(note: Since the OASYS is a PCI card, it’s reliability depends on your computer. As for the playability, this relies on your MIDI controller of choice)
Ultrafetish.
That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of the Korg OASYS PCI card. This is one of the few things that can do almost everything under the sun, from fat ass analog bass, to lush FM synthesis, to incredible sample playback, to emulations of wind instruments. This card has caused me problems, because ever since I got it, everything else I have bought has been based on how well it interacts with it.
It’s both a shame and a blessing that the Korg OASYS didn’t succeed financially. If you look on E-bay, you can find one for around $300 or $400 or so. Amazing since it originally came with an MSRP of $2,200.00. That’s right, the OASYS cost over two grand when it first saw the light of day.
This thing is possibly the best emulator of analog synthesizers you can find. It may not sound exactly like the “real thing”, but considering that it’s a PC card it still sounds nothing short of amazing. The synthesizers that it “officially” emulates are the Moog Minimoog, the Roland TB-303, and the SCI Prophet 5 (or Pro 1 if you use it as a monosynth). Also, there are synthesizers based on comb filters, filtered noise, and basic 1 and 2 oscillator synthesizers. It does each of these very well, and can tear open almost all software synths and all but the best hardware synths. Also, it has a set of FM synthesizers (ranging from 2 to 4 operator) that while not being nearly as powerful as Yamaha’s FM synthesizers, is still pretty good. Read More
Fxpansion VST to RTAS and VST to AU Adaptors
So, back in 1999 I bought a little phrase sampling program called “The Taureg” by Bram Bos. It was great and for the past eight years it’s been my primary tool for constructing drum loops. Well, eight years is a long time and this last year while recording new material I felt like my enthusiasm for the program was waning. Eight years is an eternity in computer-land, my poor little Tuareg can no longer compete with new workflow situations and feature sets offered by contemporary DAW’s and thus I began feeling the urge to seek out something new and inspiring. I’d felt the urge to seek out a replacement application earlier but each search I endeavored upon came up empty handed. I’d find drum synths, I’d find loop arrangers, I’d find phrase samplers… all fine on their own but none of them integrated their functions as well as The Taureg did and ultimately none of them inspired me enough to part with my cash. ENTER GURU.
