iii
 
Thank you for purchasing the 
 
Korg KARMA music workstation
 
. 
To ensure trouble-free enjoyment, please read this manual carefully and use the instrument 
as directed.
 
About this manual
 
The owner’s manuals and how to use 
them
 
This instrument come with the following owner’s 
manuals.
• Basic Guide
• Parameter Guide
• KARMA GE Guide
• Voice Name List
 
Basic Guide
 
First read this manual carefully to gain a basic under-
standing of the instrument and to learn basic opera-
tion.
 
“Introduction”
 
 explains the function of each part, how 
to make connections, basic operation, and gives an 
overview of each mode.
 
“Quick Start”
 
 explains basic topics (selecting sounds, 
convenient functions for performance). If you wish to 
begin playing immediately, read this section first.
 
“Basic Functions”
 
 contains mode-by-mode explana-
tions of what you need to know to edit sounds, record 
on the sequencer. This section also explains how to use 
the KARMA function, effects.
“
 
Appendices
 
” contains information on troubleshoot-
ing, specifications, and various other information.
 
Parameter Guide
 
The Parameter Guide contains explanations and other 
information regarding the operations of the parameters 
and settings on this instrument. The explanations are 
organized by mode, and page. Explanations and other 
information on the effects and their parameters are 
also provided for each effect.
Refer to this guide when an unfamiliar parameter 
appears in the display, or when you need to know 
more about a particular function.
 
GE Guide
 
This explains the concepts and parameters of the GE 
(Generated Effect) section that generates the phrases 
and patterns of the KARMA function.
 
Voice Name List
 
This lists the multisamples and drumsamples that are 
built into this instrument, and the factory preset com-
binations, programs, drum kits, and KARMA function.
Refer to these lists when you wish to know more about 
the preloaded sounds.
 
Conventions in this manual
 
Abbreviations for the manuals   BG, PG, GE, VNL
 
References to the manuals included with this instru-
ment are abbreviated as follows in this document.
 
BG
 
: Basic Guide
 
PG
 
: Parameter Guide
 
GE
 
: KARMA GE Guide
 
VNL
 
: Voice Name List
 
Switches and knobs [  ]
 
References to the switches, dials, and knobs on the 
panel are enclosed in square brackets [  ]. 
 
Parameters in the LCD display screen “ “
 
Parameters displayed in the LCD screen are enclosed 
in double quotation marks “ “.
 
Boldface type
 
Parameter values are printed in boldface type.
Content that is of particular importance is also printed 
in boldface type.
 
Procedure steps  
 
1
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
3
 
 ...
 
Steps in a procedure are listed as 
 
1
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
3
 
 ...
 
☞
 
p.
 
■
 
These indicate pages or parameter numbers to which 
you can refer.
 
Symbols 
 
 ,  , 
 
These symbols respectively indicate cautions, advice, 
and MIDI-related explanations.
 
Example screen displays
 
The values of the parameters shown in the example 
screens of this manual are only for explanatory pur-
poses, and may not necessary match the values that 
appear in the LCD screen of your instrument.
 
MIDI-related explanations
 
CC#
 
 is an abbreviation for Control Change Number.
In explanations of MIDI messages, 
 
numbers in square 
brackets [  ]
 
 always indicate hexadecimal numbers.