The Radias Rack and external audio

hablojackson · Post by **hablojackson** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:44 pm

working on a new band and this is what i need....

im looking for a synth, but i am also looking for one that can effect external audio....

Basically i need to run the backtrack of my band through it (like a dj mix track) and be able to to effect the back track with the filters and any other fx that it can offer and still be able to drop some leads, sequences or wahtever on top of the backtrack.....can the radias handle this?

I am also an active djs and i wanted to add a live element to my set, i again wanted to run my set while im playing and be able to drop leads and use the fx of the radias during my set....face it a whole synth rack looks way more badass then just the fx on the mixer and the ability to add leads...drooool

alsooooooooo could i midi sync the radias to the back track etc so the osc's and arps sync up?

thx ya'll

<3

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:51 pm

I'd definitely go with a KP3 and a synth.

-Mc

hablojackson · Post by **hablojackson** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:33 am

considered that but was hoping for something all in one and something rack mounted.

so can the radias just not handle the external audio?

if this is the case id rather get a straight fx rack then

definitely added a kp3 later though

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:41 am

It can do things with external audio, but the KP3 was DESIGNED to do what you want. The RADIAS wasn't. I'm trying to find the video of the White Stripes or someone like that did exactly what you are looking to do.

The RADIAS will never give you anywhere near the kind of control the KP3 can.

-Mc

fierlion · Post by **fierlion** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:43 am

McHale wrote:It can do things with external audio, but the KP3 was DESIGNED to do what you want. The RADIAS wasn't. I'm trying to find the video of the White Stripes or someone like that did exactly what you are looking to do.

The RADIAS will never give you anywhere near the kind of control the KP3 can.

-Mc

I agree--
The RADIAS is more about sound production... not so much sound processing. If you want to play a synth--the RADIAS is deep and complex and has all the tricks you'd need. If you want to process audio it's pretty much a couple of filters with a couple of possible FX. You could find an R3 on craigslist/ebay and Buy a KP3 new for the RADIAS-r price. The KP3 will also get you right to what you want to do without much twiddling. The RADIAS has a STEEP learning curve. (PS heads up if you do go the RADIAS route--in order to let external audio through you'll need to press a key and hold it. This is standard on most synths--my Moog allows me to just stick a dummy cable in the note-on CV jack. I used to have to stick a shoe on my RADIAS keyboard if I wanted to go do other things while it processed audio.)

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:59 am

While I agree that the KP3 is better as an effector of audio tracks, there is nothing keeping you from doing a lot of effects on the Radias or R3 on external audio. The Radias can even do some things that the KP3 cannot do, since it has an envelope follower. Only the Radias can do an AutoWaw effect on a guitar or bass, for example. The Radias/R3 also give you much greater control over the effects, since you have a ton of parameters you can use on each effect, and you can chain effects, which you definitely can't do on the KP3. If you hook up a padKontrol to the Radias/R3 then you get programmable lighted pads and XY pad for a very good price. Even better would be to get a KP3 + Radias/R3. I have the R3, padKontrol, and KP3, among other gear, and they work very well together and individually.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:01 am

fierlion wrote:(PS heads up if you do go the RADIAS route--in order to let external audio through you'll need to press a key and hold it. This is standard on most synths--my Moog allows me to just stick a dummy cable in the note-on CV jack. I used to have to stick a shoe on my RADIAS keyboard if I wanted to go do other things while it processed audio.)

this isn't necessary as such. you can use the arpeggiator on retrigger, gate=tie, with latch, to get an infinite sustain. Or you can actually use the envelope follower settings to trigger a note when the level passes a certain threshold. you could put that down to 1 or 0 and it will almost always be on (particularly if you have a small bit of noise).

The radias does have some good audio processing features and potential, but I agree that a KP3, or even just the mini-KP and an R3 would be a better combination. The KP3 is only really necessary if you are using microphones or you are wanting to record/play/loop samples etc. otherwise the mini-KP will save you a lot of money. I use one on my keyboard rig and it is great for instantly accessible effects, although I mainly use it for the tape delay.
I also saw a band yesterday that was using a kaossilator. if you aren't amazing at keyboards you may want to have a look at that too.