Firstly, thanks for the kind comments in regards to my demo's. Much appreciated.

Yes, Karma and now Karma 2, is the next step up from your typical arranger but it's a huge leap not just a step and that leap takes you in a totally different direction, musically, than would the next gen of arranger keyboards.

It's hard to explain it in words but using Karma is a whole new experience compared to using an arranger. Even the best ones out there, pale in comparison, imho at least. It's also worth noting though, that an Oasys with Karma 2 is *not* an arranger keyboard and was never intended to be one. It might have a few similarities on the surface, but they are just vague similarities and do not have really much in common at all.

I was like you, when I first got my Karma keybaord. Nice arranger functions, like a very complex step sequencer but that was all. Fun and a bit of a novelty but how would I, or even would I ever, use it in the real world of performance and recording?

I dabbled around with my little dark red Karma for about a year and then suddenly, one day, I 'got it'. I stopped thinking of it as a complicated arranger type keyboard as such and began using it as an extention of my own musical abilities to play along side me and help be do things I could never do, due to my terrible playing technique!

It was then and only then, that I realised how much more Karma was than what it seemed on paper.

I guess you simply have to use one for a while before the reality of what it really can do, sinks in. As soon as the Oasys came out with a version of Karma that is over 4 times more powerful that the original Karma keyboard, with an interface that is so much simplier to use, thanks to the graphic display and touch screen stuff as well as the work surfaces, then it was like a prayer answered from heaven for me at least. I sold a lot of my older gear and bought the Oasys and have never looked back.

The Oasys is not for everyone and it certainly isn't for someone who wants or needs arranger type functions because it will surely disappoint that type of user. However, for a creative musician who is in search of fresh and constantly new inspirations to compose and perform music, the Oasys is just the right 'beast' to fulfil those needs.

No problem but it's worth pointing out a couple of factual errors in your post.

First, it's not a repackaged Triton. Actually it has far more in common with a repackaged, cut down Oasys than the Triton range at all.

Secondly, Stephen Kay is not the only person who can demo the M3. Given that the M3 and the Oasys have almost identical Karma 2 functions then It is really easy to work with as I know from working for over a year with the Oasys. Actually, the easiest thing you can do with the M3 is to demo it because of Karma which is so simple to use and yet can produce these amazingly complex sounds and arrangements/ideas.

Finally, I have to agree with you about Stephens videos. Not my style of music either (even though it is excellently played and performed...) but if you look beyond the music and see what he is actually doing and how he is doing it, it's an amazingly simple and yet incredibly powerful demonstration of Karma 2 in a live situation.


Anyhow, no offence taken at all.. and yes, Karma 2 in either the M3 or Oasys, is not for everyone. That I fully agree with wholeheartedly.

Cheers..

Nigel



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The Art Of Sound Website

Here's another page of M3 demos, at Korg;
http://www.korg.com/gear/prod_info.asp?A_PROD_NO=M3&category_id=1

Click on the mp3 button....

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 01-31-2007).]

thanks diki....great demos, i didn't think korg could create a piano that sounded that good!!and some of the drums and guitars are not too dusty either!!this m3 is certainly sounding like the business, now if only i can confirm they have a module version!!
cheers
dennis

PS read thru some info on the site and it is available as the M3-m module only yaaayyy!!!i will start saving the pennies now!!

[This message has been edited by miden (edited 01-31-2007).]

[This message has been edited by miden (edited 01-31-2007).]

You can buy the M3 without the attached keyboard (it's called the M3-M).

I am still waiting to hear if the sample load times have improved, as of now (Triton Extreme, MotifES) all of these workstations have glacial load up times that make it impractical for live use.

The new MotifXS has USB2 and ethernet connectivity, and USB2 connections on the M3, but no posted information exists for sample load time, yet......

Let's hope they finally join the 21st century in regards to memory loading times, I am fed up of my ancient K2500 being the fastest non-computer sampler on the planet (MS, Neko and Receptor are all computers)..........

Korg is going to clean house with the (M3-M). It's no secret, that the demand has "always" been there for full module versions of the synths. The makers would have you think otherwise, but they held back on making the full function rack versions because those sales were competeing directly with the sale of the keyboard itself. Hell the success of the original Triton Rack, and EX-5R are evidence enough. The M3-M will be an great addition to an existing set up (not to mention the space you're gonna save).

I did not hear that the M3-m is going to be 19" rack-able, though..... I was under the impression it is going to be the top piece that is attached to the keyboard as a standalone.... Sort of like the old Oberheim Xpander in form factor.

That's a shame, IMO. I prefer the protection of rack gear.