Korg Kaossilator 2 + Mini Kaoss Pad 2 Now Available

Korg sent word that its Kaossilator 2 Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer and Mini Kaoss Pad 2 Dynamic Effect Processor are both now available.

Each offers a new design, a high-visibility organic electroluminescent (OEL) display, and Korg’s X-Y touchpad, all in a compact, battery-powered device.

Both devices are played by sliding or tapping a finger on the X-Y Kaoss touchpad:

  • For the Kaossilator 2, moving the finger in one direction controls the pitch and note information; the other direction controls the synthesizer sounds themselves.
  • On the Mini Kaoss Pad 2, finger motions allow multiple effect parameters to be easily controlled at the same time.

The Kaossilator 2 offers a number of advancements over the original Kaossilator, which was introduced in 2007. Enhancements include an advanced sound generator, dramatically expanded loop recording capabilities plus cross-fading between loops, and the ability to save loops and the users’ complete performances via an optional micro SD card.

The Mini Kaoss Pad 2 is a real-time effects designed for DJ and live musical performances, instruments/vocals, and home studio applications. The Mini Kaoss Pad 2 offers a familiar Kaoss interface and real-time fingertip effects, and can accommodate nearly any audio source via a 1/8″ stereo input. The Mini Kaoss Pad 2 features a number of advancements over the original Mini Kaoss Pad, including an on-board MP3/media player, an expanded library of effects, and optional microSD storage.

Korg Kaossilator 2 and Mini Kaoss Pad 2 are now available, with a street price of US $159.99. See the Korg site for details.

24 thoughts on “Korg Kaossilator 2 + Mini Kaoss Pad 2 Now Available”

  1. If Korg keeps a ready amount of stock available the MiniKP2 could be the next iPOD. They’re going to sell a ton of them.

  2. Unfortunately Korg seems to be on to something here…. creating all of these neat musical toys and stocking stuffers that I don’t really *need* but for some reason I *desire* anyway!! Though this is at a slightly awkward price point between the Monotron(s) and -tribe, so perhaps less of a temptation (but the iKaossilator app is a no-brainer….)

    If they would only take the Moog approach of making perhaps a new MS-20 Mono/Poly or Polysix and selling it for a reasonable price of, say, $9000 then my money would be much safer…. for a while at least.

  4. These have been available in Canada for a while. I have the mini Kaossilator 2. It’s a pretty remarkable device. My only gripes are the lack of visual cues from the touchpad, which of course you have with the bigger KP3. Also, some effects need more work — the granulator ones are very poor compared to the KP3 ones.

  5. I have the original kaossilator and the mini-kp (along with a monotron)…

    I bought my devices last year and I cant stop playing with them. My friend plays them in the car while I drive on long trips, like a live concert on wheels.

    These updates on the v2 kaoss products look great. I noticed that they aren’t built as solid as the originals. The back, where the battery is contained, is made of really crap quality plastic and the clips break easily (so I’ve seen).

    But if you are careful, they should provide even more of a creative outlet.

    Say what you want about these “toys”, but for those of us who enjoy creating things, they are perfect! Go Korg go!

  6. So then the question is: will this update be able to replace apps for iPhone/iPad that one could buy for a fraction of the price of a Kaossilator 2/Mini Kaoss Pad 2? Will it be worth the price? For some hardware enthusiasts it might, but for readers of Synthtopia.com who are well versed in iOS apps the question remains open.

    1. I think your comment underscores why many people are put-off by the iPad and iPad enthusiasts.

      Suppose for instanceyou had the very best car in the world, whatever that might be. Lamborghini, whatever. Just because you had that cool car does that mean you would never walk anywhere? You would never ride a bicycle in the park? Never take a bus or train to work? Even the coolest car imaginable doesn’t become your whole world.

      But iPad people write comments as if the iPad is all of existence and only fools would ever look away from the iPad display.

      I was really impressed watching the iPad with Werkbench work with a Monotron. And I know the iPad can do many many cool things. But iPad fans can be so obnoxious that I would think twice about buying the product just to avoid that community. Please get human, iPad fans.

