Korg Kaoss Pad KP-2 Circuitbent

Circuitbent Korg Kaoss Pad KP-2 for sale. Complete with the original box.

You know the drill by now: there’s a lot of extra switches added that “break” the unit in all sorts of unpredictable ways. Given the massive variety of programs inside the machine this is particularly chaotic and a great deal of fun (just watch those speakers/ears). Also, because it has some “synth” programs it is both effects generator and noise maker: warping these internal sounds with the mod is a source of much crunchy digital goodness.

Read the original Kaoss Pad 2 Sound On Sound review for a good run down on what the unit is supposed to do. Then imagine every one of those functions warped and destroyed.  Is there a manual for the mod? No (but see what Paul writes below for more idea of what is possible). You flick the switches, you roll the dice and take your chances…

POWER SUPPLY NOT INCLUDED. These take 12v centre positive, but with a special custom barrel. You can still source the original supplies online.

This what Paul from Circuitbenders has to say…

The Korg Kaoss Pad KP2 was released back in 2002, three years after the original KP1. In many ways it was very much the ‘main battle tank’ upgrade to the KP1, with a new metal casing solid enough to use as a murder weapon without leaving a dent, and a whole host of extra effects and flashing lights. The KP2 was one of those rare cases of a manufacturer actually learning from previous units and providing an upgrade that provided more or less exactly what the original machine was lacking. Side by side you do get a slight sense that the KP2 is a slightly safer machine, with a indefinably cleaner and more refined character to both its sound and operation. The KP1 is maybe slightly more chaotic, but if this is a downside its probably made up for by the KP2’s expanded effects range and features.

When modded it has to be said that the KP2 is a somewhat less subtle machine and much more of a brute force tool than the KP1, although it is still very capable of more nuanced results alongside the flat out absolute chewing the furniture lunacy!

The standard mods add a new control box to the side of the KP2. The box itself is made from a translucent red or blue plastic, and includes the installation of several LED’s inside so the whole thing lights up when you turn the unit on.

The control box houses an 18 way ‘bend bus’ switching matrix, and a clock speed knob. There is also another new switch mounted on the front of the main casing which switches between the normal clock speed, and the new clock speed knob.

The new clock speed knob controls the running speed of the onboard sample RAM. This means that it will control the playback speed of any samples, the length of both the delays and reverbs, and the depth / speed of any other effects that use the sample RAM, such as flanging or chorus. This works independently of any other effect or pad settings.
The clock speed also appears to control the sample rate of the RAM. On the KP2 the clean input signal is always run though the A/D and D/A convertors before reaching the output as there is no true bypass. This means that even when there is no effect running, the clock speed knob will change the sample rate of the input signal. This allows you to take a normal input and take the sample rate down to give drum loops more punch and dirt, until at the bottom of the knobs range the input sounds like its playing back through some kind of underwater drug experience.
The switch allows you to quickly switch back to the standard KP2 clock. Unlike many units that can be re-clocked in a similar way, on the KP2 you can freely switch between the standard clock speed and the new clock speed knob at any time without the unit locking up or crashing.

The 18 way bend bus switching matrix allows you to apply various kinds of comb filters, pseudo ring modulation, bit crushing, distortion, and what can only be described as audio smearing™ to any affect that uses the sample RAM in any respect. Each switch has a certain effect that is usually associated with it, although its effect can be altered depending on which other switches are activated simultaneously. You have to activate more than one switch at a time for any effect to work, but when two or more switches are activated their associated effects will combine to produce something entirely new. The demos below do tend to highlight the savagely brutal end of what this machine can do, but thats only because its more fun! It is very keen on distorting sounds way beyond the outer limits of what is strictly healthy, but it’s also capable of producing a range of more subtle and sometimes strangely beautiful alien sounds.