Korg KP3 VS Microsampler

[Lyncaster]

Hi. I currently want a sampler to 
•Sample my MoPho/Sk-1
•Add effects to other gear
•I do not need it for live purposes, as I Would most likely sample them before hand. The effects tweaking would be live, though.

I can't spend over $300.

[sequentialsoftshock]

They're both quite different. Do you want to play from keys or use a midi keyboard? Destroy s**t, or just tweak it?

[meatballfulton]

-- For adding effects, KP3 wins. Even though the effects are all presets you have more real-time control over them. There's menu diving involved using the MS for effects.

-- For sampling, MS wins. Longer sample times, more samples in memory, more editing (but not much more)

-- For live playback of the samples, KP3 only holds 4 at a time but can reload more (slowly) from SD card. MS holds many more samples but can only reload from a computer

My thoughts:

If all the sampling will be done at home, I'd just use a computer.

If live sample playback is the main application, I'd get the MS.

If live effect processing is the main application, I'd get KP3.

If I could choose a non-Korg product, I think the Roland SP-404SX splits the difference between the two...better sample playback than KP3, better FX processor than MS, can hold a few hours of samples on SD card with zero load time.

[cartesia]

in addition to what meatball said, something you clearly need to decide is whether you want to be able to loop either multiple loops, or layer loops together, or dont need loops at all

[sequentialsoftshock]

-- For adding effects, KP3 wins. Even though the effects are all presets you have more real-time control over them. There's menu diving involved using the MS for effects.

-- For sampling, MS wins. Longer sample times, more samples in memory, more editing (but not much more)

-- For live playback of the samples, KP3 only holds 4 at a time but can reload more (slowly) from SD card. MS holds many more samples but can only reload from a computer

My thoughts:

If all the sampling will be done at home, I'd just use a computer.

If live sample playback is the main application, I'd get the MS.

If live effect processing is the main application, I'd get KP3.

If I could choose a non-Korg product, I think the Roland SP-404SX splits the difference between the two...better sample playback than KP3, better FX processor than MS, can hold a few hours of samples on SD card with zero load time.

Answer my question, then use this to decide which is best!

[Lyncaster]

They're both quite different. Do you want to play from keys or use a midi keyboard? Destroy s**t, or just tweak it?

I want to sample my MoPho and record loops on the fly.
By sample my MoPho I mean sample a sound and play it across the keyboard so I can play another sound on it. And ad effects to my Drum Thing.

[Lyncaster]

Oh and record YouTube clips, quotes, background noise, etc, and chop it up, and I know the MicroSampler can do this.

[Lyncaster]

And layer loops as well

[Stab Frenzy]

I want to sample my MoPho and record loops on the fly.

Pretty sure the Microsampler can't do that.

By sample my MoPho I mean sample a sound and play it across the keyboard so I can play another sound on it.

Pretty sure the KP3 can't do that.

[Lyncaster]

I want to sample my MoPho and record loops on the fly.

Pretty sure the Microsampler can't do that.

By sample my MoPho I mean sample a sound and play it across the keyboard so I can play another sound on it.

Pretty sure the KP3 can't do that.

Ah. If the MS cant do it on the fly I'd just record it befor hand. I'm too young to play live (15)..
Given that, the MS is prob the best solution?

[Stab Frenzy]

Sounds like it, but to be sure you should download the manuals to both and have a read to find out exactly what you can do with them. That'll give you a head start when you get one as well.

[Lyncaster]

Sounds like it, but to be sure you should download the manuals to both and have a read to find out exactly what you can do with them. That'll give you a head start when you get one as well.

This is just "What if" question, but would buying an audio interface and a midi keyboard with a sampler/effects be the easiest/cheapest/better option?

[koneyn]

Loading prepared samples/loops on KP3 in a live situation can be downright annoying and painfully slow. If you have a (maximum) 4-bar loop on each of the four banks, loading a set takes a whole minute on average.

Recording a loop to one of the banks erases the existing one on the same bank. Also, even if synced to another device via MIDI, the loop tends to drift, eventually it will audibly fall out of tempo by 5 minutes.

KP3 can be so fun, but has some quite serious limitations. But if you stick to playing with effects in live performance, like you've said, then it's maybe the best choice.

[Lyncaster]

Ah, alright. I think I'm just gonna get an audio interface and a keyboard.

[Instrument Panel]

I saw this video for a microsampler workaround to use it as a sort of live looper:



I guess whether it's any use or not would depend on what exactly you're trying to do.