Posted by
CowboyNeal
on from the under-the-hood dept.
jgwong writes "Korg's newest keyboard, called OASYS, will run Linux with a propietary software developed by themselves. With a 10.4" touchscreen, CD burner and 16-track HD audio recording this looks pretty neat. No information about availability or price, though."
-- EA David Gardner -"... but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun."
Re:All well and good...
by
blueish+yellow
·
· Score: 5, Funny
It's great that everyone thinks this is such a simple mistake nowadays but back when Milli Vanilli did it the backlash resulted in a suicide.
On the SI scale of humiliation what Ashlee Simspon did measures about 400 milliVanillis.
Know what you mean...
by
TommydCat
·
· Score: 4, Funny
In my X setup, I see 101-key, 102-key, etc, but where's the 61-key option?
-- This comment does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the author.
Having checked out the promotional video...
by
PornMaster
·
· Score: 4, Informative
It looks like the UI on the touch screen could use some work. It looks too much like a typical computer GUI, and ripe for fat-fingering and just simply not being intuitively instrument-like.
They tout the power of it being based upon a computer, but I think it'll be a few more generations of this before it really makes an impact.
GPL keyboard ?
by
thej1nx
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Hmm concidering that they have proprietary software being commercially distributed, coupled up with Linux.. will they or won't they be bound by GPL to release the code for it ?
Or will they skip on providing any CDs ?
Re:GPL keyboard ?
by
cipher+uk
·
· Score: 3, Informative
no. their proprietary software is not GPL'd so does not conform to the GPL license. just because it runs a linux kernel does not mean it needs to release the source code to its programs running on it.
it does however need to make the source to the GPL software on it easily available. an anonymous ftp server will furfill this requirement. shipping the source code with GPL'd works is not necessary. it just needs to be easily available.
ps. slashbots informed me of this.
Re:GPL keyboard ?
by
SuburbaniteFury
·
· Score: 4, Informative
Ahem.
"In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program
with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of
a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under
the scope of this License."
Hmm concidering that they have proprietary software being commercially distributed, coupled up with Linux.. will they or won't they be bound by GPL to release the code for it?
With the number of open source-friendly folks on Slashdot, it amazes me how often this question turns up in comments. You'd think/. crowd knows what the GPL is, and that most readers would have some basic knowledge about the GPL (and thus, be able to answer above question for themselves).
Never read a single copy of the GPL ?!? Just trolling around? Too lazy to go to GNU.org, and check it out?
I have to admit I don't fully understand these all-powerful keyboards. Why not just use a computer? Software synthesis and recording? Better gui (larger real estate for sure), more choices. You could posit portability but I think my powerbook and my oxygen8 is more portable than this sucker. It's cool, it's geeky, but that does not make it worth the cash, especially if I'm just worried about getting things done. It seems to me all-in-one systems are more prone to breakin down. Modularity, right? It is pretty though.
Because setting up a PC and dealing with software crashes just isn't acceptable in a professional live music setting. I saw the Chemical brothers lose their entire library at a live show once and it meant an unexpected 15 minute second intermission. Luckily it wasn't an OS corruption issue, they just reset the looper and reloaded their samples. Not to mention the fact that these things are really friggin rugged to put up with the abuse from roadies. Oh yeah, and these things basically never break down. I don't think I've ever heard of a Korg Triton (previous DAW from Korg) breaking down.
-- There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
Re:Is this really in the spirit of the GPL?
by
Aneurysm9
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
Is there something we can do about this?
Yes! Celebrate! If they have made changes to the kernel they will have to release them and, hopefully, there will be something of benefit to other Linux audio projects in there. Even if they didn't make any changes, it is a major pro-audio component maker embracing Linux. We need more pro-audio software and hardware support for Linux. I hate it that I have to use Windoze to do postprocessing on recordings that I make, there's no reason Linux can't support VST plugins and (usable) low latency audio.
-- There was Cowboy Neal at the wheel of a bus to never-ever land.
How about getting just the proprietary SW, and a Korg soundcard, and a MIDI keyboard (only - just the keys outputting MIDI data)? Maybe they'd prefer to bundle the proprietary SW with the Korg soundcard, the way they sell keyboardless MIDI "brains", without worrying about piracy? Every Linux box (and some still infected with Windows;) could be in their target market. We've already got the HW that runs the Linux and their SW; why raise their prices by selling it to us again?
I actually am a REAL musician and I do make money from my project studio. You do realize it's possible to do that, don't you?
