KORG OASYS COMPANION
DOCUMENTATION FOR TRIAL AND FULL VERSIONS
Software Version 1.5 – For Korg Oasys Operating
System 1.3 and Later
Supports Models – Korg Oasys 76 and 88 key versions
Documentation date
By
Oasys Companion & Triton
Controller Web Site http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/pryer
E-Mail stuartpryer@tiscali.co.uk
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INDEX
REVISION
HISTORY – See whats
new !
LOADING,
SETTING UP AND RUNNING
PLAYING THE OASYS FROM YOUR PC
FILE \ EDIT \ FORMAT MENU ITEMS
PRINTING PCG LISTS OR SAVING AS A FILE
COPY AND PASTE WITHIN A PROGRAM
COPY AND PASTE OPERATION BETWEEN PCG
FILES
LIBRARIAN
TOOLS MENU
RANDOMISE PROGRAMS USED IN COMBINATIONS
MERGE
PROGRAMS/COMBINATIONS/DRUMKITS/WAVE SEQUENCES
AUTO MERGE PROGRAMS/COMBINATIONS
BYTE HIGH, BYTE AVERAGE, BYTE LOW
COMPARING MAIN AND SECONDARY PROGRAM LISTS
FIND TEXT IN PCG MAIN/SECONDARY WINDOW
COMBINATIONS
DEPENDENT ON CURRENT PROGRAM – Coming Soon!
PROGRAMS USED IN CURRENT COMBINATION
SUMMARISE PCG FILE DETAILS
INITIALISING CURRENTLY SELECTED PROGRAM
CHANGING CATEGORY OF A
PROGRAM/COMBI
FINDING REPEATED PROGRAMS &
PROGRAM NAMES
SHOW FAVOURITE PROGRAMS/COMBIS & MAKE FAVOURITE/NON FAVOURITE
CREATING A Master PCG (PROGRAM ARCHIVE) - & STACKING PROGRAMS
USING THE SECOND LIBRARIAN WINDOW WITH MASTER PCG FILES
FRACTAL
SEQUENCER – MANDELBROT SET EQUATION
Note –
---------------------------------------------
Please
note that this is a trial version of the Oasys Companion which has various
features of the full version disabled and is usage limited. The following features are available in the
Trial version:-
1. Full PCG
Librarian ( only enabled for Oasys Programs – not Combinations, Drum Kits, Wave
Sequencer or Global mode.)
2. Send program data
to Oasys edit buffer to change sounds
3. Change Program
and Combination Bank/Number from the PC
4. Play the Oasys
from the PC keyboard
5. Facility to print
or copy to windows clipboard complete PCG ‘sound’ lists
6.
7. Tutorial and
Help.
8. User interface
based upon the Oasys Control Surface.
9. Supports
German/Austrian PC keyboards.
The remaining features of the full version are not
available. See below for these….
CURRENT FULL
VERSION - YOU CAN PURCHASE IT ONLINE FROM MY WEBSITE VIA PAYPAL, (including
Credit Cards and Bank Cards)
Please contact me if
you want to purchase by ‘direct bank transfer’ – free in
NB. Features of the full version
are described below and later in the text in detail. In the full version you
can also :
1.
Use
the librarian for Combinations, Drum kits, Wave sequencer and Global data
2.
Edit
and Randomise Karma parameters
3.
Edit
and Randomise String Model Extension Instrument EXi parameters
4.
Edit
and Randomise HDi High Definition Instrument parameters
5.
Support
for MOD-7 EXi & CX3 EXi – Merge routines & Librarian
6.
Use
the power of the fractal sequencer to inspire musical compositions
7.
Produce
randomised programs – using various merge facilities
8.
Produce
randomised combinations - quickly create brand new sounds
9.
Create
Master PCG files containing 10,000’s of programs
10.
Use
more sophisticated PCG data extraction routines
11.
Send
combinations, drum kits and wave sequences to the Oasys buffer
12.
Create
new programs, combinations, drum kits and wave sequences quickly and
automatically from existing ones
13.
Auto
audition complete PCG files
14.
Summarise
PCG file contents
15.
Facility
to search PCG programs by name, category etc.
16.
Compare
programs and find repeated programs in a PCG
17.
Rename
programs, initialise programs. Undo
edits.
18.
Save
and open a single program, combi etc. to/from a file Also paste into an
existing PCG file !
19.
Change
program and combi banks and programs remotely from the Oasys by using the
software.
20.
Program
Play and Combination Play modes.
21.
Mark
Programs/Combinations as favourites in PCG file or ‘turn off’ Prog/combi as a
favourite.
Many
more new features to come ! These
functions below need further work since Oasys O.S. 1.3.1. Please note that not all EXi functions work
since Oasys Operating system 1.3.0 because Korg has changed the structure of
the PCG file and it no longer fully matched midi dump format. These can only be implemented if Korg release
the relationship between the PCG file and midi dump.
1.
Edit
and Randomise AL-1 Analogue Synth Extension Instrument EXi parameters
2.
Edit
and Randomise LAC Legacy Analog Collection parameters EXi
3.
MOD-7
limited operations.
NB. Please read conditions of use.
Thanks
to all of the testers and Korg Inc. for their support to the Korg Community J
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NB. A tutorial is
also available on my website covering musical synthesis and the Oasys
Midi Setup….Connecting the
Synthesizer to the P.C…..If you want to get up and running quickly and prefer
to read the detailed instruction later, then this is what you need to do:-
1. Connect the Korg
Oasys to the PC (dedicated midi ports or joystick port) using midi leads (midi
out on the PC to midi in on the synth and midi in on the PC to midi out on the
synth). I use an external midi interface
from the M-Audio Midisport range - a midisport 4x4 - which is excellent.
2. Load and then run
the Oasys Companion software
Main Screen of the Oasys
Companion at start up
2. Click ‘Midi Set’ Button (Red midi symbol main
toolbar). The Oasys synth is set by
default in the software – an example of the midi device list is shown
below. Your list will look different.
1. Select midi
input/output device connected to the Oasys.
2. Set midi channel
to correct channel – default on synth/software is 1 (so you can leave it at
that), Global midi channel.
3. If you use a
German or Austrian PC keyboard check the box that says – German PC
Keyboard. This makes playing the Oasys
from the PC keyboard logical. Z and Y
are transposed from US/UK keyboards.
4. Press ‘Apply’
5. NB. These
settings are automatically retained after you close the program in the
settings.dat file
3. On the synth goto ‘Global Mode –
4. Also make sure that the Oasys bank map is set to Korg
(this is the default) and not general
Note. To check
all is working, if you change mode in the software the mode should change on
the Oasys. See the software equivalent
of the main Mode group of switches on the Oasys. Toggle between modes on the full version to
make sure the synth responds – this confirms that midi system exclusive data is
being received by the Oasys.
The software is
described in detail below.
OASYS
COMPANION - INTRODUCTION
This application enables the user
to a
The PC must be running Windows
95/98, ME, NT4, Windows 2000 or Windows XP (on Windows Vista PC’s, please check
you have Vista drivers loaded for any midi devices etc. and try the free trial
software first. Let me know how you get
on please J) – NB. To install you will need to log on
with administrator rights for NT/2000/XP based systems). It has been written in Microsoft Visual Basic
6 professional SP6. It is a 32 bit
application. The program is designed for
a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher* (NB. Also set small fonts - in
windows display properties - advanced).
* Note for users with old
PC’s/laptops. Although, the program is
designed for a screen resolution of 1024x768 pixels or higher, the software works on older PC’s or laptops
with a maximum screen resolution of 800x600 pixels. What happens is - if the software detects the
display is set to 800x600. Then it automatically converts all of the forms to
the lower resolution. Whilst it is not
as pretty because of the loss in ‘real estate’ it is workable. This enables users with older PC’s and
especially laptops to utilise the software.
