KVR Audio

idfpower · Post by **idfpower** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:30 pm

Yeah, once you understand that it is what it is as opposed to what one thinks it should be, it's loads of fun. It has some unique patches that really come to life when played with the Kaoss. On any other synth they would sound cheesy, but when it comes to this yellow guy, they just work.

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:14 pm

Check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80RpR66nMEU

And if you have time this masterpiece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4s46rKglI0

idfpower · Post by **idfpower** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:10 pm

Mushy Mushy wrote:Check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80RpR66nMEU

Crap!

Now I NEED a Kaoss Pad as well

Now I only have to find out if the effect unit is suitable for studio work - as in how much hi-fi/lo-fi does it sound when you send whatever gets effected through it back into the DAW. AFAIK there's no cheaper option and it's so damn usable and hands on... reminds of of that Alesis Air FX...

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:14 pm

idfpower wrote:
Mushy Mushy wrote:Check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80RpR66nMEU
Crap! Now I NEED a Kaoss Pad as well
Now I only have to find out if the effect unit is suitable for studio work - as in how much hi-fi/lo-fi does it sound when you send whatever gets effected through it back into the DAW. AFAIK there's no cheaper option and it's so damn usable and hands on... reminds of of that Alesis Air FX...

Yep, exactly.

I too thought it a luxury until I watched Ott use it...

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 5:03 pm

of course you do. more is less, less is more, so it all pans out,
you can justify it somehow.

i didn't get to the bit, tbh, connection is #*% today. wot, did
he have a little miniKP? i think they look cool, but all i ever
here in demos is digital phazing sounds.
----------------
following in my little synopsis of ko1/ko2, i have now filled,
and found a way to dump contents of correct format microSD
- it only wants...ah, no: i only have an old junk card reader,
that's why. so i can only use my old 1gb microSD - actually, the
ko2 didn't recognise my 4gb SDHC, i'll have to check the manual...
anyway, whatever, i now have the contents of the cr*p i recorded
on my hdd. > the 'save loop' produces wavs of deck 1 and 2 separately.
microloop territory. and they should loop. the Master Recorder does
what you'd expect, and records your master-pieces.

this is both better, and a minor disappointment because you don't recognise
anything when you click the files. but, knowing this, you can produce loads
of miniloops that are useful in other devices. i still prefer my favourite
patches on the older one. i'm looking at this at something for making noises
and detail in upper-mids etc. (going to plug it into something with a subwoofer
later)

throwing a recorder like the microBR - or maybe a posher tascam etc - in
with either of both gives a solution, eg: even if it's just batteries running
out and preventing you from saving: 1st the audio recorder refuses, but
you can still save loops, less memory of course, until that refuses as well.
a spare card will prolly do it.. but throwing a miniKP into the mix...i wrote
an atari cubase mixer map for the quadraverb, er, last century(!) and i never
used it - here you have motion control over fx, for cheap.

korg ought to do a fully programmable synth in a handheld format - prog up
your patches and x/y layouts/zones, with 'behaviours', sample programs, the
whole thing, all editable 'offline' with a pc/mac editor. i'm sure they've
considered it. but they could also do a whole series of specific devices, in
'flavours' - major collector Freak there.(get on it, get on it, g-g-ge-ge-g-et on iiiiit)

idfpower · Post by **idfpower** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:27 pm

mztk wrote:korg ought to do a fully programmable synth in a handheld format - prog up
your patches and x/y layouts/zones, with 'behaviours', sample programs, the
whole thing, all editable 'offline' with a pc/mac editor. i'm sure they've
considered it.

+1

But the thing with Korg is that they're so caught up in finding first the next big thing that once they do nail it, they tend to ride the wave for as long as possible - and right now that means analogue: Volca, ARP and the like. I hope to God I'm wrong, but I don't think the Kaoss family is high on their priority list right now - or anything with such DNA. Which is a shame, 'cause I too thought a proper fully programmable synth would be a no brainer.

On the other hand, when they do listen to their crowd, they release stuff with such a big twist that it makes the whole thing backfire: The MS-20 mini got ppl angry because of the minikeys, the ARP because of the slim ones, the desktop MS is crazy priced, the Monotribe has a minuscule ribbon controller, the new Electribes suck and have issues while the first one soundes like cans, the Kaoss Pro doesn't respond to MIDI note data, the Microkorg XL doesn't have the character & grit of the first unit, and the list goes on. Triton Taktile 25 (why no more 25 keys synths, darn it!?!) is cool though - albeit coming way too late.

