Here is a little about Karma:

KARMA (Kay Algorithmic Realtime Music Architecture) is a patented algorithmic MIDI data generating technology created by musician/programmer Stephen Kay. KARMA takes input notes and controller movements and generates complex musical phrases and effects, providing independent real-time control over various aspects of a musical phrase, such as rhythm, duration, accents, chord density, pitch bending, tonal variation, panning, repeats, randomization, and more.

Karma uses "Generated Effects" (GE) instead of styles.

1. GE
Select from over 1000 types of phrase or pattern. From the approximately 400 GE parameters, each GE provides up to 16 parameters most suitable for control.

2. KARMA module parameters
For each KARMA module, these parameters select the GE, specify the MIDI input/output channels, the key zone, MIDI filter, and trigger settings.

3. RTParm (Realtime Parameters)
Assign KARMA Realtime Controls knobs/switches to any of the sixteen GE parameters that you wish to control.

4.KARMA Realtime Controls
There are eight knobs and two switches to control the KARMA function in realtime, and you can store two sets of these knob/switch settings and use the [SCENE] key to recall them at a touch. Chords can be memorized in the four CHORD TRIGGER keys to make it easy to play difficult chords, or simply have a fun, new way of playing. Appropriate chords are already set for each of the preloaded programs and combinations. All these parameter assignments can be made independently for programs, combinations, and songs.

5. Dynamic MIDI
Specific aspects of the KARMA function can be controlled from the on-board controllers or by MIDI control messages. For example, you can use the joystick to strum a guitar chord, or use a foot switch to switch a KARMA module between Run/Mute states.


[This message has been edited by Clif Anderson (edited 01-21-2001).]

The foregoing is from music123.
Here is some stuff from Harmony Central

"One KARMA pattern can be used in Program mode. Four KARMA patterns can be used in Combination/Sequencer/Song Play modes, so that separate patterns can generate independent phrases to play different sounds such as drums, bass, guitar, and piano to create a full ensemble.

The basis of the phrase or pattern is called a Generated Effect (GE), and it controls how note data from the keyboard is developed. With approximately 400 parameters in a single GE, the KARMA function can control virtually any type of tonal or phrase change. These parameters include elements like harmony, scale, ad-lib/humanize, rhythm randomization and complexity, phrase variation, tone, pan, effects, pitch bend, volume, velocity, duration, MIDI control changes, chord control, MIDI delay/repeat (Melodic Repeat™), and pitch change.

Up to 16 of these parameters are available for real-time control over a GE, and can be adjusted by operating the eight Real-time Control knobs and two switches. Two available scenes allow controller settings to be saved for instant recall. Four Chord Buttons are also provided to allow the user to easily create and trigger complex voicings. The KARMA Music Workstation provides over 1,000 different GEs organized into 17 categories, and new GEs can be loaded as they are made available. "