VST support?

[ryan42]

Since the Oasys has a powerful computer that it runs off of, why can't the Oasys OS support the loading of VST modules, other than the obvious "it wouldn't make us money on MOD7 and EXs3"?

I would DIE to run a VST called Minimonsta on my Oasys.

[anhe]

my guess would be that
1. vst's dont run nice under linux
2. the quality of most vsts are just awful, with dual core problems, memory management issues and god know's what not..
.. so, even if vst's could be run i doubt Korg would like to take the heat for every vst that crached or corrupted something.

[silverdragonsound]

I would imagine the configuration issues would be a nightmare as well. You can load samples with different formats and there are a plethora of decent samples. You may want to see if you can either convert or sample the sounds you would like to use into a more universal format. While it may be a P.I.T.A. it would allow you to use the sounds with the Oasys.

[ryan42]

Only problem is that it isn't sampling -- it's modeling -- with lots of controls you can change.

All they'd have to do is make an EXi plugin that was a VST host. -- Tell people they can use it at their own risk.

[MartinHines]

All they'd have to do is make an EXi plugin that was a VST host.

This is extremely hard to do. Muse Receptor is attempting this (i.e. a specialized computer with a Linux OS loading VSTs) but they are having trouble with it. The Receptor only supports some VSTs, all of which normally require Muse to tweak their OS, resulting in a huge backlog of desired titles and versions that are not currently supported.

Tell people they can use it at their own risk.

This is extremely risky and Korg would never do it, since the platform could quickly get a bad name about it "not working".

[rbox]

I dont want to see VST's on those Hardware like the Oasys.It is the same crap like the multiplattform games on Videogame consoles.They didn't
use out the hardware, they are not optimizied the code for each hardware(Xbox360,PS3,PC) when you compare exclusive games with multiplatform
games you can see the different.Smooth framerate,no tearings etc.,most pc conversion to consoles are not so good because they change the programcode only a little bit.And you can see it on the gaming PC itself,PC
games must running on different configurations and that is a problem.

There is only a possibility when Korg makes a joint venture with other
Va/Vst producer like creamware or Native instruments and they bring together an Oasys EXi optimized Version of Reactor/Moog modular.

[kenackr]

I agree with rbox even though I don't know anything about games. I don't want the O quality to be cheapened in any way, ever.


Ken

[Kevin Nolan]

VST is a standard that is deeply connected to the WinTEL platform. Hence VST is utterly incompatible with the OASYS. You may as well ask why that plugin does not run on your mobile phone or the computer under the hood of your car. Just because VST plugins run on one computer platform does not mean that they can, or can be made to, run on other computer platforms. Why doesn't OSX run on a Sun workstation? Why doesn't Halo 3 run on a PSP? These are the same questions. The answer is that that's not the way the computer industry exists. I don't know why you are even asking the question. Furthermore, OASYS is based on a reduced Linux kernal - not Linux as you know it on a desktop which has vastly more components such as a network stack, windowing and so on. Furthermore - it is an alternative 'solution' to VST or AU for that matter. Indeed, it tightly integrates various technologies in ways not possible on PCs and MACS. It bypasses the top-heavy requirements of the likes of VST. Hence the enduring incredible efficiency of the instrument, given its superficially modest CPU.

Kevin.

[ryan42]

Well... if we aren't going to see VSTs... is there a possibility of having a more open[/] interface for synthesis engines so that companies other than Korg could develop for the open architecture keyboard? My biggest gripe about why I want this is that I can't wrap my head around the AL-1. Minimonsta is just so friggen laid out well. (And it has presets made by Rick Wakeman that sound so real). The AL-1 has little graphical representation and resembles a Moog in exactly no ways. It took me such a long time to figure out how to make a simple triangle wave because it isn't listed in OSC1 whatever yada yada.

Also, don't read this the wrong way. I'm merely trying to incite a discussion that may hold some weight with Korg if they're watching (and we know they are!)

[Kevin Nolan]

I agree - AL-1 is very complex. I remember posting a similar frustrating post two years ago when first encountering it.

It doesn't have a GUI type interface as with the Polysix because it was designed to be an all encompassing virtual analogue synth. This has bestowed it with advantages and disadvantages. Advantage wise it has superlative oscillators, filters, modulation possibilities and step sequencers. The disadvantage is as you said - it is not inviting, graphics wise. I think a better set of presets from Korg could have helped - as with many of the classic synths such as the Prophet 5, the set of presets almost define the instrument as well as its features. Alas on OASYS too many of the AL-1 sounds have highly complex modulation and step sequencers. Hence even editing one of their sounds to remove upwards of 4 LFOs and three Step Sequencers to unveil the basics of the sound is a big, frustrating job. I wish Korg had commissioned someone to do a more basic program set to solve this. I find the same with MOD-7 and LAC-1 - overall I find their presets far too specific and complex with modulation and Karma to be useful when composing your own music. Presets should act as 'starting points' for creativity and as showcases for the capabilities of the synth engine - but smartly showcasing; and in these the OASYS presets for AL-1, MOD-7 and LAC-1 are among its poorer attributes.

That said, I refused to give up on the AL-1 because it is genuinely an absolutely magnificent synthesizer. For my purposes I just dragged out the manual and created a few sounds of my own from scratch. It took time, but you eventually get your head around it. What you learn here also applies largely to every other synth engine on the OASYS - so its worthwhile effort. Then assigning important parameters to the control surface means that you can play and edit your sound in real time, saving subsequent variations of your sounds as new programs.

While the sounds I made are not for everyone, you can find a link to them on the resources thread on this forum (or go to www.knect.ie/OASYS.html). The sounds I made are all big fat polyphonic synth sounds - the sort you'd find on an OBX-A or Jupiter 8. They are none the less very simple in construction in that they do not contain complex modulation and step sequencing. To thin out the sounds, simply turn off the 'UNISON' function - in some of these sounds I have layered up to 16 oscillators per note so they are ridiculously thick, but as said, with the UNISON feature off and the 'lashings of reverb' taken off, they are a quite basic sound from which you could then roll your own.

Of course whether you warm to AL-1 will depend on how much effort you put into it - but if you want a virtual analogue synthesizer up there with the very, very best available; AL-1 is your man. It really has a magnificent sound, and ultimately a capacity to deliver a staggering range of sounds. If you do not have the LAC-1 EXi, its also worth it - the Polysix is extremely easy to use while the MS20Ex delivers a modular synthesizer to your OASYS with a very hard-edged sound. Combined, all three make the OASYS a significant Virtual Analogue synthesizer resource.

Good luck with AL-1 - it will need time, but don't give up on it - its worth the time investment.

Kevin.

[jg::]

And Kevin, once again, thank you for that bank of sounds. I have found some of them very useful on a number of occasions.

jg::

[ryan42]

Kevin - Thank you very much for your post and I'm looking forward to trying out your sounds within the next few minutes! It helps raise my desire to mess with AL-1 to hear someone rave about it's abilities.