I may not have directly said it in my post, but I'll make it clear: Just because one chooses components over all-in-one units does not make it inferior - particularly when research is done prior to purchase.
Again, Wow. Go outside and take a break or something.
This is not unexpected News
by
Ralph+Spoilsport
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
As a professional electronic musician (among other things as an interdisciplinary artist) I can comment on this development.
Basically, the Keyboard People are fucked.
Strike that. They are FUCKED.
Why? As one poster noted above: Software.
Software synthesis already outstrips most anything you can do in a keyboard, and at a much lower cost.
I remember back i nthe ancient 1980s, when a cheezy ass sampler (by todays standards) cost $2000+. In Reason, which costs about $400, you can fill an entire virtual rack with samplers far in excess of what availed then. you want 11 samplers stacked? If you had $25,000 - SURE. In Reason, when you're done, you simply open up a new blank Rack, and fill it with more/other goodies from the drop down menu. Back then, you'd have to sell all those samplers...
It comes with drum machines, samplers, processors, mixers, synthesizers of several different stripes, and on and on.
This, in combination with Reason, offers truly terrifying amounts of musical development and creativity. Recently, Live was upgraded to include MIDI, and a basic drum machine, so now it is even more deadly as a combo with Reason. Live is a Loop based compositional system, but with its new MIDI capabilities, it is now a much more powerful beast. It costs about $350, IIRC.
This, in combination with Live and Reason, makes ANYTHING coming out of Korg pretty much superfluous. With Live and Reason, you have composition systems and tonnes of "Gear". With Max/MSP you make your own gear, and it can be just as weird as you want it to be. Max/MSP isn't a synth, it's a software development environment that resembles an evil cross between Visual Basic and tinkertoys. It's available on Mac and (finally) Windows, and it totally fuckin' rocks. If you wondered how freeks like Autechre makes all that jiggety noise, look no further than:
Max/MSP.
so, lets run some totals:
My guess is the Oasys will likely come in around at a $2500 price point.
I often shop at Musicians Friend so my prices are from there as of today, Jan 20th. They aren't the best, or the worst. It's just a data point.
Reason: on sale: $199
Ableton Live: $399
Max/MSP with Jitter (video libraries): $799
Edirol PCRA-30 keyboard with Audio In: $299
And a computer I found at PC MALL - an IBM Thinkpad:
Intel P4, 2.8GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo drive,15" XGA Display, XP-Pro, etc.
Which has PLENTY of power for audio. and it's on sale for $1,198.
So, throw in another hundred bucks for a kbd stand and what not and the total is around:
$2900
Which is probably a bit more than the OASYS will sell for. Since Max/MSP is for Advanced User GEEKS, and Jitter is even geekier, cut the $799 out and you have an entire electronic music studio that KICKS ASS for about $2200.
...for a system that will totally thrash the OASYS up and down the street. Cheerfully.
Now: will your system CRASH? Yes. Will the OASYS? Probably not. If you're worried about that, then get a Powerbook or a Linux Book or whatever-the-fuck-book that flips your crank. They don't Blue Screen as much as Windoze box, but there are other issues involved. All in all, unless you're planning to spend a lot of time on stage, you're better off with the compter based system.
In a few years you will have run through most of what the OASYS does. In a few years... I *shudder* to think what Reason and Live will be like...
Basically Hardware Synth manufactueres are doomed. The only ones who will survive are the ones making the uber-geek analogue gear, and they will basically be little more than boutique operations for purists.
Slashdot Mirror
PS/2, AT, or USB?
...but does it run...Lin...uhhh... shoot.
Well, with the stability and reliability of Linux, Ashlee Simpson will never make a lip-sync gaffe again!
"Backups are for wimps. Real men upload their data to an FTP site and have everyone else mirror it." -- Linus Torvalds
In my X setup, I see 101-key, 102-key, etc, but where's the 61-key option?
This comment does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the author.
It looks like the UI on the touch screen could use some work. It looks too much like a typical computer GUI, and ripe for fat-fingering and just simply not being intuitively instrument-like.
They tout the power of it being based upon a computer, but I think it'll be a few more generations of this before it really makes an impact.
500GB of disk, 5TB of transfer, $5.95/mo
Or will they skip on providing any CDs ?
I have to admit I don't fully understand these all-powerful keyboards. Why not just use a computer? Software synthesis and recording? Better gui (larger real estate for sure), more choices. You could posit portability but I think my powerbook and my oxygen8 is more portable than this sucker. It's cool, it's geeky, but that does not make it worth the cash, especially if I'm just worried about getting things done. It seems to me all-in-one systems are more prone to breakin down. Modularity, right? It is pretty though.
