Synthesaurus is my little electronic music project. I mostly do synth music, synth tutorials, synth sounds, and other synth nonsense. Have fun singing along to my karaoke songs and visit me on:
Thank you! Comments like yours motivate me to go on with my channel. It always helps me to learn that my vids actually help people to make the right decision. 😊
Isn't it? I didn't mention that in my video, because young folks won't understand, but messing around on the KVD makes me feel like the Kraftwerk boys creating drum sounds on their selfmade devices back in the days, creating sounds from scratch. In other words: Like a pioneer! 😁
Thank you. Funkytown, although not being my most favorite song of all time, is a nice example of how few means you need to create a classic that we still talk about (talk about, talk about) today. It's proof that the IDEA counts, before anything else.
Awesome. I have an old Casio CTK-691 that actually had about 50 really good organ patches. So now I'm sampling my favourites and hoping I can squeeze them in on the Kross 2. I'm limiting sample lengths to 3s to save space so no long sustained chords (it's a bit like using a Mellotron!) I need to work out if I can safely Unload samples from EXPCM and reload them later, such that any program using them will still work?
The reason why I stopped experimenting with sampling on the KK2 is exactly that: we do not know how much data we can squeeze into it. If we overdo it, it can result in a memory overflow and render the machine unusable. I strongly recommend to get a sampling device instead.
@@SynthesaurusRex I'll keep an eye on the amount of EXPCM that each sample uses so I don't get too close to the limit (I unloaded the Korg expansion packs that I didn't use) so I think that should keep things okay. Still a great discovery by you!
When you follow my channel, you know I got a Roland MPC Key 37, which is just what I always wanted in a sampling keyboard. It's a dream come true, and a great team-up with the Kross. Sure, the MPC 37 is not cheap, but there are cheaper versions, the ones without keyboard, also older versions. You might get one of those used for a good price.
I considered the kross 2, looks great, but i found the screen too small .. but even though i dislike korgs ancient 30 year old inaccurate touchscreens, which, unlike Roland who now use mobile phone panels, korg refuse to update ... I ended up paying the extra and getting a krome EX.. which uses a nice big screen, but i just navigate it with the front panel.. even Yamahas MODX has a better panel than Korgs
To be honest with you ... that's one of the reasons I wouldn't recommend the KK in 2024. Back then when the KK1 was released in 2013, it was fine. But I can't in good conscience recommend paying full price for the KK2 today. It's way out of date.
@@SynthesaurusRex .. even though i have an EX, like your kk2, i wouldn't recommend EX in 2024 either.. your better off getting the cash together and picking up a pre-owned non AT Nautilus on ebay..
Well, to be honest: If you have the cash for a used Nautilus, you better invest that on a modern Roland, used or new. I'm saying that because the Nautilus follows an outdated concept, which is cramming everything possible into submenues, so the panel can be as empty as possible (stylish!). Screw that, get a synth with controls on the panel, is what I say.
Well, that's what the RU-vid copyright algorithms do: They are soulless monsters who constantly search the internet for content to suppress and destroy. To protect the financial interests of the big corporations. But let's not get political here.
Depending on where you live, the shipping and customs costs to send me your PM 64 might not make it worth it. But who knows - maybe you live next door? 😁
I don't know, because I never tested out what the KK2's memory can handle. Because I don't know if it would actually render my KK2 unusable, because it was not officially made to used that way.
It's over... Sorry but that AI generated composition is better then 99% of musicians will ever achieve in their life time. I have heard people who produce music for years, and they are no where near able to play those chords progressions etc. Most musicians sound more like a dodgy computer program made their music then the AI does. People can say that the very best music can't be done by AI. But I think if you auto generated the process enough times, it probably come up with something close by accident. That said, music is not just about the music tho. Most people don't know why they like the music they do. A lot of whether the music is good or not depends on how people perceive the person who made it.
Well, I wouldn't paint the future of music that dark. On one side, we will have the music consumers, who can't tell and don't care about the difference between AI music and real bands. Give them a version of Spotify, which is free (because producing AI music costs next to nothing), and let them create their own playlist by clicking on "punk rock". That playlist will feature only AI-generated songs, which they don't have to pay for, because it's all created by AI. Our children will grow up with that: clicking on a style of music, and getting an endless amount of AI-generated songs. On the other side are we. We will not accept AI music. Not because it's bad (which it isn't) , and not because it's not made by real people. But because it's terribly boring, because AI can't do anything else but recombine thing we have heard before a 1000 times. AI music is not a sustainable industry. But since we are living in the age of "pleasing the current investors, not the future ones", we will have to deal with horrible, horrible pop music in the next 10 to 20 years.
