Kaossilator Pro fixes and features wish list (update4/20/10)

curtaineater · Post by **curtaineater** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:50 pm

Lets have this thread dedicated to listing any ideas we have which would improve upon the Kaossilator Pro. Korg really listened to the users when they built the thing so I'm sure they're keeping an eye on what we all think of it.

(updated 4/20/2010)
Thanks to SMK for compiling these into a list.

1.Using SHIFT+GATE ARP to allow you to save and call up saved arp gate patterns you created. this also leads to being able to bring back the arp patterns -k0va5 -SMK -curtaineater

2. Be able to play sounds while switching on/off sound banks without recording snippets of sound while you do so -curtaineater

3. combine two sound banks that are already in use, (bouncing tracks) -curtaineater -k0va5

4. be able to customise the effect on the Y axis. This I do not think is possible as it is. however I would want suggest making it so that you can use the existing internal effects on the internal synth that would make more sense and is more feasible. -k0va5 -SMK

4a. use the existing internal effects on the internal synth -k0va5 -SMK

5. Use program numbers in shift mode to have more direct control over chopping up the loops (like on KP3) -Mr36

6. Option for other time signatures (not just beats in increments for 4/4) -Mr36

7. Quantize option -Mr36

8. Midi note on X and Y controllers in GLOBAL mode; ability to control with NORMAL MIDI-NOTE OUTPUT MIDI CONTROLLERS. -Mr36 -SMK

9. Better midi (input) control options. Its hard to get a keyboard going with this thing... -curtaineater

10. Load and save banks on the fly (during a performance/playback), currently it cuts out the unit whilst accessing the SD card. -samartin

11. Ability to record in external audio without hearing it live if the volume level for the recording bank is all the way down. This would open us possibilities for songs no end, allowing for a built up bank loop to be recorded but not heard until the volume was put back up. I was hoping this would be a feature already but alas is not. -Mr36

12. Once you've recorded a loop (say 8 beats), you have to wait for another 8 beats before you can go into mixer mode. Be nice not having to wait before adjusting length/levels of other loops. -samartin

13. 8 note scales in one-octave-mode having one note per grid square
and 8 note scales in two-octave-mode having two notes per grid square for more precise and repeatable playing for a Pro model. The LED squares would become more like actual instrument keys. -Scott M2

14. LED Option for all LEDs to be always lit except the one "in play" (last-touched) would make the grid more easily observed in a live (or any) situation to assist in finding notes. -Scott M2

15. sending a certain channel to just the left out and the rest to the right would really help when it comes to mixing some of these huge bass sounds with everything else. -curtaineater

16. 32 beats. -someone

17. Allow us to save more than 10 All-Programs etc. -roxxx303

18. looper receiving midi start stop continue so it freaking stay in sync with the rest of the universe it's playing with. -m4m

18a. fix the sync bug (it drifts out of sync after a few minutes) -inbetweenmovements

19. The CC (Control Change) Map in global mode; we need Loop Recorder Banks A-D to recieve CC (Control Change) messages along with the pre-existing midi note messages. This make it easier for use to use foot controllers to trigger Loop Recorder Banks to record while performing live. This is a special consideration for those of us who will play 2 handed instruments to record/loop live while playing. Most foot controllers only send CC messages. -SMK

k0va5 · Post by **k0va5** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:40 pm

1 bring back the arp patterns

2. be able to customise the effect on the Y axis

3. bounce tracks

curtaineater · Post by **curtaineater** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:23 pm

Definitely bring back the arp patterns!!

-Add a freaking undo feature!! How hard can that be!?

-Better midi (input) control options. Its hard to get a keyboard going with this thing...

Mr36 · Post by **Mr36** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:46 pm

* Bounce/resample banks

* Use effect programs on the recorded banks (real-time and to resample)

* Ability to control with NORMAL MIDI-NOTE OUTPUT MIDI CONTROLLERS

* Use program numbers in shift mode to have more direct control over chopping up the loops (like on KP3)

* Mapping of notes to individual grid cells or something to make playing in more precise melodies easier (or just the MIDI capability)

* 32 beats instead of just 16 (and I wouldn't say 64 if it already was 32)

* Option for other time signatures (not just beats in increments for 4/4)

* Quantize option

* Compatible footswitch produced

However, I am actually very happy with it.

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:11 pm

1. bring back the arp patterns

this is the number one request on the KoPro.

What we really need is a way to first off; save your own arp patterns you create including the motions of the arp changes whether you are using the slider and switching from "speed" to "time" or from using external midi like in the tip I posted using the KP3 as your arp controller:

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=51757

The way this would work is a SHIFT + GATE ARP function which would 1 thru 8 of the program storage. The ARP pattern you created an like playing would now be written to one of the 8 banks by hitting WRITE like when you set your favorite program. you would be able to store up to 8 on the fly to call up later. To call these creations up you hit SHIFT + GATE ARP function to select an ARP in one of the 8 banks. Hit SHIFT again to get out of this menu.

from the editor and file stand point, a new folder would be recognized called PATTERNS. In your editor you have a tab called PATTERNS. From the editor you would save and load patterns to one of the 8 banks to be called up later. At this point, just like how you will have limitless amount of loop samples (because you save the extras on the computer), you will have the freedom to have as many ARP GATE patterns you want.

