Korg’s KAOSS technology has been embraced by
DJs, musicians and producers alike. No other interface is as intuitive,
immediate or just plain fun to use. By simply touching, tapping or
sliding your finger over the touchpad, the all-new KP3 allows you to
control multiple effects parameters and manipulate samples in real
time. On stage or in the studio, these gestures and moves can become
powerful and expressive performance elements. More than a processor,
the KP3 is a complete instrument allowing you to manage, recall, and
play back samples; sample on the fly; and add dynamic processing to any
audio signal or to the samples themselves.
This latest KAOSS incarnation has been
completely overhauled to enhance your creativity, with significant
advances in every area. New effects algorithms, synth sounds derived
from our RADIAS engine, bigger and better sampling plus computer
connectivity all point to the fact that the KP3 is an entirely new
KAOSS instrument. A new pad lighting system places 64 individual LEDs
in an eight by eight grid under the pad, providing visual cues as to
the current program, held position, etc. – it can even scroll a custom
message across the pad!
Killer Effects come to Life
The KP3 comes equipped with 128 great-sounding
effect programs Sure, the traditional essential effects are there –
delays, flangers, etc., and they sound amazing. But using newly
developed algorithms, the KP3 also provides fresh, exciting effects
such as a grain shifter, decimator, a vintage analog style filter with
a tone-bending drive circuit, and expanded EQs that are controlled
directly from the pad. And moving beyond effects, there are also drum
grooves and even RADIAS-inspired vocoder and synthesizer sounds that
can be played free-form on the X/Y pad.
As you move your finger across the touchpad and
find that “sweet spot”, pressing the Hold button will lock the
settings, so you can take your hand away to do other things. The LED
grid on the touchpad will show the held location, so you can pick up
where you left off without any “jumps”. Better yet, Pad Motion can
memorize and repeat a fluid or complex gesture played on the pad. Once
again, the new pad lighting system enhancements can actually display
the Pad Motion pattern as it plays.
A separate FX Depth knob sets the overall
balance between the original signal and the effect, so you can add just
the right amount of processing. The eight Program Memory buttons allow
you to store all of this information – Program Number, Hold button
On/Off status (and coordinates), Pad Motion, and the FX depth setting –
to a single button for instant access during performance.
Another new innovation in the KP3 is called FX
Release. Basically, FX Release adds an adjustable delay tail when you
remove your finger from the pad. In addition to being a creative
performance tool, FX Release also prevents the abrupt dropping out of
the effect as you transition from one setting to another, providing a
smoother and more musical performance. The FX Release delay effect is
automatically set to the current tempo – whether manual, MIDI, auto BPM
or Tap Tempo – and the amount of the FX Release and can be set and
saved individually with each program.
Superior Sampling
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 in16-bit/48 kHz format. Samples can be saved
on a Secure Digital (SD) card or transferred to computer via USB. With
both mic and line inputs, the KP3 allows you to sample from a wide
variety of sources.
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. As the sample plays you can adjust the start time of the
sample to “fine-tune” it to the original tempo, or to dial-in time
shifted playback.
Time-Slicing chops a sample into separate
parts. You can use the Program Memory buttons to turn these individual
slices on or off in real time, creating new rhythmic patterns from the
original sample as part of your performance. Sampling and effects are
totally integrated in the KP3, so you can sample through the effects,
and even resample the entire output to create powerful, multi element
samples.
Stay in Sync
Tempo is an integral element of the KP3.
Sampling times are set in terms of tempo, and many effects are also
tempo-based. All tempo-related functions are accurate to .1 (one-tenth)
of a BPM for more precise matching to external devices. To keep
everything sync’d up, the KP3 features auto-BPM detection from the
audio input; Tap-Tempo entry, as well as a manual tempo setting. The
KP3 can also send and receive tempo information via MIDI clock. This
extra versatility allows the KP3 to detect BPM info from a turntable,
and in turn provide MIDI clock to other devices down the line, keeping
everything moving together.
Take Control
The KP3 is also a MIDI controller, sending out
three controller numbers from the touchpad, and additional messages
from the slider. The Sample Bank buttons send and receive note
messages. Program Change commands and clock information can also be
sent or received. The inclusion of MIDI IN and OUT allows even the most
daring and complex KP3 moves to be recorded and played back by an
external sequencer or software sequencing program.
Part of the Team
A single USB connection allows the KP3 to share
sample data with a computer. An editor / librarian program is included
so you can build libraries of samples, and edit them using your
computer. The software also allows WAV and AIFF files to be loaded into
the KP3, and includes pitch correction for samples not created at 48
kHz. This graphic software is valuable not only for editing samples,
but also for creating, editing and saving programs and global data. The
stereo inputs and outputs can be set so the KP3 can run in-line to an
amplification system, or hooked to the effect loop jacks of an audio
mixer.
Specifications
- Effects
- Filter (Low-pass / High-pass / Band-pass / 72dB/oct. and Low-pass)
- Isolator & Distortion
- Talk-Filter
- Flanger
- 8-band EQ
- Mid Pitch Shifter
- Broken Modulation
- Phaser
- Ring Modulator & High-pass Filter
- Decimator
- Low Compressor
- Auto-Pan
- Slicer
- Delay (Ping-Pong, Multi-tap, Reverse & High-pass Filter)
- Tape Echo
- Reverb
- Gate Reverb
- Grain Shifter
- Vinyl Looper
- Looper Forward / Reverse
- Four-Sample-Bank Cross Fader Roll
- Pad Drum1 / 2
- Unison Saw Bass
- Noise Synthesizer & Looper
- Vocoder
- Vocoder M7
- Programs: 128
Program Categories
- Filter (16 types)
- EQ (2 types)
- Modulation (12 types)
- Compressor (2 types)
- LFO (25 types)
- Delay (16 types)
- Reverb (6 types)
- Grain Shifter (5 types)
- Looper (13 types)
- Sample Effect (7 types)
- Sample Bank Crossfade (4 types)
- Drums (6 types)
- Synthesizer (10 types)
- Vocoder (4 types)
Sampler
- Sample Memory:
- 100 samples (maximum)
- Sampling: 16 bit, 48 kHz
- Convertors: 24-bit A/D, D/A
- Inputs: Mic (1/4”) with trim knob, Line In L,R (RCA)
- Outputs: Headphone (1/4” Stereo) with volume, Line Out L,R (RCA)
- USB: Type B
- MIDI: IN/OUT
- Data Storage: SD Card
- Power Supply: DC 12V; 700mA
- Dimensions: 8.27" x 8.9" x 1.93" (W x D x H)
- Weight: 2.87 lbs
- Accessories: CD-ROM (Editor/Librarian), Power supply, Touchpad protective sheet