A person that writes music could easily take what AI does and use bits of it, add bits of their own and make a frankensteined composition that is really good, but it reminds me of cheating in multiplayer online games. If such a person is happy about doing that, then I guess they will continue to do it. I am not in competition with anyone but myself, so I am fine with this. For me, using AI would defeat my whole purpose as an artist because I do music to express myself, not just impress people. If AI can do a great job with the visual art I package my music with or can master my finished mixes, I would be fine with that, but the music? No, that's okay. I got it. As for the impact of AI on music as a whole, it can't replace us humans. Never! Live music is the highest form of the art and when you get in that group of strangers and you are all feeling the same thing together, face to face with a great musical performer, there is literally nothing like it.
You named the keyword here: "expressing yourself". That's why we musicians do music. And you named another important aspect here: AI music is a threat only to people who use music to impress other people. Not to express themselves. In the end, AI music will never be able to replace humans, because all it can do is recombine music elements that already exist. AI is not able to invent new things.
Thanks for the video! I saw one of these in Cash Generators for £25 - but I think I'll pass. My opinion: It's not the worst drum machine in the world, and the sounds, esp. the snare, are decent choices for such a basic machine. A guitarist, for example, could do a lot worse, when seeking for something to provide a backing beat to jam to, and the inclusion of the fairly modern-sounding "metal" beats alongside the standard staples of "16 beat", etc, seem to have most bases covered. OK, it does not have MIDI or anything (after all, what would you expect from such a basic machine? ), but the only downside I can see is that there's no standard jack connector, although I suppose it might sound OK if the headphone socket were used, if you have a lead that will do it justice. My advice for guitarists, etc, looking for a backing beat: If you want something cheap and reliable that offers more, then I'd recommend the Alesis SR-16, which can be bought 2nd-hand for around £50. It has MIDI, stereo outs, plus two auxilliary sockets if you wish to process individual sounds like your bass drum and snare through effects. It is mostly acoustic drums, well suited to rock, metal, and breakbeat styles. It was the best selling drum machine from the time it was released, and for over 10 years remained at the top spot - and for good reason! I have made demos with the Alesis SR-16 which convinced every person listening that they were listening to a real rock drummer, sweating away behind his drum kit. I advised my mate who used to sing in the band (now disbanded) which used the SR-16, to buy one for his solo projects - he has done so, and is very happy with the results - he's never used a drum machine himself, until he bought one, but is finding it easy to work with.
The Alesis SR-16 is also a great drum machine. I owned it once, but I sold it the same reason why I gave away my KR: In the meantime I collected tons of synth devices, which can also play drum rhythms to practize my bass guitar to. As a practizing metronome for guitarists, who don't have an arsenal of other rhythm devices like us, I think it's worth the money.
Ya know… I was really thinking about selling this synth to downsize (I hate the small bank of patches:/) but urgh… you make this looper setup look so fun. In the set up it stays
Well, I don't know your setup, maybe it has other FM synths. But since my Reface is the only FM synth in my little home studio, I really do appreciate how I can make sounds with it, that my analog subtractive synths and ROMplers and samplers can't do.
Comedy? Was I funny in the video? *re-watching it* Oh, I guess I was. I am sorry, I just talk like that, I wasn't being intentionally funny. But that doesn't matter - the only thing that matters is that my video was helpful to you, so thank you very much for your response!
I haven't tested all Volcas, so I can't say if it's actually the weakest. All I can say is that the "Volca Samples" is a straightout lie, because it can't sample anything.
Good video! You have helped me realize something. We have the SynthTube show "Bad Gear," but we should also have the show "Infuriating Gear!@#%!" It could have a synth smackdown moment at the end where the build quality of infuriating gear gets tested. I would love that.
I fact what I am complaining about in my video is absolutely not MPC-37-specific. Just to make that clear: I do recommend the MPC 37, it's awesome. What I am complaining about is those dumbass designers AND those even more idiotic marketing bosses who made the decision to go with those designs! It just pisses me off to spend 900 bucks for a device that has a large touch display, and STILL uses ant-sized micro-button in ONE screen, while using normal-sized button in the next screen! IT MAKES NO SENSE! ARRRGH!
