Karma-Lab Releases Korg M3 Video Tutorial DVD Set
(ShackMan | Posted 2010-12-25)
It wasn't too long ago that our cell phone plan rolled around and I got my grandfather a new phone, which he of course stared at for a solid hour without wanting to press any of the buttons for fear of breaking something or making it blow up. "It's easy," I'd keep telling him, "you just press here and here and you can put in all the information for your new contacts. That green button is your send button if you want to call someone." "So it's called a 'send' button?" he'd ask. And of course, in frustration, but maintaining a teacher's composure, I'd say something along the lines of "Just call it the call button if it helps." But then I remember how many times I've looked at a workstation like the Triton, X50, or in this case, the M3, and been reduced to saying nothing but, "Woah.......dude.......buttons." Even I need a little help with new technology.
The good thing is, I'm not alone, and neither are you if you've had the same experience. Karma-Lab is once again teaming up with Korg in this realization to help people like us make the most out of their instruments by releasing a 2-DVD set with over 7 hours of video spanning 45 different lessons on how to use the M3's functions, starting from using one basic sound to fully programming the workstation.
Karma has been working with Korg by making sets like this as well as software and sounds for its keyboards for over 11 years. Based in Westfield, NJ, Karma-Labs and its software and educational series have won several awards over a 16 year existence. This two-DVD set promises to be nothing shy of the company's usual high standards for production. The DVD set is called "House 101 Combi (that's British for 'combo') Creation." Karma-Lab presents the entirety of the lessons in an easy step-by-step format that allows you to work at your own pace with ease and emphasizes comfort in using Korg's M3 Workstation in a real-world setting. Karma-Lab leaves no stone unturned, with following topics and more all covered:
- Finding your way around the M3 Editor
- Saving and loading M3 Editor files; transmitting and receiving data
- Selecting a different GE for a KARMA module to replace an existing GE
- Changing Programs on Timbres
- Changing Key Zones, setting up splits, layering timbres
- Using Timbre parameters, such as EQ, Transpose, Portamento
- Using Tone Adjust to modify the sound of individual programs in a combi
- Assigning Effects, chaining them and routing them
- Assigning KARMA Parameters to the Master Layer
- Understanding esoteric KARMA features such as Melodic Repeat and Auto-Bending
- Modifying Scenes more to your personal taste
- Copying Scenes from one to another
- Putting the 8 Scenes into a completely different order
- Assigning chords to the pads and keeping parts from transposing up or down too far
- Setting up the Drum Track in a combi, and having it play in only certain KARMA scenes
- Setting up the X-Y Mode to mix the KARMA Modules in and out with your fingers
- Configuring the LH controllers such as joystick, ribbon, SW1 and SW2
- Configuring the eight Real-Time Sound Control Sliders to modify sounds and effects
- Having only certain timbres respond to various controllers
- The easiest way to record a song with your completed combi and turn it into a WAVE file
But of course, you want to know about pricing, right? Well, the 2-DVD set is available worldwide for $59.95 plus Shipping and Handling. Think that's too much? Just want to go through it once and be done with it? Then just subscribe to Karma-Lab's premium content section online for $9.95/month and view the full series as many times as you want there. There's also a three-month special for $24.85.
Still too much? Want to try before you buy? Well, how about you get 5 sample chapters for free on Karma-Lab's website? So there ya go, M3 users, you have no excuse now not to know your 'boards inside and out! Get experimenting! Be creative! And as always, if it sounds weird, do it again.
James Rushin is a bassist, keyboardist, writer, and composer living and working in the Greater Pittsburgh area. He has performed with Selmer artist Tim Price, Curtis Johnson, guitarists Ken Karsh and Joe Negri. His compositions have been featured at West Virginia University and Valley Forge Christian College. He will be spending the Fall and Winter months working on playwright Frank Gagliano's Voodoo Trilogy and Bodoni County Songbook, as well as a full-length album with his latest project, Shutterdown.
James un-officially endorses EMG pickups and Nord keyboards.
Got questions? Comments? James can be reached as ShackMan in the Music Gear Review forums, or you may e-mail him at James.Rushin@MusicGearReview.com.
