Super wacky FX showdown

[juicebox12]

What's up,
I've finally saved up enough doshwa to splurge on an effects unit for my setup (2x SL1200s, Numark DMX06, SSL, laptop). I was all gung-ho for a KP2, then the KP3 came out and it looks superawesomefanastique. I was gonna buy one of them from overseas for around $500 or so, but I've recently been offered a Pioneer EFX-1000 from an aquaintence for around that price.

Now, I don't know a HUGE deal about either of them (except they are both spose to be badass and DJ Shadow is a huge proponent of the EFX), so here's where I need your input.

The whole chopping/rearranging thing on the KP3 looks like such a fucking great feature, it may tip the scales for me. Not to mention the user interface of a touchpad.

However, I've been told that the EFX is an infinitely better unit, and I can't remember the reasons why (it was a salesperson at a record store who told me).

Anyway, if you know your shit, please comment. I'm gonna buy one or the other soon, and I just need to make an informed decision...

[mems]

However, I've been told that the EFX is an infinitely better unit, and I can't remember the reasons why (it was a salesperson at a record store who told me).


i have no experiences with effects units however basing what is the best off what some dude who has a budget to meet or has been told to push 'x' product is a very shit idea

[richcur]

Useability wise - you can do most things on the KP3 with one finger, that you otherwise need two hands on the EFX

[Tha Gooch]

f*ck it - the title lead me to think we were gonna all talk about which little tricks we use to develop quirky effex and sounds

fuck it....

[juicebox12]

by all means gooch, feel free to post. spice it up a little.

[Tha Gooch]

^^ sozz mate - i am a b*tch sometimes

my experience is that the 500 EFX is a piece of turd, i hgave played with it extensively - not very impressed

the 1000 i checked out briefly in a club setting - i think it was the Mercat that had one... it seemed very descent i must say

anyway cant comment to much on the KP's cept some people have been bringin em to aLIVE AND THEY Look sexy as f*ck..but i still think it looks like the ability to 'really' control stuff is relative to the KP2 in that it can be a bit random... then again i just commenting on what i can 'see'

someone like BBR who love his KP3 to bits can probably give you a better rundown on how it will perform in a live situation for you

i am actually sortsa hanging to play with one just to see how random they really are (BBR i get my car tommozz i will come overzzzzz!!)

personnaly i like knobs and stuff to grab onto...so not sure the KP would be for me... but thats just me.. i wanna test one!!

[machina]

we've got everything imaginable - kp3, kp2, efx1000, efx500, 3 billion other things. Firstly, it is important to note, i'm a producer - not a dj, and i don't give a flying fuck about how 'good' something is in respect to a dj... but from my point of view - whoever told you the efx1000 was superior to a kp3 or kp2 is a moron... the kp's can do infinately more things, sound better and won't get boring after 2 weeks (as all efx incarnations do) - as far as i can tell, there is not a single saving grace for the pioneer stuff, unless you happen to particularly like to stupid jog wheely interface thing (which i find inconvenient and unprecise)... possibly it's more suited to the limited needs of a dj - otherwise i can't see why anyone would recommend an efx over a kp... :)


p.s. kp3's aren't random at all - unless you use them in a random/retarded fashion.

machina

[richcur]

p.s. kp3's aren't random at all - unless you use them in a random/retarded fashion.

QFT - unless you have big, fat fingers - then things get a little out of whack

[Skerik]

The EFX is a noisy little machine, and the fx are somewhat dated in comparison to the korg.

And the kp3 has a clock output.

Thats why i bought one... It's worked itself into my studio quite nicely, and adds so much fun when dj'ing

[hpstekno]

and the quality of effects are second to none who's product would you trust a dedicated musical instrument manufacturer who have created some of histories greatest instruments or a fucking TV and consumer stereo manufacturer

[Tha Gooch]

p.s. kp3's aren't random at all - unless you use them in a random/retarded fashion.

machina

the randomness i have been told relates to the KP2..?? and hey its only speculation, have been 'told' its hard to do the same thing twice.. but you own one so if you say thats not true then i believe you

[Marky]

I have not used KP3 or the pioneer units, so no real advice from me.

But I got to say, using the KP2 it becomes really apparent why they called it "kaoss" pad.

Very few of the "patches" are useable for anything other than odd noise effects. The slightest roll of the finger left or right changes the sound which makes it almost unusable when using pitch or delay-time effects. The sampler time on it is very short and not snapped in any way to the bpm setting, as is the "remember movement" option on the little joystick. Very hard to create a looping effect with any movement that stays locked to your groove. Though perhaps these have been fixed with the kp3 clock features? And maybe I need to practice more at being pinpoint accurate with my timing.

I've had some fun with the kp2 in the studio, running samples into it and recording the wet output. But I don't know if I would trust it in a live environment because, as Gooch said, it can be hard to do the same thing twice.

