Re: Korg KARMA

I agree that my Karma is a very fun and inspiring synth. I am very happy I bought it (used 
in nyc. . . the aftertouch is delicate, and sometimes you have to open it up and jiggle the 
wires around the joystick to get it to work again.)

I do agree with Andrew, who posted here recently that the tendency of the Combi's and 
especially with their KARMA's switched on, is to make the unit sound like one big Synth 
Demo Sequence- the kind you'd hear in the store when you press one button, put inside 
the synth's software by the manufacturer to persuade you to buy one! It's definitely at risk 
of being used as a Music-Minus-One self-accompanying keyboard. For some people, 
that's what they want and need: a giant Casio. 

But as others (and Andrew himself)) pointed out: you do have the option and ability to not 
OVERUSE the KARMA, or to turn off some of its elements and only use PART of the GE. If 
you do that, then there's more room for your own input and creativity, perhaps using some 
of the Karma's really good Triton-sound-set sounds one at a time, as overdubs in your 
piece of music, either played live after you record the KARMA part of the arrangement, or 
sequenced in your DAW after you've recorded the KARMA part. 
*(For some people, pressing one note in your left hand, and then soloing with your 
righthand to the accompaniment you have set into motion and twisting knobs (which leads 
to fantastic results on the Karma) is enough creative activity. For others, who perhaps have 
more musical training, or deeper control issues, or strange ideas about what they want 
their music to do, (and the KARMA function CAN do MANY strange things already) it is 
possible and wise to disable or limit the KARMA function.)*

My only 2 other semi-critical comments are 1. the keyboard (at least mine) feels flimsy: 
too lightweight, somewhat cheesy; the keys are a bit too narrow and don't have the feel of 
my JD-800 or V-Synth, On those excellent keyboards, when you play a note, you feel that 
it's a definite commitment, with a very solid 'thunk' at the bottom of the keystroke. and 2. 
Sometimes I feel that on the whole, the patches have been too tweaked with compression 
(and definitely too much reverb -which is much easier to turn down!) so that they lose a 
bit of transient response- they don't jump out at you and instantly disappear like some do 
on the Motif for example- and sometimes Karma patches sound wonderful by themselves, 
but they sit TOO BIG in a mix!

I'll probably get some criticism from my fellow Karma Freaks for MY criticisms, so I will say 
one more time - i"m very very happy with my purchase of a used Karma (it's my first Korg 
synth in over 20 years - I had a Lambda and a Mini-Korg back in the very early 80's) - I 
really dig the sounds, and the Karma function is hypnotic - you just keep playing with it 
till hours have passed - and that's my definition of a 'worth it' synth.

Well, I know this is long, but I've really gotto get back to playing the Karma - it's cool 
maroon hues and mystifying textures, it's glassy guitars, fat leads, screamin organs, 
bottomy basses and romantic piano arpeggio textures are inviting me, and I just CAN'T say 
no to my Karma.





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