ESX-1 plus Kaoss pad?

jefe · Post by **jefe** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:20 pm

Anybody using FX on the 3&4 outputs of their ESX-1?

I want to expand my available FX, and was thinking of a Kaoss pad.
I'd like to hear from someone who is doing this successfully.

Does it sound good?

What would I need to hook it up? A D.I. or anything?

Thanks!

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:36 pm

Just 1/4"-to-RCA cables (2 of 'em) then RCA-to-your speaker/mixer. This should be pretty interesting, what types of sounds are you gonna choose to send to the 3/4 out and what are you gonna do to them with the KP3?

I haven't made use of any of my alt-outs yet but I'll have to figure out some kinda loop. I just send my mains into the KP3 and it pretty much makes up for any performance shortcomings of the ESX (think transitions with looping, live sampling) and bomb effects.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:05 am

I've been thinking about doing this with my EMX but my KP3's pad is deviated all the way to the right and i cant recalibrate it seeing as i cant touch the corners in on the left side to do the calibration... pretty damn stupid! I've bus'd out a few parts on occasion to run them thru a distortion pedal or my SP404 for effects. separating your parts can also help with EQing things a bit better on your mixer/DAW. as THT says... you'll need to think which parts you're sending out to the effects unit... bear in mind that sounds sent to 3/4 bypass the onboard FX and the tubes... so they wont get any tube gain and wont get any effects from the ESX (even if the parts sent to 3/4 have FX send on)

I'd say go for it, it opens up alot of possibilities.

and all you'll need is 1/4inch to RCA cables. or a 2xRCA to 2xRCA cable and some 1/4inch-RCA adaptor jacks to connect the ESX to the kaoss pad

jefe · Post by **jefe** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:14 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I ran a few tests with a guitar pedal and it sounded good as long as I kept the output volume to the pedal down.

I've been looking at reviews for Kaoss pads.
The mini kp is pretty cheap. The version 2 mini kp will be released soon. I guess I should wait and see about that one.

That's a pretty bad design flaw with the kp3!!! I've coveted one of those but I think the mini will do.

jefe · Post by **jefe** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:18 am

After much research I bought a KP3. It will be here on Thursday, I'm pretty excited!

Kypa · Post by **Kypa** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:29 am

i used KP3 (and KP2 too) on main out from EMX!

It was interesting and awesome! It's so easy and simple!!

But!! in my opinion, KP3 deface sound! After KP3 sound is flat and plastic!

jefe · Post by **jefe** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:03 am

I'll try it on thr main outs of course, but I was thinking mostly for outs 3 & 4. In that configuration I imagine the sound quality will be as good or better than the built in fx. What do you think?

CleverConQueso · Post by **CleverConQueso** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:13 pm

That's what I'm doing. I've got the tribe main out to a MiniKP and the C/D out to the KP3. Effectively I run rhythm through one and melody through the other. I would consider an EQ and compressor or other pedal in place of the MiniKP but have trouble limiting myself like that. Personally, rhe sound quality is better on the KP3 but the effects themselves sound better on the Mini.

While I'm on the topic, I've got a KOpro on the input to the tribe which makes melodies really easy to experiment with. I don't usually end up playing them on the KO as a finished product but it's a fast way to figure out what you want and then code it in after.

Oh and since you asked about how the effects sound, my answer is yes, they sound good. Kaoss sounds can sometimes sound like Kaoss sounds so a light touch is often called for. And being able to sample what you're playing and loop or trigger it is just priceless. I've gone back and forth on whether I need another KP3 specifically because the sampling and looping is so great.

-CCQ-

jefe · Post by **jefe** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:14 am

Hey thanks CCQ.
I just tracked my package and it will be here tomorrow afternoon.
And I will have time to hook it up and make some music. All right.

jefe · Post by **jefe** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 2:56 am

I got my KP3. I know I am at least five years behind the times, but my first impressions are...

It's well built but I fear the 3 knobs and the fader are going to break. They look like they came off an Easy Bake Oven. I wish they were rubbery.

Sounds good. The reverbs are still pretty bad but I have a good sounding reverb pedal I can resample with. I am impressed with the other effects.

It is a good companion to the ESX-1. I thought of it as an fx processor but I think I will be sampling a lot and using it as an extension for melodic parts as well.

It is really fun to play.

I need to install the 2.0 update. I want the different sample triggering options. But if I install the 2.0 update I am instructed to use the most current version of the editing software. The most current version of the software is not for XP which is what is on my computer. I think I can do without the editing software, I have Sound Forge and a card reader.

I guess I will post in the Kaoss forum.

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