Seven years on and every time I sit at the OASYS it's still an enigmatic experience. Nothing apart from my CS80 comes close to the experience of playing and composing on it.
It's not just the sound and all round capability of the beast, it's how stunning a control surface it possesses and how overwhelmingly classy the entire instrument is. It inspires in its own right.
I'm doing a few works on it currently, and as I was listened back to some work on it today, I paused to ponder what could possibly come along to surpass it in sonic capability AND ergonomics. That will be an astounding experience (alas for me Kronos, Motif or any of the others are just not in the same overall league).
Any thoughts....?
I wonder what will ever come along to surpass OASYS?
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Kevin Nolan
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Bald Eagle
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The sonic capabilities of the OASYS have already been surpassed by the Kronos which will be surpassed by the next generation from Korg or perhaps another company. But the experience and inspirational capabilities of the OASYS are still hard to match. There is just something about playing a beautiful well built machine that brings out something that a lesser keyboard can't.
Lately for me that comes from my Prophet 12. A different class of board but the same inspiration brought about by the feeling of an amazing control surface that's built like a tank.
All things considered I doubt that Korg will make an OASYS class machine any time soon if ever. I think now they could build it less costly but it would still bump the price by a significant amount. I'm beginning to think that many people now prefer to trade build quality for portability and lower costs.
Lately for me that comes from my Prophet 12. A different class of board but the same inspiration brought about by the feeling of an amazing control surface that's built like a tank.
All things considered I doubt that Korg will make an OASYS class machine any time soon if ever. I think now they could build it less costly but it would still bump the price by a significant amount. I'm beginning to think that many people now prefer to trade build quality for portability and lower costs.
This is a cool thread. I believe everyone has some great points. I love everything that has been mentioned about the Oasys...but I really like the sst, setlist and, especially, the drum track; not to mention the ability to load some of the great third party sounds that definitely sweeten the pallet. 
Kronos 2 61, Wavestation A/D, Yamaha Genos and others.
What the Kronos/Oasys have between them sonically is great,it's hard to see where Korg could go to take the workstation to the next level in terms of synthesis they are well equipped,and perhaps cover most aspects of what anyone would need,it's time Korg took a long hard look at the sequencer to bring it up to the specs to match that sonically rich engine,I know most users don't care for it,but there are those of us who would rather do without software and use the hardware so it's an important factor.
The build quality difference between Oasys/Kronos does not put me off the Kronos I have held off from purchasing the Kronos as there isn't much that Kronos has to offer over the Oasys to justify the cost,the setlist is about the only additional benefit at this moment,the pianos are great but I already have an SV1 which gives me that.
I shall wait for the next offering from Korg,to see if it's worth the upgrade and anything of a real rival to the Oasys,but even so that's got to have some serious revamping of the sequencer before I consider parting with any cash
The build quality difference between Oasys/Kronos does not put me off the Kronos I have held off from purchasing the Kronos as there isn't much that Kronos has to offer over the Oasys to justify the cost,the setlist is about the only additional benefit at this moment,the pianos are great but I already have an SV1 which gives me that.
I shall wait for the next offering from Korg,to see if it's worth the upgrade and anything of a real rival to the Oasys,but even so that's got to have some serious revamping of the sequencer before I consider parting with any cash
--Korg Nautilus~~Korg Modwave--Korg SV-1-Korg Wavestate--
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nitecrawler
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Difference between Oasys and Kronos not enough to warrant the expense to change; especially given quality build issues of the latter. Waiting for that future worthy development which will rationalize the expense required to obtain it. Whatever that may be.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=807494
Montage M7, Pa5x76, Nautilus, PA3Xle, Oasys 76, Mini-Moog, EMU Audity 2000, Motion Sound KBR 3D amp, Presonus and Reaper DAW W/Tannoy Reveal 501A powered monitors
Montage M7, Pa5x76, Nautilus, PA3Xle, Oasys 76, Mini-Moog, EMU Audity 2000, Motion Sound KBR 3D amp, Presonus and Reaper DAW W/Tannoy Reveal 501A powered monitors
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Mike Conway
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The OASYS has the ideal interface - big screen, leds with the knobs and sliders, 10 outputs/4 ins, plus SPDIF and ADAT option. My unit still works like a charm and gets regular use. Build-wise: A+
Since I record everything to OASYS/Kronos, the 24 bit recording is really nice. When you bounce tracks to Disk, the compression isn't as much as on the OASYS (which is 16 bit wav). The 24 bit wave file sounds more full.