I'm pretty keen on trying the KP3 to see how they've improved it. But based on the kp2's kaotic nature, I'd definitely try-before-buy on the kp3.

Good luck.

[machina]

the randomness i have been told relates to the KP2..?? and hey its only speculation, have been 'told' its hard to do the same thing twice.. but you own one so if you say thats not true then i believe you

well... just like anything else, it's hard to do the same thing twice if you're brain dead or have your head stuck in your arse... :) it's no harder than anything else. if people are having trouble with it they just aren't any good at using it... i can do very intricate things very consistently. saying it's random is like saying a guitar is random - perhaps you just can't play it?!?!?

machina

[machina]

The slightest roll of the finger left or right changes the sound which makes it almost unusable when using pitch or delay-time effects.

um... this is what makes it great - you can get a level of subtlety out of it that you simply can't with other effects units. IF you know what you're doing.


I've had some fun with the kp2 in the studio, running samples into it and recording the wet output. But I don't know if I would trust it in a live environment because, as Gooch said, it can be hard to do the same thing twice.


i disagree completely - they are more of a live tool than a studio tool... there are heaps of ways to do what a kp3/kp2 can do in a studio in a completely controlled fashion, but you can't do it live - with the kp's you can... and as for it being dangerous - i've used 3 kp's simultaneously in live PA sets without problems or unexpected results... like any bit of gear - you have to learn it inside out...

machina

[richcur]

The slightest roll of the finger left or right changes the sound which makes it almost unusable when using pitch or delay-time effects.

These effects are pretty much my mainstays on the KP3 and I can unequivocaly say that they are not at all "random" or "whacky".. in fact the touchscreen makes them totally reliable and frees up your other hand allowing you to add mixer onboard effects or whatever.

I think the trouble with KP2 for some people was the "randomness" of the old touchscreen, which has been rectified by the KP3's screen being a grid of LEDs instead. For instance, whenever I want a high/mid cut echo rolling on 3/4 beat I just slide my finger up the row of LEDs that lineup with #5 on the shortcut row at the top. Ain't that hard

[Xelpmok]

For a studio efx box thats not actually an efx box, I really LOVE the yammy a4000... When you get deep into it, start chaining efx together and setting up midi controls for them, the power really comes out! proper audio mangling and straight up good clean efx :)

[Donnie Darko]

1 vote for kp3, mate has one, fantastic fun

i imagine a new efx unit should be announced some time soon, its been a few years now and the kp3 must be eating thier sales

[big eddie]

Jonny Greenwood mangling Thom Yorkes vocals in 'everything in its right place' live with a kaos pad is still one of the most awesome things I have seen/heard ever.

[machina]

1 vote for kp3, mate has one, fantastic fun

i imagine a new efx unit should be announced some time soon, its been a few years now and the kp3 must be eating thier sales

um... the efx1000 is only about little over a year old... imo pioneer won't release another one for a long time if at all...

machina

[hpstekno]

I have not used KP3 or the pioneer units, so no real advice from me.

But I got to say, using the KP2 it becomes really apparent why they called it "kaoss" pad.

Very few of the "patches" are useable for anything other than odd noise effects. The slightest roll of the finger left or right changes the sound which makes it almost unusable when using pitch or delay-time effects. The sampler time on it is very short and not snapped in any way to the bpm setting, as is the "remember movement" option on the little joystick. Very hard to create a looping effect with any movement that stays locked to your groove. Though perhaps these have been fixed with the kp3 clock features? And maybe I need to practice more at being pinpoint accurate with my timing.

I've had some fun with the kp2 in the studio, running samples into it and recording the wet output. But I don't know if I would trust it in a live environment because, as Gooch said, it can be hard to do the same thing twice.

I'm pretty keen on trying the KP3 to see how they've improved it. But based on the kp2's kaotic nature, I'd definitely try-before-buy on the kp3.

Good luck.


i've been using kaoss pads live for the last 2.5 years and never had a problem with them like machina says learn to use one properly and it cant be beat .. it's so good that i have 2 now ;D KP2 and a mini KP would love to get a kp3 though

[Neo_]

Exactly it took them the better part of a decade really to replace the EFX500.
Cant see them replacing it anytime soon, especially with the way the kids just love blindly buying gear because they saw performer/ DJ X/ Y using one the last time they had good pingers.

Edit: this was supposed to be after machina's post.

[Pro Tool]

It's true that you never hear anyone cry about their KP - users LOVE them. It's like a cult!

[Bitsmasher]

Jonny Greenwood mangling Thom Yorkes vocals in 'everything in its right place' live with a kaos pad is still one of the most awesome things I have seen/heard ever.I've seen a clip of York playing the KP with one hand, mic in the other, lying on the ground spasming around whilst swinging and messing around with the KP at the same time, that was incredible :rock:

Kaoss Pad has it for the interface alone IMO, I can't wait until I can afford and justify one.