Differences between Kaoss Pad 2 & 3

[ellaguru]

hi
what are the main differences between those 2 machines?(except the price )

thanx

[PHeMoX]

The sampling capabilities of the KP3 are more advanced and you'll get some more FX.

KP2:

-100 FX, 2 samples, BPM sync FX, sample up to 6 seconds of sound at 44.1 kHz
- has all the basic stuff too though;

" you can process a sound through the effects and then sample it. Use the touch pad to apply time-stretch, reverse-playback, pitch shift, or scratch effects to the samples for unlimited creative possibilities. "

- no SD card for storage though as far as I know.

KP3:

- 128 FX, 4 sample banks (100 samples maximum), SD card, higher quality sound;

"Four Sample Bank buttons on the front panel allow you to create, play and save both looped and one-shot samples on the fly. All samples are recorded using high resolution 24-bit converters, and are stored in 16-bit/48 kHz format."

If you want a technically better machine, go for the Kaoss Pad 3. If you want just the FX part of the Kaoss Pad series, save money and go for the KP2.

[PHeMoX]

By the way, I hear a lot of people are more satisfied with the Kaoss Pad 2 mixer.
( Korg KM 202, KM 402 Dj mixer )

[ellaguru]

thanx phemox.
i just saw low prices about kp2, so i'm just wondering if...
anyway if fx are good, why not?

[cartesia]

if you dont have much money, sure... plenty of people still use the KP2,
it can do lots of stuff..


If you can afford it though, I highly recommend the KP3...
The looping/sampling is really crazy.

It looks way cooler too

[hurlingdervish]

you can customize the fuck out of the kp3

saving macro touches with the pad motion,

saving global fx presets

the LOOPER EFFECTS ARE STRAIGHT MAD waaay better than youll get with something like ableton live

and on top of that....

its a touchscreen midi controller with different shapes that you can change on the screen like 8 virtual sliders or just the x/y parameters with midi cc messages you can change with the kp3 editor

if all you want is delay or phasers, go with the kp2 or better yet the mini kp

if you want a beast hybrid effects/looper/midi controller kp3 is definitely the way to go, youll be surprised what you can do live with only the 4 loops and your hardware


just talking about it right now makes me want to get going with it haha

[hurlingdervish]

the vocoder is fun on the kp2 though, the note changes depending on the inflection in your voice. lots of fun when your chilling out with some people.
it sucks on the kp3, just a touchscreen pitch thing

if you want to have some fun, and this goes to anybody with a kp,

while you are hanging out take turns "dj-ing" with an ipod or something

its really funny to see people who dont make music play with samples and fx

especially when everyone is blazed

[ellaguru]

thanx for the advices and descriptions.

[formal]

I have an Electribe ESX and I have been thinking about trading it to get the KP3 to do some live looping with my sampletrak, turntables, and iphone (sorry, I don't have an SP yet). For some reason I have a feeling I might regret giving up the ESX. What do you guys think?

[ellaguru]

if you have other ways to make synths sounds and a groovebox it's too much, then don't regret.
saying this, i have never tried an esx.
peace

[formal]

That is kinda my deal breaker. I don't have any hardware synths as of right now, but I do have some softsynths (Absynth, Circle, Reason4, and various iphone appz) The ESX has been my favorite sampler until recently. I want to be able to move away from making one track at a time and do some more live PA based stuff (without relying on software/laptops). The live looping on the KP3, 2GB memory storage, and more modern features is what's drawing me towards it. Also the size and portability is a good thing.

ESX PRO's
- Ease of use
- Step Sequencer
- modulation and filters
- ribbon arppegiator
- nice metal casing
- PC Editor program for sample loading
- Easily mangle,chop and slice samples
- Effect chains and motion sequencing

ESX CON's
- Poor Sound despite having tubes
- 24mb internal memory (not good when there isn't a lofi setting to save space and the memory card doesn't work like the SP X0X)
- Smart Media memory storage
- Step Sequencer (yes this also a flaw)
- Poor Effects *imho
- No pad trigger mode settings
- Limited Polyphony and unpractical use of pads (stretch and slice I'm looking at you)

I guess that's the end of my rant and hopefully that sheds more light on my personal situation. I just like hearing feedback from peeps who know the importance of finding that "perfect" piece of gear to fit into your workflow and enhances the magic. On a side note I've owned the ESX for over 2 years now, so this might just be my "lull".....

