6 ms·

Korg Step Master: Rhythm Training Machine

93 points by dpflan 9y ago

blub 9y ago
I actually downloaded this once out of curiosity but couldn't figure out how to use it. By that I mean it was neither intuitive, nor fun. From my experience the big benefit of doing dance classes is that the instructor can physically move with you in the right way and grab your arms or body and hold them into position if needed. The second best way of learning is from a video which includes a lot of explanations. Almost all videos explain the moves, but it's very important to know how to tense your body where to put your weight, how to shift your weight, etc. e.g: if you're dancing with a partner and you're not keeping your arms rigid then you can't lead properly, because she won't be able to figure out what you want to do. This is almost completely invisible when looking at dancers, so it needs to be explained.
- andrewingram 9y ago
  Regarding partnerwork, rigidity depends on the dance. The frame in cross-body salsa is ideally very relaxed (except for moments of muscle engagement to allow certain moves)
jimmcslim 9y ago
What the? I think Korg needs to get Tatsuya [1] back on board... [1] http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2017/02/16/synth-guru-tatsuya-takahashi-leaving-his-role-at-korg/ http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2017/02/16/synth-guru-tats...
- blub 9y ago
  Korg is nowadays a top iOS music app producer, with hits like Gadget, iMS-20, iElectribe, etc. They also have Gadget running on the Mac and it costs more than Logic.
  - jameskegel 9y ago
    > it costs more than Logic. Are you talking about Logic DAW software? If so, that's pretty impressive, ballsy even.
    - blub 9y ago
      Yes, that's about $200 nowadays, Gadget costs $299 (I think they reduced it). It definitely has fewer features compared to Logic, but it's also significantly easier to make a song with it. Since it got started on the iPad, the UI is simpler and cleaner compared to a traditional DAW. It's also packing quite a few synths, such as Korg M1, Wavestation and ARP Odyssey, all of them useable as plugins.
- ericwood 9y ago
  He was the lead engineer of the analog synthesizers department; I doubt he would have had much say in this even if he was there.
S_A_P 9y ago
I am actually really impressed with Korg these days. They were among the first to push their classics into the VST/Audio Unit/AAX world. They also have pushed their electribes into iOS. Gadget, while kind of pricey is truly a unique take on computer composition and I find myself creating music that sounds entirely different than what I would create in Logic, Reason or Fl Studio.(which to some degree also affect my writing, but I think Gadget is probably the most unique workflow Ive seen). On the Analog synthesizer front, they are IMO the leader in democratizing analog synths and creating recreations of previously unavailable synthesizers. Arp Odyssey, MS-20 reissue, ms-20 KITS! They are also creating many new and well received analogs or digital analog hybrids with the Minilog, monolog and King Korg. The volca series is also great entry level gear. Im a huge fan of what Korg is doing and I have the Odyssey desktop module. In many ways its better than searching out a nice example of an original Arp. For the most part, they've compared pretty favorably to the originals and have the benefit of USB and midi. I have been able to create a spot on recreation of Herbie Hancock's "chameleon" bassline with it. Contrast this with Roland. They have also recently been trying to recreate their past(again) but digitally(only). From an outsiders perspective it looks like they have lost their analog expertise to attrition or retirement, as they have only released two analog synthesizers in recent times in the SE-01 boutique module and the JDxi hybrid synth. The rest of their repro gear is digitally modelled. I dont think there is anything wrong with that, and I do own some of it (TR-8 and JP-08) but my take is that they are riding on past success more than pushing the technology forward. As for this app, it certainly isnt anything I would use or want, but I think its great they are pushing rhythm and music to a large audience. No reason to hate on them for that...
- jerf 9y ago
  Gotta call out the DS and 3DS synthesizors they've published: http://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/korg_m01d/ http://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/korg_m01d/ In terms of just adding to the "weirdly cutting edge" vibe. And, you know, on the one hand, they're synths running literally on toys, and on the other hand... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Dogq8g35c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Dogq8g35c or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ixQvm7t_F0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ixQvm7t_F0 .
- bbgm 9y ago
hellofunk 9y ago
I honestly thought this was a joke. The dancing model in the videos helps perpetuate this fallacy.
sogen 9y ago
Great! one more thing to avoid leaving the house /s
blacksmith_tb 9y ago
Now if only it had a Pavlok[1] integration, it could punish you for failing to keep the beat. 1: https://pavlok.com/ https://pavlok.com/
- goldenkey 9y ago
  No one gives a shit about that scam of a device.
snvzz 9y ago
For the task at hand, I do wonder how it compares (and whether it does) with the likes of llsif, deresute or mirishita.
seekbeak 9y ago
From the title, I was hoping it was some sort of cool step sequencer that would somehow help with rhythm training. How wrong I was.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