Yes! Celebrate! If they have made changes to the kernel they will have to release them and, hopefully, there will be something of benefit to other Linux audio projects in there. Even if they didn't make any changes, it is a major pro-audio component maker embracing Linux. We need more pro-audio software and hardware support for Linux. I hate it that I have to use Windoze to do postprocessing on recordings that I make, there's no reason Linux can't support VST plugins and (usable) low latency audio.
There was Cowboy Neal at the wheel of a bus to never-ever land.
How about getting just the proprietary SW, and a Korg soundcard, and a MIDI keyboard (only - just the keys outputting MIDI data)? Maybe they'd prefer to bundle the proprietary SW with the Korg soundcard, the way they sell keyboardless MIDI "brains", without worrying about piracy? Every Linux box (and some still infected with Windows ;) could be in their target market. We've already got the HW that runs the Linux and their SW; why raise their prices by selling it to us again?
--
make install -not war
I actually am a REAL musician and I do make money from my project studio. You do realize it's possible to do that, don't you?
I may not have directly said it in my post, but I'll make it clear: Just because one chooses components over all-in-one units does not make it inferior - particularly when research is done prior to purchase.
Again, Wow. Go outside and take a break or something.
Basically, the Keyboard People are fucked.
Strike that. They are FUCKED.
Why? As one poster noted above: Software.
Software synthesis already outstrips most anything you can do in a keyboard, and at a much lower cost.
Exhibit A:
REASON
I remember back i nthe ancient 1980s, when a cheezy ass sampler (by todays standards) cost $2000+. In Reason, which costs about $400, you can fill an entire virtual rack with samplers far in excess of what availed then. you want 11 samplers stacked? If you had $25,000 - SURE. In Reason, when you're done, you simply open up a new blank Rack, and fill it with more/other goodies from the drop down menu. Back then, you'd have to sell all those samplers...
It comes with drum machines, samplers, processors, mixers, synthesizers of several different stripes, and on and on.
Second Exhibit: ABLETON LIVE
This, in combination with Reason, offers truly terrifying amounts of musical development and creativity. Recently, Live was upgraded to include MIDI, and a basic drum machine, so now it is even more deadly as a combo with Reason. Live is a Loop based compositional system, but with its new MIDI capabilities, it is now a much more powerful beast. It costs about $350, IIRC.
Exhibit Three: Max/MSP
This, in combination with Live and Reason, makes ANYTHING coming out of Korg pretty much superfluous. With Live and Reason, you have composition systems and tonnes of "Gear". With Max/MSP you make your own gear, and it can be just as weird as you want it to be. Max/MSP isn't a synth, it's a software development environment that resembles an evil cross between Visual Basic and tinkertoys. It's available on Mac and (finally) Windows, and it totally fuckin' rocks. If you wondered how freeks like Autechre makes all that jiggety noise, look no further than:
Max/MSP.
so, lets run some totals:
My guess is the Oasys will likely come in around at a $2500 price point.
I often shop at Musicians Friend so my prices are from there as of today, Jan 20th. They aren't the best, or the worst. It's just a data point.
Reason: on sale: $199
Ableton Live: $399
Max/MSP with Jitter (video libraries): $799
Edirol PCRA-30 keyboard with Audio In: $299
And a computer I found at PC MALL - an IBM Thinkpad:
Intel P4, 2.8GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo drive,15" XGA Display, XP-Pro, etc.
Which has PLENTY of power for audio. and it's on sale for $1,198.
So, throw in another hundred bucks for a kbd stand and what not and the total is around:
$2900
Which is probably a bit more than the OASYS will sell for. Since Max/MSP is for Advanced User GEEKS, and Jitter is even geekier, cut the $799 out and you have an entire electronic music studio that KICKS ASS for about $2200.
Now: will your system CRASH? Yes. Will the OASYS? Probably not. If you're worried about that, then get a Powerbook or a Linux Book or whatever-the-fuck-book that flips your crank. They don't Blue Screen as much as Windoze box, but there are other issues involved. All in all, unless you're planning to spend a lot of time on stage, you're better off with the compter based system.
In a few years you will have run through most of what the OASYS does. In a few years... I *shudder* to think what Reason and Live will be like...
Basically Hardware Synth manufactueres are doomed. The only ones who will survive are the ones making the uber-geek analogue gear, and they will basically be little more than boutique operations for purists.
RS
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.