Korg karma has been discontinued

[cortexx]

because of unpopularity according to the Korg rep that visits my music store why do i feel an impulse to acquire one before they become rare and sought after.

Apparently according to the guy in the music store they are too complicated to use for the average guy. Is this true ??

[Atterion]

Nope, because if you're just an average person, you can simply work through the preset programs or combis using preset GE's (that's Karma talk). And there is nothing complicated about how the thing operates really. What the Karma offers though is the ability to create really complex sonic textures with tons of real-time control, not offered by any other type of synth. With a nice external PC editor too. I love my Karma, and if I had to choose only 1 keyboard to have for the rest of my life, the Karma would be it. If you can afford one, get one, it'll blow your mind....

[altitude909]

Its also worth mentioning that the Karma engine is included in the Oasys

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by cortexx

Apparently according to the guy in the music store they are too complicated to use for the average guy. Is this true ??

Never listen to the guy in the music store. But then again, I suppose he has a point as the average guy is mostly a preset junky.

I'd like to see the Karma engine released in the software w/o the sounds/ROM.

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by altitude909

Its also worth mentioning that the Karma engine is included in the Oasys

Good point, but then again Oasys costs waaayyyy more than Karma.

[altitude909]

Hey,
Having it fade to the legacy market is usually a good thing for its price (at least for a while). Did they ever make a rack version of it?

[cortexx]

anyone in canada got one for sale ?

[sajs]

Originally Posted by Atterion

Nope, because if you're just an average person, you can simply work through the preset programs or combis using preset GE's (that's Karma talk). And there is nothing complicated about how the thing operates really. What the Karma offers though is the ability to create really complex sonic textures with tons of real-time control, not offered by any other type of synth. With a nice external PC editor too. I love my Karma, and if I had to choose only 1 keyboard to have for the rest of my life, the Karma would be it. If you can afford one, get one, it'll blow your mind....

Does the external PC editor work with Windows XP?

[bsr2002]

I love my KARMA that and my MOTIF are the main keys in my rig. If I see one on ebay for less than $1000 I'll probably get one for the home studio
The KARMA also has the original TRITON sound engine and will also upload most of the patches over the internet I did

[Atterion]

No Rack Version

Yes the software works on XP!!!

You can buy the Karma software for the Triton range too (Giving it the sound generation capabilities of the Karma, but with out the physical interface).

As far as I know Stephen Kay (The Karma software creator), was in the process of writing and releasing, a full blown Karma software program that would work with any MIDI capable device.

[MartinHines]

I think your information may be a little premature:
-- the Korg Karma is still listed as a active product at the Korg USA website: http://www.korg.com/gear/default.asp?categoryID=1
-- the Korg Karma is still listed as an active product at the Korg Japan website: http://www.korg.co.jp/Product/Synthesizer/

Having said that:
-- no product is manufactured forever. The Korg Karma has been around for almost 5 years now (announced in January 2001)
-- each Korg Country distributor (like Korg USA or Korg UK) can decide whether to keep importing a specific product or not

I have heard Korg Japan was pleased with overall Karma sales, but they did wish they had been higher (of course that is probably true of any product).

As least currently, it appears the Korg Karma IS still for sale, and has not yet been discontinued. However, it very well may be discontinued sometime in 2006 (or not imported by some Country Distributors in 2006).

[SonicAlbert]

I wish they had made a rack version of the Karma. It used to be pretty standard that they'd release the keyboard first and then a while later come out with a rack version. I'd always wait for the rack, but that doesn't seem to be standard practice anymore.

[cortexx]

I think your information may be a little premature:

Information came from my local store owner that called the Korg Canada office while i was in the store waiting and listening. They told him it was discontinued now. Because he buys direct from Korg,Roland etc etc he wont be able to get me a knew one . I`m sure that the website still has it featured , most companies dont update their website daily unless they do internet sales as part of their business, so this should not be taken as gospel that Korg still have it in production.

I can still buy a new one online but only from the states , these are pretty much old residual stock floating around. I wont buy online from the States because Canadians get ripped off royally by customs at the border for imports at the moment.

So much for the free trade agreement

[noisewreck]

Heh, interesting development. Well, cortexx, like I said above, I'd not listen to the the guy at the store. About 4 years ago, Guitar Center and Sam Ash were swearing up and down that Kurzweil was "going under" and that they weren't making the K2600 anymore, blah, blah, blah... Nothing could be further from the truth. F-ing liars!

[cortexx]

I would absolutely be inclined to agree with you if it were not for the fact I heard his side of the phone conversation. Unless he was faking the phone call

Its not like he tried to sway me to buy anything else , everytime i walk into his store he knows I`m going to buy something keyboard orientated and he knows little about keyboards himself , especially synthesisers. I dont ask him for information , just pricing and vailability. He carries the Korg Tritons in stock but he knows I`m not going to buy one of those so he does't bother trying to sell it

I go there because his street pricing is practically the same as buying online , and he offers 16 year warrenties on everything he sells above and beyond the manufacturers warrenty. He doesnt pretend he knows the answer to my questions, he`ll call a direct line to Roland or Korg Canada and get his tech support guy to speak to me direct. Therefore I trust him because he doesnt feed me any bullshit (rare in todays world) .

I paid $1999 for my vsynth (canadian dollars) and $1000 for my MS2000b (canadian dollars)

i`m trying to get my hands on a Xk 6 E-mu without much success anyone got one ?

[MartinHines]

Originally Posted by cortexx

Information came from my local store owner that called the Korg Canada office while i was in the store waiting and listening.

The Korg Karma might be discontinued soon; alternatively Korg Canada may have simply "discontinued it" themselves (meaning Korg Canada will no longer import it).