93 points by dpflan 9y ago

blub 9y ago

I actually downloaded this once out of curiosity but couldn't figure out how to use it. By that I mean it was neither intuitive, nor fun. From my experience the big benefit of doing dance classes is that the instructor can physically move with you in the right way and grab your arms or body and hold them into position if needed. The second best way of learning is from a video which includes a lot of explanations. Almost all videos explain the moves, but it's very important to know how to tense your body where to put your weight, how to shift your weight, etc. e.g: if you're dancing with a partner and you're not keeping your arms rigid then you can't lead properly, because she won't be able to figure out what you want to do. This is almost completely invisible when looking at dancers, so it needs to be explained.

andrewingram 9y ago
Regarding partnerwork, rigidity depends on the dance. The frame in cross-body salsa is ideally very relaxed (except for moments of muscle engagement to allow certain moves)

jimmcslim 9y ago

What the? I think Korg needs to get Tatsuya [1] back on board... [1] http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2017/02/16/synth-guru-tatsuya-takahashi-leaving-his-role-at-korg/ http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2017/02/16/synth-guru-tats...

blub 9y ago
Korg is nowadays a top iOS music app producer, with hits like Gadget, iMS-20, iElectribe, etc. They also have Gadget running on the Mac and it costs more than Logic.
- jameskegel 9y ago
  > it costs more than Logic. Are you talking about Logic DAW software? If so, that's pretty impressive, ballsy even.
  - blub 9y ago
    Yes, that's about $200 nowadays, Gadget costs $299 (I think they reduced it). It definitely has fewer features compared to Logic, but it's also significantly easier to make a song with it. Since it got started on the iPad, the UI is simpler and cleaner compared to a traditional DAW. It's also packing quite a few synths, such as Korg M1, Wavestation and ARP Odyssey, all of them useable as plugins.
ericwood 9y ago
He was the lead engineer of the analog synthesizers department; I doubt he would have had much say in this even if he was there.

S_A_P 9y ago

I am actually really impressed with Korg these days. They were among the first to push their classics into the VST/Audio Unit/AAX world. They also have pushed their electribes into iOS. Gadget, while kind of pricey is truly a unique take on computer composition and I find myself creating music that sounds entirely different than what I would create in Logic, Reason or Fl Studio.(which to some degree also affect my writing, but I think Gadget is probably the most unique workflow Ive seen). On the Analog synthesizer front, they are IMO the leader in democratizing analog synths and creating recreations of previously unavailable synthesizers. Arp Odyssey, MS-20 reissue, ms-20 KITS! They are also creating many new and well received analogs or digital analog hybrids with the Minilog, monolog and King Korg. The volca series is also great entry level gear. Im a huge fan of what Korg is doing and I have the Odyssey desktop module. In many ways its better than searching out a nice example of an original Arp. For the most part, they've compared pretty favorably to the originals and have the benefit of USB and midi. I have been able to create a spot on recreation of Herbie Hancock's "chameleon" bassline with it. Contrast this with Roland. They have also recently been trying to recreate their past(again) but digitally(only). From an outsiders perspective it looks like they have lost their analog expertise to attrition or retirement, as they have only released two analog synthesizers in recent times in the SE-01 boutique module and the JDxi hybrid synth. The rest of their repro gear is digitally modelled. I dont think there is anything wrong with that, and I do own some of it (TR-8 and JP-08) but my take is that they are riding on past success more than pushing the technology forward. As for this app, it certainly isnt anything I would use or want, but I think its great they are pushing rhythm and music to a large audience. No reason to hate on them for that...

jerf 9y ago
Gotta call out the DS and 3DS synthesizors they've published: http://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/korg_m01d/ http://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/korg_m01d/ In terms of just adding to the "weirdly cutting edge" vibe. And, you know, on the one hand, they're synths running literally on toys, and on the other hand... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Dogq8g35c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Dogq8g35c or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ixQvm7t_F0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ixQvm7t_F0 .
bbgm 9y ago

hellofunk 9y ago

I honestly thought this was a joke. The dancing model in the videos helps perpetuate this fallacy.

sogen 9y ago

Great! one more thing to avoid leaving the house /s

blacksmith_tb 9y ago

Now if only it had a Pavlok[1] integration, it could punish you for failing to keep the beat. 1: https://pavlok.com/ https://pavlok.com/

goldenkey 9y ago
No one gives a shit about that scam of a device.

snvzz 9y ago

For the task at hand, I do wonder how it compares (and whether it does) with the likes of llsif, deresute or mirishita.

seekbeak 9y ago

From the title, I was hoping it was some sort of cool step sequencer that would somehow help with rhythm training. How wrong I was.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]