Korg OASYS: Difference between revisions
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* Dual resonant multimode filters, including "multifilter" |
* Dual resonant multimode filters, including "multifilter" |
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**Multifilter provides two separate sets of gain controls for lp, hp, bp, and dry signals, with modulatable crossfade between the two sets |
**Multifilter provides two separate sets of gain controls for lp, hp, bp, and dry signals, with modulatable crossfade between the two sets |
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* 4 EGs |
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* 4 LFOs |
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* 2 "AMS Mixers" (modulation signal processors) |
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* Per-voice step sequencer |
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====CX-3==== |
====CX-3==== |
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Revision as of 21:46, 30 April 2007
| OASYS | |
|---|---|
| File:Korg oasys.jpg Korg OASYS | |
| Manufacturer | Korg |
| Dates | 2005 - |
| Price | $8000 - $8500 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 172 for HD-1, CX-3, & PolysixEX; 96 for AL-1; 48 for STR-1 & MS-20EX (all maximum;may vary depending on other sounding voices and effects) |
| Synthesis type | PCM, Wave Sequencing, Vector, Physical Modelling, Sampler, Analog Modelling |
| Aftertouch expression | yes |
| Velocity expression | yes |
| Storage memory | 1GB RAM, upgradable to 2GB. No physical ROM. Preloaded samples include 314MB "ROM" (loaded into RAM automatically at startup), and optionally-loaded 313MB EXs1 "ROM Expansion" & 503MB EXs2 "Concert Grand Piano." 0MB to 1.5GB available for user samples, depending on memory configuration and loaded EXs. Internal 40GB HDD. |
| Effects | 12 insert, 2 master, 2 total |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 76 or 88-key |
| Left-hand control | 2x Joystick, 2x Switch, Ribbon, Karma |
| External control | MIDI |
The Korg OASYS is a workstation synthesizer released in early 2005, 1 year after the successful Korg Triton Extreme. Unlike the Triton series, the Oasys is implemented on a custom Linux operating system and is designed to be arbitrarily expandable via software updates, with its functionality limited only by the PC-like hardware.
Features
The standard Oasys comes with a hardware similar to many personal computers:
- 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 CPU
- 40GB hard disk drive
- 1GB DDR RAM, user-expandable to 2GB
- 10.4" LCD touch screen
It features Korg's OASYS (acronym for Open Architecture SYnthesis Studio) technology, which allows multiple synthesis engines to be used simultaneously. The OASYS also includes second-generation KARMA technology (with the first generation having first appeared in the Korg KARMA). It has either a 76-key synth-action or 88-key hammer-action keyboard.
Synthesis engines
As of March 3, 2007 the latest version of the OASYS OS is 1.2.3, featuring the following synthesis engines:
- HD-1: A PCM synthesizer, with 628Mb of preloaded samples and Wave Sequencing
- AL-1: A 96-note polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer (84 notes in previous versions of the OS)
- CX-3: A modelled tonewheel organ based on the current CX-3
- STR-1: A plucked string physical model
- LAC-1: Optional bundle ($250) including two virtual analog synthesizers, the PolysixEX and MS-20EX, which are updated models of the vintage Korg Polysix and Korg MS20.
HD-1
HD-1 Program
The HD-1 is a sample+synthesis engine with a two "oscillator" structure. In addition to the two "oscillators," an HD-1 Program contains a Vector Envelope, Common LFO (per-Program as opposed to per-voice, similar to the modulation LFOs in some early polyphonic analog synths), two common key tracking generators, KARMA settings, and effects.
HD-1 Oscillator
Each "oscillator" consists of a sample playback oscillator, dual multimode filter, nonlinear "drive" and low boost section, amp, and pan. The sample playback oscillator has four velocity zones, each of which can play a mono or stereo sample or a Wave Sequence. Velocity zones can overlap or crossfade. Korg claims very low aliasing distortion, due to the use of bandlimited interpolation.
Wave Sequencing
Stub.
EXi
EXi Program
Stub.
AL-1
Virtual analog synth engine.
- Two main oscillators with analog-style FM and sync
- Korg claims proprietary anti-aliasing technology, for no audible aliasing over standard 88-note range, with sync (but with drive and ring-mod off)
- Waveforms: Saw, Pulse, Saw/Pulse, Double Saw, Detuned Saw 1, Detuned Saw 2, Triangle, Square/Triangle
- Wave Morph and Pulse Width/Phase/Detune
- Sub-oscillator
- Audio input
- Noise generator with saturation and dedicated filter
- Ring modulation (Ring Mod, AM, Rectify, Clip)
- Mixer provides modulatable volume and filter a/b pan for osc 1, osc 2, sub osc/audio input, noise generator, and ring mod
- Per-voice, modulatable Drive (nonlinear distortion) and Low Boost (low eq)
- Dual resonant multimode filters, including "multifilter"
- Multifilter provides two separate sets of gain controls for lp, hp, bp, and dry signals, with modulatable crossfade between the two sets
- 4 EGs
- 4 LFOs
- 2 "AMS Mixers" (modulation signal processors)
- Per-voice step sequencer
CX-3
Stub.
STR-1
Stub.
MS-20EX
Stub.
PolysixEX
Stub.
Notable Users
- Jordan Rudess - Dream Theater Keyboardist.
- Tuomas Holopainen - Nightwish Keyboardist.
- Keith Emerson - Emerson Lake and Palmer (ELP).
- Herbie Hancock
- Tony Banks - Genesis
- Chuck Leavell - The Rolling Stones
- Sly Stone
External links
- Korg Website
- Karma Lab Website
- Electronic Musician magazine's review - PDF file
- Keyboard magazine's review - PDF file
- Sound On Sound magazine's review, part 1
- Sound On Sound magazine's review, part 2
- Keyboard magazine article: The Making of the Korg OASYS
- O'Reilly Digital Media - Inside a Luxury Synth: Creating the Linux-Powered Korg OASYS
- The Art Of Sound Website (Audio Demos)
- Understanding the Korg OASYS with video interviews and media gallery
- History of the old OASYS project
- Korg Forums Website
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