Something to think about when buying the PadKontrol

[Rexx]

Hello everyone,

I wish I had a better reason for posting on this forum, but I'm hoping that by voicing my concerns, it will inform some of you who are thinking of buying the padKontrol.

When I bought the padKontrol I was excited that I'd be able to use it out of the box, simply because I thought the Creative Kontrol DVD would be in it.

Alas, after opening the box there was only one DVD in there for the drivers and the unusable drum sounds.

I've read, on other forums, that some people got it, and some people didn't. And the people who didn't get it, contacted Korg customer service.

When I didn't get it, I contacted the music store I bought it from and they told me that the DVD would cost $25 bucks. HUH? Isn't this normally part of the package?

I then contacted Korg Canada, and they told me to register the padKontrol, send in a request form with my reciept, and they would send one out to me. So I did, they confirmed that they received my documents and evrything should be cool. Thank You Korg!

So I faithfully held on to the padKontrol with hopes that I will finally get to try this thing for all it has to offer. Korg will come through, I can feel it. They came through for the others who didn't get the DVD, they'll come through for me.

Well..... It's been more than a month now and I haven't received anything.

I tried contacting Korg...on two occasions, and they seem to ignore me. Not even a confirmation that anything was sent out to me.

I thought about returning the padkontrol or getting Ableton Live, but that means more money just to test this thing out. If I bought Ableton, and didn't like the padKontrol...I'd be stuck with Abletone unable to return it, because it's software.

I'm not able to return the padKontrol, because it has been more than 30 days from the time I purchased it.

I could buy the $25 DVD, because it's a small price to pay to get this thing working, which I will probably do because if I don't, all I will have is a plastic and rubber box collecting dust.

I'm just dissappointed that something I thought was free will now cost me more money. I feel wronged and almost lied to that padKontrol purchasers would be able to use it, right out of the box. Is how Korg does business these days? They reel me in with false avertising, then let me go like a fish on a bait-hook.

Don't get me wrong. I've owned Korg products before and I've always been satisfied with them. Korg makes good stuff. But those products were advertised appropriately. And I bought them based on what they advertised.

I'm not saying don't buy the padKontrol. I'm sure it's a great product. Just buyer beware and don't get fooled like I did.

Thanks for reading,

R.

[camaroclow]

hey mate... you can try ableton for free for 14 days...

http://www.ableton.com/downloads

[dphouse84]

IMO the cd was crap.
installed, and then uninstalled.
go with ableton or reason!
if you kept all your other literature you should have gotten a code for both products that gives you a helluva discount.
i think you get a couple hundred off on both.
basically, the padkontrol pays for itself.

[SMK]

I got my PadKontrol primarily to control other midi gear, not software. I was planning on learning to get it to run on ablton live but it seems you have to be a "programmer" (learn Terminal) to get it to run right:

check forums http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=35597

and

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=31538

Forget that noise...I'm a musician not a programmer!

So it's back to using it to control my Electribe ES1 (yes not the ESX) and controlling my 3 Kaoss Pads.

[Rexx]

Thanks for the posts guys.

I actually did get the DVD, after a few e-mails to KORG.

Somebody must have contacted them after I posted my rant.

My request for the DVD was stuck under some paperwork, apparently.

I did get to finally try this thing out and this thing is awesome!

I also got the discounts on Ableton and Reason.... the reason why I haven't posted an update in a while...LOL!!!

One thing that I'm really happy about, is that I'm happy with it.
It's exceded my expectations.

It's true what SMK said. I too am a musician and it's hard to get around the programming part of it. Luckily for me, a friend of mine is more tech savy than I am and has helped me along the way. But I do wish getting this thing to work was more Non-Computer Geek friendly.

I've searched for some video tutorials and have seen them all, but they only help you with the application you're using. Not on how to program everything.

nativeKontrol does look interesting, but that guy talks and moves too fasst for me to comprehend what's going on.

So in the mean time and in between time....

R.