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Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you actually augment your sound with one, or is it just a bells'n'whistles gimmick? p --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

On Wed, Sep 27, 2000 at 10:40:53PM -0700, Philip Sherburne wrote:

quoted 3 lines Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you

> Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you > actually augment your sound with one, or is it just a bells'n'whistles > gimmick?

Well, they make some *really cool* noises, but they have three big problems: they only have RCA ins n/ outs and they only have an 1/8" headphone plug they feel somewhat cheaply constructed... rumor has it they break a lot even they're treated well (sometimes you just turn them on and they don't work, etc) even when i have mine in bypass mode, it creates a lot of hum. it's so noisy that it's really only acceptable for live shows And, given your e-mail address, I have a hard time not making a bad joke. -- :: atomly :: atomly@atomly.com | atomly@atdot.org | atomly@curiousnetworks.com http://www.atomly.com | http://www.mp3.com/atomly --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

At 10:40 PM -0700 9/27/00, Philip Sherburne wrote:

quoted 3 lines Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you

>Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you >actually augment your sound with one, or is it just a bells'n'whistles >gimmick?

No, it's an effects touch sensitive device with 50 effects, sampling possibilities and more. Not really high end but not exactly a toy. The effects are well balanced. I did see trecently some know bands using it live and it was quite effective. (coldcut by ex.) The only problem is that no many DJ mixers have Effect Send and Return connextions, so you have to go through a board to use the pad. Eric Mattson ORAL, labOral............ ............ Oral: http://www.oral.qc.ca ............ ............ Oral at BIly Kün, 354 Mont_Royal est, Montréal, Québec Dr P(r)axil: Tuesdays and thursdays, 10 PM to 2AM DJ Mir: Fridays, 10 PM to 2AM ............ ............ ORAl #1: Akufen 01-02, 12", june 2000, available ............ ............ MUTEK 2000, program assistant http://www.mutek.ca --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

It really depends on what you define as "bells 'n' whistles" and "true sound augmentation"... It also depends on what you want to do with it. Essentially, the KAOSS PAD is a small effects processor that has 60 preset digital effects that allow one to alter two parameters of each effect at the same time, via the touch pad grid. There's a family of 6 types of effects, one of them being miscellany. The KAOSS PAD is certainly a toy in the sense that one can easily learn how to use it by pressing a few random buttons... I think the pad is absolutely great when added as an effect to one's two-turntable set. I use it for such a purpose religiously. It also works as a pedal for a guitar, though far less effective -- what with the RCA inputs, outputs, adapters, etc. Get to know the sample effects. That can really allow one to enhance a DJ set, IMHO. I also use it to add effects to the more droney-indie rock 8 track reel to reel stuff I record as well. ======================================================================= Brian MacDonald <brianm@kuci.org> ======================================================================= On Wed, 27 Sep 2000, Philip Sherburne wrote:

quoted 11 lines Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you

> Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you > actually augment your sound with one, or is it just a bells'n'whistles > gimmick? > > p > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org > For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org > >

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the kaoss pad is a cool toy but they break easily... not recommended. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip Sherburne" <philip@askjeeves.com> To: <idm@hyperreal.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 10:40 PM Subject: [idm] dj question - kaoss pad

quoted 11 lines Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you

> Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you > actually augment your sound with one, or is it just a bells'n'whistles > gimmick? > > p > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org > For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org > >

--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

I got one a few weeks ago, and frankly I haven't decided how I feel about it yet. Does look/feel like a cheap plastic toy. Packed with effects, a lot of which sound pretty much alike. Also, none of the effects are particularly subtle...it's quite obvious that you're tweaking the sound. I was excited about the pitch shift ability, but it's quite flangey, as well as extremely imprecise. (First of all, the X and Y axes both control different stereo channels...it's nearly impossible to position your finger in such a way as to avoid a horrific tonal clash...) That said, for an ambient dj who's got four channels going, it could be a great tool..the sampler's only five seconds, and is also imprecise, but that's less important if you're not trying to beatmatch. This is where I'm going to experiment next... Of course, it helps if your mixer has an effects loop. Mine doesn't. Any ideas? Lukas --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

how identifiable is the effect it produces... like would you be able to clearly identify it when you heard it? i think that's a factor... depends on how out-there you wanna be... but some things have such a distinguishing sound, that it has the potential to get old quickly. so you might wanna weigh that in your decision. ./paul ---------------------------- freight elevator quartet --- becoming transparent --- october 03, 2k --- www.fe4.com --- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