I find the file/disk system on the Kronos to be much better, instantly recognizing external USB drives and able to deal with longer file names. It's just faster and more compatible.
Having both the OASYS and KronosX 61 key, I appreciate having a portable option of the OASYS (yet more powerful). I mount the Kronos over the OASYS and play from the OASYS' keys/controllers.
The bottom line is that the OASYS is my favorite synth/workstation and the Kronos continues that. The big O won't last forever, yet I will be able to continue my workflow, largely uninterrupted. OS-wise, I prefer the Kronos, because it has quite a few new features - 8 splits per Oscillator, Smooth Transition, Ethernet sample loading from your computer, Drum Track per program + User drum kits, etc. The more I play with it, the more I find.
Something that is cool about the Set List (as SanderExpander pointed out) is that you can play a backing track, from Sequencer Audio Tracks, and use the Set List to change from one program in the Sequence to another and another (up to 16 programs). As long as you point to the same sequence (Song), your backing track will keep playing without interruption, while changing programs.
My biggest complaint about the Kronos (smaller screen was inevitable) is the absence of physical rubber pads. Kronos has them, via the touchscreen, but the screen is mono-touch, meaning you can press only one pad at a time. Again, the OASYS has a much superior interface and I don't see it being surpassed for a long time. I plan on keeping both.
I have to admit that I have really come on to the Kronos. The User Sample Streaming allows me to load as many of my sample libraries as I want, simultaneously. (You must save the your own samples as a User bank to stream.) On the OASYS, I had a hard time loading 2 libraries (like KARO's Symphonic Strings and Unison Orchestra), but I have not reached a limit on the KronosX. It can hold/stream many times the samples that OASYS can load.Kontrol49 wrote:there isn't much that Kronos has to offer over the Oasys to justify the cost,the setlist is about the only additional benefit at this moment,the pianos are great but I already have an SV1 which gives me that.
Since I record everything to OASYS/Kronos, the 24 bit recording is really nice. When you bounce tracks to Disk, the compression isn't as much as on the OASYS (which is 16 bit wav). The 24 bit wave file sounds more full.
I find the file/disk system on the Kronos to be much better, instantly recognizing external USB drives and able to deal with longer file names. It's just faster and more compatible.
Having both the OASYS and KronosX 61 key, I appreciate having a portable option of the OASYS (yet more powerful). I mount the Kronos over the OASYS and play from the OASYS' keys/controllers.
The bottom line is that the OASYS is my favorite synth/workstation and the Kronos continues that. The big O won't last forever, yet I will be able to continue my workflow, largely uninterrupted. OS-wise, I prefer the Kronos, because it has quite a few new features - 8 splits per Oscillator, Smooth Transition, Ethernet sample loading from your computer, Drum Track per program + User drum kits, etc. The more I play with it, the more I find.
Something that is cool about the Set List (as SanderExpander pointed out) is that you can play a backing track, from Sequencer Audio Tracks, and use the Set List to change from one program in the Sequence to another and another (up to 16 programs). As long as you point to the same sequence (Song), your backing track will keep playing without interruption, while changing programs.
My biggest complaint about the Kronos (smaller screen was inevitable) is the absence of physical rubber pads. Kronos has them, via the touchscreen, but the screen is mono-touch, meaning you can press only one pad at a time. Again, the OASYS has a much superior interface and I don't see it being surpassed for a long time. I plan on keeping both.
Great posts. However, I do have a question. Hopefully, Mike or SanderExpander can explain this to me. I'm certainly not as gifted as some of you guys in the tech aspects. This is from Mike's last post:
"Something that is cool about the Set List (as SanderExpander pointed out) is that you can play a backing track, from Sequencer Audio Tracks, and use the Set List to change from one program in the Sequence to another and another (up to 16 programs). As long as you point to the same sequence (Song), your backing track will keep playing without interruption, while changing programs."