NB. Some of the text and graphics may be more
difficult to read or appear truncated at 800x600 pixels. This is unavoidable.
Please
read conditions of use.
A Bit of History…..
I wrote the programme because I had
previously written my first synthesizer software in 1980 for the Korg MS20/10.
This work fascinated me and in 1999 I wrote the Triton Controller software for
Korg’s then flagship synth. In 2006 I purchased an Oasys and I wanted to a
1.
A
fully fledged librarian
2.
A way
to create new programs, combis etc. quickly
3.
To
implement a fractal sequencer to work with the synth.
The full program currently only
sends
The Librarian allows the user to
read saved PCG files on memory sticks, downloaded from the internet or saved on
CDR/RW disks etc. on their PC and
reorganise them. In the full version you can also manipulate individual
Programs, Combinations, Drum Kits or Wave sequences, The free version is
limited to programs. You can modify them
if needed and send them straight to the synth via Midi and audition them. (PCG files are Korg files which contain
program settings etc.)
LOADING,
SETTING UP AND RUNNING
To load the program,
1.
Download
the Trial version of the Oasys Companion software This contains a full software installer,
html documentation and is around 6mb in size.
2.
extract
the entire contents to a temporary directory
3.
Run
the setup.exe file
NB. Updates will normally consist
of just an updated oasys.exe file around 1mb in size.
Users who buy a full license will
be sent an updated executable file for the full version - Oasys.exe - which
needs to replace the Trial versions Oasys.exe file. Just overwrite the old file with the new
one. This gives much greater
functionality. Updates will normally
consist of an updated Oasys.exe file.
Your PC should be located adjacent
to the Oasys. Ideally with the keyboard of the PC at right angles or above the
Oasys. As the software is mainly mouse driven all you really need near the
Oasys is a screen and mouse - or trackball
which I have used and which can sit on the Oasys’s case. Connect the two
devices using midi cables between the PC’s joystick port and the oasys.
Or
the PCIF connector between the serial port and another Korg Synth’s PCIF
port. Then connect that synth’s midi
thru using midi cables to the Oasys’s midi in. You will need to load the Korg
driver first to use the latter one. (You
can download the drivers for Windows 3.1,
95, 98, ME or NT4, 2000, XP at http://www.korg.co.uk/
Please note that 3rd party PCIF cables
may not work properly with XP/W2000.
Cables must be wired exactly as shown in the Manual otherwise the
computer will lock up when the Synth is turned on or accessed. Windows 95/98 will tolerate incorrectly wired
leads – W2000/XP will not! I had to
re-solder my lead to make it the proper Korg spec. Afterwards it worked perfectly with XP. NB. There is no PCIF port on the Oasys.
1. Turn on the PC, turn on the Oasys and run
the program. Make Sure that when the
Oasys is in ‘Global Mode –
The first
The information above will be
saved in a settings file at close. Also make
sure that the Oasys bank map on the synth is set to Korg and not general
OASYS COMPANION – OASYS MODE FORM
The small form which appears when
the program is launched replicates part of the Oasys control panel. You can
also switch the PC’s
Details on ALL of the Oasys’s
parameters can be found in the incredible 1000 page Oasys Parameter Manual
provided by Korg.
As of
HELP
?
Important *** This HTML help files
Oasys.htm and Oasys1.htm and subfolders
(included in the download package) should be copied to the same folder as the
oasys.exe file. Normally C:\program
files\oasysvxx\ - do not change their names.
NB. They wont work if you name them ‘something else.html’ or placed in
another folder. You will then be able to
access them from the program ‘Help’ Button which will automatically open
Internet Explorer and then open the file.
Also the context sensitive help will work.
NB. The support folders contain
the images for the web pages. Keep the
support folders as ‘oasys’ and ‘oasys1’.
OASYS
PCG LIBRARIAN
PCG files are Korgs way of
containing a synths sound control settings in a file readable by a computer or
synth. When you load a PCG you transfer
program banks, Combinations, and Drums
etc, to the synth. Some PCG’s just
contain one of these, such as 1 bank of 128 programs. Instead of loading these by disk the Oasys
Companion allows you to send them in a much more convenient way – via midi
! The software contains a sophisticated
browser so you can see what a PCG file contains and you can then select which
programs etc. to audition. Make sure you
set the programs midi setup to the model synth you use and only view PCG files
in the same format. If you don’t do this
you will see ‘garbage’ in the right hand viewing box of the program.
You can change program names, save
and open individual programs – save 250,000 on a floppy disk as a single master
PCG file ! You can also replace an
unwanted program in a PCG with another program.
The word program in this context also includes , combinations, wave
sequences and drumkits. Remember if you
past a combination into a PCG you must copy the programs it depends on as
well. To find them see (CHECKING WHICH COMBINATIONS A PROGRAM IS USED IN)
Please Read ………Each Korg model has its own native format –
make sure you load the correct format PCG in this program - Oasys ones! On the
Oasys, the PCG data for say a program or combi increases in size with operating
system version – this software translates this automatically!
An example of how to use the
reader for Program PCG data is described below.
It is very similar for the other modes also. Combinations and Drums etc. You can access the reader form from the Main
Form – ‘LIBRARIAN’ top right when you open the program. The PCG reader enables the user to
interrogate Korg Oasys PCG files, load them to the Oasys by transferring them
using
Tip…
Remember only save the PCG file banks on the Oasys you really need for
editing. So don’t save ‘all’ unless you
really need to, as larger PCG files take longer to edit etc. I normally save 1 to 3 program banks and 1 to
3 combi banks. Most banks tend to be
initialised and are not needed to be within a PCG file for editing
purposes. PCG file sizes can vary from
500kb to 23mb!
The Window on the right is the –
PCG MAIN Box – it is here all the programs are neatly listed. They can be sorted, searched and edited.
The PCG form has a big window on
the left – PCG MAIN FILE VIEWER – and a smaller one showing the source file
which will show the opened the PCG files in binary (the data naturally looks a
bit o
To Start !
Playing the Oasys from
your PC
At the bottom left of the
Librarian screen are two methods of playing the Oasys from the PC. Click sound
note to play one note. If you hold the
button down its like holding a key down. Alternatively click on Start to use
the PC keyboard to act as the Oasys keyboard. This facility is polyphonic but
the polyphony depends on your PC’s keyboard buffer. and use Z-M and Q-U keys on your PC with
sharps and flats on the pc keys on the rows above – S-J and 2-7. The volume of the note is set from the Composer form volume
slider in the full version, the note value is set from the ‘note on 0-127’
button top left on the same form. To stop the note – press ‘Stop All Notes’– this is the Panic button
!.
If the note does not stop just select another program – this is because
the note has for instance sequencer or GE attributes.
1.. PCG DATA box is shown below – Oasys Programs are the default (You can select Combinations, drum kits, wave sequence or
Global in the Full version – these options are not visible in the Trial
version)
4. -
You MUST then open A VALID Oasys PCG
FILE saved to a memory stick, downloaded from the internet or on a CDR/CDRW –
use the ‘Open Folder Icon’ below the PCG MAIN Title on the right hand
side. The right hand window – PCG main
is the main editing area. You can cut n
paste within it or from another PCG which can be loaded in the PCG Secondary
box. You can only manipulate Oasys
‘programs’ in the Trial version. The
full version operates on combinations, drum kits and wave sequences as well.
Note that if you use the librarian for drum kits or wave sequences
the software changes the Oasys to Global mode.
You have to change the ‘page’ to drum kits or wave sequences as
appropriate manually on the Oasys to audition the sounds.
