Korg KARMA & Keyboard Magazine

[jamessievershome.com]

I just opened the mail and my new Keyboard magazine with a KARMA review and a demo video popped out. It also came with a coupon for a Pianos/Classic expansion board ($240 value)if purchased by July 15. At least someone at Korg went to marketing class in college. Damn it, I'm getting one and I don't care what any of the so-called "professionals" that think they know music say about a product like this, I'll go head to head with anybody on this subject and say I can't wait to get one. I'm calling my guy at Woodwind & Brasswind and order one after I get done typing this.

Jim

[steadyb]

well, you know what they say about a fool and his money...

[steadyb]

I'm kidding, enjoy.

[SlopHappy]

Good for you. Don't let the negaholics get you down. I like all the major manufacturers' products myself. Everybody seems to get in this "either/or" mentality, but most of us can afford more than one product made by one manufacturer. I'm not going to be either brand-loyal or brand-disloyal. If I like it, and I can afford it, and decide to, I'm going to get it. The real problem for me is affording everything I like!

 

The Karma is cool IMO. It can manipulate Continous Controller data based on what you play, and other things, not just notes. The manuals are now available for download in .pdf format on Korg's website. It's interesting reading...

[jamessievershome.com]

Hey, its a personal opinion. I studied electronic music in college (at that time 73-75, the lab had a Putney VSC-3) and was employed after college by Norlin Industries (Lowrey Organ, Story & Clark Pianos, Gibson Guitars, Lab Series Amplification, Moog Synthesizers) for 7 years as a keyboard product specialist and I have seen a lot of doo dads and gizmos come and go, but this KARMA unit is something and the reviewer at keyboard has a high regard for it. I have a very nice day job that affords me the luxury to spend whatever necessary to accomplish my musical goals. Though my set up may not ne as elaborate as other's, my goals may be different as well. I have a GR-33 that I just purchased and think it has its place, and my midi set up consists of a Roland/Edirol SC-8820 (don't hear about many of these being used by the before mentioned "professionals"), but I think GM2 is what you make of it. I also dig Band-in-Box even though I studied composition in college, its just another tool. I have the usual assortment of Cakewalk (soon to upgrade to Sonar) and other progs that I hardly have any time to spend with any of it. So, thanks and I'll let you know how things progress in KARMA-land. BTW, the inventor of KARMA hangs out at the Yahoo! KARMA groups which shows he has the balls to interface with the end users, which says a lot for him, in my book.

Jim

[Goughy]

Could you let us know what the "small print" on the coupon says? How do you qualify for the expansion card? Does the purchase have to be from a particular dealer?

 

I already have a Karma on order and, in my usual cheapskate manner, I was wondering if a subscription to Keyboard Magazine ($25.95) would get me a $240 board.

 

Richard

[stratman_dup1]

Damn, I get Keyboard and I didn't get a video and a coupon with my mag.

Well, I was gonna insert one of those big, funny whining my butt off smilies here but the sites not up. Oh well, you get the picture http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

 

I actually got to hear a Karma last weekend, a local keyboard player in a jazzy blues band just picked one up and I thought it sounded pretty darn good.

[jamessievershome.com]

My dealer didn't know about the coupon deal either, so I had to explain the situation as well. Here's what is on the coupon that was in the box for the demo tape which came w/ Keyboard in a plastic bag: "Exclusive offer for Keyboard Magazine Subscribers. Purchase a new Korg Karma Workstation before July 15, 2001 and receive a free EXB-PCM01 Expansion Board (a $240 value)." The small print on the back of the coupon says: "Fill out this coupon. Send it along with copy of the store sales receipt and your completed warranty card to (address to Korg, Melville, NY). Offer good on a new Karma Music Workstation purchased between March 1-July 15, 2001. Only completed coupons will be honored. Offer good in USA only through July 15, 2001, or while supplies last. Void where prohibited by law. Offer subject to purchase verification by Korg USA, retain original sales receipt. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery." Sound like this board comes direct from Korg and not from the dealer. This was for Keyboard May 2001 issue receved by me yesterday, April 25.

Jim

[thopman]

I, too, am a subscriber to Keyboard who did NOT get the video/coupon with my copy in the mail. Worse yet, I too have a Karma on order and could REALLY use that coupon!

 

What's up, Keyboard? How do the "rest of us" who are entitled get the tape and coupon?

 

 

Originally posted by jamessievers@home.com:

My dealer didn't know about the coupon deal either, so I had to explain the situation as well. Here's what is on the coupon that was in the box for the demo tape which came w/ Keyboard in a plastic bag: "Exclusive offer for Keyboard Magazine Subscribers. Purchase a new Korg Karma Workstation before July 15, 2001 and receive a free EXB-PCM01 Expansion Board (a $240 value)." The small print on the back of the coupon says: "Fill out this coupon. Send it along with copy of the store sales receipt and your completed warranty card to (address to Korg, Melville, NY). Offer good on a new Karma Music Workstation purchased between March 1-July 15, 2001. Only completed coupons will be honored. Offer good in USA only through July 15, 2001, or while supplies last. Void where prohibited by law. Offer subject to purchase verification by Korg USA, retain original sales receipt. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery." Sound like this board comes direct from Korg and not from the dealer. This was for Keyboard May 2001 issue receved by me yesterday, April 25.

Jim

[coyote]

The cynic in me has a tough time remembering any company who spent that much money advertising in a magazine getting a bad review from that mag! LOL But seriously, when there are so many cool gizmos out there it's tough to elicit a bad review unless you screw up big-time. And the Karma does have a lot of cool features. (Though it's not my cup o' tea... considering my lack of playing ability you'd think I'd rush out & buy a Karma )

 

Originally posted by jamessievers@home.com:

SNIP but this KARMA unit is something and the reviewer at keyboard has a high regard for it. SNIP

Jim

[thopman]

Spoke too soon. The same day I posted my message above (yesterday) my MAY issue of Keyboard arrived, WITH the video and coupon. What was confusing was that the April issue had a big cover story on the Karma, while the May issue had a big *review* of the Karma.

 

The coupon appears to be only for subscribers of Keyboard. The video is about 11 minutes long, and is kind of "produced" and slick, but it *does* showcase a lot of the GE/KARMA effects quite nicely, so you can get a really good idea what the Karma is all about. It also features some pretty well known industry types saying some very nice things about it. (OK, so maybe they were bribed . . . but I don't think so!)

 

Check it out if you can. There's also a great video of the product launch in Japan on the www.korg.jp site, but I cannot get to it right now. Maybe the link has been severed?