Korg Forums

Can the KP3 loop samples at specified start and stop points or is it stuck looping in beats? This bit from the manual has me a little confused
The KP3’s sampling system thinks and speaks in the language of music, hiding incredible technology below the surface. When creating loop samples, for example, sample length is set in terms of beats, not seconds. You can generally set the sample length up to 16 beats long (extremely slow tempos capture fewer beats). When sampling is finished, the sample will immediately start playing in sync with the sample source

I want to start a sample when I hit record, and have it stop and loop when I hit stop, not at some pre-determined number of beats. It seems that the KP3 automatically assigns the sample as a one shot if you stop the end point manually. I want to buy one but if I can't manually set my own loop points it's useless to me.

You sort of can and sort of can't do what you want...

Looping on the KP3 does not work like a guitar pedal looper (where you press once to start the recording and again to stop recording and begin the loop). You do have to tell the KP3 what tempo you're working at and how long you want your loop to be.

However, if you're working with MIDI, the tempo can be set with that or you could just use the tap tempo before recording your loop. As for setting how long you want your loop to be, you'll just need to think about it and decide.

Admittedly, this system for looping is not ideal for starting from nothing when you don't have a set tempo or length in mind. But if you do, it's pretty much as useful as any other system.

Using that method it seems like it would be nearly impossible to get a perfect seamless loop without clicks. Am I missing something here? No matter how good your timing is tapping out a beat and hoping the KP3 hits to the exact millisecond seems unlikely? When manually triggering start/stop times, my timing is usually perfect but this method seems kind of hit and miss.

Like with any looper, there will be a learning curve and some practive required. However, I've rarely had any problem looping like this.

What are you planning to loop from?

Random music, mostly electronic/hip hop stuff.

So from turntables/CDJ's? Produced music and not musical parts you're playing yourself?

Hmm... Well, I think as long as you get the tapped tempo close, it would be fine. It does have an auto BPM function too, which can work with fairly clearly defined tracks. I don't think it works as well as the one on the EFX 500 though.

Cool thanks. I guess I'll just to try it out and see how it goes.

That probably is the best way. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it either.

Are you in the UK?

No, I'm in the US. I had a KP3 when they first came out but I only used it for effects and not samples because I was using an sp-404 for samples at the time.

Ah, fair enough. I had a feeling you were over there. I was just going to offer you my KP3, that's all.

For a price, of course.