Global mode currently just returns whether it is present in the
bottom right info box hi
5.
Then
click ‘Main’ button – wait until the cursor returns to normal and the banks are
listed.
6.
Then
the ‘List Main’ button. Allow a few
seconds to load the data to the PCG MAIN box ( big PCG files will take a few
sconds depending on the speed of your pc.) This PCG MAIN box displays the file
contents when selected. You can then load the program from the
grid directly by clicking on it or manually by entering a number/bank and
pressing load *. You can also find text
on the grid and sort cells by clicking the buttons at the top of the grid. Data is
transferred to the Oasys’s Buffer typically within 4 seconds at midi speed
31.25 kbits/sec if the check box (bottom right) is clicked. You can transfer
ALL PCG data through the full O.C. program to the Oasys.
7.
By checking the ‘send data straight to
Oasys’ you can send the current program to the Oasys edit buffer.
8.
By
checking the ‘Auto Audition Sound’ box you will make the Oasys sound a note of
the new program!
If you want to reply a note using
the same program data just press the sound note button, or use the PC Keyboard.
*Tip….Remember to tick the ‘send
data straight to Oasys’ if you want to hear the results of your edits as you
go. This slows the edits as the
NB. If you want to save PCG files you MUST
use the Save PCG option icon in the Librarian above
the PCG box your data is in.
This properly formats PCG files
before saving.
Note. The
Program will force the user to save the pcg file with a different name. The program default is to a
FILE
\ EDIT \ FORMAT MENU ITEMS
These menus are very similar to
the traditional word processing functions in Microsoft word etc and operate on
the contents of the main file viewer window only.
PRINTING
PCG LISTS OR SAVING AS A TEXT FILE
To print out any list in the right
hand (PCG MAIN) box – Firstly populate it by listing a PCG file.
Then goto file\Transfer List To
Viewer. This will transfer the contents
of the List Program box to the File Viewer box.
Then goto File\Print – to print on
a printer connected to the PC. Or File
Save to save as a plain text file.
If you want to copy or cut text in
the File Viewer into the Windows Clipboard – just select it with the
mouse. Then ‘cut’ or ‘copy’. It will only cut and copy selected text (ie
highlighted). Thus can be useful for creating Cakewalk Sonar (or other DAW
software) instrument definitions ! You
can cut and paste into a text editor such as notepad.
Then
to say paste a list of - program numbers, program names, bank letters and
category - into say excel or word. Just click on the spreadsheet in excel and
press ‘paste’ and the columns will be filled with the selected text properly
formatted. Word is similar – just click
where you want to insert on the page and press ‘paste’ !
NB. You can copy and paste
within each PCG
1.
Firstly list the programs in the ‘PCG MAIN Box’ on the right hand side
you want to edit.
2.
Click on the program you want to Copy in the list box – Then press the
copy button
3.
Then click on another program in the PCG Main box you want to overwrite
– Then goto Librarian and select ‘Paste Program’
Whats
more, you can open one PCG and ‘copy program’.
Close it and open another PCG and ‘paste’ the program from the previous
PCG straight into it. There are easier
ways though – see Secondary (Sec) PCG box.
4.
Finally save the revised PCG file
Tip….. Different Oasys Operating systems produce
different size PCG program and combi files.
Newer ones are bigger as more features are a
COPY AND
PASTE OPERATION BETWEEN PCG FILES - OPEN A FILE in SECONDARY WINDOW
The purpose of this SECONDARY PCG
window is to simplify the task of moving programs from one PCG (I call the
Secondary) to another PCG (I call the
This MAIN box is normally where
you are going to assemble the new pcg. This is also where most of the manipulation functions operate
in the FULL version such as randomise program oscillators, merge functions etc.
1.
To start the edit process – load a pcg into in the MAIN PCG box and the
‘SEC PCG box - Then click on a program in this Sec box, the program you
want to copy to the new pcg you are creating – and select copy program , the
icon above the PCG SECONDARY box
1.
Then
move to the ‘PCG MAIN window - (main PCG Librarian window) and click on a
program you want to overwrite. Then
select paste program (above the DESTINATION PCG box).
Its that easy! The program you chose from the SOURCE box
will now be inserted into the PCG file loaded in the DESTINATION box.
The
secondary window has a smaller file viewer.
Instead of continually clicking
‘librarian\copy’ then paste program, you can automate the task by checking the
tick box ‘auto paste from pcg sec to pcg main’’. Click on a program in the
secondary box. Click on another in the
The 8 ‘Oasys’ button below are for
marking entries on the PCG MAIN and SECONDARY windows. Clear Row’ removes the colour. Clear Colour (col). Removes all colours in the box. Mark –
colours a row pink. ‘Clear’ removes all text in the window.
Note – Exi programs or
combinations are colour coded green.
Note.....You must remember to
‘Save PCG’ in the MAIN Window ‘Librarian menu’ once it is assembled, otherwise
you will loose your edits! I do intermediate
saves just in case
The rest of this documentation refers to
the full version of the software which can be purchased on my website.
This
section will be expanded but currently enables you to change the current program
on the Oasys screen by sending midi control change messages. Select Bank, program number and press the
button. The Oasys screen will change to
the selected program. Clicking the Bank
combo box or program number will also change the screen. You can then audition the new program by
using the pc keyboard as usual.
HDi EDIT
This
feature accesses HD - 1 High Definition Instrument parameters for any HDi
Program loaded in the PCG Librarian – PCG Main window. This feature also enables new HDi programs to
be created quickly! Please make sure you
open the Librarian first, load a pcg and select an HDi program, (not an
Expansion Instrument Exi, eg. Exs1 , Exs2 etc.) by clicking on it in the PCG
Main window. This defines the program
you will view and/or edit. Then select this Menu item. More parameters will be a
Tip…Make sure the ‘send data straight to
the Oasys’ check box is checked in the Librarian so the Oasys is in sync with
the PCG parameters loaded in the software and edits are transmitted to the
Oasys. Also it is useful to check ‘Audition Sound’ check box in the Librarian
so you can hear the sound.
RANDOMISE HDi PROGRAM OSCILLATORS
1. Osc 1 and 2 are assigned one of the 1400
internal multisamples automatically.
There are well over 2,000,000 permutations! Just press the Paste button to generate a new
mix of oscillators to produce a new HDi program! The Green dialogue box will change to red
whilst sysex data is being transmitted to the Oasys and returns to green when
completed.
2. NB.
You can do any edits without the Oasys connected, and save to the PCG loaded on
your PC. Obviously you will not hear the
edits in this case.
3. Remember to save to the PCG file
permanently – use the PCG Save button on the Librarian form. 
You will be prompted to type a file name to
save the modified PCG file to. Always
save after you edit any program.
Tip…Another way of generating really
interesting sounds is to use the Merge facility in the Librarian window!
This
feature accesses AL 1 parameters for any AL 1 Program loaded in the PCG
Librarian – PCG Main window. More
parameters will be a
Tip…Make sure the ‘send data straight to
the Oasys’ check box is checked in the Librarian so the Oasys is in sync with
the PCG parameters loaded in the software and edits are transmitted to the
Oasys. Also it is useful to check ‘Audition Sound’ check box in the Librarian
so you can hear the sound.
Oscillators
1. When you load this AL 1 form, the
Oscillators used in the PCG file/program you selected in the Librarian will be
displayed.
2. If you load another program in the
Librarian just refresh the display by clicking on the copy button .
3. To change a parameter:- click on the drop down boxes for the
oscillators etc. Or to randomise, click
the appropriate check boxes.
4. To send values to the Oasys press the
‘Paste’ button on this form. The Green
dialogue box will change to red whilst sysex data is being transmitted to the
Oasys and returns to green when completed.
