OASYS PCI | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Korg |
Dates | 1999-2001 |
Price | $2,000 |
Technical specifications | |
Polyphony | 16 (maximum; may vary depending on DSP load) |
Timbrality | 12 |
Oscillator | depends on synthesis engine |
Synthesis type | PCM, Physical Modelling, Sampler, Analog Modelling |
Filter | depends on synthesis engine |
Input/output | |
Keyboard | no |
External control | MIDI |
The Korg OASYS PCI is a DSP-based PCI-card for PC and Mac released in 1999. It offers many synthesizer engines from sampling and substractive to FM and physical modelling.Because of its high market price and low polyphony production was stopped in 2001.About 2000 cards were produced.
Korg SOS SR1 Sound On Sound Unlimited Track Recorder. Recording format: PCM audio format, WAV format (extension.wav), BWF compliant, 44.1 kHz@16-bit. Available recording time: Memory card dependant - up to 26.6 hours with a 16 GB card; Approx. 100 minutes per 1GB. Korg M3R (1989) Rackmount sound module derived from famous M1 synthesizer: 16 voices polyphony, 134 PCM samples, digital low pass filter and LFO modulator. It also comes with 6 types of optional PCM/program cards that were popular at the time, and a total of 7 KLC cards are newly added to the KORG Legacy Collection. With more than 1,500 preset sounds, more than 700 waveforms, and 55 effects, you can create a limitless number of sounds.
The Korg OASYS PCI is a DSP-based PCI-card for PC and Mac released in 1999. It offers many synthesizer engines from sampling and substractive to FM and physical modelling. Because of its high market price and low polyphony production was stopped in 2001. About 2000 cards were produced. Korg's Sound Card Sets. Korg made 16 Sound Card Sets for the M1/T-Series and 16 Sound Card sets for the M3R. Each set consists of a Program/Combination/Sequence card and a PCM (Multisound) card. The PCM cards are the same for all synth models and will work in all M/T Series synths. The Program cards however are not compatible.
Engines[edit]
Some of the models were taken from Korg Z1 hardware synthesizer.
ROMpler[edit]
Virtual Analog[edit]
- Analog 1 Osc - basic analog synthesizer with one oscillator;
- Analog 2 Osc - same as previous, but with two oscillator. Consume less DSP-power than two copy of Analog 1 Osc;
- Analog Bass-Lead - simple synthesizer dedicated for solo and bass sounds;
- Comb Synth - same as previous, but with comb filter;
- KB-303 - model of RolandTB-303 bass synthesizer;
- Mini Synth - model of Minimoog synthesizer;
- Noise Synth - noise synth for percussion sounds and effects;
- Pro Synth - model of Sequential CircuitsProphet-5 synthesizer;
- Pro Synth Mod - same as previous with two more envelope generators and control elements.
Physical modelling[edit]
- Reed Piano - model of popular e-piano;
- Plucked String - acoustic guitar and other plucked string instrument model;
- Small Plucked String - lite version of previous mode. Consume less DSP power;
- Slap Bass - bass guitar model;
- Small Slap Bass - lite version of previous mode. Consume less DSP power;
- Tonewheel Organ - electric organ model.
- Z1 Organ - model taken from Korg Z1. Sounds pretty the same;
- Tenor Sax - physical model of Saxophone.
Drum Synthesizer[edit]
- Percussion Synth - drum machine similar to Korg Electribe R.
- Percussion Synth 2 - same as previous with one more envelope generators;
- Beat Box - 3-track drum machine with 16-step sequencer and two Percussion Synth 2.
Virtual Phase Modulation (Frequency modulation)[edit]
- VPM 2 OP - 2-op FM synth with one ADSR envelope;
- VPM 4 OP - 4-op FM synth;
- VPM 4 OP Select - 4-op FM synth with 8 algorithms of operators connection. Specification close to YamahaTX81Z and FB-01.
Effects[edit]
Card comes with basic effects package based on 17 categories. Many of them taken from Korg Tritonworkstation synthesizer.
Extensions[edit]
Korg released Synth Kit software for Mac OS 9 for extensions developing. Some of addition plugins were released to expand card capabilities:
- Harm Visser (acoustic modelling instruments)
- Dan Philips (effects and tools)
- Orwell Digital (VA and percussion synthesizer)
- Zarg Music (Orion synthesizer)
Compatibility[edit]
Because of fast market fail, no drivers were released for (then) modern operation systems including Windows XP and Mac OS X. Most of users had to have dedicated computer for Korg Oasys PCI on Windows ME/98.
Korg Sound Cards & Media Devices Driver
Successor[edit]
The Korg OASYS workstation synthesizer released in early 2005.
See also[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
- Trask, Simon (April 2000). 'Korg OASYS PCI - Synthesis, Effects & Audio Card'. Sound On Sound. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
Korg's longstanding OASYS synthesis project has finally come to commercial fruition. The original plan, to produce a traditional stand-alone synthesizer, has given way to a computer-based synthesis and mixing environment running on a multi-DSP PCI card. Simon Trask takes refuge with the OASYS PCI...
(see also a column on this article: 'Native Vs DSP: Dan Phillips (Korg R&D) On Processing Power')
Korg's Sound Card Sets
Overview
Korg made 16 Sound Card Sets for the M1/T-Series and 16 Sound Card sets for the M3R. Each set consists of a Program/Combination/Sequence card and a PCM (Multisound) card. The PCM cards are the same for all synth models and will work in all M/T Series synths. The Program cards however are not compatible.
These card sets are highly sought after because of the new PCM waveform data they contain. This is the easiest way to add new Multisounds to your synth and thus increase it's sonic capabilities.
Korg's M1/T Series Sound Card Sets
The M1/T-Series Sound Card Sets consist of a MSC (PCM) card and a MPC (Program) card. The Program card contains 50 Programs, 50 Combinations, and Demo Sequences. The number of Multisounds and Demo Sequences varies from set to set. The M1 cards usually contain more Sequences than their M3R counterparts.
Card Set# | Card Set Name | Card Set# | Card Set Name |
MSC-01S | Variety | MSC-09S | Organ |
MSC-02S | Synth 1 | MSC-10S | Ethnic 1 |
MSC-03S | Drums 1 | MSC-11S | Brass |
MSC-04S | Orchestra | MSC-12S | Synth 3 |
MSC-05S | Piano | MSC-13S | Ethnic 2 |
MSC-06S | Fretted Instruments | MSC-14S | Sound Effects |
MSC-07S | Synth 2 | MSC-15S | Drums 2 |
MSC-08S | Percussion | MSC-16S | Environment |
Korg's M3R Sound Card Sets
Korg Sound Cards & Media Devices Drivers
The M3R Sound Card Sets consist of a RPC (Program) card and a MSC (PCM) card. This is the same PCM card used in the M1/T Series sets but not the same Program card. The Program card contains 100 Programs, 100 Combinations, and Demo Sequences. The number of Multisounds and Demo Sequences varies from set to set. The M3R cards usually contain fewer Sequences than their M1/T-Series counterparts.
Card Set# | Card Set Name | Card Set# | Card Set Name |
RSC-01S | Variety | RSC-09S | Organ |
RSC-02S | Synth 1 | RSC-10S | Ethnic 1 |
RSC-03S | Drums 1 | RSC-11S | Brass |
RSC-04S | Orchestra | RSC-12S | Synth 3 |
RSC-05S | Piano | RSC-13S | Ethnic 2 |
RSC-06S | Fretted Instruments | RSC-14S | Sound Effects |
RSC-07S | Synth 2 | RSC-15S | Drums 2 |
RSC-08S | Percussion | RSC-16S | Environment |