Anyone using a Korg OASYS PCI?

[cfdude]

I used to have one, then I switched to a laptop and couldn't use it. The sampler was great in it. Actually all of the sounds were great. The effects were awesome. Way better than any plugin at the time. They priced themselves out of the market when they came out, very expensive. I bought mine on clearance really cheap, like $250.00. I miss it sometimes.

[fatcatmusic]

Yeah they're so good that I have a dedicated Win Me computer running it. Kinda hard to edit the sound but hey, the patches are damn good as they are! It seems Korg is the only company that is doing it right, look at their Legacy pack, MS-20, Wavestation, I wish all VSTis are up to their standard.

[Corran]

Wow, I had no idea this product was available! I was of course blown away by the Korg OASYS keyboard, but I don't have anywhere near that kind of dough. I still enjoy my Yamaha ES rack for a synth, but a built-in PCI card synth would be even better!

What's the normal price on one of these used? I see one on ebay for $125 right now, and I'd pick it up if I had some money lying around but I don't at all.

[fatcatmusic]

Originally Posted by Corran

Wow, I had no idea this product was available! I was of course blown away by the Korg OASYS keyboard, but I don't have anywhere near that kind of dough. I still enjoy my Yamaha ES rack for a synth, but a built-in PCI card synth would be even better!

What's the normal price on one of these used? I see one on ebay for $125 right now, and I'd pick it up if I had some money lying around but I don't at all.

They are absolutely worth that price. Then of course you need to get a PC to run it. And because it is a full length card you have to make sure your PC case has enough space. I also have a Yamaha E5, the OASYS sounds better! Crystal clear on the bell pads and thundering bass.

[Corran]

Originally Posted by fatcatmusic

They are absolutely worth that price. Then of course you need to get a PC to run it. And because it is a full length card you have to make sure your PC case has enough space. I also have a Yamaha E5, the OASYS sounds better! Crystal clear on the bell pads and thundering bass.

Cool, I just built a new PC and I'm sure it would fit. Man I wish I had the cash!

[Tomer1]

As far as I know it wont run on latest WIN OSs,
You need to build a seperate computer runing Win 95 or 98 to run it,maybe use an old Pentium 1.

[mahuska]

Funny you mention this. I've been using the Oasys PCI on and off for many years. Once again realizing the quality and broadness of sounds and FX.
For those who are interested, here is my experience and advice.

1. It is worth it to dedicate an old machine whether it be a G3/4 or P3.
It will run on Windows 98 or Mac 8.6-9.2. I have had mine in both Mac and Windows computers. Come on you can get one of these machines for $50-100.00.
2. Don't worry about not having a current DAW for those old operating systems, do this.
Have you current DAW connected to the Oasys machine via either spdif or adat. and use the Oasys synths/keyboards and effects with no CPU load on your DAW
3. It is hard to match the quality of native plugs vs Oasys.
4. I only recently discovered how to set up the modualtion palette for CC's
Feel like a fool for not doing so earlier. I use my midi controllers and it does work, you just don't see any knob/fader actually move.
hope this helps.

[Dunbar]

I'm using two Korg Oasys PCI cards in two old win98se boxes. I have them linked to my DAW via Midi over lan. I can control both synths from a single mouse and keyboard over the local area network using 'Synergy' (which is free). This is very handy software, it gives the impression all the monitors are plugged into a single computer - i just move the pointer to the edge of one screen and it appears at the edge of the other.

My next project is to integrate both cards into a single box running Winows XP. I plan to run each card in a virtual Win98 PC linked to the host OS via a virtual network; again using Midi over lan. I plan to run the Adat in/out of each card into the Adats of two Layla 3Gs - this will, allow me to send any audio signal from my host OS to the Oasys FX and back again.

I'll let you know how this project pans out.

[Squeegee 303]

I've got one, but it's been sitting in an old Blue and White G3, unused for a while. I really have to put it back into use. It really does sound great. I agree with other posters: it sounds better than most native plug-in soft synths. I just wish it ran under OSX. : (

[spons]

just sold one on ebay a few weeks back - a lovely sounding synth card

[Tomer1]

I wish korg would renew production.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Tomer1

I wish korg would renew production.

A markII PCI card with more powerful DSPs would be great. I guess they had their fingers burnt once and don't want to repeat the experience.

[vEddY]

Originally Posted by Tomer1

I wish korg would renew production.

or, better yet, publish up-to-date drivers since this card is superb. still so, after 10+ years...

[spons]

there was almost a year of Korg provarocating about producing xp drivers for the Oasys they even asked the mailing list if they would pay for them, which I think most said yes. then they shut the door on it.

[miscend]

How does the PCI version differ from the workstation version in terms of features.

[mrc]

Originally Posted by miscend

How does the PCI version differ from the workstation version in terms of features.

i was going to ask the same question

[bakerja]

I have one of these cards in an old windows machine and am going to try to revive it this weekend. Was just wondering if anyone out there is still using one. I agree it has some of the sweetest sounds around.

jab

[glideprooasyspci]

Originally Posted by bakerja

I have one of these cards in an old windows machine and am going to try to revive it this weekend. Was just wondering if anyone out there is still using one. I agree it has some of the sweetest sounds around.

jab

I've literally just got back into the OASYS PCI. I bought one last year and installed it in a Windows 98 computer, but it was a bit unstable (Windows, not the OASYS software!) so I left alone for a few months. Only yesterday I managed to get hold of an old Powermac G4 and now everything seems awesome!

If anyone feels like having a bit of a chat about what they're doing with their OASYS PCI, I'm interested. The sounds it makes are as modern and up-to-date as any plug-in you could get now - in fact many plug-ins are probably playing catch-up!

glidepro.

[bakerja]

I hope to fire mine up this weekend. I dug out two old pc's last week out of an attic. One had an old zip drive that I needed. It fired right up (win xp) and I was able to transfer all of my old zip disks. I'm hoping to have the same luck with the other machine. I think it has windows me on it. If I have trouble with it, I may start looking for an old mac to put the oasys in. I just remember how warm and full sounding the card sounded. Can't wait to get it going again!

jab

[glideprooasyspci]

Definitely get it going again, I realised how much I'd been missing out!
I can recommend a Powermac G3 (blue and white tower) or G4. With the G4 though, make sure you don't get one made too long after mid-2001 otherwise you may have an issue getting it to run OS 9.2.2 - mine is this - Power Macintosh G4 733 (Quicksilver) Specs (Quicksilver, M8359LL/A, PowerMac3,5, M8493, 1896) @ EveryMac.com - luckily the guy I bought it from had OS9.2.2 and OSX installed with the ability to choose to boot into either!