Korg Kaoss Pad
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The KAOSS PAD puts realtime effect processing at your fingertips for any type of audio source, including records, CD, samplers, or effect pedals. Control Effects Freely With The X-Y Pad: On the KAOSS PAD, the way in which the effect is applied can be controlled completely by the X-Y pad. Since the X-Y pad lets you control separate parameters in the horizontal and vertical directions, you can do things like simultaneously controlling the delay time and the feedback of a delay line, or simultaneously modifying the cutoff and resonance of a filter --- complex operations that would be cumbersome with sliders or knobs. The X-Y pad can also be scraped or tapped (struck lightly) to control the effect sound,letting you produce switch-type effects that are impossible with knobs or sliders. Sixty Versatile Effect Programs: The numerous effects include spatial-type effects such as delay, reverb and pitch shifter; filters to process the sound; and modulation-type effects such as flanger, phaser and pan. Sampling Function: You can use the KAOSS PAD to sample an external audio source (for a maximum of 5 seconds at 48 kHz) and then control that sound from the pad. The sampled source can be modified using a variety of effects such as time stretch, reverse playback, and pitch change --- an ideal way to create sound material for further sampling or to integrate sampled effects into your live act. By connecting a contact mic to the MIC IN jack, you can apply the internal effects to your signal or even sample your input--- and use the X-Y pad to freely control the results. The KAOSS PAD is a powerful addition to any noise setup.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $375.00
User Reviews of the Korg Kaoss Pad
- Submitted by D. from Richmond, TX (12 points) on Nov 6, 2004
- Several nights ago, I splurged and got this. I deserved it. That was my excuse. You other harsh noise dudez should watch Oprah, like I do. What can't this thing do? It can't change the election results, but maybe I haven't been using it right. That aside, this unit is essential. A lot of pouting re: guitarists can't use it. Total bullshit. I'm a guitarist, and not a great one at that, but I have no problems. 99 effects, most of them of useable, many of them great, some the best I've heard, ie pitch shifting. Take your Whammy and stick it where the sun don't shine, metal god. Briefly: if you're weird and you don't have this, you're weird.
- Good Points: I'm not typing another review. Read the review.
- Bad Points: You cannot combine the effects. What can I sell to get another?
- Price Paid: US$200.00
- Purchased At: Guitar Center
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- Submitted by tfy from Asheville, NC (6 points) on Oct 2, 2004
- All in all it's a pretty versatile unit. One of the things I like to do with it is roll a steel ball bearing atop the x/y pad for a pseudo-random control effect. Wind-up toys work good on this as well, as long as they're heavy enough to exert enough force to trigger the pad. A few of the effects just plain suck, but there are more than enough good ones to fill up the six presets. The solder joints where the dc jack connects to the circuit board have a tendency to break very easily, but that's a relatively simple and quick repair, and nearly any instrument repair shop will do it for you if you're not that confident with a soldering iron. Just be careful not to drop it and it'll last you a while. (If you have the $$, I'd splurge on the KP-2 - the effects and control parameters are improved somewhat, and is a little better suited toward noise)
- Good Points: Great for quick, on-the-fly sampling and looping; a few sick delays, LFO, pitch shifting and filter effects
- Bad Points: terribly cheap construction; can break or malfunction if you breathe on it the wrong way
- Price Paid: US$75.00
- Purchased At: eBay
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- Submitted by Gus from San Francisco, CA (282 points) on Apr 14, 2002
- It's got maybe 10 or 12 useful patches (especially the delays, and filters), but those patches make this a worthwhile purchase. The touch pad interface is great, particularly when you don't drag your finger accross it (rather, drum your fingers on random points). Can mangle any signal with ease. The only problem with its sound quality is that if there are many effects after it, it disappears. People say it's fragile, but so far I haven't noticed any flimsiness. Granted, a metal housing would be nice... I think I'm going to try to track down the DJ mixer with the Kaoss pad built in (massive loop selection potential...).
- Good Points: Great delays, and filters. Outstanding x/y axis interface.
- Bad Points: Kinda spendy for being plastic. Rumored to have a shoddy build quality. Disappears when used with a lot of effects. Too many effects on it are of a limited use.
- Price Paid: US$0.00
- Purchased At: Borrowed from Jim (Thanks Jim!)
