Korg Forums

[Jovco]

Hi guys.

I was thinking of buying Korg nanopad 2, for triggering Kronos pads, but now I have another idea...

As I have Kronos 2 - 73 keys, and they are weighted, I was thinking to maybe rather buy a controller which have pads on itself and light weighted keys, for fast runs, and lead sounds.

My goal is to use sounds from my Kronos, on itself, and on the controller.
For example, to create Combis to play piano on Kronos keys - ch1, lead sound on controllers keys - ch2, and triggering Kronos pads on controllers pads - ch3.


In music stores in my town I have these options, for a controller in that price range:

1. Arturia Keylab Essential 61
2. M - Audio Code 61
3. M - Audio Oxygen 61 mkIV
4. Alesis VI61
5. Novation Launchkey 61

So, my question is, does maybe some of you guys have some of those controllers, and what do you recommend me to buy?
Would all of them do the job for what I need?
Can all of them map midi channels, to separate pads from keys?

I know that they all feel plastic, and chip, but that doesn't bother me so much, because main job will do my Kronos, and controller will be just addition to it.

Thanks

[Poseidon]

I am in the same situation as you. I have Kronos2-88 and in need of light weighted keys for fast solos, and pads.
I have just purchased nanoPad2.
I like idea that PADS are seperatated from main instrument, so when they degrade it is much easier (and cheeper) to replace.

[mikelees]

Hi,

The key thing to consider is that only the Korg nanoPad2 has integration with the Kronos. When you plug a nanoPad2 into the Kronos USB, the top 8 pads automatically map to the 8 chord pads in the Kronos Program or Combi. This has many advantages, such as:
- You can have the top 8 pads do different things (notes, chords, midi channels) for each Program or Combi on Kronos, without reprogramming the controller each time.
- It's really easy to program - just hit the assign pad button on the Kronos screen, play the chord you want then hit the pad you want to assign it to on the nanoPad.
- For chords, you can have up to 8 notes per pad instead of the usual 4.

There is a workaround to allow other controllers to do this, but it is far easier with nanoPad2. With other controllers, in global mode, you can assign the Kronos chord pads to be triggered by notes out of the normal range (e.g. C-1), then assign the pads on your controller to play those notes. In this case you need to make sure the range of any played sounds does not extend into this range, or you will get unexpected sounds when you play the pads, so it can still involve more work than using a nanoPad when setting up Programs or Combis.

With the nanoPad, the lower 8 pads are still available to be programmed to whatever you want using the Korg Nano-Control software. A neat trick is that if you configure a pad to toggle mode instead of momentary in the Nano Control software, then the Kronos chord pad operates in toggle mode, even for the top 8 pads. This means you can do things like drones or risers etc. with one press of the pad to activate it, then another press to deactivate.

In my set-up, the top 8 pads of nanoPad2 are configured as 4 toggle plus 4 momentary, and are used to trigger chords, samples, drones, risers, percussion, Karma etc. depending on the Combi. The bottom 8 pads are programmed in toggle mode to give me drone pads in the 8 most common keys I use. The nanoPad touchpad area is programmed to control the volume (up/down) and the filter (left/right) of the drone pads.

[aellison62]

mikelees,

You made some great points/tips about the nanoPad2. I think I will be getting one of these. Two more questions please?...

1. Is this velocity sensitive like the pads feature on the Kronos screen?

2. Have you attached it to your Kronos? If so, how?

Thanks,
_________________
Current gear: Kurzweil Forte 7, Kurzweil PC361, Mojo 61, Korg Kronos X 61, Roland RD-88, Korg Nautilus 73

[mikelees]

Hi,

The nanoPad2 is velocity sensitive just like the pads on the Kronos screen (actually the Kronos screen is not velocity sensitive at all - the velocity is controlled by how high up the pad on the screen you tap it!). The nanoPad pads can be set to velocity sensitive or fixed using the "Fixed Velocity" button on the Kronos pad screen.

nanoPad is connected to either of the Kronos USB A (host) ports using a standard mini-USB cable.

I was slightly incorrect in my previous post - it isn't only the nanoPad that has Kronos integration. According to the Kronos parameter guide (p54-55), the Korg microKONTROL, padKONTROL and KONTROL49 also map to the Kronos pads automatically.

[stevewahl]

[aellison62]

milkelees, thanks for the info. While I understand this connects to the usb port, I was asking how or if you had MOUNTED the nanoPAd2 to your Kronos?
_________________
Current gear: Kurzweil Forte 7, Kurzweil PC361, Mojo 61, Korg Kronos X 61, Roland RD-88, Korg Nautilus 73

[Jovco]

Thanks for the replies...

So, if I understand, none of those controllers wouldn't work if I conect it to my Kronos with usb cable in therms of power and midi data?

Hm...I don't understand that part about keyboard zones and unwanted notes wich may play on the pads...If the Kronos is at midi channel 1, and controllers pads are on midi channel 3, and in my combi everything is on midi channel 1, exept of strings which is on midi channel 3, shouldn't only strings be heard on pads, or I miss something?

I know that the easyest way is to buy a nanoPad, but I was thinking other solutions because of few extra light weighted keys (plus pads), but if is not possible, or too complicated, than...maybe I would buy just nanoPad [/quote]

[mikelees]