KARMA

Seven Years In The Making At Korg we're always dreaming up innovative ways to make our keyboards more expressive, more powerful, more musical, and when we first learned about a brand new technology called KARMA'", we knew we'd found one. Seven years after assembling a global team of skilled engineers, programmers and musicians, the Karma Music Workstation brings new music-making possibilities to life.

To start, its synth and effects engines are identical to Triton's, so you know how great it sounds. It's also compatible with Triton sound data and supports the same user-installable PCM and MOSS expansion options so your sound palette can grow. Plus, the Karma Music Workstation provides the same featurepacked 16-track sequencer that has made the Korg Triton the leader in music workstations. So what makes this new keyboard so special? It's KARMA, our revolutionary technology that generates amazing phrases, grooves and other musical effects that can be altered and randomized in realtime. With a bank of knobs and switches, you control elements like rhythmic complexity, harmony, melodic repeat, phrasing, panning ... even the synth's sound and effects. KARMA gives you the power to play impossible, interweaving cascades of notes, techno arpeggios and effects, dense rhythmic and melodic textures, natural-sounding glissandos, intricate fingerpicking and guitar strumming, swooping portamento and pitch bend moves to name but a few. The only limiting factor is your imagination. Karma like this only comes around once every seven years. Fortunately for you, the wait is over.

KORG's finest tone generator - the HI synthesis system - The 62-voice Karma Music Workstation features the same world-renowned HI (Hyper Integrated) synthesis system as our TRITON Music Workstation/Sampler. It includes 425 high-quality PCM multisamples and 413 drum samples covering a wide range of musical needs - 32 Mbytes in all. And an array of editable parameters let you tweak every sonic detail.

The effects section provides 102 effect algorithms, and you can use 5 insert effects, 2 master effects and a three-band equalizer simultaneously. Effect routing is very flexible, enabling you to send sound through any combination of effects and on to any of the four outputs. Alternate Modulation and Effect Dynamic Modulation are also provided, letting you modulate parameters such as pitch, filter, amp, EG and LFO. Delay time and LFO can also be synchronized to MIDI clock or tempo. You can even sync the sounds or effects with the tempo of the KARMA function or the sequencer playback.

KORG's superior programs and combis - The Karma Music Workstation contains a rich assortment of sounds created by KORG's legendary voicing team, acclaimed by professional musicians around the world. There are 640 user programs (384 preloaded), plus 256 programs and 9 drum programs compatible with GM level 2 in ROM. Drum programs can select from 64 user drum kits (16 preloaded) and the 9 GM drum kits. A Combination lets you use up to eight programs set up as splits and layers, and you have immediate access to as many as 768 user combinations (384 preloaded). KARMA settings have been made for all preloaded sounds, so you can simply select a sound and play phrases immediately.

Install option boards to add PCM sounds or a DSP tone generator - In addition to the internal PCM sounds, the Karma Music Workstation can accommodate the same optional EXB-PCM series PCM Expansion Boards available for the TRITON. Each board adds 16 Mbytes of PCM data plus programs and combinations that use this data, further broadening your sound palette. You can also install an EXB-MOSS DSP Synthesizer Board to add KORG's popular MOSS (Multi-Oscillator Synthesis System) DSP synth engine. It has 13 types of oscillators that make it possible to use virtually any type of synthesis method with KARMA. And with dedicated Banks for each option, you have plenty of room to expand your sound choices with no confusion.

16 track sequencer + KARMA functionality equals enhanced music production - The Karma Music Workstation contains a 16track sequencer with a capacity of up to 200,000 notes and 200 songs (up to 999 measures for each song). Phrases generated by the KARMA functi can be recorded directly, and you can add manually played and step-recorded phrases to create a song quickly and easily. The RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording) function lets you play back a phrase by pressing a single key, and 150 drum and percussion patterns are provided. Many other convenient functions help you produce songs efficiently such as Template songs, which allow you to call up a pre-arranged group of instruments and effects, and a Track Play Loop function that lets you specify looped measures independently for each track. A Cue List function lets you assemble your final song from up to 99 different sequences for easy arranging. Songs you create can be saved in SMF (Standard MIDI File) format or in a KORG TRITON compatible format so that data can be exchanged with other devices. (Note - The TRITON arpeggiator function can not be reproduced on the KARMA Music Workstation.)