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- Submitted by Anthony from Sydney (42 points) on Feb 11, 2002
- this is an effects unit like you haven't seen before. the x and y axis (up/down and side to side) react together to morph your sounds.
- Good Points: A couple of this change your playing. This changed me. If you want real filtering - not just a wah - get this. for weird this is a must
- Bad Points: no 1/4" sockets in out. no connection for footswitch to bypass.
- Price Paid: US$150.00
- Purchased At: sydney pawn shop
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- Submitted by Harm from Mechanicsville, VA (86 points) on Jan 20, 2002
- The Kaoss pad is a nice tool to use if you wanna accent your sound with some cheap effects. It's got a nice 5 second sampler on it which is pretty handy when you want to sample some incoming noise and spit it out with a flam type effect or in reverse. My favorite effects aret he delay which allows you to control the depth and time and the ring modulator. There are probably 8 different good effects on this thing with maybe 3 or 4 variations of them all. It's an okay unit, built kinda cheaply. All plastic. Real light weight. Mine had a chip go bad and it cost me 150 dollars to have it fixed. Really pissed me off. Korgs new "DJ" made product are really shitty quality lately as far as sturdiness and controls go. Try to find it used. It's a fun effects processor and people seem to like the association with a finger zipping across the screen and hearing the sound change.
- Good Points: The good points are it has a mic input and a line in. I like to switch between the two. I have a little sp-202 on the line in and all my distortion effects routed through the mic in.
- Bad Points: It's plastic of the lowest grade. My chip blew after only a year of playing. It has about 10 usable effects out of 60.
- Price Paid: US$250.00
- Purchased At: PSSL
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- Submitted by K. from Sealy, TX (528 points) on Dec 22, 2001
- Really great idea for effects processing, not all the patches in this box are useful for noise, but the ones that do the job are damn near essential. The touch pad on the KP-1 is what sets it apart from other processors, create sweeps by dragging your finger across the pad or jump from one point to another for immediate, unique real time parameter changes. The six bank buttons also enable you to store finger positions (settings) for one patch from each bank to memory. The only downside is the plastic housing which makes it vulnerable breakage, although I've used mine live at two gigs and have had no problems, just go easy on the control pad. Loaded w/ some great effects and a killer concept in real time control.
- Good Points: Small and portable for one, some great effects, control of parameters via touch pad
- Bad Points: plastic housing prone to breakage
- Price Paid: US$250.00
- Purchased At: Guitar Center
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- Submitted by Will from Raleigh, NC (34 points) on Oct 25, 2001
- This thing is great with turntables. Throw on some merzbow and go to town. I also use it with a korg er-1 drum machine(the best drum machine around for noise). I have heard that a lot of them are defective and their circuit board fries after a few months of use though. I haven't had any problems. Much better than the alesis airfx.
- Good Points: One of the coolest ideas ever.
- Bad Points: Im worried about the quality of the parts. I would not buy one used.
- Price Paid: US$225.00
- Purchased At: ebay
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- Submitted by r.domain from Adelaide (16 points) on Aug 16, 2001
- Didn't end up purchasing one myself due to the audio signal quality as my main use was going to be for recording but.. awesome idea. For the noise freaks amongst us, a great live tool for sure. Hit your fx in realtime with realtime xy control. The effects are all fixed so no custom algorithms unfortunately (another reason I didn't buy) but for the price, not a bad unit at all.
- Good Points: Realtime fx control, price, usability.
- Bad Points: Sound quality (not too much to worry about for the full noise terrorist though), cheap plastic chassis, effects are set presets.
- Price Paid: US$0.00
- Purchased At:
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- Submitted by xdementia from State College, PA (18 points) on Aug 7, 2001
- This is a sick tool for noise! It's the equivalant to about 60 different guitare pedal FX with an incredible interface for manupulating the parameters. Although this is marketed as a DJ tool it's amazing for ambient and noise. This is a sick instrument for live performances as well as in the studio.
- Good Points: The hardware's response to directX plugins, a sick tool, manipulate the sound as fast or slow as you want. Worth more then the money it costs.
- Bad Points: Can't combine different effects, it would be sick if you could... and it adds a little too much noise, that could get in the way of ambience, but with this it's still worth it, for harshnoise that wouldn't pose a problem though.
- Price Paid: US$345.00
- Purchased At: Pro Audio in Boston
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