Using KARMA creatively?

[laandodeman]

How many of you use KARMA for your own creations and composition?

So I don't mean that you use the pre-programmed KARMA patterns already made by KORG.

If you do, can you also say a few words on how you do it?

[SanderXpander]

To call KARMA "pre-programmed patterns" is doing it a huge injustice. The entire point of it is that it reacts to your playing and manipulation of the sliders and switches. I think you could, with minimal effort, use any KARMA pattern and move some sliders until most people wouldn't recognize it.

[tomto66]

I fiddle with Karma daily. I have the Karma software, but frankly I have never yet had to use it. The Karma GEs are a DEEP library and I always find a way to tweak the factory GEs to obtain what I want. The preset button and slider settings that come with the GEs are merely examples, starting points for experimentation. What Sander said!

I got the karma software because I sometimes need very specific patterns - turns out I don't need the Karma soft for that - I use RPPR when needed for that.

[laandodeman]

I got the karma software because I sometimes need very specific patterns - turns out I don't need the Karma soft for that - I use RPPR when needed for that.

Am I right that RPPR can only be used in sequencer and not in combi mode? My point is, I sometimes need simple but very specific patterns for a live cover band. I can't seem to find these patterns in Karma. And working with RPPR in sequencer mode doesn't work for me because you cannot save songs, which I always found strange. But I might miss something essential here.

I cannot imagine that the most simple sequencers nowadays can do that (even the on board sequencers on the Moog Sub37 or Prophet 6 do it in just one minute), but the Kronos can't unless you buy extra and pretty complex software from which the I don't need 99.9% of the features.

So my guess is that there must something in the Kronos to solve my problem. Any ideas?

[SanderXpander]

Of course you can save songs. Where is this going wrong for you? RPPR (or really just the sequencer in general) sounds like a better option than KARMA for your situation.

[tomto66]

It took me a while to realise the potential of RPPR. Actually, SEQ mode is THE SAME as combi mode, but you get RPPR thrown in for free. With RPPR you can use SEQ mode not to sequence songs, but you use the sequencer to sequence 'part' that you trigger while you're basically using the functionality of COMBI mode!

There is nothing in Combi mode that you cannot do in SEQ mode. SEQ is Combi + extras.

[tomto66]

You can save songs like any other combi or pattern: top/right dropdown --> save. The only thing missing is auto-load for songs. I load my songs routinely after booting the Kronos.

[19naia]

I made combis by starting from scratch with karma, as well as taking factory set combis and changing them around.
All the Karma GE's i use are preset but they all come set to change around with the sliders and switches. Or able to go in and reassign the slider, switches functions , and change out entire GE's.
The latest Combi i made was a factory preset where i switched out the programs, changed the tempo and set up my own ifx. The factory preset had a lot going on in karma that i couldn't make from scratch and so i had to dissect it to see how it was set up. I know how to navigate GE parameters and set them up to controls but its not so easy knowing what they all bring to the performance per each of the many possible settings. So i dissected a preset to understand it and then left it as it were.

One great thing i find in Karma is it has good drum beats that blend well with Drum track and karma easily allows on the fly drum fills or changes.
And using Karma in Seq with RPPR is great because Karma midi data can be recorded to midi track and that midi track can be assigned to RPPR for triggering. The recorded karma midi track data can be saved as a pattern to use entirely in RPPR or Drum track and that frees up the Karma modules for tracks that need to be karma real time performance ready.
RPPR can be used as a Karma multiplier but you loose all real time Karma control once converted to RPPR pattern. I guess you could assign Karma to an RPPR track, but i have never needed or tried.
Personally, 4 karma modules works for me so far in one Combi and i don't like that RPPR drops out the lower octave usability. I use RPPR mainly to create new beats or make changes to preset beats. I used to use RPPR more extensivley when i had Triton and no Karma. I still Love RPPR and need it, but not that much. I guess it depends on what my music project is and that can change any day unexpectedly.

[GregC]

I mpreset to understand it and then left it as it were.

One great thing i find in Karma is it has good drum beats that blend well with Drum track and karma easily allows on the fly drum fills or changes.

I also like Karma for drum patterns/fills. Definitely more ' alive ' vs the static Drum track. Of course, drum track is good for a quick jam along.

[tomto66]

19naia: I do that too: dissection Karma setups to see how they work. Picked up quite a few tricks by doing that! Great fun to pass an afternoon (doing that as we speak).

Me too I like Karma along to a static drum beat. Use static drums for snare/bass drum and then liven things up with e.g. Karma conga's. Very lively!

[amit]

I too use karma a lot, but then I am mostly an improvisational player so rather than it's fixed patterns, how those Patterns change or evolve interests me much.

I was able to understand it much better after using its software.

For RPPR, you can always convert your sequence to drumtrack pattern and use that for drum track on what ever timber you want.

I don't use RPPR much now as I bought an external h/w pattern sequencer,
Also it would have been much more useful if it had an exclusive mode like stop all current playing ones , and start all of the newly triggered, unlike now where they run in toggle mode.

[dfahrner]

...and I don't like that RPPR drops out the lower octave usability. I use RPPR mainly to create new beats or make changes to preset beats.

RPPR makes the lowest octave unusable for playing - it can only be used to control RPPR. For me, this makes RPPR unusable for live playing / performance. The solution would be to make the RPPR key range programmable - one or two lowest keys would cover my and probably most everyone's) live RPPR requirements. This has been talked about on this forum a number of times, and I look for it at each OS update, but it hasn't happened...

df

[spaceman3]

The uses for KARMA are endless.
I use KARMA.
I like to add KARMA to a song that i have already started.
I also modify KARMA with Track Edit Midi Event Edit and Shift/Erase Note.
Even without KARMA software you can really change KARMA in the sequencer.
My next purchase will be the KARMA software.
Dont get me wrong.
I love composing my own notes of music, but i can really apreciate the arps, backing, randomness, and overall everything that KARMA can do.
Super usefull and inspiring stuff.

[tomto66]

Me too I'd love to see a programmable RPPR range - on a KX88 I'd limit the RPPR stop to the lowest key - that would give me just about the whole range of the keyboard. Dan@korg are you listening?

[Kronos2ison]

I figured it out. Playing a piano written piece with a unintended sound is one thing. But add in Karma to the mix adds unexpected creativity. Like I start with one melody and the Karma has me playing something amazingly different before you know it. That's why the Kronos is the best thing going. So people can argue about sound quality of Montage vs Kronos all day long but what Korg is doing in this keyboard makes you a better musician.