About to buy one - is it a good time?

[Sina172]

...

[kenackr]

dhjdhj,

I really like the SKB ATA rated case I have. Not only does it have Excellent handles, but it has rollers too and they are a life saver.

Mine has traveled many miles and I've never had a problem.

[dhjdhj]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[MrT-Man]

www.calzonecase.com

They've supplied cases to Korg. Great cases, and you have some choice as to material, color, case features etc.

[dhjdhj]

I see that the instrument comes with 1Gb RAM but there's room for 2Gb ---- therefore, buying another DIMM would seem to be a no-brainer, letting me load the EXs2 piano without having to delete the EXs1 data, at least from what I can tell by my first quick skim of the manual?

What else is recommended? Is the Legacy Collection worth having?

Is there a way to free up RAM by removing stuff I won't need, like the sequencer and KARMA? Should I care?

Is there other interesting software to be found that would run on a Mac connected to the OASYS? Things like library management, etc? Leveraging larger screens to do sound editing and so forth?

Thanks,
D

[Daz]

I see that the instrument comes with 1Gb RAM but there's room for 2Gb ---- therefore, buying another DIMM would seem to be a no-brainer, letting me load the EXs2 piano without having to delete the EXs1 data, at least from what I can tell by my first quick skim of the manual?

Its great for your own sampling efforts, importing third party samples (http://www.karo-sounds.com/) and also for loading EXs3 (purchaseable option unlike EXs1 and EXs2)

What else is recommended? Is the Legacy Collection worth having?

Do you want/need those kinds of sounds and need access to a pair of vintage synth emulations ? The same goes for MOD-7 (FM Synthesis and more) and EXs3 (Brass/Woodwind samples/programs), the other two expansion options.

Is there a way to free up RAM by removing stuff I won't need, like the sequencer and KARMA? Should I care?

No. Only the sample expansion can be loaded/unloaded from memory in that way. Everything else is mandatory.

Is there other interesting software to be found that would run on a Mac connected to the OASYS? Things like library management, etc? Leveraging larger screens to do sound editing and so forth?

I would say KARMA Oasys, but you just said you're not using KARMA, so maybe thats moot for you. If you have a change of heart, check this out :

http://www.karma-lab.com/karmasoft/ko/ko_main.html

Otherwise the only computer integration for the Oasys is from the community itself :

https://www.korguser.net/oasys/support/links/

HTH,

Daz.

[dhjdhj]

My main interest is for live performance. But I'm also using a dual-manual organ, a Minimoog (NOTHING replaces one of those ) and I'm running MainStage with a ton of AU plugins (including such things as Kontakt and FM8 among others).

The reason I was drawn to the Oasys was similar to why I have a Moog....tremendous playability.

But it's not (yet) obvious to me why I would care about doing my own samples with Oasys (or why I would use the onboard sequencer) when I can get (I think) much more functionality out of Kontakt for sampling, and out of tools like Digital Performer or Logic for sequencing.


I'm certainly open to persuasion, I'm totally interested in getting the most out of the Oasys but in some ways, I'm more interested in best practices for integrating and leveraging it in my live environment, as opposed to using it as a self-contained studio.


I'll take a look at the KARMA stuff (and I know the author is on these forums so I'll be careful what I say ) but I haven't had much luck in using anything that's time-sequenced in a live environment because it would require the drummer to use a click-track and that's probably not an option.


D

[Voltan]

it would require the drummer to use a click-track and that's probably not an option.

May I ask why it's not an option?

[dhjdhj]

I play in an 8-piece band for fun --- you know, one of those middle-aged bands where everyone has a real job (which is why I can afford the Oasys )

I like the technology aspect (duh) as well as the playing (in fact I spent quite a few years in the computer music research space) but the other members are not particularly interested in that side of things ---- since the band mostly plays classic rock with jams, they're not interested in the discipline to play that rigidly.

I'm already getting beat up for wanting to play more closely to the originals

it would require the drummer to use a click-track and that's probably not an option.

May I ask why it's not an option?

[kenackr]

dhj,

As you said, getting the 2nd gig of ram is a no-brainer, so just do it. The more sounds you can load at one time for a live gig, the better off you are.

I wouldn't dismiss using Karma so quickly. If you're doing classic rock, you'd be surprised at just how great Karma can be for a super arpegiator,etc. But the reality is, it's so much more, you don't have to use it to replace your drummer (click track or not), but to do cool grooves too.

The reality of being able to mix synth engines and their different capablities is just super to get "new" sounds that make a tune yours, even if it is "classic".

If you are already using Logic & Kontact there isn't any reason to stop.

At any rate, you've got a great instrument to have a lot of fun with, so just get what ever you want and have a blast!

Ken

[dhjdhj]

I ordered it this morning!

--->As you said, getting the 2nd gig of ram is a no-brainer, so just do it. The more sounds you can load at one time for a live gig, the better off you are.


Yeah, I know but (a) I've never been a fan of arpegiators... I always felt that music should be played, not triggered.

My interests are progressive and fusion ....bands like ELP, Genesis (before they turned into a pop band) and Yes.....they don't do grooves!

I've no doubt Karma is a terrific tool for particular genres and I'll probably pick up the Mac program to play with at some point for fun but I'm just not particularly interested in algorithmic composition.

---->I wouldn't dismiss using Karma so quickly. If you're doing classic rock, you'd be surprised at just how great Karma can be for a super arpegiator,etc. But the reality is, it's so much more, you don't have to use it to replace your drummer (click track or not), but to do cool grooves too.



Yep .... I'm still trying to figure out how to buy the extra pieces....I'm struggling with the "usability" of Korg's website (grin)

----->The reality of being able to mix synth engines and their different capablities is just super to get "new" sounds that make a tune yours, even if it is "classic".


I won't. Although I still think I prefer Digital Performer, it seems more intuitive, even though it's clearly showing its age!
----->If you are already using Logic & Kontact there isn't any reason to stop.


No question ---- and it's clear that this forum is a terrific resource. Hopefully, once I get up to speed, I'll be able to help answer questions instead of just asking them.

---->At any rate, you've got a great instrument to have a lot of fun with, so just get what ever you want and have a blast!

[kenackr]

dhj,

The first step in getting the "extra pieces" is to register on korguser.net .

Once your registration is accepted in the system, you can purchase any of the EX extras directly from that site.

The EX discs are in "Demo form" which allows you to hear all of the sounds for as long as you want, however each sound will fade in and out until you purchase on that site. At the time you purchase you will be given a code that authorizes and unlocks the sounds to play normally. You only have to load the sounds once in demo version.

There are 2 modes of receiving the files. The first is to talk with Korg support to see if the prepackaged CD's are available for them to send to you.

The second is to download them directly from that site and then burn your own disc.

Once you are registered any new EX releases will come automatically in the mail.

Hope that helps,

Ken

[Pr0]

What about the keyboard stand? I bought an Ultimate V-stand and let me tell you... that thing was made for the Oasys!

[vEddY]

The Oasys is going to be replaced by something better ... the next version of the Oasys OS !

Obviously no one really knows what Korg will do next, but we do know there is a new OS update being worked on that will bring further goodies to the current Oasys.
Daz.