Korg OASYS PCI
A DSP-based PCI card with multiple synth engines, discontinued after 2000 units.
The Korg OASYS PCI was a DSP-powered expansion card for PC and Mac, released in 1999. It packed a wide range of synthesizer engines, covering sampling, subtractive, FM, and physical modeling. However, its high price tag and limited polyphony led to its discontinuation in 2001, with only around 2,000 units ever made.
Its engine lineup borrowed several models from the Korg Z1 hardware synth. The ROMpler section included virtual analog options: a basic one-oscillator synth, a two-oscillator version (which used less DSP than two separate one-oscillator units), a dedicated bass-lead synth, a comb-filter variant, and models of the Roland TB-303, Minimoog, and Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (the latter also had a modded version with extra envelopes and controls). A noise synth handled percussion and effects.
Physical modeling engines included a reed piano (modeling a popular electric piano), plucked string and small plucked string models (the latter being a lighter DSP version), slap bass and small slap bass, a tonewheel organ, a Z1 organ (sonically identical to the hardware), and a tenor saxophone model.
Drum synthesis came from a percussion synth similar to the Korg Electribe R, a second version with an extra envelope generator, and a Beat Box—a three-track drum machine with a 16-step sequencer and two Percussion Synth 2 units. Frequency modulation was covered by a 2-operator FM synth with one ADSR envelope, a 4-operator FM synth, and a 4-operator selectable model with eight algorithm routings, similar to the Yamaha TX81Z and FB-01.
The card included a basic effects package with 17 categories, many borrowed from the Korg Trinity workstation. Korg released a Synth Kit software for Mac OS 9, allowing third-party developers to create extensions. Notable contributors included Harm Visser (acoustic modeling), Dan Philips (effects and tools), Orwell Digital (VA and percussion), and Zarg Music (the Orion synthesizer).
Due to its quick market failure, no drivers were ever released for modern operating systems; most users ran dedicated machines with Windows 98 or ME. The card’s successor was the Korg OASYS workstation synthesizer, released in early 2005.
Quick Facts
- Synth Name
- OASYS PCI
- Synth Manufacturer
- Korg
- Synthesis Type
- PCM, Physical Modelling, Sampler, Analog Modelling
- Polyphony
- 16 (maximum; may vary depending on DSP load)
- Timbrality
- 12
- Keyboard
- no
- Oscillator
- depends on synthesis engine
- Ext Control
- MIDI
- Dates
- 1999-2001
- Price
- $2,000
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Korg OASYS PCI was released in 1999 as a DSP-based sound card for PC and Mac. It incorporated a wide range of synthesizer engines, some taken from the Korg Z1 hardware synthesizer. The card included virtual analog models such as Analog 1 Osc, Analog 2 Osc, and models of the Roland TB-303 and Minimoog, as well as physical modelling engines like Reed Piano, Plucked String, and Tenor Sax. It also featured drum synthesizers, virtual phase modulation (FM) engines, and a basic effects package based on 17 categories, many taken from the Korg Trinity workstation synthesizer.
Production was stopped in 2001 due to the card's high market price and low polyphony, with only about 2000 cards produced. Korg released Synth Kit software for Mac OS 9 to allow development of extensions, and several third-party developers created additional plugins, including Harm Visser (acoustic modelling instruments), Dan Philips (effects and tools), Orwell Digital (VA and percussion synthesizer), and Zarg Music (Orion synthesizer).
Because of its relatively fast market failure, no drivers were released for modern operating systems, and most users relied on dedicated computers running Windows 98 or ME. The Korg OASYS workstation synthesizer, released in early 2005, is considered its successor.
Reader's Guide
The Korg OASYS PCI is notable as an early DSP-based sound card that consolidated multiple synthesis methods—sampling, subtractive, FM, and physical modelling—into a single PCI card. Its high price and limited polyphony restricted its market, leading to a short production run of about 2000 units. The card's engine library drew heavily from Korg's hardware synthesizers, including the Z1 and Trinity, and offered a range of virtual analog models, physical modelling instruments, drum synthesizers, and FM engines. Third-party developers extended its capabilities through the Synth Kit software for Mac OS 9. The card's failure to gain widespread adoption meant no drivers were created for modern operating systems, confining it to legacy Windows 98 or ME setups. Its legacy is tied to the later Korg OASYS workstation synthesizer, which succeeded it in 2005. The OASYS PCI remains a niche item among collectors and enthusiasts interested in early DSP-based computer music hardware.
Did You Know?
- About 2000 cards were produced before production stopped in 2001.
- Some of its synthesizer models were taken from the Korg Z1 hardware synthesizer.
- It included a model of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer called KB-303.
More in Computer Cooling and Sound Cards, Part 2 1-24
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