Korg Forums

Long post warning !

I've been lurking on here for a while now, being a devoted Korg user - I have a Triton Extreme 88 as well as a Korg N1R which replaced the original N1 when I got the Triton. Oh, and I recently got hold of the OASYS PCI card...

I've been following the OASYS ever since it appeared and lusted after it, especially having seen my favourite players like Jordan Rudess, Tony Banks, Keith Emerson, etc., playing them !

I have a nice little home studio, which I've spent a while putting together, but now have limited time to enjoy since the arrival of my 2 year old son ! This is a rough list of the gear therein to give you an idea of what I'm using and whether the O could either replace the whole lot or compliment it considerably, so here goes...

Keyboards

- Triton Extreme 88
- Roland XP30
- Roland V-Synth XT (a keeper !)
- Korg N1R
- Yamaha MU10
- CME UF6
- OASYS PCI

Recording

- Tascam FW1884
- Various outboard

Soft Synths

- REASON 4
- Arturia JP8V / CS80V / Minimoog V / ARP2600V
- NI Pro 53, FM7, etc

Sequencing software

- SONAR 7 Producer (long-time Cakewalk fan !)

So as you can see, quite a nice little list, but some of it I hardly use, the modules mainly, which I've kept for one or two older sounds. I love the soft synths too, but generally keeping the whole lot running smoothly is something of a pain, and I haven't really had time to get in to the OASYS PCI yet !

So I've finally managed to demo both an OASYS 76 and an 88 to see what I think, and obviously the design is lovely, but I came away thinking "Well I can do most of what it does with what I have...". No flames please !

I love my Triton for its sounds, its ease of use, the way I can quickly build new music quite far before having to switch it into SONAR, and most keyboard stuff I write now starts off on the Triton sequencer therefore.

So to cut to the chase, I'm possibly in a position to seriously consider an O, and this opportunity might not come again for a while. I love the idea of an upgradeable megasynth, etc., and totally dig the whole idea and concept, etc., and the idea of a major one-stop solution to the whole composing / recording workflow, as well as the major sonic capabillity. I think the only concerns I have are the gripes I've seen all over the place re the O's sequencer, in that is it the same as the Triton's, is it slightly better, or is it worse ? Other than that, obviously integration with SONAR would be very important to me.

I'm sure I had more questions to ask, but would appreciate anyone's views and opinions.

Many thanks in advance.

fallingman wrote:So as you can see, quite a nice little list, but some of it I hardly use....generally keeping the whole lot running smoothly is something of a pain

I had about 17 synthesizers and samplers, before pulling the trigger on the OASYS. What I found was that I was spending so much time voicing/effecting/mixing and coordinating that many synths that it took forever to setup. (I would use a Triton Extreme, a Triton Classic, a Fantom and SY99, just to make a single string section that one OASYS can do better) Sometimes it's better to concentrate one or two quality instruments, instead of a medium quality arsenal - at least in my case.

So I've finally managed to demo both an OASYS 76 and an 88 to see what I think, and obviously the design is lovely, but I came away thinking "Well I can do most of what it does with what I have...".

Those were also my initial thoughts....until I actually implemented it in my studio and played it next to my Extreme, Fantom, etc. You buy an OASYS because of its engine depth, hybrid capability, clarity (sounds of FX, synths) and improved sample oscillator quality.

As an example: The Extreme has a lot of sounds that the OASYS doesn't have (mainly some orchestral variations). I had the MOSS installed and really liked the whole package! As you know, the Extreme's synth sounds are sampled waves, which are run through the Extreme's filters and FX. I remember having to layer most synth sounds in combis, so that they sounded big and smooth.

The OASYS also has a lot of sampled waves, in the HD-1 engine (the ROMpler part). However, the samples are full and transpose more like an E-MU E4 sample, rather than like a compressed rompler sample.

Here is an individual OASYS program (just ROM samples):

Flashlight Wave Pad

Here is another single program that I made, using HD-1 ROM samples:

Filter Rhythm

As I said, "Single Programs", not stacks. I could not achieve that kind of beefy synth on my Extreme or Roland Fantom, even though they are all 16 bit samples. Obviously a VA or FM engine can achieve a certain fullness, but I'm very impressed that an OASYS mult-sample can sound like a big pad, even if you disable the filter movement.

Overall, I've seen a jump in sonic quality, from the time I was using my pile of synthesizers, compared to my later OASYS compositions.

If you haven't heard them, I have more sounds posted here:

OASYS sounds

I think the only concerns I have are the gripes I've seen all over the place re the O's sequencer, in that is it the same as the Triton's, is it slightly better, or is it worse ?

What is worse, is that the Cue List (Song Chaining) function is not on the OASYS. We are still hoping that this will be implemented in an upcoming OS. I don't know why it wasn't included in the first place.

What is Better?

*Bigger screen, which can show you around 50- 60 measures in one glance, while on the TRACK EDIT tab.

*New SYSEX implementation, which finally lets you record anything from SIMPLE VOLUME CHANGES to radical tweaking of programs (filters, lfos, envelope altering, etc.). This can be very useful and expressive.

*Awesome new Bus Routing System, which I have not seen equaled on any board, including the new, yet to be released, Fantom G. You can run synth engines and tracks' routings into other synth engines. Here's a Bus example:

MULTIBUS VIDEO

(22 meg streaming Quicktime)

*HDR and 16 audio tracks. Some basic editing functions, but very useful in expanding the original 16 MIDI tracks. RECORD MULTIPLE COMBIS, voices, outside instruments; free up tracks, etc.

*Obviously, the benefit of twice the FX processors as the Extreme, KARMA implementation, etc.

I'm not saying that this is like Sonar, which has a lot more editing functions, and you might want to stick with.

Mike :

Many thanks for taking the time to write a detailed and very helpful reply.

I may well be checking out your DVD whether I buy the O or not, cos I'd obviously like to know as much about this beast as possible !

I'll keep you posted...

Thanks again,