5. NB. You can do any edits without the Oasys
connected, and save to the PCG loaded on your PC. Obviously you will not hear the edits in this
case.
Parameter
Groups
This
feature (drop down box is open above) enables the user to select a parameter
group such as amplifier E.G. and randomise the parameters in the PCG file
associated with that group. Ring/Noise, FilterA and Filter B are also available
(further down the drop down list shown above)
The
‘
Remember
to save to the PCG file permanently – use the PCG Save button on the Librarian
form. You will be prompted to type a file name to
save the modified PCG file to. Always
save after you edit any program.
Tip…Another way of generating really
interesting sounds is to use the Merge facility in the Librarian window!
This
feature accesses String Model parameters for any String EXi Program loaded in the
PCG Librarian – PCG Main window. More
parameters will be a
Tip…Make sure the ‘send data straight to
the Oasys’ check box is checked in the Librarian so the Oasys is in sync with
the PCG parameters loaded in the software and edits are transmitted to the
Oasys. Also it is useful to check ‘Audition Sound’ check box in the Librarian
so you can hear the sound.
This
feature (drop down box is open above) enables the user to select a parameter
group such as amplifier E.G. and randomise the parameters in the PCG file
associated with that group. PCM Samples, FilterA and Filter B plus Amplifier
Modulation are also available (further down the drop down list shown above)
To
send values to the Oasys press the ‘Paste’ button on this form. The Green dialogue box will change to red
whilst sysex data is being transmitted to the Oasys and returns to green when
completed.
The
‘
Remember
to save to the PCG file permanently – use the PCG Save button on the Librarian
form. You will be prompted to type a file name to
save the modified PCG file to. Always
save after you edit any program.
Tip…Another way of generating really
interesting sounds is to use the Merge facility in the Librarian window!
LAC
LEGACY ANALOG COLLECTION EXi
This
feature accesses LAC program parameters for any LAC EXi Program loaded in the
PCG Librarian – PCG Main window. More
parameters will be a
Tip…Make sure the ‘send data straight to
the Oasys’ check box is checked in the Librarian so the Oasys is in sync with
the PCG parameters loaded in the software and edits are transmitted to the
Oasys. Also it is useful to check ‘Audition Sound’ check box in the Librarian
so you can hear the sound.
Parameter
Groups
This
feature (drop down box is open above) enables the user to select a parameter
group such as Modulation Generator and randomise the parameters in the PCG file
associated with that group. Note that for the Polysix – Mod Generator is
exactly the same as Group Oscillators and LFO 2 is now Effects.
To
send values to the Oasys press the ‘Paste’ button on this form. The Green dialogue box will change to red
whilst sysex data is being transmitted to the Oasys and returns to green when
completed.
The
‘
Remember
to save to the PCG file permanently – use the PCG Save button on the Librarian
form. You will be prompted to type a file name to
save the modified PCG file to. Always
save after you edit any program.
…Another way of generating really
interesting sounds is to use the Merge facility in the Librarian window!
The
MOD-7 is a powerful, semi-modular synthesizer, combining FM (VPM Variable Phase
Modulation actually), AM, wave-shaping, ring modulation, PCM sample playback,
and subtractive synthesis. From Oasys
Companion version 1.5 this extension instrument is partially accessible by the
Oasys Companion software. You can use
the usual merge routines, librarian functions etc but because of changes to
Korgs PCG structure since O.S. 1.3.1, sending MOD-7 data by midi generated from
the PCG file is unreliable.
COMBINATION PLAY
Just
like Program Play. This section will be expanded but currently enables you to
change the current combinations on the Oasys screen by sending midi control
change messages. Select Bank, program
number and press the button. The Oasys
screen will change to the selected combination.
Clicking the Bank combo box or combination number will also change the
screen. You can then audition the new
program by using the pc keyboard as usual.
KARMA GE
This
feature accesses GE parameters for any Program or Combination loaded in the PCG
Librarian – PCG Main window. More
parameters will be a
Tip…Make sure the ‘send data straight to
the Oasys’ check box is checked in the Librarian so the Oasys is in sync with
the PCG parameters loaded in the software and edits are transmitted to the
Oasys.
When
you load this GE form, the parameters will be taken from the program or
combination chosen in the Librarian.
If
you load another program in the Librarian etc. just refresh the display by
clicking on the copy button . Note the lower frame will only appear if you
are in Combi mode in the librarian.
To
change a parameter:- Karma On/Off and
Latch have the two usual Oasys switches to the left. Tempo and GE Numbers’ can be typed in the box
and the small button to the right of the text box is then pressed to send the
value to the Oasys via sysex. This
assumes you have midi cables etc. connected.
NB. You can do any edits without the Oasys connected, and save to the
PCG loaded on your PC. Obviously you
will not hear the edits in this case.
To
copy the values to the librarian and the Oasys (assuming ‘send data straight to the Oasys’ check box is checked) click the paste button on this form.
Then
to save to the PCG file permanently – use the PCG Save button on the Librarian
form. You will be prompted to type a file name to
save the modified PCG file to.
Tip….Try the Fractal Sequence in
conjunction with Karma for some amazing computer generated melodies!
Randomise
GEs’
Click
on a GE Category in the drop down box and the Oasys Companion will pick a
random GE number in that Category for Module A,B,C or D depending which check
boxes are checked.
LIBRARIAN ctd…
TOOLS
MENU
This feature is similar to that in
other software where changes/edits can be undone. If you make any edits to a
program, combi etc in the Main window, such as change name, edit a sound in the
software using LAC editor, HDi editor, merge etc, you can use this feature to
return to the previous sound etc. just before the edit. Useful if you make a mistake or don’t like an
edit.
Just sit back and let the program audition 1
Program/Combination etc. at a
VIEW OASYS COMPANION CLIPBOARD
This copies the contents of the
special Oasys Companion Clipboard into the File Viewer. This clipboard is not the same as the windows
clipboard.
Reports the number of bytes in the
PCG MAIN file viewer.
RANDOMISE
PROGRAMS USED IN COMBINATIONS
This tool enables each of the 16
component programs to be randomised in a combination creating new combinations
quickly. Just load the combination by
clicking on it in the PCG main window.
Then click this option! That’s
it. Do it as many
This utility compares the contents
of the clipboard with the currently selected program. Some
To use – select the first program
– and select ‘copy’. This places it in
the Controller clipboard.
Then click on another program to
compare, and select – ‘Compare Programs’ – a box will appear which will state
the result.
MERGE PROGRAMS/COMBINATIONS/DRUMKITS/WAVE
SEQUENCES
This powerful facility in the
tools menu blends any number of Programs, Combinations, drumkits or wave
sequences. You can create brand new sounds by merging existing
ones ! It works for both PCG’s and
Master PCG’s.
Note – you cannot merge different types of data – programs and combis for
instance. It is best avoid merging HDi
programs with Exi programs as the results will be unpredictable. Merge either HDi together or Exi programs of
the same instrument together.
Example. Open a PCG with some programs in it in the
PCG MAIN window.
1.
Then select a program by clicking on it.
Click ‘Copy’ .
2.
Select a second program. Click
‘Merge’ in the Tools menu. The Message
Box lists the individual contributions to date.
Click O.K. The resulting program
is displayed in the left hand window.
Note that the name of the program is merged too !
The new program etc. will be pasted to the location of the last
program etc. selected in the merge
operation.
3. If the check box ‘Send data
straight to Oasys’ in the lower right corner is ticked as well as the ‘audition
sound’ check box then it will sound automatically.
If you want to save the new PCG
just use the save button as usual NB. The
whole procedure above is the same for Combinations, Drum Kits and wave
sequences.