I was surprised. I actually thought the Akai mpc operating system would be far worse. After using the desktop software. The MPC is actually pretty good. Just for the Auto Sampler. The parts I find most annoying about the design, are the pad mixer/channel mixer. The routing is complicated. It's an ok machine. I am too old to get too excited by it, as it's too similar to an ipad. I think the Kross 2 with it's LCD display, and hard limitations, is far more exciting to use. And there is very little the Kross 2 cannot do, that the MPC can.
Look, I think discussing things with a person who thinks of himself to be "too old" for anything is a waste of time. You're not "too old" for anything. You might be "experienced". But not "too old".
@@SynthesaurusRex I said in too old in the context of the mpc UI. I think as I was a young man, when I use my first hardware machines, when I use them the sensation of being blown away by them for the first time, is impossible to recreate. So now I use many hardware and software, which is all far more powerful. But my brain is still imprinted from a much earlier time. Maybe this is why I find the Korg Kross 2 exciting to use, because with it's LCD display, it is very close to an older hardware. The MPC feels more an Ipad and midi controller. But after using the MPC, my opinion has changed, and it does feel to me somewhat like an older device. I think the software on PC and the MPC, give the impression of something gimmicky or cheap. But in operation it is better then it seems.
The use of it is only limited by your own imagination or creativity, try using it through some pedals and it's easy to programme. The video also forgot to show the use of the useful 2 pedal inputs to change patterns, mine was only £40 SH and use it with a Korg SQ1 in the SYNC in jack....It's cheap, easy to use and fun.
Does my video come across as a negative review, saying "don't buy the thing"? I apologize, I did not mean to say that! I meant quite the opposite! And you are right, I did not mention the pedal inputs. Thanks for adding that information!
Glad to know I'm not the only person who played the into to jump on this thing after spending time figuring out how to get the polyphony. If only we had one more octave on the left hand. The oberhiem they used in the original song had 61 keys so we are missing 2 octaves from the one used to play jump. Still the right hand can be nailed flawlessly on the DX. Thinking of looping the right hand one octave lower then trying to raise the octave back to center and play the right hand of the intro just to do it.
There are several ways to do that, but I don't feel like writing an essay about rigtht here. Hope you understand. Look into the Behringer software allowing you to chain patterns, right?
That's why I made this track. Maximilian is my favorite 1970's science fiction slasher villain. He not only chooses to murder Anthony Perkins by shredding him to a pulp with his shredding arm extentions, while he also could have chosen to just shoot him with his lasers, which we learn later that he has. He also ignores the cries for help of Dr Reinhard, dying under some rubble. And at the (incomprehensible) end of the movie, he is basically Satan. The Robot Devil! Hail, Maximilian!
I don't know what you mean by "dubstep". Do you mean the sounds to make dubstep? Or do you mean the functions to make dubstep? Well, the KK2 has both anyways.
@@SynthesaurusRex yes the sound effects I watch some video of dubstep sound effects in KK1 I hope if have tutorial how to set in dubstep sound effects in KK2
👍 ... oh my friend, you are going to have some F.U.N. with this device!! Not only the sampling capabilities (the auto-sampler is sweet) but also using those built in FX and the onboard synths (HYPE is amazing, Odyssey and Mellotron are both fun too)... I look forward to hearing how you get on in the near future. If I can recommend one thing it would to look at getting a copy of the "MPC Bible" - the MPC workflow is not always intuitive (IMO) and the learning curve is often not linear, so anything to help give a leg up is worth looking at - but I'm sure you'll achieve everything you want with this device (in time). Enjoy! Axel.
You know what? Until your comment, Fleshmare was my favorite. But after trying to recreate the Stargazer sound on my analogs and samplers, I think you are right: this can only be done on an FM synth. :)
Hello, thanks for your very instructional and so funny video :) Even if I 'm interested by buying an analog synth as the Poly D Berringher, you make me want to come back to my Kross I neglected for a lack of time...
Thank you, NEIJAFA. I am not sure if I do understand what you are saying, but you should never neglect your Kross. Instead, learn what it can do. Put a little effort into it by watching my tutorials - that's what I made them for 😃
