Re: My first impressions of the OASYS

Just an afterthought - if you are looking for a "cheap" way to 
breath some new life into your "old" Karma, purchasing 3rd party 
combi collections from EJ2 or Karma Lab is the best way to bide your 
time waiting for Karma 2.  Currently, I have 7 collections available 
at low prices.  The EDGES-TETRA Double Set, ETM and MRV for those 
without EXBs are real bargains.  Check them out at my EJ2 website or 
my blog.
 Cheers,
 Eric, EJ2 Karma Programmer
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Karma Combi Collections from EJ2 
 http://2ej2.tripod.com/index.html
 Go to Eric's Blog to learn the latest news on EJ2 Combi Collections 
 http://spaces.msn.com/members/EJ2/
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

--- In [email protected], "Eric J. Sawyer" 
<doubleejprojects@y...> wrote:
>
> Greetings all,
>    For me, there were 2 Bottom-Lines that help me decide what 
> musical instruments to buy: 1. what comes out of the outputs
> (regardless of all the accessories) and 2. price point.  So, the 
> following (quoted from my EJ2KarmaTrax yahoo group) has been 
> coloured by these foregoing sentiments.  
> 
>    As we hear in Karma groups of various sorts, many have been 
> chomping at the bit for KARMA 2 or a new Karma product to come out 
> in an affordable package.  As NAMM 2006 revealed, it just didn't 
> happen, much to our dismay.  Currently, the Big O is it (for now).
> 
>     I'm sure Korg will milk the OASYS for as long as it can 
> to those who can part with their cash in that amount.  However, in 
> the meantime, you can bet they have something in the works.  They 
> always do.  Witness the incarnations of Triton to Le and now to 
TR.  
> Why they didn't follow suit for the Karma makes me wonder whether 
> the potential for Stephen Kay's KARMA Creator (Univeral) has them 
a 
> bit shy... but, look, they imported Karma 2 into an expensive 
> proposition, not just in terms of the price of the keyboard, but 
in 
> all the RnD, programming, etc. that went into it.  So, it's 
anyone's 
> guess as to the appearance of a new "affordable" KARMA 2 product.  
> 
>    Korg needs to know that while we wait, we pick up from it's 
> competitors such things as the V-synth XT bundled with Project 5.  
> Others have opted for the Virus TI.  Then again, it has forced a 
> few, including me, to explore the wonderful world of VSTi and the 
> potential for NEKO or MUSE type directions.
> 
>     Now, I finally auditioned the OASYS yesterday and came away 
with 
> mixed feelings.  The sounds are truly impressive and very clean.  
> The thing is built tough (except for the side panel screens (I 
guess 
> the O needs to breath).  The keyboard felt great and the touch 
> screen is awesome.  Having all the KARMA 2 scenes, the mixing 
> sliders, and the 8 chord (drum) triggers, the Vector JS and ribbon 
> ergonomically placed is a real treat.  The O's regular JS seems a 
> better build than Karma 1.  In fact the whole build quality is 
> better.
> 
>    It didn't take me long before I was modifying presets, some of 
> which I found not very well programmed, for my tastes at least.  
> Most leads are too wimpy in the mix.  And the drum kits and GEs 
> selected in a few combis just didn't cut it for me.  I must say, I 
> could tell the signature designs of OZZY and Stephen - top shelf 
> quality that is unmistakable.  Others' contributions sound like 
> they really didn't understand KARMA.  Some rhythmns and riffs were 
> slightly out of synch, the selection of programs, and the IFX 
> selections and settings need to be tweaked.  Don't misunderstand 
me, 
> I had a ball yesterday - for a long time.... My wife killed me 
when 
> I got home.  I left at noon and got back at 8 pm.....LOL.  
> 
> So, how much better than Karma 1 is OASYS in my estimation? As I 
> said, I came away with mixed feelings. Most of what Karma 1 
> contributers asked for in improving the original Karma have been 
> incorporated into a great design.  The layout of controls and 
> features is extremely impressive. The raw, unprocess sounds of the 
> OASYS as just amazing.  They are as good as reported.  But going 
> back to one of my bottom lines - what comes out of the outputs - 
are 
> they worth 4 times the price?  At this moment, I would say no.  In 
> fact, given the current street price of the Maroon Karma, the 
> absolute better bargain for someone wishing to get into KARMA 
> technology is the Maroon Monster - the Karma.  If you don't have 
> $9k+ (or 10,000 CND $) to blow on a Cadillac Keyboard such as the 
> OASYS, I would suggest you wait for the price to come down (and 
that 
> could be a long time) or for spinoffs to be born, or for a 
> competitor to come out with something that really grabs you 
(Roland 
> and Yamaha didn't do it for me this NAMM).  I will hold my 
decision 
> on the new Korg's RADIAS till after I audition it when it shows up 
> at the dealers.
> 
> To be sure, if I had the cash, I would definitely purchase an 
OASYS 
> and start programming the shit out of it.  The sonic potential 
just 
> blew me away yesterday.  I could see myself having a new set of 
> OASYS programs and combis out within 6 months or so - at least a 
> half set anyway.   Maybe I should......
> 
> Sorry for the long and ambivalent post, but I thought I would 
share 
> some of my opinions on the Big O after my first audition session. 
> 
> In the meantime, have fun with the gear you do have.
> Cheers,
> Eric, EJ2 Karma Programmer
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> Karma Combi Collections from EJ2 
> http://2ej2.tripod.com/index.html
> Go to Eric's Blog to learn the latest news on EJ2 Combi 
Collections 
> http://spaces.msn.com/members/EJ2/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>






 
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