Tip…The
merge width is specified in the ‘First Char./Merge Width’ box, lower right –
Default 1. So if it’s set to 2 the first
2 bytes come from the first program, the second two from the second. The next 2 from the first etc…
If you keep selecting new programs
to ‘a
So
merging AAAAAAAAA with BBBBBBBBB – Merge Width of 2 - yields AABBAABBA. Merge Width at 3 yields AAABBBAAA etc..
NB. When you click ‘Copy’ again
you can start the Merge procedure from scratch.
AUTO MERGE PROGRAMS/COMBINATIONS
This
starts at the program in the clipboard and cycles through all programs, combis
etc. auditioning the merge one at a
1.
First use the Merge facility. This merges the first 2 programs.
2.
Click
‘Auto Merge Programs/Combinations’.
The
software will now automatically cycle through the entire PCG main window. To stop press – Stop Notes. You can then click Paste to insert it into
the PCG file if you liked it and finally Save the PCG file..
You must use the
Merge function first to select the Programs/Combinations to merge. Minimum of 2 Programs/Combinations. It works for both PCG’s and Master PCG’s.
The Software automatically cycles through all
possible merge widths starting a the merge width specified in the ‘First
Char./Merge Width’ box incrementing by 1.
User can stop when a sound is liked by pressing ‘stop all notes’ and
then the program/combi can be stored in the normal way. The user can restart at any point by
selecting ‘Auto merge’ again and can vary the note on
AUTO
RANDOM – Merge Widths/Bytes
This feature generates random
programs/combinations/drumkits/wave seq. based upon existing ones. The way it works is that the user selects (2
or more ) existing programs etc. and the
software uses these as a seed to generate brand new ones – It cycles through
all possible merge widths from user specified in the Merge Width box up to the
program size and takes the byte high or low at random (see below for byte
high/low). In fact you can end up with
some really unusual sounds. Tip.
I find the best results are if you
use 2 or more programs with the same instrument category. But try others. Some may produce no sound, some may produce
loud sounds so keep the volume low and turn it up when needed.
Example. Open a valid PCG with some programs in it.
1.
Then select a program by
clicking on the PCG MAIN window. Click
‘Copy’ . This places it in the ‘clipboard’.
2.
Select a second program - To start with select same category as the
first – eg. Voices. Click ‘Merge’ in
the Tools menu. The Message Box lists
the individual contributions to date.
Click O.K. The resulting program
is displayed in the left hand window as binary data.
3.
Now click Auto Random – The
software cycles through new programs etc.
Press ‘Stop all Notes’ button to
stop the process and keep the sound in the Oasys buffer. If you want to save it – click paste the save
the PCG file.
The user can vary the note on
BYTE HIGH,
BYTE AVERAGE, BYTE LOW
When the Programs/Combinations etc. have been selected by the Merge function
there are further ways of generating new Programs/Combinations !
1.
Byte High looks at the selected programs and byte by
byte picks the highest value and assembles a new Program/Combination. So if program 1 is “12 13 14…..” say and
program 2 is “11 15 10….” the result would be “12 15 14”.
2.
Byte Low is the same principal but takes the lowest
value.
3.
Average takes the average byte value.
Some of the new programs may sound strange,
interesting or not sound at all. That’s
the fun. NB…Make sure the master volume is turned down with all these
manipulations as you cannot predict the resulting volume of the program. You can turn it up if needed afterwards.
CHECKING WHICH COMBINATIONS A PROGRAM IS USED IN
If you change or move
programs – combinations may be affected.
This utility lists the dependency of combinations on the program
selected so you can check programs before they are moved. To use:-
1. Open a PCG containing combinations – press
‘select combinations’ first. If
combination banks are not present you will get a message saying ‘String Not
Found’.
2. Then ‘select programs’. Then load a program for which you want to
know the dependency.
3. Then goto tools menu\Combinations Dependant
On Current Program and Click.
The left hand window
will list all of the combinations which use the program. Don’t be surprised if the list is long Bank
A, Prog 0. See how many combi’s use it
! Other programs will not be used in
combinations at all. You can cut n paste the data into Word or Excel for
instance. Data is separated by tabs so
it transfers easily.
LIBRARIAN - Menu
This produces a summary of a newly
loaded PCG file in the PCG MAIN window.
If components such as a Combi Program Bank is not found you may get a message
box – String Not Found – just click OK and the analysis will continue.
CHANGING NAMES
of an Individual PROGRAM, COMBI, etc.
Once you have loaded a single
program, in the PCG MAIN window you can
change its name. Goto menu at top of PCG
reader – Librarian\Change program name. You must enter 20 characters (Korg
Oasys Standard – but characters can be spaces) – otherwise you will get a
warning. Once changed, the PCG MAIN
window will automatically update. Finally save the revised PCG file – Librarian \ Save.
INITIALISING
CURRENTLY SELECTED PROGRAM
This changes the name of the
program to ‘***Initialised******’ , (Initialised Program) but leaves the
remaining program data in the PCG intact.
This keeps the program positions constant so that Combinations may be
preserved. ‘***Initialised******’ will appear in the PCG MAIN window. Finally save the revised
PCG file
CHANGE CATEGORY OF
PROGRAM OR COMBI
This lets you change the category
after you have say edited a program or combi.
Just enter a number as detailed in the message box which comes up and
the new category will be listed in the PCG Main window. The PCG MAIN window will be updated.
This is a facility for comparing
program Names in the two PCG MAIN and SECONDARY boxes. This
compares the contents of the main and secondary PCG windows. Program names are coloured green in the Sec List
Box, if the same name appears in the MAIN List Box. NB.
Normal PCG files may take 30 seconds to compare on an old P11 400mhz PC. This process may take several minutes with
big Master PCG files.
FIND TEXT IN PCG MAIN/SECONDARY WINDOW
The search is not case sensitive
and will list the occurrences in the top of the list and colour them yellow
prefixed with a “_”. It will search the
program names and category. Try typing
‘piano’.
FINDING REPEATED
PROGRAMS & FIND REPEATED PROGRAM NAMES
If you assemble big files – programs
may be repeated (identical content and identical names). To find repeats so that you can use the PCG
or Master PCG space more effectively.
1…Firstly list the programs in the
PCG MAIN window – Do this immediately before you run the routine below !
2…Then click ‘Find Repeated
Programs’. The second and subsequent
occurrences will be coloured purple in the Program List Box and you will get a
summary indicating the number of repeats found.
You can then choose to leave them alone, Initialise them or overwrite
them with new programs. NB. The feature
checks the entire contents of a program (Name and settings), so big master PCG
files may take several minutes. To check 900 programs takes 8 seconds,
whilst 4700 programs takes 7 minutes on an old P11 400Mhz PC. Modern PC’s are much faster.
Find Repeated Program Names - To
just find repeated names, use the next option (This is quicker). The number displayed will always be the same
or higher than option 2 above. This is because some programs may have the same
name but sound differently.
Tip…..Its
always a good idea to use different names for different sounds !
Below are a host of ways of
creating new sounds from existing PCG data – Its good fun and easy to generate
new programs, combinations etc quickly.
FIND FAVOURITE PROGRAMS/COMBINATIONS & MAKE FAVOURITE/NON FAVOURITE
You can identify favourite
programs and combinations. Click on
‘show favourites’. They will be listed in a bold font.
By clicking on Make Combination
Favourite/Non favourite you can change its status from favourite to non
favourite and vice versa. Save PCG file
to retain settings.
SAVING A
SINGLE PROGRAM/WAVE SEQ. etc !