I believe I understand the basic idea; but could one of you guys amplify on this? Is Mike stating, that in setlist mode, you could load the same song in up to all 16 slots then have the default program sound different on each slot and as you toggle between them the song will continue uninterrupted and each slot will highlight the individual program that would be in the play or record position?
Thanks in advance for the clarification!
"Something that is cool about the Set List (as SanderExpander pointed out) is that you can play a backing track, from Sequencer Audio Tracks, and use the Set List to change from one program in the Sequence to another and another (up to 16 programs). As long as you point to the same sequence (Song), your backing track will keep playing without interruption, while changing programs."
I believe I understand the basic idea; but could one of you guys amplify on this? Is Mike stating, that in setlist mode, you could load the same song in up to all 16 slots then have the default program sound different on each slot and as you toggle between them the song will continue uninterrupted and each slot will highlight the individual program that would be in the play or record position?
Thanks in advance for the clarification!
Kronos 2 61, Wavestation A/D, Yamaha Genos and others.
Is exactly what you understood, I use it all the time, it's a great feature.DennyC wrote:Great posts. However, I do have a question. Hopefully, Mike or SanderExpander can explain this to me. I'm certainly not as gifted as some of you guys in the tech aspects. This is from Mike's last post:
"Something that is cool about the Set List (as SanderExpander pointed out) is that you can play a backing track, from Sequencer Audio Tracks, and use the Set List to change from one program in the Sequence to another and another (up to 16 programs). As long as you point to the same sequence (Song), your backing track will keep playing without interruption, while changing programs."
I believe I understand the basic idea; but could one of you guys amplify on this? Is Mike stating, that in setlist mode, you could load the same song in up to all 16 slots then have the default program sound different on each slot and as you toggle between them the song will continue uninterrupted and each slot will highlight the individual program that would be in the play or record position?
Thanks in advance for the clarification!
Basically you can put the song in as many slots as you want on the setlist selecting the proper midi channel, you switch between these slots and the song doesn't stop but you can play the instrument(s) assigned to the selected midi channel
Ah shucks Kevin...you may as well have titled the thread "what will ever come along to make you feel the same way as playing the OASYS?"
When you used the word "surpass" it was inevitable that the superior technological advances of the KRONOS would be bandied about and that's fine and true. You did also employ the word ergonomic but I think that got lost in the fray. I do have to take exception to Sharp's using the word "vast" though! Superior? Yeah, I get it, but vast almost implies that the OASYS is ready for the bloody dustbin for crying out loud!
I know what Kevin means and it is about a feeling because I get the same nirvana moment every time I sit and play the OASYS. Even though I could replace the OASYS with a KRONOS and not miss a musical beat, I know I would miss the old geezer and regret it. That said, I'll play it until it coughs out its last note and then get a KRONOS X.
I played the KRONOS for several hours, and even though all of the familiar sounds and features plus more were there, I just didn't get the same nirvana FEEL. Besides, like Kevin, I immediately missed all of those green lights!
For us that saw the very first mention of the Open Architecture Synthesis Studio in Keyboard and Electronic Musician back in the 90's and dreamed about such a machine, we waited, and waited, and waited, and when it finally came along in hardware form...well, there are no words to describe that feeling.
And the fact that this same feeling is still there 6 years later testifies to the emotional impact this music machine has on some like Kevin and Dany and cello and myself.
For KRONOS owners, congrats on getting a monster workstation. Make some killer music! For those lucky enough to still get goosebumps from an old but still capable synth workstation called the OASYS...I know the feeling!
Great posts by all!
When you used the word "surpass" it was inevitable that the superior technological advances of the KRONOS would be bandied about and that's fine and true. You did also employ the word ergonomic but I think that got lost in the fray. I do have to take exception to Sharp's using the word "vast" though! Superior? Yeah, I get it, but vast almost implies that the OASYS is ready for the bloody dustbin for crying out loud!
I know what Kevin means and it is about a feeling because I get the same nirvana moment every time I sit and play the OASYS. Even though I could replace the OASYS with a KRONOS and not miss a musical beat, I know I would miss the old geezer and regret it. That said, I'll play it until it coughs out its last note and then get a KRONOS X.
