Should I buy a KP3?

[galacticon]

given that everyone on here is a KP user this is probably a dumb question but I would appreciate some advice.

I'm thinking of the KP3 for these reasons:
- I can't play keyboards & don't know a great deal about music theory
- I'm not a synth nerd and don't know how to tweak LFOs & filters etc to get the sounds I want
- I don't like step sequencers - I'd rather play my drums etc than program them

But - I really want some tool to play around with and make some music. I'm a DJ & know my way around ableton etc so I'm not coming at this as a total noob. But I don't own any hardware and want something I can physically play rather than on a laptop.

So is the KP3 the right thing for me? go on...talk me into it!

[X-Trade]

The KP3 is largely an effects processor with a bit of sampling thrown in.
If you want something which is actually an 'instrument', check out the KOPro (Koassillator Pro). It actually plays built in instrument sounds within a set musical scale from the touchpad. It also has four audio based looper pads, and looks almost identical to the KP3. It has a variety of drums and some dum patterns, and electronic and some acoustic based instruments.

IMO, if you're "not a synth nerd and don't know how to tweak LFOs & filters etc to get the sounds I want", then you should learn. It is not as complicated as it first seems. Get some freeware synth software and have a play, just tweak and listen to which parameters make which changes to the sound. Otherwise, just don't bother with electronic music.

[chad9477]

I'd second X-Trade's advice, and add only that the sampling features of the KP3 might be fun to play around with if you're interested in live remixing of loops you've already made. It's fun and useful as an accessory to other sound sources, but that's not the same as creating music in the sense you mean.

[DaveMachin]

I'd totally buy the KoPro. I don't know much about music either and I've recorded all kinds of stuff that I like using it.

It's cool because you don't need any existing musical experience - just a good ear.

[galacticon]

thanks very much for the tips.
my apologies for being a numpty - i wrote KP3 in the title of my post but I meant Kaosillator Pro. Duh.
@X-Trade - fair point you make - I should learn about synths. would like to. a few extra hours in the day would help

another question - can I load individual samples into the KoPro (ie drum hits) or only loops?

[cardboardcorn]

thanks very much for the tips.
my apologies for being a numpty - i wrote KP3 in the title of my post but I meant Kaosillator Pro. Duh.
@X-Trade - fair point you make - I should learn about synths. would like to. a few extra hours in the day would help

another question - can I load individual samples into the KoPro (ie drum hits) or only loops?

Individual samples it works by looping after you reach the set amount of beats per measure..

Like 1,2,3,4 then it loops it over and over but if you stop it after 1 or two then each time you press the bank's button it restarts it.

[Mr36]

The KPro doesn't allow "one shot" samples... If you recorded in a drum sample, irrespective of when you stop recording, it would just repeat depending on the tempo and the measure length of the bank (until you stop the playback). The KPro deals with loops and the KP3 deals with loops and one shots.