Yes – Now you can save just a
single program, combination etc. Once
the individual program is selected in the main pcg window just save it. Goto Librarian / ‘Save A Single Program’. It
will save it as a special binary text file (.txt) – the program name is entered
in the save as box automatically although you can change it to anything. This
will not change its program/combi name within the text file. See ‘changing
names’ above to do that. The program will save it as a tiny (5kb ish) text
file. To reload it at a later date just
open the text file in the PCG reader – see below. You can audition it by sending the midi data
to the synth or paste it into another pcg – see below. Thats it ! Note that only the software can
read these files and transfer them to the Oasys – not the Oasys directly from a
file saved on a memory stick for instance.
NB. Keep individual Programs,
Combi’s, etc. in separate folders – eg. ‘MY OASYS PROGRAM SOUNDS’ etc. - so you
don’t get them confused !!
OPEN A
SINGLE PROGRAM/COMBI etc
This copies the single program
into the PCG SECONDARY Window.
If you want to insert it into an
existing PCG file…
1.
Open a
normal PCG file you want to paste the individual program(s) into. Click on a
program.
2.
To
open a previously ‘saved single program’ - goto Librarian / Open a single
program. Then select the file to open
from the file open box. This will load
it into the PCG SECONDARY window and into the Oasys Companion clipboard. You will hear the sound if you tick the
audition sound and sound note checkboxes.
3.
Then
if you want to paste it into the PCG file
Click a program to overwrite in the PCG file and then click paste. The
single program will be pasted to that position!
4.
If you
want to save any edits you have to save the PCG file – Save PCG –
If you don’t save them, the edits will be lost when you open the PCG
again.
If
you overwrite individual Programs, Combinations will be affected if they use
that program - you may get some
interesting sounds!
MASTER PCG FILES & STACKING PROGRAMS
Ever wanted to assemble many Oasys
programs in one Master PCG instead of switching between PCG files all the
1.
Select
‘Create a New Master PCG’ – in Master PCG menu.
2.
Then
Open a normal PCG in the - PCG MAIN window - which you want to a
3.
Goto
Master PCG menu and ‘Stack Programs into Master PCG’.
4.
Open
another PCG file in the - PCG MAIN window. Click ‘Main’ button.
5.
Press
‘Stack Programs into Master PCG’ again. Every
When
you have stacked say between 2 and 10 PCG files save them - Goto Master
PCG menu and ‘Save Master PCG’. It will save to a special format with a .PCH
extension, not readable by the Oasys but readable by the PC and this
software. You can continue to a
6.
To
view it - Goto ‘Master PCG’ and now ‘Open Master PCG’. This will open the new file with a .PCH
extension
7.
Then
select ‘List Master PCG Programs’. A
readable list will appear in the PCG MAIN List Box. (Right hand side). NB. This may take some
8.
You
can now sort and audition as usual !
That’s
it ! You will only be limited by your
PC’s memory and speed.
NB.
You can also stack Master PCG files !
Note
that bank letters are replaced by numbers – this avoids having say two bank A’s
etc. NB.
The Oasys Companion clipboard is common to Librarian Functions and
Master PCG functions. When assembling a
Master PCG the program expects that the individual PCG’s contain 128
programs/bank. Small PCG programs ( <
128 programs) cannot be a
1. To a
2. Press ‘List Master PCM programs’ This lists the contents of the Master PCG and
tells the program the PCG mode = program) .
3. Then open another normal PCG and press
‘Stack Programs into Master PCG’.
4. That’s it – just keep repeating (2) &
(3) – finally save it !
Click on the Master PCG menu and
select ‘Save’ – this prompts you to save as a file with a .PCH extension. Always use this after any editing to save your
work. Its worth saving every few edits.
Just select Open Master PCG in the
Master PCG Menu and pick the xxxx.PCH file you want to open.
Use the normal Copy and Paste
buttons
USING
PCG SECONDARY WINDOW WITH MASTER PCG FILES
Because you can use the Controller
Clipboard for Master PCG files - you can therefore use the PCG SECONDARY window
to copy and paste into the Master PCG which you have assembled. This makes editing a Master PCG easy.
Remember
you must not mix programs with Drum or Wave Seq. programs in the same master
PCG as they are of different sizes and content.
So create a Master PCG for your programs only. The software will not permit different modes
to be mixed.
COMPOSER
This feature is
designed to assist with musical composition.
That is - suggest melodies!
To select, use the button - music
staff and notes - on the main tool bar.
Note
this program feature section sends midi note data and will work with any midi
instrument including the soundcard on a PC.
PLAY OASYS – This
section allows the user to send note on/off commands. It will also has a nifty virtual keyboard for
remotely playing the Oasys whilst you edit the sounds on the PC. You can also
play chords (chord type set in the Random Composer tab) if you choose chord
type and tick the box! The ‘All Notes Off ‘ and All Sound Off’ buttons are
useful if you get stuck notes as well. The Volume Control and Fluctuation
volume (randomises) the volume of any note created. The randomise of volume /
velocity and fluctuation value is output
in the small grey text box by the sliders. You can also use these features for
the sequencer (in the Random Composer tab) and auditioning sounds in the
Librarian,
If you want to play the Oasys using the PC
keyboard – press the ‘Use PC Keyboard’ button near the virtual keyboard just
before playing. You must press the ‘PC
keyboard’ button every
The pitch of note Z can be set
using the ‘note on’ control button at the top left hand side of the form. This
facility to play from the PC keyboard has been a
The tabbed area to the right on
the form is explained below.
FRACTAL
SEQUENCER – THE MANDELBROT SET
The Mandelbrot Set depicted in a
picture.
2i – Imaginary number Y axis
vertical
-2i
-2 0 2
Real number X axis -----à
A
Stunning representation of the infinitely complex Mandelbrot set – the black
area. Numbers refer to periodicity in
the primary bulbs discussed in the text below.
The set exists in a parametric plane as X = 0.
Fractals use simple equations to
generate incredible complexity. In the
natural world, complexity is independent of scale. So if you use a microscope to zoom into say a
leaf, the complexity does not diminish with magnification ! The Mandelbrot set uses a specific equation,
X = X^2 + C. This generates a new number
based upon a previous number in an iterative process. For certain values of a constant C and ‘seed’
X0, the number sequence will not exceed certain limits and it will oscillate or
‘orbit’ around a value. Thus it is
possible to generate a sequence of notes using the output from the
generator. The constant value generally
needs to be between -2 and + 2 otherwise the sequence will diverge to infinity
and so the constant will not form part of the Mandelbrot set. In fact the full Mandelbrot set exists in
complex number space and the ‘constant’ values which do not diverge to infinity
lie in a complex pattern (the black area in the picture above) within the
bounds of a circle +-2 and +-2i where (i is sqr rot of -1, an imaginary
number). This is the Mandelbrot
Set. NB.
The sequencer engine is designed
to allow sequences to be generated even if values are chosen outside the
Mandelbrot Set.
So how does it relate to a musical
sequencer? Well consider the infinite
non divergent series, output from the iteration x =x^2 + C. The series could represent midi note values,
note
As described
above, the sequencer does not produce random notes, but notes which are related
to their predecessor and so forth using the Mandelbrot equation. This produces sequences which are very close
to human composition. For a given constant value, a given sequence will
result. However, as there are an
infinite number of constant values there are an infinite number of sequences. Very slight difference will result in
different sequences, so -1.900000 will be different to -1.899999 although the
difference will not become apparent until several, if not many, notes
(iterations) into the sequence. As the
program variables are single precision the user will not run out of sequences
in a hurry! Trial and error is the best
way to get started, try values for constants between -1.9 and +0.2. Going beyond +-2.0 or +- 2i will result in
divergent data. The software will trap this. You can easily select values by clicking on
the large image of the Mandelbrot set which automatically appears when the
Mandelbrot Sequencer is selected.