I played the KRONOS for several hours, and even though all of the familiar sounds and features plus more were there, I just didn't get the same nirvana FEEL. Besides, like Kevin, I immediately missed all of those green lights!
For us that saw the very first mention of the Open Architecture Synthesis Studio in Keyboard and Electronic Musician back in the 90's and dreamed about such a machine, we waited, and waited, and waited, and when it finally came along in hardware form...well, there are no words to describe that feeling.
And the fact that this same feeling is still there 6 years later testifies to the emotional impact this music machine has on some like Kevin and Dany and cello and myself.
For KRONOS owners, congrats on getting a monster workstation. Make some killer music! For those lucky enough to still get goosebumps from an old but still capable synth workstation called the OASYS...I know the feeling!
Great posts by all!
.:':. Soundworld A.D. .:':.
KRONOS2-61 | OASYS 76 | Jupiter-80 | Integra-7 | V-Synth GT (2) | V-Synth XT | Fantom XR (2) |XV-5080 | Triton-Rack | JD990 (4) | Wavestation SR | 01R/W | JV-2080 | JV-1080 | Kurzweil K2500RS | Kurzweil K2000RS | Proteus 3 World | SC-88 | D-70 | MC-80 | TD-20 V-Drums | Korg Wavedrum | Roland Handsonic HPD-15 | Mackie SR32.4-VLZPRO | Mackie 1402-VLZ3 | Yamaha HS80M
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=948812
KRONOS2-61 | OASYS 76 | Jupiter-80 | Integra-7 | V-Synth GT (2) | V-Synth XT | Fantom XR (2) |XV-5080 | Triton-Rack | JD990 (4) | Wavestation SR | 01R/W | JV-2080 | JV-1080 | Kurzweil K2500RS | Kurzweil K2000RS | Proteus 3 World | SC-88 | D-70 | MC-80 | TD-20 V-Drums | Korg Wavedrum | Roland Handsonic HPD-15 | Mackie SR32.4-VLZPRO | Mackie 1402-VLZ3 | Yamaha HS80M
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=948812
Thanks, you're the best!metallo wrote:Is exactly what you understood, I use it all the time, it's a great feature.DennyC wrote:Great posts. However, I do have a question. Hopefully, Mike or SanderExpander can explain this to me. I'm certainly not as gifted as some of you guys in the tech aspects. This is from Mike's last post:
"Something that is cool about the Set List (as SanderExpander pointed out) is that you can play a backing track, from Sequencer Audio Tracks, and use the Set List to change from one program in the Sequence to another and another (up to 16 programs). As long as you point to the same sequence (Song), your backing track will keep playing without interruption, while changing programs."
I believe I understand the basic idea; but could one of you guys amplify on this? Is Mike stating, that in setlist mode, you could load the same song in up to all 16 slots then have the default program sound different on each slot and as you toggle between them the song will continue uninterrupted and each slot will highlight the individual program that would be in the play or record position?
Thanks in advance for the clarification!
Basically you can put the song in as many slots as you want on the setlist selecting the proper midi channel, you switch between these slots and the song doesn't stop but you can play the instrument(s) assigned to the selected midi channel
Kronos 2 61, Wavestation A/D, Yamaha Genos and others.
Thanks Denny. Just call me "Soundworld" like Vlad77. Somehow I wound up with 3 different monikers on Karma Labs, Korg Forums and Roland Clan but SoundworldA.D. will always be the musical part of me.
Interestingly enough I have hardly even used the Integra-7 except for a few sound EFX so far. It has great sounds, but my main workhorses have become the OASYS and the 3 V-Synth's.
I haven't used the Jupiter-80 a lot, but it is a joy to create stuff on. Once you get the gist of the Registration architecture you get the feel for how deep it is. Ans what a perfect complement to the KARMA machines.
As for the OASYS, 6 years on and I feel like I have hardly scratched the surface. I have never used the sequencer or the hard disk recorder. I watch Mike Conway's "unofficial" DVD and always say I am going to try some of those things out but just start having too much fun bashing and making noise!