The Song Play mode allows you to play back SMF files directly from floppy disk. You can perform on the keyboard along with the playback, or use the KARMA function in sync with the playback tempo.

Four channel audio output - In addition to the L/MONO and R main stereo audio outputs, you can use two independent audio outputs for a total of four channels of audio output. Oscillators, drums, timbres/tracks, and the signals from the insert effects can be freely routed to any output.

Since the KARMA function lets you control numerous musical elements such as rhythm, duration, harmony, scale, ad-lib/humanize, random variation and tone, it can produce phrases and patterns far beyond the current range provided by conventional arpeggiators or static pattern playback functions. For example, you can create spectacular cascades of intricate interweaving notes, techno arpeggios and effects, dense rhythmic and melodic textures, natural sounding glissandos for acoustic instrument programs, guitar strumming and finger-picking simulations, random effects, auto-accompaniment effects, gliding and swooping portamento and pitch bend effects and new sound design possibilities.

GEs bring KARMA to life. The basis of the phrase or pattern is a Generated Effect (GE) and the KARMA Module Parameters that control that GE. One KARMA module can be used in Program mode. Four KARMA modules can be used in Combination/Sequencer/Song Play modes, so that separate modules can generate independent phrases to play different sounds such as drums, bass, guitar, and piano to create a full ensemble using the KARMA function. The GE that is the basis of the phrase or pattern controls how note data from the keyboard is developed as well as how rhythm, chord structure, velocity, and more are controlled. 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 n, effects, pitch bend, volume, velocity, duration, MIDI control changes, chord control, MIDI delay/repeat (Melodic Repeat™) , and pitch change. Up to sixteen of these parameters are available for realtime control over a GE, and can be adjusted by operating the Realtime Control knobs and switches while you play.

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. By simply selecting a GE you can create music in many different genres, using a variety of instruments and performance techniques. KARMA puts you in control With KARMA, every aspect of a musical phrase has been separated into independently controllable attributes. Each of these attributes is controlled by a separate group of parameters, which can be individually varied or changed in groups in real-time as the music is being generated; or changed all at once with the selection of a program or combination. While the Karma Music Workstation generates phrases, you can tweak the onboard controllers so your performance will never sound "canned" or static. You can use the eight knobs and two switches to vary ten of the sixteen available RT (Real-time) Parameters that have been optimized for each GE by Korg's sound programmers. The two scenes available allow you to save two settings of these controllers for instant recall. You can also manipulate parameters with MIDI control messages.

PCM EXPANSION BOARDS

INSTALL A PCM EXPANSION BOARD FOR EVEN MORE PCM DATA.
The internal PCM data and sampling data can be supplemented by adding up to 2 optional 16 Mbyte PCM data boards. Each set consists of a board containing high-quality PCM data and a 3.5" floppy disk containing 128 programs and 128 combinations that use this data.

EXB-PCM01 PCM EXPANSION BOARD - PIANOS/CLASSIC KEYBOARDS
This board provides keyboard sounds such as piano, electric piano, clavinet, and electric organ that will accommodate any style of music. The programs and combinations provided utilize thirty-two new multisamples which provide seven different pianos including a spacious stereo piano, vintage electric piano sounds that range from traditional tones to clav-type sounds, electric organ sounds that lavishly use memory to capture even the modulation of a rotary speaker, and five types of clavinet including two muted variations.

EXB-PCM02 PCM EXPANSION BOARD - STUDIO ESSENTIALS
The thirty-nine new multisamples include seventeen brass/woodwind instruments, eight strings, and nine choirs (including a fantastic gospel choir)--- all indispensable for ensemble sounds. All brass and strings use stereo sampling for enhanced spatial realism. From small ensembles to large, from pop to orchestral, here are the sounds you need for every application.

EXB-PCM03 PCM EXPANSION BOARD - FUTURE LOOPS

EXB-PCM04 PCM EXPANSION BOARD - NY DANCE LOOPS

EXB-PCM05 PCM EXPANSION BOARD - VINTAGE ARCHIVES

EXB-PCM06/07 PCM EXPANSION BOARD SET - 32MB ORCHESTRAL SET

EXB-PCM08 PCM EXPANSION BOARD SET - CONCERT PIANOS

EXB-PCM09 PCM EXPANSION BOARD SET - TRANCE ATTACK

There has never been a system that provides this level of interaction and variability, and the results that can be achieved will inspire you to new leveis of creativity.