Even better this is where we can bring back the 50 ARP GATE patterns from the original Kaossilator. Those would be part of the up date as separate files you can load on to the KoPro in banks 1-8 using the SHIFT + GATE ARP function as described above. Now as i think about it since I am asking for a SHIFT + GATE ARP function then we might as well include that under this function the program knob acts as a selector for all of the arps you have stored on your SD card...up to 100; 50 created by Korg and 50 created by the user.

There you have it KORG, your first solution to your top request.

Now lets hope the good folks at Korg are actually reading and taking note of this.

curtaineater · Post by **curtaineater** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:10 am

* Mapping of notes to individual grid cells or something to make playing in more precise melodies easier (or just the MIDI capability)

Along those same lines, it would be really, really cool if the screen/pad worked like a step sequencer (think FL studio). that would be so amazing.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:29 am

Be able to dissect your sound bank layers (I'm sure this request is pushing it). Its really nice to come up with complex songs and save them but sometimes the build up is whats important. It would be really cool to be able to sift through the different recording layers on a single sound bank.

this isn't pushing it... it's impossible. how much memory do think this thing has?

curtaineater · Post by **curtaineater** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:19 am

i really have no idea how much memory it has but in today's age memory isn't really that expensive... it would be pretty cheap to add.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:32 am

my prior comment was misleading - it doesn't matter how much memory exists on the kpro, what you are suggesting is impossible the way that it works. even if the kpro did save each new overdub individually, there's no amount of memory that can hold infinite overdubs.

the way that the kpro records though (1 memory slot per loop, which you can record on top of), you'd have to be able to separate out takes from 1 audio loop, which is an impossible task if ever there was one.

curtaineater · Post by **curtaineater** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:47 am

technology didn't stop progressing years ago. this is a digital instrument. it would take a negligible amount of memory to record input data and separate it out into individual steps. even the shittiest computer they sell at walmart doesn't get bogged down with undo/redo functions that are available in notepad. it would function just the same as that; following the recorded steps of data.

sure, i dont think there are buttons for it or that this unit is set up for it, but this is a wishlist that could affect future installments.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:22 am

" it would take a negligible amount of memory to record input data and separate it out into individual steps."

yes, but then you'd have that much more processing to do in terms of mixing all the elements together, reading more data, etc... eats up a lot of dsp right quick. and again, you'd have a finite number of dubs which would also suck.

a single undo function would be feasible and probably pretty easy for korg to implement. the further down the chain you go, the more power you lose for other tasks.

samartin · Post by **samartin** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:33 am

I would say that the unit has about 6.5mb ram for recording. Crazy considering that ram is cheap these days. I think this unit should have been called the KPre

But I love it...

My largest filesize, KPro file is 1.62mb.

As for overdubbing, I'm pretty sure that overdubbing resamples into the 1.62Mb space not create another 1.62mb file.

I'd rather have bouncing ability over an undo feature, and also the ability to go past 16 beats, 32 would be well nice.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:38 am

As for overdubbing, I'm pretty sure that overdubbing resamples into the 1.62Mb space not create another 1.62mb file.

yep. that's exactly what's going on.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:00 am

The 'undo' feature on the KO1 uses twice as much memory as is required for the loop - what it effectively does is store the previous loop before you added your last overdub. This is telling by the hidden feature where you get twice as much looping time by losing the undo feature.

This is really the only way to do it because it is recording audio. Your loops aren't MIDI sequences that constantly retrigger the sound engine, they are audio recordings, a bit like an infinite delay buffer. That is why they pitch-shift when you change the tempo.

It wouldn't take too much processing, but it would take exactly twice as much memory, which can't just be added in.

All that said, KORG recently released the SoundOnSound pocket recorder, which supports 'infinite' overdubs straight to the memory card. Of course, I don't think it does loop recording, but I think this is really telling that there seems to be absolutely no crossover in parallel development at KORG, which makes this almost as bad as some of Microsoft's blunders. I still think the KOPro is a great instrument in concept, but the implementation does seem to be a bit lacking. I haven't even had the chance to try one yet!

Feature suggestion:
I like the idea of being able to 'chop up' the arp into patterns using the eight keys, just like you can on the MicroKorg, Radias, etc and a bit like the sequencing on the electribes - turning each step on and off to create a rhythm.

k0va5 · Post by **k0va5** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:21 am

X-Trade wrote: I still think the KOPro is a great instrument in concept,

yeah.. it def is.. as I0ng y0u appreciate its Iimitati0ns