The Korg OASYS still retains its title as the most powerful synthesizer to this day, even after several years of its release. Nothing can touch its pristine audio quality and depth of programming of its synth engines.
Every time I turn on this instrument, I am amazed with the sparking brilliance of the programs and combinations.
But what makes this instrument so much fun to jam with and challenge your creativity is its KARMA Technology pioneered by Stephen Kay. You can even expand the KARMA functions by adding the
KARMA OASYS Software. The
Korg Pa2XPro 76 key Professional Arranger is the top of the line offering from Korg and is one of the finest in this category. Korg Italy did a spectacular job outfitting this keyboard with some of the most authentic instrument voices and factory styles.
The new keybed has a wonderful action that is a joy to play on. What jumps right at you, when you turn on this keyboard is the presence of the sounds. This is in sharp contrast with the Yamaha Tyros2 which sounds smooth and processed like a studio mastered CD.
Korg has been criticized in the past for drowning their presets with too much processing. I guess they took a different approach with the Pa2XPro to showcase how good the dry samples are without having to use effects to prop them up. The end result is the illusion of a live band. Of course one can dial in any amount of Reverb/Chorus to fit the bill.
Wouldn’t it be nice to combine the best features of the OASYS and the Pa2XPro and morph them into a single unit?
Can you imagine the power and potential the Pa2XPro will have if you could access the sounds of the OASYS and play impossible solos with your right hand aided by KARMA Technology?
Just the combination of Karma with the Pa2XPro styles will put this in a league of its own. There is no parallel. It would blow away the competition. Imagine triggering chords with your left hand to play back a full orchestra while you are playing fancy lead lines with your right hand with Karma doing all the work for you.
This is like having an Auto Arranger that also plays Auto Leads. It is not humanly possible to play a Harp Glissando on a keyboard in the same manner that Karma does it for you.
I think this is the next logical step in the evolution of Auto Arrangers. All the ingredients are in place. All it would take is for Korg and Stephen Kay to hammer down the final specs.
I have watched the evolution of Korg since their original groundbreaking M1 Workstation and their i3 Arranger and played on every major model they released…the O1/Wfd, WaveStation EX, i30, Trinity, Triton, OASYS, and now the Pa2XPro.
Here is a picture of my setup.
Thanks a million to Frank Ventresca for making me a killer deal on the Korg Pa2XPro. If you want to get a Korg Pa2XPro/Pa800/Pa500 or a Yamaha Tyros3 or even a Ketron Audya, call up Frank at (203) 876-1133
Scott Yee and I had the pleasure of meeting Frank at the NAMM show this year. He is a terrific guy and an all around gentleman. He would make you a deal you cannot refuse. Frank is the President of
AudioWorks in Connecticut.
Best regards,
Tapas
[This message has been edited by Tapas (edited 09-17-2009).]