What is inside Karl
The full list, from the screen to the screws. Everything here is final for the first production run.
Specifications
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Screen | 7 inch IPS touch screen, 1024 × 600, 1,000 nits |
| Encoders | 12 endless, touch sensitive, 1,200 steps a turn, RGB ring |
| Keys | 6 keys with RGB LEDs for presets and pages |
| MIDI | USB-C device, USB-A host, 2 × DIN in, 1 × DIN out |
| Messages | CC, 14-bit CC, NRPN, RPN, program change, SysEx, MIDI 2.0 ready |
| Presets | 1,024 on Karl, as many as you like in the web editor |
| Scripts | Lua 5.4 |
| Latency | Under 1 ms from encoder to MIDI out |
| Power | USB-C, 5 V, 900 mA |
| Size and weight | 376 × 182 × 38 mm, 1.4 kg |
| Body | Recycled aluminium, anodized graphite |
| Made in | Leipzig, Germany |
| Warranty | 3 years, repairs in Leipzig |
Questions about the hardware
Does Karl need a computer?
Only to edit presets in the browser. On stage, Karl runs on its own and powers from any USB-C charger.
Which synths work with Karl?
Any synth that listens to CC or NRPN messages. The synth library holds the maps of more than 400 of them, and you can build a map for any other in the web editor.
Does it work with my DAW?
Karl is class compliant on macOS, Windows, Linux and iPadOS. It shows up as three MIDI ports, one of them for your DAW.
Can I repair it myself?
Yes. Karl opens with eight Torx screws, and every encoder, the screen and the main board are sold as spare parts.