      1. I only own an iPhone, not an iPad, hence my question about having another pocket size gadget with abilities that can be performed by, in this case, Korg’s own app of the product. I’m not a iOS snob, but living on limited means, when I buy hardware I want them to be able to perform for my own music making purposes better than apps on iOS. Hence why I for example own a guitar and not rely on the one from GarageBand or guitar apps.

          1. Imaginary enemies?

            No matter what my disloyal junior officers say, I never steamed over and severed a towline, I never abandoned landing crafts before they got to the shallow water, and—damn it—a quart of frozen strawberries don’t just disappear, somebody stole them and I would have found out who if it weren’t for those disloyal junior officers (who were probably off playing on their iPads when the strawberries were stolen!).

      2. >But iPad fans can be so obnoxious that I would think twice about buying the product just to avoid
        >that community. Please get human, iPad fans.

        Your comments could apply to any group of people with a product familiarity or preference. ProTools users, for instance. Or people who keep banging the “analog is better” drum. I think the guy had a valid point that had nothing to do with an iPad preference… what does the hardware offer that the software doesn’t?

        1. [shrugs] I admire people who have strong dislikes and likes. Some Hollywood composers, for instance, like Protools intensely. However, for instance, Danny Elfman wouldn’t hesitate to take a job where the project was built around Live. My point was specifically that iOS users seem to me to be unrealistic and insular in ways that are excessive, much more so than ‘average’ strong likes and dislikes.

          And your final observation is telling in itself: “what does the hardware offer that the software doesn’t?” Well, for one thing, hardware offers, ummm, HARDWARE. [laughs] That question you ask is like asking, “What does kissing a girl offer that the thought of kissing a girl doesn’t?”

          Sorry, I don’t mean to offend anyone or belittle anyone’s choice of equipment, hardware or software. I love these threads because I learn so much. (I just ordered a Kaossilator 2 from Amazon last night.) But sometimes people just seem rude to me, or isolated, and then I try to have a smile and I make people angry at me. Again, I’m sorry, i didn’t mean to offend anyone, just to offer my opinion.

          1. Your opinion of iOS, as usual, adds absolutely nothing to the discussion. Stefan is asking if anyone knows if the Korg Kaossilator iOS app offers the same functionality as the hardware Kaossilator. Not counting the iPad/iPhone hardware, the software is a fraction of the price of the Kaossilator. It’s a fair question, and you’re doing nothing to answer it.

            The signal-to-noise ratio in this thread is very low, and your posts are all noise.

      3. what a horrible analogy mark. i frankly rarely see this unhuman ipad enthusiast – infact its just the opposite. people sneering at ios without ever trying the product.

        fact is – in order for korg to shift these products effectively they have to provide some info on what hw features sets them apart from the ios version.

  7. the thing about the ipad is , is that one day it will break down and stop working , long before my kaossilator stops working, the toy factor is not an issue for me. i think it just comes down to an emotional connection or image people have about certain gear, the like it or hate it. but yeah i like using my ipad for music, but feel that one day it will break or not charge and that will be it. dont have that feeling about the rest of my gear

    1. >the thing about the ipad is , is that one day it will break down and stop working , long before my kaossilator
      > stops working

      You might be surprised! And think about it. $150 worth of hardware doesn’t represent a whole lot of economic headroom for quality components. Apple has an extremely high build quality (hence their high prices) and generally delivers machines that run for decades after they “become old”. Sure, some iPads will cease to function, but most of them will continue to run perfectly for a long, long time. These devices will become more fixed in purpose. For instance, an iPad 1 could live in an Alesis IO dock and be a full time Animoog. iPads can find homes as full time sequencers, controllers, etc Or all the iPads we see now as the Point of Sale system for stores? Those could keep working for a long, long time. There are so many uses for these things that we will be seeing the hardware in use for many years after it “gets old”.

      1. well hopefully I am wrong and my Ipad lasts for a long long time good points about it being a good device as a dedicated animoog! or sequencer ,*), anyway i kind of like both hardware kaosillator and software one.

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