[PHeMoX]

That is kinda my deal breaker. I don't have any hardware synths as of right now, but I do have some softsynths (Absynth, Circle, Reason4, and various iphone appz) The ESX has been my favorite sampler until recently. I want to be able to move away from making one track at a time and do some more live PA based stuff (without relying on software/laptops). The live looping on the KP3, 2GB memory storage, and more modern features is what's drawing me towards it. Also the size and portability is a good thing.

ESX PRO's
- Ease of use
- Step Sequencer
- modulation and filters
- ribbon arppegiator
- nice metal casing
- PC Editor program for sample loading
- Easily mangle,chop and slice samples
- Effect chains and motion sequencing

ESX CON's
- Poor Sound despite having tubes
- 24mb internal memory (not good when there isn't a lofi setting to save space and the memory card doesn't work like the SP X0X)
- Smart Media memory storage
- Step Sequencer (yes this also a flaw)
- Poor Effects *imho
- No pad trigger mode settings
- Limited Polyphony and unpractical use of pads (stretch and slice I'm looking at you)

I guess that's the end of my rant and hopefully that sheds more light on my personal situation. I just like hearing feedback from peeps who know the importance of finding that "perfect" piece of gear to fit into your workflow and enhances the magic. On a side note I've owned the ESX for over 2 years now, so this might just be my "lull".....

Well, I for one would not recommend trading a Korg ESX for a KP3 at all. The ESX might not have a lot of memory, but for what it does together with being a much more solid sequencer, I wouldn't recommend trading it for a KP3.

Making an actual song on a KP3 alone is quite difficult and feels very very limited. It's not a SP-404 or SP-303 when it comes to the sampling part either. You'll have more sampling time I guess and the live looping is very useful together with other equipment, but not as a stand-alone device. The FX are good, but be prepared for a good amount of 'hey this sounds like a Kaoss Pad 3 FX' when using it in your music. Tweaking sounds and resampling samples never quite turns them into something a bit more neutral. There's always the signature Kaoss Pad sound. This might not be a bad thing if you're really into electronic music...

I have to admit that I have only quite briefly (5 months) owned a Kaoss Pad 3 and definitely were no expert at using one, but it's a world a difference compared to a Korg ESX-1 or any random 'regular' sampler for sure.

The real power of the Kaoss Pad 3 lies in it's live usage and use as FX box together with other gear. I used it together with my SP-606 and didn't like the work-flow at all. The live looping is cool, but as I never used those two machines live, I had no real use for it. I was making loops on the SP-606 anyways.

Having said that, I wouldn't trade your ESX-1 for a Kaoss Pad, but it might be a good idea to look into other true stand-alone samplers. MPC or SP alike when it comes to sampling you'll be able to do lots more. If FX is a big deal for you I would look into the MC-808 or possibly even the older MC-909.

Admitted, those cost a lot more money, but it's a far better replacement for your ESX-1 than the Kaoss Pad 3 will ever be.

Just my 2cts.

[formal]

Thanks for the insightful post Phemox. The effects on the KP3 is not what I'm looking for and I actually don't intend to use them very often. Live looping and sample storage was the main selling point for me. All the points you bring up are the things I'd regret if I gave up the ESX. I suppose I'll toss the idea into the back of my mind and start working the "old fashioned" way to get another piece of gear.

If you've ever seen any DJ Krush videos/performances you'd know the type of style I'm trying to achieve from getting a kaoss pad. (we all know his vestax mixer is hard to come by these days!) Would you suggest maybe getting a simple Boss "loopstation" pedal (RC-2/RC-20)?

[hurlingdervish]

you cant compare a sequencer with a live looper. thats lie comparing fruits and vegetables

kp3 is THE best live looper for electronic musician because of ease of use and resampling function

i think the esx would be beast next to the kp3.

dont underestimate the power of live looping and live resampling (something sp series cannot do even with the 555)
for building songs.

even if you dont use it live it makes layering sounds over eachother in loops a breeze

the effects dont really sound like "kaoss pad" effects unless you use the preprogrammed drum patterns or synth's (which i dont recommend)
and theres another overlooked sample mode where the x/y turns into a sample player not the buttons
built into the machine also is a granular "synth" that stretches and contracts the sample along depending where you hit on the x/y

http://www.korg.co.uk/downloads/kp3/sup ... IDI_FX.pdf

scroll down and look at the immense amount of effects

i highly recommend not selling your sequencer. i also highly recommend a kp3

[cartesia]

If you want to do live things,
I say KEEP the ESX.. heaps of people use them live, and they're great..
If you want to get a looper, definitely.. get a KP3. .its the best.

Both together will be a badass combo..

I use an ES-1mk2 (older version electribe. .came before the esx) and a KP3, and that alone is pretty badass.