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About KARMA Overview
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About KARMA
Overview
KARMA stands for Kay Algorithmic Realtime Music
Architecture, named after its inventor, Stephen Kay.
The KARMA function generates MIDI data, using
many different complex algorithms seamlessly
integrated to provide a powerful “music generation
engine”. Based on the notes and chords you play,
KARMA generates phrases and patterns in real-time,
generating not just notes but MIDI control data as well.
The KARMA architecture allows the various
algorithms to be reconfigured and varied in realtime,
as you play them.
For example, you can create spectacular cascades of
complex interweaving notes, techno arpeggios and
effects, dense rhythmic and melodic textures, natural
sounding glissandos for acoustic instrument programs,
guitar strumming and finger-picking simulations,
random effects, auto-accompaniment effects, gliding
and swooping portamento and pitch bend effects, and
new sound design possibilities. KARMA lets you
produce phrases and patterns far beyond the level
provided by conventional arpeggiators or pattern
playback functions.
Theory Of Operation
A performance of a musical phrase can be thought of
as having many different “attributes” which determine
the overall effect of the resulting music. For example, a
musical phrase has a “rhythm” attribute, which is the
rhythm with which the notes are being played. The
number of notes (“chords”) being played at the same
time in various places of the musical phrase could be
called a “cluster” attribute. The velocity (accent) with
which the notes are played is a “velocity” attribute.
The spatial location in a stereo field where the notes are
played is a “pan” attribute, etc.
Typically, music that has been recorded or sequenced
has all of these attributes predetermined and fixed in
relation to each other. A specific note is to be played
with a specific rhythmic value for a specific period of
time, at a specific volume level, at a specific location in
a stereo field, with the sound of a specific musical
instrument, and these relationships remain fixed no
matter how many times you play back the
performance. For example, in most if not all auto-
accompaniment instruments, to achieve a variation in
the accompaniment pattern the instrument essentially
switches to a different pre-recorded sequence of
musical events (again with specific relationships that
are fixed in the data).
In KARMA, every aspect of a musical phrase has been
separated into independently controllable attributes.
Each of these attributes is controlled by a separate
group of parameters, which can be individually varied
or changed in groups by the user in real-time as the
music is being generated; or changed all at once with
the selection of a program or combination.
KARMA can also be used to generate infinitely
variable randomized grooves and accompaniment
backings. Up until now there have been two basic
types of backing track generation. The traditional
method used in all auto-accompaniment keyboards is
a system which analyzes notes played on a keyboard
(chord recognition) and then plays back patterns
stored in memory through transposition tables. The
second method is the one used by some algorithmic
software products that create new patterns each time
the algorithm is called. In general, the first method is
static and repetitive, while the second method cannot
be modified in real-time.
KARMA combines the algorithmic diversity of the
second method with the real-time control and
immediate access of the first method to create a new
form of interactive groove generation, where the user
is in more direct control, since what is produced is
directly related to which notes are pressed.
Furthermore, extensive aspects of the rhythm, velocity,
chord size and other parameters can be randomly
varied in real-time to allow the user to control the
complexity and density of the resulting performance.
Whether you are playing programs or combinations,
performing with the KARMA Controls sliders,
switches, and drum/chord pads, giving a live
performance, or recording new music using the
onboard sequencer, you can take full advantage of the
KARMA function at any time.