kp3 looping question regarding tempo

[mrtunes]

i've been able to lay down some pretty clean loops, but i just want to check if i understand this correctly:

first you have to set the tempo by tapping, and there is no way to just set in and out points on your own like normal looping pedal?

i'm getting very confused because after i set the tempo, the "sample bank" and "program memory" lights are going at their own defined speed and it throws me off.

i'd rather set my in and out point without the aid of an internal tempo, like how i do in ableton looper.

[roblabs]

There are 3 ways you set the tempo on the kp3
1. Tap Tempo, as you just mentioned.
2. Auto BPM will detect the bpm (for most stuff...irregular rhythms or anything without clearly defined attack will probably be off)
3. Manually set the tempo with the dial (you can hold shift to move fast)

The sample banks don't blink or flash, they remain a solid color: orange, red, or green, depending on whats loaded.

As for the in/out points on the loop, unfortunately, the KP3 doesn't allow you to set that up prior to recording (though you can specify beat length). However, after recording something, hold shift+Sample Bank and then press the tempo dial; this will switch from the volume faders to what you're looking for. Granted, its not exactly a true editor, but you can at least tweak the sample a bit to perfection (the end point, only). Just jog the dial backwards or forwards to adjust the end point.

[mrtunes]

The sample banks don't blink or flash, they remain a solid color: orange, red, or green, depending on whats loaded.

thanks for all the info! but i just checked again, and the sample bank pads do blink at a different (standardized) tempo when recording. i don't understand why they don't blink at the rate of the tempo that's been set?

[roblabs]

sample bank pads do blink at a different (standardized) tempo when recording.

Correct, ONLY if you're recording (or if you've hit shift+Bank), the sample bank buttons do blink, but not at the tempo specified. But any other time these lights remain constant.
If its confusing you, don't follow that; instead, use the tap tempo button (which always blinks in time) if you need to eyeball the beat.

[chad9477]

roblabs is right about what the sample pads do *after* a sample has been fully loaded; you're right about what they do while sampling is in process. They're not what you want to be looking at however.

The TAP/RANGE button at top right is what you want to look at for your purposes. It flashes in time with whatever tempo youi've set by the three methods roblabs spells out. You can also make it flash green (instead of red) on the first downbeat of each measure if you hold [SHIFT] and hit TAP/RANGE -- this might help you with timing your loops more easily.

[mrtunes]

roblabs is right about what the sample pads do *after* a sample has been fully loaded; you're right about what they do while sampling is in process. They're not what you want to be looking at however.

The TAP/RANGE button at top right is what you want to look at for your purposes. It flashes in time with whatever tempo youi've set by the three methods roblabs spells out. You can also make it flash green (instead of red) on the first downbeat of each measure if you hold [SHIFT] and hit TAP/RANGE -- this might help you with timing your loops more easily.

ok that helps a little, i still think it's a visual mess to have the most important blinking to be in a small circle up top.

well overall this is probably the best hardware looper i've tried, i will just have to see if i can use a footswitch input with it.

[roblabs]

You can definitely use a midi footswitch with the kp3...very useful if you're doing live sampling with an instrument feeding into it and have your hands occupied.