Korg Forums

Hi Stephen -

I just see today Daz's sticky post regarding the release of your KARMA OASYS (KO) even though I bought it a few days ago! I thought for a moment that it's release was going unnoticed on Korgforums.

May I congratulate you on an exquisite job on KO. The user interface is fantastic; and the depth and breadth of the software facility itself is mind-boggling. I can't honestly comprehend how you have managed to do all of this.

Into the bargain, despite your apologies for more time needed on documentation; the documentation provided and the level of detail and clarity in your tutorials are a fantastic help. Its also fantastic to have the entire documentation set available in an on-line format with the application.

While I'm still barely learning KO and am barely scratching the surface; what I'm realising very quickly is that KO is THE perfect computer-based compliment to OASYS. Of course among the defining qualities of OASYS (for me) is Karma - it's what gives it a depth akin to the legendary Farilights and Synclaviers of times past; and now you have provided unprecedented access to the entire world of Karma though KO. Three immediate and very exciting applications of KO come to mind (though correct be if I'm wrong):

- from your tutorial, I can envisage importing any MIDI based drum riff (from any other source) and converting it into a GE. Wow! I'm going to try this with one or two patterns from my RM1X in the new year and see if I can then apply the 'might' of Karma to their realtime performance.

- I can envisage creating completely new GE's based on my needs in any given piece.

- I can envisage taking existing GE's and editing them and storing them as new GE's

It's also great to know that for the long haul, for years and years to come, I now have available one of the most exciting and expansive electronic music exploration and creativity tools fully and uncompromisingly at my disposal. I know there are 50 other application of KO that I can't think of right now but will be invaluably served by KO at those future creative junctures. And of course this points to the most valuable aspect of KO - it puts us in the driving seat. We can now create, from scratch, with Karma technology. This to me is its real value - its a new and fully featured musical compositional tool; which is a whole new slant and approach to Karma that I'll look forward to getting my teeth into.

I know I may be laying the praise on a bit thick here; but I feel itsfully justified. The mind boggles at (your creative talent) and the possibilities of KO. Two years after owning OASYS and I can still barley get my head around its internal features, and now KO adds a huge, gigantic, new dimension to its possibilities. Phew!

Christmas came a little early for OASYS users IMHO; and from the incredible and mammoth task you have just finished - I hope you have a well earned break.

Cheers!
Kevin.

Kevin Nolan wrote:Hi Stephen -

I just see today Daz's sticky post regarding the release of your KARMA OASYS (KO) even though I bought it a few days ago! I thought for a moment that it's release was going unnoticed on Korgforums.

May I congratulate you on an exquisite job on KO. The user interface is fantastic; and the depth and breadth of the software facility itself is mind-boggling. I can't honestly comprehend how you have managed to do all of this.

How did he manage? It's quite easy, actually.

Just devote over 10 years of your life, with no rest, insane hours and pressure, a maniacal attention to detail and taking things further than others might have, add in a more than healthy dose of perfectionism, a clear vision of something new and exciting, perhaps a little bit of ego and a complete lack of regard for what others say can't be done and you're there.

See - anyone could do it if they put their mind to it!!



Congrats Stephen and I hope you actually put your feet up and relax a bit over the holidays, or just play your piano or something. You deserve the rest.

Regards,

Jerry

Stephen deserves every compliment we can think of.

Not only for his excellent work with the KO right now, but also for the other versions of the Karma Software, and how carefully he has been adapted it to every model Korg was producing; the amazing combis and sound he has given to the Korg workstations all this years, his fantastic forums, including all those tutorials and freelance videos for the Korg synths he has been shooting, all by himself, and his contribution to the Korg synth development in general, with its karma tecnology and his personal online support all this years.

Talking about this. I still remember, years ago, the zillion personal emails he sent to *everybody* asking him suport, prior to the karma yahoo group and even before the Karma lab forums were born, and all the time he had dedicated to give help and *support* to KORG users, by his own will.
Only that would deserve a whole bag full of congratulations and best whises for him.

No doubt Korg knows the great developer he is, but it is time for all of us in the Korg comunity to realize as well, and maybe, tell him, all togheter, now that is Xrismas time.

Once more, but not the last time...

Thank you, Sthepen Kay.
Korg wont be what it is now without your efforts.

The Karma Oasys software is a "must have item" IMO, that unlocks a very cool feature in Oasys OS 1.3, namely the support for User GE's. One simple to use yet highly musically effective function in the software is the ability to import a phrase from your own MIDI file or from the Oasys and convert that into a GE. I have had a lot of joy with taking static MIDI drum parts out of my sequencer and then importing those into a GE, giving me an instant way of creating all kinds of new material just off that one loop, courtesy of twiddling the RTC controls.

Another straight forward thing is taking the Korg provided GE's and personalizing those and firing them back to the Oasys as User GE's.

Of course there are way deeper and more advanced things you can do with the software in terms of editing GEs and Performances (i.e. the KARMA related params of Programs and Combis) as well as having the KARMA technology running on your PC/Mac as well (or instead of) on the Oasys itself. However even just using some of the basic functions, which are easily accessible and understood is a doorway to interesting musical results without getting too techno (until you're ready to do so !)

Very cool indeed ...

Daz.

Read more here in Stephen's post (that we made an Announcement)

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=30355

It contains all the relevant links over to Karma Lab for your reading pleasure.

jerrythek wrote:

Kevin Nolan wrote:Hi Stephen -

I just see today Daz's sticky post regarding the release of your KARMA OASYS (KO) even though I bought it a few days ago! I thought for a moment that it's release was going unnoticed on Korgforums.

May I congratulate you on an exquisite job on KO. The user interface is fantastic; and the depth and breadth of the software facility itself is mind-boggling. I can't honestly comprehend how you have managed to do all of this.

How did he manage? It's quite easy, actually.

Just devote over 10 years of your life, with no rest, insane hours and pressure, a maniacal attention to detail and taking things further than others might have, add in a more than healthy dose of perfectionism, a clear vision of something new and exciting, perhaps a little bit of ego and a complete lack of regard for what others say can't be done and you're there.

See - anyone could do it if they put their mind to it!!



Congrats Stephen and I hope you actually put your feet up and relax a bit over the holidays, or just play your piano or something. You deserve the rest.

Regards,

Jerry

Bingo!! And On that note I seriously think that Stephen Kay is in the same league as The late GREAT Bob Moog, and Dave Smith for his contribution to music technology!! Sit back and think about that for a moment!!