KP2 vs KP3 Effects

sidious911 · Post by **sidious911** » Thu May 09, 2013 9:21 pm

Hey guys, I tried looking around the internet, but couldn't find a solid answer. I've been looking at a Kaoss Pad, but a lot of the effects I 'know' I want, are found in the KP2.

I tried comparing the manuals, but things are renamed, KP3 doesn't even using a numbering system anymore for which effect you are on.

Does anyone know if they KP3 contains the same effects the KP2 did + more?

I am looking to use it for guitar, so I don't even 'really' need the added features of the KP3, just the effects, and if it is all different and changed effects, maybe I will have to go hunt for an old KP2!

Couple pre-sets I was looking for that are on the KP2 Are:
-68 - Hard Sync Synth
X: Pitch
Y: Modular Pitch
-69 - Bleep Synth
X: Pitch
Y: Cutoff Freq
-70 - Laser Sword
X: Pitch
Y: Modulation
-75 - Electric Bird
X: Pitch
Y: Mod Depth
-79 - Siren
X: Speed
Y: Echo Level
-81 - Sine OSC
X: Pitch
Y:OSC Level

Cheers!

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Fri May 10, 2013 3:22 pm

Those synth patches you mentioned most definitely aren't on the KP3, with the possible exception of the Sine Oscillator (I don't have it right in front of me). There's actually a separate listing for the patches that's not within the manual itself for some reason, so google for a PDF of that and it'll give you some idea what's different. In general, the KP3 is different for its loopers, tempo-based sampling, bitcrushing/grainshifting FX and slightly better audio quality, whereas KP2 has better, more interesting synths and that sweet, sweet autotune on 87 + 88.

Based on what you've described, you should look for a used KP2. BE WARNED though that in my experience having bought 2 used which each had similar issues (see the "GRR ARGGH" thread), they seem to have some kind of endemic problems, maybe with the solders but I have to open them up and find out...

sidious911 · Post by **sidious911** » Fri May 10, 2013 4:51 pm

thehighesttree wrote:Those synth patches you mentioned most definitely aren't on the KP3, with the possible exception of the Sine Oscillator (I don't have it right in front of me). There's actually a separate listing for the patches that's not within the manual itself for some reason, so google for a PDF of that and it'll give you some idea what's different. In general, the KP3 is different for its loopers, tempo-based sampling, bitcrushing/grainshifting FX and slightly better audio quality, whereas KP2 has better, more interesting synths and that sweet, sweet autotune on 87 + 88.

Based on what you've described, you should look for a used KP2. BE WARNED though that in my experience having bought 2 used which each had similar issues (see the "GRR ARGGH" thread), they seem to have some kind of endemic problems, maybe with the solders but I have to open them up and find out...

Yea I'm not sure, it seems like a whole new naming convention all together, so it is hard to tell comparing the effects list.

Have you compared the two since you do have both? Have you come across same sound effects? It seems odd that they would totally drop a bunch of effects moving to the new KP3, then discontinue the KP2. I'm sure a lot of people come to depend on certain effects within the KP2, and would still want them in KP3

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Fri May 10, 2013 5:47 pm

Korg tends not to step on the toes of their old products too much (until recently...damn "+" models) to give people who bought the old one a reason to buy the new one, I suppose. It's kind of a shame in this case, because the KP2's FX are strong but it doesn't quite fill the MIDI-rig boots of the KP3. When mine's repaired, I plan on using it as a dedicated vocal FX box (AUTOTUNE!), whereas the KP3 handles master FX duty through a send/return on my mixer.

It's funny, even the Kaoss Entrancer which is basically the KP2+video doesn't have that autotuner, or a dedicated mic input for that matter...

To address your last question, they're really 2 different styles of synth effects: the KP2 has really novel/weird ones like that endless stepping synth and the bird noises, while the KP3 synths sound more hardcore and drowned in reverb with little variety. KP2's looper (#60) on the other hand, has less range (2 beats - 1/4?) versus those on the KP3 (4 beats - 1/8th?) and doesn't let you "bring it back" from the lower resolution...if that makes any sense.

csteen · Post by **csteen** » Fri May 10, 2013 9:49 pm

http://www.korg.com/uploads/Support/KP3 ... 320000.pdf
Just scroll down a we bit for the effects program list. It is right after the midi implementation chart.

sidious911 · Post by **sidious911** » Sat May 11, 2013 3:22 pm

csteen wrote:http://www.korg.com/uploads/Support/KP3 ... 320000.pdf
Just scroll down a we bit for the effects program list. It is right after the midi implementation chart.

Yea I have seen this, and compared with the KP2, but hard to tell if they replaced all the effects with new ones, or if they just had a change in naming convention.