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:53 am

well they could do an analogue synth in handheld format, that would be pretty mental.

the ko2 is a perfect companion for the volca sample (which can't - sample - ) since
it produces 2 audio folders, the recorder, and the loops for decks 1+2 (separately), as
wavs you just copy off the card. you can probably drag straight from card into volca.
- so you wouldn't think of that necessarily if you had the ko1...
(or an ... mpc500/1000 etc)

r+d mysteries are nothing new, though, are they? but some of korg' design decisions
are mystifying, as if the limitations indicate an intention.(i always wonder why roland/boss
didn't include some things, like pattern memories on the 202 for example - probably just
bcs time marches on and the next big thing pops up)

and: i guess the market's wallet can only support a certain number of releases per year,
however many good ideas you come up with. if they sold a fully fledged synth in a pocket
device, they might never sell a synth again !(not really, but it could kill sales)

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 6:07 am

you can get x/y pads from adafruit, and there' s at least one basic diy project
on the web with an arduino. the x/y interface is superfluous, if you can fit the
synth engine into a micro handheld device, you just have a plugin pad. all hail
the micro studio.
>the pad: might as well be an ableton controller type thing, if a ko1/2 has
5x9x3 grid > eg: worth a look at software for those, maybe - haven't yet -

nb: interesting h/ware mod for the ko2 mic button, changed for a momentary latching
on/off action, rather than just when held down. uses a PIC, must be possible with
discrete components more simply.

i'd prefer a footpedal minijack or something. it is a shame that the v1.10 firmware
doesn't seem to offer much new, have to try it, maybe it resolves some if the niggles.

the ko1 has more possibilities for modding: there's a breakout box mod, and the guitar
controller mod, which seem to suggest you could send gates and cvs to the function
button destinations. the most useful would be a way of controlling timing of record
'dabs', - this is the only way to cut off fx and decay tails to sounds (and how to cut off
the attack part too, or only get the end), which you can't do with the gate arpeggiator.
(meh, prolly a waste of time

but it looks like it could be done, non-destructively)

Naenyn · Post by **Naenyn** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 6:57 am

Just my $0.02... When I was first getting in to music production (before I really thought about it as production, even), the Kaossilator Pro was the first thing I bought. I actually saw it advertised on Thinkgeek and instantly fell in love. I've definitely moved on since then, preferring software to hardware, but I still have my KPro. It is a fun toy to play with every once in a while. The Pro and its little brother, the smaller Kaossilator, are both fun to make tunes on quickly and easily.

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:46 am

'every day, i'm kaoscillatin'...'
(currently, the only audio tinkering going on here)

this thing is habit-forming. (mini K-O)
still find it a bit disconcerting, bcs it is some way removed
from everything you're used to, using MIDI, but undeniably
it produces interesting stuff quickly. i've moved on from
the original ko1 to the ko2 now, which allows a more coherent
approach to building a (?track ? can you live without control over
levels, etc?), by saving off loops as you progress -it saves each
side as a separate loop -

*spotting some things that could be addressed in another firmware
update, mine has 1.08 on, current last version is 1.10*

the mic button is cr*p - you get a loud click using the onboard as sensing
has to be set high if picking up anything around you. have to try input
with ext.mic and guitar. but a remote trigger for the mic would be better,
like a footswitch, to leave hands free.
- seen: a mod for latching mic button, on/off, quite neat. but the mic pop..

> it's a shame that you can't edit loops by chopping the front off, to get rid
of clicks and mistakes.

have a feeling the fad will wear off. makes you feel seasick.

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:52 pm

(some time passes...)
right, so i've got to know the mkII pretty well now.
not done

PurpleCatfishBettie · Post by **PurpleCatfishBettie** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:34 am

back in 2009, i'd basically never used a plug-in, and wanted to begin recording again, so purchased a kaossilator 1 and thought it would cover 'all my synth needs'. shortly after, i started using vstis and never looked back, eventually selling the kaossilator to a friend. recently i re-purchased the kaossilator, and this thread inspires me to 'riff' again with it; adding some 'spice' to my 'tracks'. it is pretty cool. in passing, i did read a review which stated that kaossilator 2 has 'much better sound', but k1 is fun in any event.

it would probably be a blast to sit around with 4 or 5 people, each running kaossilators, and have a 'jam sesh'.

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:02 am

mztk wrote:you can get x/y pads from adafruit

Farderfox LV3 has 2 joysticks

Vmeter has 2 axis control so is pretty similar to an x/y controller but looks like a touch fader

Korg Nanopad is the cheapest option thats ready to rock.

The Wacom Bamboo Pad is great with software to covert to midi such as Wmidi

Leapmotion and several app options for midi and OSC - think of is as an x/y/z pad

Or of course get a tablet or multi touch monitor

I use all of the above and each has pros/cons that you wont fully discover until you integrate them into your setup, which will be different for everyone as we all have differing ideas for usage and integration requirements and problems

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:11 am

Not forgetting the Quneo.....mine should arrive today or tomorrow, bargain from ebay

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 6:09 am

http://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/quneo/

not quite same thing tho'..
dunno: the concept of ko2 is interesting, but you get t'd off with
same presets all the time. i'd disagree that the sounds are 'better'
than the ko1 - this thing would be better with...well, it needs to
be taken further. the iPad version probably does more.

sometimes i pick it up and put it down again without doing a take.
other times, i find something obscure and go with it.
ultimately, though, do you want to make throwaway material in
order to rework it later, with something else?

debating whether it's worth modding the mic enable button with
a footswitch input jack, in order to jam guitar into it. seems
possible+accessible.

why would anyone want a kaossilator?