Probably the best idea: Go try it out... you can't truly know if something will work for you if you don't. The store environment is typically not conducive to getting a good feel for something... if possible just buy it and make sure the place has a 30-day, no questions return policy (I know I know... "yea, right" heh). Anyhow... the rca connectors may be a bit lame, but consider that most older synths that so many IDM'ers covet are 10x noisier than that thing could ever dream of being. Ryan Heard -----Original Message----- From: Paul Feuer [mailto:Paul.Feuer@raremedium.com] Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2000 12:44 PM To: 'idm@hyperreal.org' Subject: RE: [idm] dj question - kaoss pad how identifiable is the effect it produces... like would you be able to clearly identify it when you heard it? i think that's a factor... depends on how out-there you wanna be... but some things have such a distinguishing sound, that it has the potential to get old quickly. so you might wanna weigh that in your decision. ./paul ---------------------------- freight elevator quartet --- becoming transparent --- october 03, 2k --- www.fe4.com --- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

Admittedly, it has gotten to the point where I can listen to something and immediately go "Oh, they're using a KAOSS PAD".... That may have more to do with *how* people are using it, though. If it's used in an unconventional manner, however... (I have my secrets, but I'm not just about to give them away.. :) ======================================================================= Brian MacDonald <brianm@kuci.org> ======================================================================= On Thu, 28 Sep 2000, Paul Feuer wrote:

quoted 19 lines how identifiable is the effect it produces... like would you be able to

> how identifiable is the effect it produces... like would you be able to > clearly identify it when you heard it? i think that's a factor... depends on > how out-there you wanna be... but some things have such a distinguishing > sound, that it has the potential to get old quickly. so you might wanna > weigh that in your decision. > > ./paul > ---------------------------- > freight elevator quartet --- > becoming transparent --- > october 03, 2k --- > www.fe4.com --- > ---------------------------- > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org > For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org > >

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The Kaoss Pads are OK. They seem to be dumbed down for DJs -- if you could edit effects, and had MIDI in and out so you could use it as a controller, and record pad gestures, I'd be a whole lot more impresed. I wonder why manufacturers always dumb stuff down for DJs? If you want to know about the next big thing in this category, check out http://www.alesis.com/products/airfx/index.html kent williams -- kent@avalon.net http://www.mp3.com/chaircrusher -- tunes http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/directory.cgi?autostart=chaircrusher -- mix --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 3 lines Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you

>Has anyone here used a Korg Kaoss Pad? What are they like - can you >actually augment your sound with one, or is it just a bells'n'whistles >gimmick?

I'd have to say that this little box is a lot of fun and is probably one of my favorite pieces of gear right now. I know that the effects aren't the best, none of them allow you to adjust the parameter far enough to really butcher a sound. despite the mediocrity of the effects, the interface more than makes up for it. I mean its not too expensive, so what'd you expect? As for recognition, some of the effects do lend to a certain style of use, but its all in what source sound you use and how drastically you use the effect. It does have a screwy in and out set up. (you get two rca's in (1 phono 1 line) and 1 1/4" in, and a switch to select which input it takes. Out you have 1 rca and 1 headphone that work simulataneously (great if you want to play with a closed loop, i nearly broke an eardrum this way). And there are a few effects i haven't seen elsewhere (although it could be i don't get out much). The "step effects" are a lot of fun, as instead of a smooth lfo to adjust a parameter of a flange or phase its blocky, sounds like an arpeggio... Basically for the price it can't be beat, but don't expect it to move mountains, it just lets you quickly spice up a track or two not instantaneously become an idm star... _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org