it.... that would work... but seems like a waste. and probably not the most efficient way to do it.

ksi · Post by **ksi** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:23 pm

apex wrote:while using the Karma software is it possible to make the karma generated notes to ONLY play when you have pressed OR are pressing certain keys??? and then karma do nothing when you play other notes?

like for example if I am holding the D key... then karma will generate the ge. but then when I release the D key and play other notes in the riff karma will then stop generating notes and the Kronos will ONLY play the notes that I am playing in the riff?.

maybe try to use Dynamic MIDI to achieve this, using as source a selection from the Note Group, and using Module Stop or Module Pause as destination, and selecting negative polarity.
not sure though whether it works exactly as you want it

apex wrote:I tried to GE setup and keyzone parameter... and I locked the zone into just the 1 note that I wanted karma to recognize... well this worked... but when I played notes outside that zone... I heard nothing.

wouldn't an activated Thru Out Zone checkbox just provide that notes outside the zone are being played - or do I misunderstand?

runningman67 · Post by **runningman67** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:57 pm

It gives me a headache and makes me feel stupid

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:12 pm

I definitely use KARMA just like I would use any other arpeggiator or accompaniment system.

I especially like it for both mechanical or human feels that I'm unable to achieve myself. Drums being a particularly difficult point that gets way easier and more fun with KARMA.

It's great how you can pick a GE close to what you're looking for and then tweak it's parameters to taste. I imagine it a bit like working with a bassist or drummer and asking them to change the feel a bit. I don't want it to be 100% what I've written if I'm not great at playing those instruments.

I find most of the preset stuff too busy or complex though.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:59 am

I use Karma to jam with for fun.

For my band, I don't use any Karma. But I also don't use any drum tracks and no sequencer. I always play everything live.

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