Great hobby this music thing. Quite cathartic!
Take it away Hazrat!
"And what does music teach us? Music helps us to train ourselves in harmony, and it is this which is the magic or secret behind music. When you hear music that you enjoy, it tunes you and puts you in harmony with life. Therefore man needs music; he longs for music. Many say that they do not care for music, but these have not heard music. If they really heard music, it would touch their souls, and then certainly they could not help loving it. If not, it would only mean that they had not heard music sufficiently, and had not made their heart calm and quiet in order to listen to it, and to enjoy and appreciate it. Besides, music develops that faculty by which one learns to appreciate all that is good and beautiful in the form of art and science, and in the form of music and poetry one can then appreciate every aspect of beauty."
==Hazrat Inayat Khan==
Interestingly enough I have hardly even used the Integra-7 except for a few sound EFX so far. It has great sounds, but my main workhorses have become the OASYS and the 3 V-Synth's.
I haven't used the Jupiter-80 a lot, but it is a joy to create stuff on. Once you get the gist of the Registration architecture you get the feel for how deep it is. Ans what a perfect complement to the KARMA machines.
As for the OASYS, 6 years on and I feel like I have hardly scratched the surface. I have never used the sequencer or the hard disk recorder. I watch Mike Conway's "unofficial" DVD and always say I am going to try some of those things out but just start having too much fun bashing and making noise!
Great hobby this music thing. Quite cathartic!
Take it away Hazrat!
"And what does music teach us? Music helps us to train ourselves in harmony, and it is this which is the magic or secret behind music. When you hear music that you enjoy, it tunes you and puts you in harmony with life. Therefore man needs music; he longs for music. Many say that they do not care for music, but these have not heard music. If they really heard music, it would touch their souls, and then certainly they could not help loving it. If not, it would only mean that they had not heard music sufficiently, and had not made their heart calm and quiet in order to listen to it, and to enjoy and appreciate it. Besides, music develops that faculty by which one learns to appreciate all that is good and beautiful in the form of art and science, and in the form of music and poetry one can then appreciate every aspect of beauty."
==Hazrat Inayat Khan==
.:':. Soundworld A.D. .:':.
KRONOS2-61 | OASYS 76 | Jupiter-80 | Integra-7 | V-Synth GT (2) | V-Synth XT | Fantom XR (2) |XV-5080 | Triton-Rack | JD990 (4) | Wavestation SR | 01R/W | JV-2080 | JV-1080 | Kurzweil K2500RS | Kurzweil K2000RS | Proteus 3 World | SC-88 | D-70 | MC-80 | TD-20 V-Drums | Korg Wavedrum | Roland Handsonic HPD-15 | Mackie SR32.4-VLZPRO | Mackie 1402-VLZ3 | Yamaha HS80M
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=948812
KRONOS2-61 | OASYS 76 | Jupiter-80 | Integra-7 | V-Synth GT (2) | V-Synth XT | Fantom XR (2) |XV-5080 | Triton-Rack | JD990 (4) | Wavestation SR | 01R/W | JV-2080 | JV-1080 | Kurzweil K2500RS | Kurzweil K2000RS | Proteus 3 World | SC-88 | D-70 | MC-80 | TD-20 V-Drums | Korg Wavedrum | Roland Handsonic HPD-15 | Mackie SR32.4-VLZPRO | Mackie 1402-VLZ3 | Yamaha HS80M
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=948812
"And what does music teach us? Music helps us to train ourselves in harmony, and it is this which is the magic or secret behind music. When you hear music that you enjoy, it tunes you and puts you in harmony with life. Therefore man needs music; he longs for music. Many say that they do not care for music, but these have not heard music. If they really heard music, it would touch their souls, and then certainly they could not help loving it. If not, it would only mean that they had not heard music sufficiently, and had not made their heart calm and quiet in order to listen to it, and to enjoy and appreciate it. Besides, music develops that faculty by which one learns to appreciate all that is good and beautiful in the form of art and science, and in the form of music and poetry one can then appreciate every aspect of beauty."
==Hazrat Inayat Khan==
That's a great quote, Soundworld!