Big Dilemma with the Oasys! Help!

[triton_951]

Hi everybody!

I'm almost a new owner of the Oasys and I wanted to know if it was a good idea to buy one instead of an m3. I saw the m3 has the same 16 programs/combi, less inserts effects, same Karma, RH3 88 note version, a good amount of sounds and ram, so the question I has is, why is there 4000$ between the Oasys and m3 knowing that is has the same karma, touchpads, sampling, hd-1, etc?
Also, can the oasys load all the m3 and triton serie programs/combis???

Thanks for helping!

[Mike Conway]

I'm almost a new owner of the Oasys and I wanted to know if it was a good idea to buy one instead of an m3.

If you need a traditional workstation, the M3 will suffice, providing the bread and butter sounds and cool KARMA rhythms. It is 2 years newer than the OASYS, so there is better computer connectivity and the sequencer resolution is higher. The other main advantages are the KAOSS style screen function and the drum track playback with programs.


If you are looking for a gigging board, the OASYS is rather heavy and delicate. For me, it is much more suited to a stable studio environment.


If you want a synth tweaker's dream, then the OASYS is it!

Also, can the oasys load all the m3 and triton series programs/combis???

No. You could certainly look at an M3 program and recreate it in the OASYS, but no one has made cross-compatible banks, yet. The OASYS has thousands of great programs available. Don't buy it for "other keyboards' presets".

I saw the m3 has the same 16 programs/combi, less inserts effects, same Karma, RH3 88 note version, a good amount of sounds and ram, so the question I has is, why is there 4000$ between the Oasys and m3 knowing that is has the same karma, touchpads, sampling, hd-1, etc?

The OASYS is Korg's niche experiment. It is a low volume production item, so parts will be more expensive. It wasn't intended to compete with sales of mainstream workstations. Price is an old arguement, but if you added up OASYS features - compared to an M3 - one could argue the cost difference.

Same HD-1? Nope, the OASYS' lossless compression sounds better than an M3 and gives you powerful Wave Sequencing synthesis, which the M3 lacks.

Sampler? Similar functions, but the OASYS uses a P4 processor, so it can load 700 megs of samples (from hard drive - longer from CD) in just 30 seconds. Not only is this ultra convenient for big sample libraries (like Karo's stuff), but loading up recorded audio tracks is lightning fast!

Same KARMA? Yes,.......but the OASYS has the option to integrate with KARMA OASYS software, allowing you to create your own GEs.

Obvious differences - the OASYS 10.4" screen can show a lot at once - for instance, all 16 Combi and Sequence slots, at once. Also, "skins" for the Legacy synths are provided to simulate analogue control surfaces.

In addition, the OASYS has STR-1 Physical Modelling and a very deep AL-1 virtual analogue synth. Optional engines can be added - MS20, Polysix and uber-powerful MOD-7 FM synthesizer (which can download sounds from over 200,000 FM programs from the internet).

The difference between these synths and soft synths, is that the engines can route through a bus system that allows them to input into each other. Likewise, samples can be input or used as "exciters" for STR-1 and MOD-7.

If you are just looking for presets, the OASYS may not be what you want. However, if you don't mind managing it, you can swap out samples in ROM, so that you can customize it to your taste. EXs1, EXs2 and EXs3 don't have to be loaded up (use your own samples or Karo's, instead) - or you can load them all (with 2 gigs RAM).

[triton_951]

Perfect. Thanks so much for this excellent reply! No I doesn't really look for presets, so I'll considerate what you said to make a clear choice on the Oasys!

Thanks Mike!

[Charlie]

I agree to all what Mike posted here and wish to add, that to me the biggest difference is the actual sound. Don't take me wrong: M3 sounds nice. But compared to an Oasys I had the feeling of a "toy". It never matched my first experience of listening to an Oasys. Just check it out and play both. If it's not a big difference for you, you shouldn't spend the money for an Oasys. To me it is!