Constraining the
note values to scales will result in some interesting melodies, and remember to
allow 1000 notes to enable the sequence to develop properly. The Fractal sequencer can generate 100,000
notes; more could be easily a
Once you’ve found something
interesting, use the synth or another midi sequencer to record the sequence
permanently in midi. Some of the most
interesting sequences result in series which converge or oscillate between
values. A constant of -1.9 will not do
this but -1.75 will. For very surreal
music do not constrain the sequence at all.
Pick a pad sound like the Korg combination bank D Antartica. Constants which result in chaotic sequences
can often lead to incredible melodies, but remember they may occur just once in
a sequence of 50,000 notes !
If you use ‘Real Number’ to
generate notes you can choose between Log (Default) and Linear mapping. This controls how the very large numbers
which can be generated in the sequences are mapped to 1 to 127 midi note
values.
Tip…Good
speakers will enable the very low frequencies to be heard and felt. Also keep the volume at low levels until you
are familiar with the sequencer. Im happy to a
When you get to a section you like
you can play just that section back.
Record the note number so you can play that section back again and
possibly record on the midi sequencer/editor on the synth or directly into a
midi/audio PC sequencer/editor like Cubase or Cakewalk. To do the latter you can use ‘MidiYoke’ a
freeware application from Midi OX ( www.midiox.com
) to enable internal routing of midi out from TC, to midi in on the software
sequencer.
The main fractal sequencer section
is shown below. The easiest way to start is just click ‘Generate Fractal Sequence’
button or click on the large picture of the Mandelbrot set on the pop up form
(image below) in the black area. Where
you click will be recorded by a small white circle. This automatically transfers the X and y
values to the sequence engine and starts playing the sequence. Try clicking first around the sharp black
‘spike’ on the left of the black bulbs – below where there is a white circle in
the orange area of the image below.
Clicking
on the picture sets values for Note Constant and Imaginary Constant. You can see the X and Y values in the two
text boxes and on the form below. Check
the box if you want to control note separation
If you click the ‘Save’ menu item,
the Mandelbrot sequencer settings file will appear in the PCG Reader File
Viewer window. Pressing Load will load
all of the settings back to the sequencer and will mark the location of the
constants by a slightly bigger circle.
This is handy for temporary storage of a sequence.
1. If you want to permanently save a sequence just
use the PCG reader – file / save as menu item – and save as a text file
(txt).
2. To recall a previously saved file. Just go to PCG reader – open the file, you
saved earlier, and then when it appears in the file viewer return to the
Mandelbrot Set window and press ‘Load’.
If you want to annotate a file, just a
Note – The picture above appears
at load and when the ‘Fractal Sequencer tab’ is chosen. To bring it back if you close the form just
click on the ‘Fractal Sequencer’ tab.
The Fractal Sequencer settings
controls are shown below.
NB.
The midi note value generated by the software is constrained between 0 and 127
to prevent
Generating Notes - The ‘Note
Constant’ value if kept within the Mandelbrot set (black area) will determine
the nature of the sequence about an orbit with a seed 0 and produce interesting
sequences. The user can force the sequence
to a note range (by checking the box – Enable note range). This fixes the note range as specified in the
Random Composer tab. The user can also
force the generated notes to a scale (Check box ‘forces note to scale
keyboard’) which makes the melodies very ‘human’. The default is to just use constants
comprising real numbers. The user can
also select complex numbers by clicking on the radio buttons ‘Real No. part’ or
‘Imaginary component’. The imaginary
constant can be input into the pink box under – complex number for note. Press ‘Generate Fractal Seq.’ to start and
play sequence. Press ‘Stop…’ button at
bottom to stop.
Pressing the replay button once
you have stopped the sequence will replay the sequence between the notes input
into the two boxes below ‘Replay Seq. from Note No.’ button. If the loop check box is ticked the sequence
will repeat until the user presses the ‘Stop…’ button.
Checking ‘Chords’ enables the
features of the random composer – so generated notes produce chords. These can be selected by chord boxes on the
Random Composer tab as needed. Random
chords will alternate between various chord types selected or just check 1
chord. The sliders on the Scales tab
controlling ‘chord arpeggio
Some examples - The effect of the
value of the ‘real number only’ constant c with the imaginary number = 0. The user can enter this in the text box Note
Constant (pink background). Set radio
button to ‘real number only’.
|
C = -0.65 |
Tends to a fixed value |
|
C = -1.6 |
chaotic |
|
C = -1.75 |
period of 3 |
|
C = -1.8 |
chaotic near a 3 cycle –
intermittent |
|
C = -1.85 |
chaotic |
|
C = 0.2 |
tends to a fixed value |
Note Timings - As stated earlier,
this sequencer uses the Mandelbrot equation with an orbit of 0 to define note
The check boxes constrain the
Fractal generator to the values defined in the 6 boxes above the Random
Composer tab – Note value, note on range and note off range. The scale factor can applied to the range
value afterwards. For note on
Imaginary Numbers and the square
root of -1 !
This implementation also allows
the user to specify the imaginary part of the complex number. The frames on the left part of the Fractal
Sequencer form. This fully represents the Mandelbrot space. Some suggested constants that produce
repetitive sequences are shown below:
|
Real constant Note Constant or Time constant |
Imaginary constant * i Can represent Notes or Time as
well |
Periodicity |
|
|
|
|
|
-0.12 |
+0.75 |
3 |
|
-0.5 |
+0.56 |
5 |
|
+0.28 |
+0.54 |
4 |
|
+0.38 |
+0.333 |
5 |
|
-0.62 |
+0.43 |
7 |
|
-0.36 |
+0.62 |
8 |
|
-0.67 |
+0.34 |
9 |
|
+0.39 |
+0.22 |
6 |
The period means that these
constants will result in repetitive values and correspond to the Mandelbrot diagram
as these occur at ‘Bulbs’ on the diagram with the same number of ‘antenna’
! These are numbered on the image
above. Picking complex numbers in these
primary bulbs will result in the periods described above. The two frames headed complex values allow
the imaginary part of the constant to be input.
Remember, the constant |c| < 2 otherwise you will definitely get
divergent data !
The
beauty of an infinitely detailed object. A close up of bulb 7 with an attached antenna
comprising 7 radiating extensions – Complex numbers with values in the big
black primary bulb to the lower right will yield a periodicity of 7 ! Constant c =
-0.62 + 0.43i
Try experimenting with values and
instrument sounds – it is definitely worth the
The other major set is the set in
the dynamical plane where values of X larger than 0 are used. The Julia Set frame enables the user to
specify its use by checking the check boxes – ‘Use Julia Set…’. Then both the real and imaginary components
of X can be entered in the boxes by the user.
Press ‘Generate…’ button to create the Julia Set for the note series or
The right hand side of the box
enables Julia Set series to be produced for note
A
Julia Set is shown above for c = -0.624 + 0.435i in a period 7 bulb. Notice in this stunning image, the infinite
detail that is present in the Julia Set. At each node 7 pieces join ! Values of X are real in the x axis and
imaginary in the Y axis with 0 in the centre.
Thus X needs to have values in the black area to produce non divergent
data. X = 0.1 + 0.1i would work. A non divergent series (ie. in the black
area) will always turn into to a repeating 7 note motif. Try it out, set the constants and set the mi
SCALES
This tab Defines random or scale
based compositions. It also has the
facility for the user to enter user based scales and a wide selection of
standard scales. The Scale based
compositions can be defined by chord arpeggio scales or ethnic scales (see form
below) . When you select a chord, the
appropriate notes are checked in the Scale Keyboard. You can also input or edit scaled on the
simplified keyboard in this part of the form.
