Korg's new Kaossilator Pro.

[RichF]

Hi everyone,

I wanted you to be among the first to know (I'm also posting this at Harmony Central), we've got a new member of the KAOSS family!

http://korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=564

This is the Kaossilator Pro. It's one of the best examples of a "user-requested" product we've ever produced. Yes, it looks like a KP3... but it's actually a combination of a synthesizer, sampler, and loop recorder. Each of the four buttons below the pad are like a self-contained Kaossilator. You can record unlimited layers on each button, just like the original Kaossilator... except now, you can also combine it with unlimited layers of live audio recording via the RCA or 1/4" mic inputs! There are 200 programs, with some very cool sampled drum kits (4 samples + modulation per program) and lots of new flavor.

We've also added an SD card for storage, and the ability to export your loops via USB, so you can add them to whatever project you're working on in your DAW. There's MIDI in/out for sync, and for controlling (and yes, playing) the Kaossilator Pro via an external controller. It also acts as a MIDI controller, in the same fashion as the KP3.

This is your wishlist in action... You asked for it, you got it!

[salamanderanagram]

lol, i've been saying this is coming for a very long time.
good work!

[GroovinDJ]

Shame about the four digit calculator display though.

Would have been nice to have a proper LCD display that can show actual words!

Have the sounds in this got ridiculous amounts of reverb or delay on them, that can't be turned off, like the Kaossilator?

[RichF]

The display can scroll plenty of text, like the KP3... and generally, you can add/subtract modulation and effects right on the pad idself.

[bsmith]

So, besides the vocoder stuff, are the same effects present that are on the KP3? Is this essentially a KP3 with some improvements combined with a kaossilator with mega improvements - or will the kp3 still have more robust sampling features and effects?
When do we get to see a list of programs?
I like the look, it's gone from being aceylons track pad to being the emperor for the darkside's trackpad.
Also - this editor that's referred to - is it a more featured app than we currently have for the kp3?
Will there be an os for the kp3 update to roll in some fixes and or new features which came about for the kaossilator pro?

[Synthetica]

Hi everyone,

I wanted you to be among the first to know (I'm also posting this at Harmony Central), we've got a new member of the KAOSS family!

............

This is your wishlist in action... You asked for it, you got it!

Very Cool !! I have already pre-ordered one, please ship them soon !!!

[xmlguy]

Nice use of hardware design recycling. The drum patterns on the KP3 have a lot more punch/dynamic range than the original Kaossilator, so I hope the Pro will maintain the audio quality of the KP3 along with the great new features. Only thing that's missing is AA battery power, but I guess that's too much to ask for all the new LEDs. The saving of loops, midi in/out/synch, USB, are all huge features.

One question I have is whether the Key & Scale are set globally, or individually by pad? The Kaossilator is rather limited because it's impossible to do chord progressions. If the Key/Scale are set by pad, then that makes it much easier to do progressions.

[RichF]

Nice use of hardware design recycling. The drum patterns on the KP3 have a lot more punch/dynamic range than the original Kaossilator, so I hope the Pro will maintain the audio quality of the KP3 along with the great new features. Only thing that's missing is AA battery power, but I guess that's too much to ask for all the new LEDs. The saving of loops, midi in/out/synch, USB, are all huge features.

One question I have is whether the Key & Scale are set globally, or individually by pad? The Kaossilator is rather limited because it's impossible to do chord progressions. If the Key/Scale are set by pad, then that makes it much easier to do progressions.

Two other things have changed:

First is the Gate Arpeggiator. Now, instead of being able to choose from 50 different arpeggio patterns, you can modify the gate and tempo subdivisions in real time, using the slider (a la Electribe).

The second is that the Kaossilator Pro does away with the Undo feature, in favor of having four loop banks instead of just one.

The key and scale are set globally. Note range, however, can be set per program.
CLARIFICATION: the above sentence does not apply to the 8 Favorite buttons! These buttons CAN store individual settings for key, scale, and note range.

[RichF]

So, besides the vocoder stuff, are the same effects present that are on the KP3? Is this essentially a KP3 with some improvements combined with a kaossilator with mega improvements - or will the kp3 still have more robust sampling features and effects?
When do we get to see a list of programs?
I like the look, it's gone from being aceylons track pad to being the emperor for the darkside's trackpad.
Also - this editor that's referred to - is it a more featured app than we currently have for the kp3?
Will there be an os for the kp3 update to roll in some fixes and or new features which came about for the kaossilator pro?

The Kaossilator Pro has a few vocoder and audio effects, similar to the amount of drum and synth programs that are in the KP3.

The KP3 is a more robust sampler... The Kaossilator Pro's audio capabilities should really be referred to as a "loop recorder" instead of a sampler. It does, however, change the tempo of recorded loops along with the internal clock, which the original Kaossilator did not do.

The voice list will be in the manual, which will be available for download on our site ASAP (sorry, no date yet).

The editor is very similar to the one that comes with the KP3.

Unfortunately, we can't talk about updates until they happen.

[supermel74]

There's MIDI in/out for sync, and for controlling (and yes, playing) the Kaossilator Pro via an external controller. It also acts as a MIDI controller, in the same fashion as the KP3.

Can you in turn use the Kaossilator to play external synths by sending note data?

[TSUNAMI]

There's MIDI in/out for sync, and for controlling (and yes, playing) the Kaossilator Pro via an external controller. It also acts as a MIDI controller, in the same fashion as the KP3.

Can you in turn use the Kaossilator to play external synths by sending note data? Also, what will US street price be. I read a blog that had it at $575, which if true is almost laughable. $399 or less count me in. Anything higher is overpriced.

Korg.com has it listed as $399 on there online shop

[supermel74]

There's MIDI in/out for sync, and for controlling (and yes, playing) the Kaossilator Pro via an external controller. It also acts as a MIDI controller, in the same fashion as the KP3.

Can you in turn use the Kaossilator to play external synths by sending note data? Also, what will US street price be. I read a blog that had it at $575, which if true is almost laughable. $399 or less count me in. Anything higher is overpriced.

Korg.com has it listed as $399 on there online shop

Awesome, I thought $575 sounded a bit pricey

[quake]

I don't get it, why they didn't integrate a melodic step sequencer like the one novations launchpad has now after the Max-for-Live update.
Actually the Kaossilator Pro has all the requirements for it (steps in the display -> horizontal AND vertical)!! And then combined with midi it would be a mind-blowing tool.
Would like to have a melodic step sequencer in the hardware, which is as well usable for midi-triggering.
What do you think about this idea?

[supermel74]

Agreed. Great idea Korg, but you still left off way too many key features. Hopefully future OS updates will actually add real features and not just simple bug fixes.

[Hugo]

Doesn't seem to be any effects in there.
Personally I'm disappointed with this box. What I'd really like to see is some real patch programming - presets get boring pretty quick, and while I still enjoy the original Kaossilator I was really hoping for a true programmable synthesizer.

I would like to see a unit with the same size as the original, a usb port, and a computer editor. For me it seems a much better choice to go for the KP3 instead.