Korg's new Kaossilator Pro.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:59 pm

@supermel - since they're being vague about it, #2 seems like a no-go. sucks. pretty sure i saw in some marketing about it that is has the same MIDI output as the kp3.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:14 pm

salamanderanagram wrote:@supermel - since they're being vague about it, #2 seems like a no-go. sucks. pretty sure i saw in some marketing about it that is has the same MIDI output as the kp3.

I get the feeling that KORG has forgotten that there are uses for MIDI besides connecting to a sequencer or DAW....

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:26 pm

That's unfortunate. That takes this from a "must have" to a "no thanks". Why would they overlook such a key application?

RichF · Post by **RichF** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:45 pm

xmlguy wrote:
RichF wrote: Also consider the MIDI functionality... Have you ever wanted to sequence your Kaossilator with your DAW? The KOPro's X/Y pad can receive MIDI CC messages for pad touch on/off and X/Y position.
Actually, no, that's the tail wagging the dog. I want the Kaossilator to send MIDI note on/off to a hell of a lot of other gear, maintaining the scale and key (not just sending every note). The EMX-1 can do that right now with the ribbon (when reversed) to send notes in scale. It the Kaossilator Pro does that, then great. If not, that's a HUGE miss hit.

It does. Just plug into any synth with MIDI, the KOPro defaults to MIDI channel 1, and you can send note messages with the X/Y pad. And yes, it maintains the scale and key.

RichF · Post by **RichF** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:02 pm

supermel74 wrote:So can this be used to play other hardware synths and be sequenced/played by hardware without the need for any other equipment? Basically I'm asking 2 questions.
1. Can I use my ESX to sequence the Kaossilator Pro just as I could any other synth, Microkorg etc?
2. Can I play an external hardware synth with the Kaossilator Pro without any other equipment, daw, etc?

1. Yes, and ANY other sequencer that records CC data can sequence the KOPro.
2. Yes, you can. Just plug it in with a MIDI cable, match up the MIDI channels, touch the pad, and you'll hear notes from your synth.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:06 pm

Sounds good. I think I'll definitely be buying one. I'd like to see the manual first but it sounds like a great device. Thanks Rich.

spencer vex · Post by **spencer vex** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:19 pm

ive got a few questions that i would love to have answered about the KaoPro

1. are there any foot controllers available for the KaoPro that can control the start and stop functions of the looper?

2. are there any volume or pans for each looping channel?

3. can the KaoPro be used to control Reason 4, and if so, is there any way to change instruments within Reason w/out having to touch the comp/laptop?

i would love this this to replace my Electro Harmonix 2880 super looper, but it does so much stuff that the KaoPro would have to be up to par to replace it.

thanks!

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:19 pm

RichF wrote: It does. Just plug into any synth with MIDI, the KOPro defaults to MIDI channel 1, and you can send note messages with the X/Y pad. And yes, it maintains the scale and key.

Great! I think the main features of the pro seem to address most of the major problems I had with doing full songs on it. Being able to loop separately on 4 pads, fade in/out the loops, and sample external stuff, all work together to allow a more usable, layered, complex song structure. Being able to assign different programs to the 8 horz. top buttons is much better than spinning through 100+ programs of different kinds.

200 programs is a big expansion, but the really important feature is midi note out + sampling external gear, because that means that the loops can include any synth output controlled by the notes produce in scale and key by the pad. The original Kaossilator is an entirely closed system, while the Pro is open to affect external gear and incorporate the result, and be affected by external gear, saving the result to flash or uploading to USB.

The only important missing feature of the original Kaossilator is AA battery power. I plan to address that issue with a custom NiMH battery pack (regulated) that can run the Pro for as many hours as I want.

RichF · Post by **RichF** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:55 pm

spencer vex wrote:ive got a few questions that i would love to have answered about the KaoPro

1. are there any foot controllers available for the KaoPro that can control the start and stop functions of the looper?

2. are there any volume or pans for each looping channel?

3. can the KaoPro be used to control Reason 4, and if so, is there any way to change instruments within Reason w/out having to touch the comp/laptop?

i would love this this to replace my Electro Harmonix 2880 super looper, but it does so much stuff that the KaoPro would have to be up to par to replace it.

thanks!

1. Korg doesn't make a specific foot controller for the KOPro, but the Loop Banks can receive MIDI messages, so it's definitely possible.

2. There is volume, but not panning. Just like on the KP3, you can hold down the SHIFT button and press one of the Loop Banks, then adjust the levels of all four loops with touchable onscreen faders.

3. Yes, you can control Reason with it, and by default, the Program/BPM knob will send a program change message.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:14 am

that's great about the midi out, makes this much more desirable.

spencer vex · Post by **spencer vex** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:40 am

RichF wrote:Yes, you can control Reason with it, and by default, the Program/BPM knob will send a program change message.

so one could change instruments within reason using the program/bpm knob?

say for instance ive got malstrom, thor, and redrum all open, i should be able to toggle between the instruments with the bpm knob?

thanks!

RichF · Post by **RichF** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:48 am

Oh, I see what you mean. By default, it'll be changing programs from within a single instrument... So to toggle between instruments, you'd have to be in External Control mode, and reassign the Program/BPM knob to send a different CC message, which Reason could then interpret as an instrument toggle. I'm not sure what that CC message would be in Reason.

If Reason will support it, you might also consider selecting specific instruments from the 8 preset buttons above the pad, and then keep the Program/BPM knob as a program change within the selected instrument.

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:52 am

Well, I'm already excited over the fact that you can control midi notes with the X/Y pad of the Kaossolator Pro. In fact reading this just came out of left field for me. I was happy with it as it is but wow, a new controller for my synths?!?!

Now the bigger questions:

1. regarding the feature to control external synths via midi note; is that only through external control mode or is this globally as the Kaossilator Pro is in it's normal function or both (switchable)?

2. in midi note mode, what notes are being controlled by the Y axis and what notes are being controlled by the X axis?

3. in midi note mode what octaves or range of notes are being controlled via the X and Y axis?

4. this last question is dependent on how my first question is answered but I'll go for it anyways; is it possible to save different channel, or program paths to each program bank 1-8? For example; program bank 1 is controlling my reactor software while program bank 7 controls the drum beats on an Electribe ESX and program bank 4 is set to a bass sound from the Kaossilator Pro itself.

I don't want anyone to think there has to be any of these complicated features here. To me when one talks about open midi note control over your external synths via X and Y axis, this really opens up a HUGE "can o' worms".

I guess the last question is when does the software and manual become available for download?

Again great job, Korg and thanks to RichF for taking the time to answer our questions. This is awesome.

bluemind · Post by **bluemind** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:54 am

Hi everyone!

I'm very excited about this new kaossilator. Seems like a great product and so much fun I can't even imagine

I have two questions about the details:
1. While sending midi notes, are the loops still running and can you sample from the line in at the same time (for example the synth you're controlling) without simultaneosly sampling the internal sounds?
2. Does the gate arpeggiator have more patterns than the even division shown in your demo videos, like in the original kaossilator?

Thanks in advance,
Risto

mindgames · Post by **mindgames** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:05 am

Randy|Kaoss wrote:Even at £299 it would still be quite pricey. £250 would be a fair price I think.

Having already spent £400 on a Kaossilator and KP3, I would not be willing to spend another £300 on a Kaossilator Pro.

There are better things to spend £700 on! Using eBay you could pretty much buy an entire home studio for £700.

DV247 now taking preorders at £299
http://www.dv247.com/keyboards-and-midi ... pro--71125

Korg Forums

Korg's new Kaossilator Pro.

Few questions about the details