For this korg to be succesful, it's got to sound absolutely awesome. Otherwise it's dead - when you first play it you've got to be absolutely knocked out - literally.
I can only see two new thing in the Korg, the HD1 rompler synthesis - this sounds like an extension of HI, really giving stereo tones per oscilator with 4 dynamic layers - don't we have that already? and KARMA 2 - where karma 1 can be bought for $150 (with a triton).
The rest is a 'pick 'n' mix' of Korg technology - VA from MS2000B?, waveseqencing from legacy collection?, Tonewheel organ simulation from CX3, effects & HD section from a cut down D16, and a bog standard '16' track seqeuncer. I now just see the OASYS as a board with some serious processing power which runs software already available, granted, it should be integrated well and does give good polyphony.
So I'm now finding it hard to see the value when all the individual components can be bought for A LOT, LOT less - except for HD1 and KARMA 2, where I expect to see other keytboards and modules spun off quite fast (six months) for Korg to exploit there new sound engine and reap as much reward as possible.
I think Alesis is going to put this Korg under loads of pressure, especially if the price is right. Still, if it really does sound awesome, I'll want one...
Steve