Ability to play random notes/chords to a chord based arpeggio. The
GRAPH &
EVOLUTION GRAPH SERIES
Note Frequency Distribution of
Sequence - Some ‘note constant’ values will converge to a single value (note or
Imagine you have generated a
series containing say 1000 notes. How
does the note series develop? Does it
converge to 1 note, stay chaotic or become periodic? How do the melodic patterns develop with
The Evolution parameter box on the
same tab allows the user to specify the note number in the sequence the movie
starts, the number of notes sampled every frame and the length at which each
frame (graph) lasts. Press the ‘Show
Evolution Graph’ button to begin once you have generated a sequence. To stop the movie just press ‘Stop All Notes Off’ button at the bottom of the
window.
You can also move a frame at a
Musical compositions often consist
of repeated motifs – short series of notes or phrases. Many tunes are constructed in this manner. The
Fractal sequencer produces in 1 sequence many motifs, which are variations
created by the iterative nature of fractals.
This simple utility enables the short sections selected by the evolution
feature to be captured and stitched together.
Up to 7 sections can be a
To start, open the Fractal
sequencer and press the ‘Arranger’ button at the bottom of the Composer
window. Generate a sequence.
1. Pick a section you like containing a few
notes using the Evolution Parameters facility. These notes are Motif 1
2. Go to arranger frame and press the top
capture button. The start and end note
will be transferred from the evolution frame to the arranger frame.
3. Pick a second section you like using the
Evolution Parameters facility. These
notes are Motif 2
4. Go to arranger frame and press the second
capture button down.
5. Press – ‘Play Arrangement’ button. The sequence will be played – Motif 1 , then
Motif 2.
6. Checking the loop box will play it over and
over. Press ‘Stop All Notes Off’ button to finish.
This process allows a melody to be
produced by a
1. The button ‘Paste
sequence to PCG reader’ – to allow notes generated by Fractal Sequencer
(not the arrangement but the whole fractal sequence) to be listed in PCG reader
file viewer window. Each note is
separated by a comma , so you can paste into say excel a comma separated file).
Pressing the button fills the ‘file viewer’ in the PCG reader with the
list of midi note numbers separated by commas.
Thus 76,74,62 etc.
RANDOM COMPOSER
These controls control pure random
note generation and many controls affect the fractal composer parameters as
well.
The Composer section gets the PC
to compose music within parameter envelopes, which are set by the user. These include note high/low range,
Top Right Section (purple) allows
user input sequences. The program can
improvise around the sequence. Input is
via the virtual keyboard section after pressing the ‘Record Sequence’ button in
the Red section. Note number,
FINALLY
Remember there are many controls
are not available by using
REVISION
HISTORY – Version numbers
1.02 First Beta Version
1.01
1.
A lot
of code updating, bug fixes and the ability to do sysex dumps to the Oasys plus
an improved interface. Released
1.03
1.
The
ability to handle all current PCG files generated by Oasys operating systems up
to 1.1.0. Note the length of data within
the PCG from different O.S. can be different.
This version can handle this.
1.04
1.
Major
Graphical User Interface update – to reflect the Oasys control surface!
2.
Various
bug fixes
3.
Combination
listing now lists correct category for combis.
4.
Improvements
to paste and save file functions in Librarian
5.
Moved
‘find text’ command to tools menu to simplify interface.
6.
A
1.05
1.
Software
works with all Oasys O.S. up to O.S. 1.2.0
2.
A
3.
A
4.
A
5.
Improved
readability in PCG Man and Sec to show program name including EXs1, EXs2
etc. NB. You can also use ‘find’ in
Tools menu to search EX programs by typing ‘EXs1, EX or EXs2 etc.
6.
Corrected
text showing
7.
Corrected
bug reporting ‘global data present’ in full version
8.
Corrected
bug which set to program mode in combi data listed
1.06
1.
A
2.
Corrected
bug in PCG secondary listing for program/combi banks more than 1
3.
EX
instruments are now listed with green shading in PCG windows
4.
‘Randomise
Program Oscillators’ limited to HDi programs – message box a
5.
Ability
to correct (append) older PCG programs and combis etc to work in later O.S. PCG
files. This is an important feature
which lets you import older PCG files created by earlier operating systems.
1.07
1.
A
2.
Improved
error trapping
3.
Software
can now access all 14 banks in an Oasys pcg file – up from 12.
4.
Corrected
bug when handling very big PCG files – over 20mb in size. Eg. 13 program banks,
14 combi banks etc…
1.08
1.
Software
can now copy/paste between different size programs/combis from different Oasys
Operating Systems. Between older and
newer and between
2.
User
can now resize columns in PCG Main and PCG Secondary windows
3.
Program
Name Change, Category and Initialised routines improved
4.
Improved
Merge functions
5.
Improved
Save function
6.
List Favourite
Programs/Combination – also user can make programs/combinations ‘favourite’ or
‘non favourite’. Favourites shown in
bold font when ‘show favourites’ selected.
7.
A
8.
Improved
single program open and paste facility.
1.09
1. Open a ‘single
file’ routine improved
2.
Improved ‘
3.
Improved ‘Save’ pcg file routines including file
name preserved at save on PCG MAIN/SEC header in program.
4.
Improved initial settings for the Fractal Sequencer
5.
Various other tweeks!
1.10
1.
Improvement to
1.11 New Full and Trial Versions - 30th
April 2007
1.
Improved program load routines
2.
Improved error trapping – identifies no midi devices
connected at load.
3.
Bug fix for single program banks – AL 1.
4.
Improved main form graphics for screen resolutions
over 1024x768
5.
Vastly improved ‘Composer’ section layout
1.2
1.
Karma GE editor and randomiser a
1.3
1.
Edit and Randomise Analogue Synthesizer AL 1
parameters
2.
Edit and Randomise String Model Parameters
3.
Randomise HDi Oscillators
4.
Improved Karma GE editor
5.
Modified main screen a
6.
Bug fix to Librarian module to ensure programs etc.
saved correctly after multiple edits.
1.4 June 2007
1.
LAC Legacy Analog Collection editor – For LAC parameters
2.
‘UNDO’ facility for any edits. Edits can be reversed if you don’t like them!
3.
Improved editor routines – Improved use of data
handling in arrays behind the scenes.
4.
Improved Save PCG file routine – forces user to save
with a different file name – increments by default by 1.
1.5 July 2007
1.
Works with Oasys operating system 1.3 and later
2.
Linear and Log mapping a
3.
A
4.
Corrected bug – midi channel not displayed properly
if slider moved. Midi set button - form.
Hi
everybody,
Back to the forum (Karma Labs) after our exciting stay in 
So I like to recommend and support this guy
with his work specially for his helpfulness and openness
JAI JAI
(You may visit my updated homepage, specially the music page with a small video
from our temple-singing in
Go here>>Homepage
SO
THAT’S IT?
If there are features
you would like to a
NB. I have checked all controls – if you find a
problem or a control is not appropriate for the model you use please let me
know. Also send the PCG if it is a PCG
reading problem and I will help sort it out!
CONDITIONS OF USE – The full software is only available by purchasing a
license – see my website for details.
Users of Trial versions are requested to support its future development
as well. See my website or contact me
via e-mail for details. Feedback and a wish list for a
NB. People use this software at
their own risk!
Have fun!!!!
Copyright 2006
I would like to thank Korg for
making such great synthesizers. Especially
Jerry and Dan at Korg
LINKS
TO SOME OTHER GREAT OASYS RELATED SITES
1. Great sites for
Korg updates etc. Korg
2. Also visit
3.
For great Korg Forums goto - ‘Irish Acts’. http://www.irishacts.com/ , OASYS
Haven.
4.
For
5. For a great
6. For samples for the
Oasys goto the impressive site of Karo Sounds - http://www.karo-sounds.com/
