Thank you for purchasing the Korg kaossilator 2 dynamic phrase synthesizer. To help you get the most out of your new instrument,
please read this manual carefully.
Controls
3
1
2
4
6
8
9
11
12
5
14
10
13
7
VALUE slider
ARP button
SND button
Display
FNC button
BMP indicator
DEL button
Touchpad
loop I/II buttons
Internal mic
Volume buttons
MIC ON/OFF
button
Internal speaker
Power button
Setup screen
Program select screen
Note name Input level
Card status
Value
Value slider guide
Item
Battery indicator
Tempo
Page number
Program number
Program name
Loop data
Setup menu contents
Page Item
Content
Default value
P-1/14 BPM
Specifies the tempo for arpeggiator playback, etc.
120.0
P-2/14 KEY
Specifies the key (pitch) that will be the root of the scale.*1
C
P-3/14 SCALE
Specifies the scale assigned to the touch pad.
Ionian
P-4/14 NOTE RANGE
Specifies the octave range that can be played on the touchpad.*1
Program
P-5/14 ARP PATTERN
Specifies the arpeggio pattern.
Type:00
P-6/14 ARP TIME
Specifies the duration of the notes sounded by the arpeggiator.*1
0%
P-7/14 ARP SWING
Adjusts the timing of the arpeggiator.
OFF
P-8/14 LOOP I LENGTH
Specifies the length of the Loop I phrase.
4Beat
P-9/14 LOOP II LENGTH
Specifies the length of the Loop II phrase.
4Beat
P-10/14 LOOP FADER
Allows you to crossfade the volumes of Loops I and II.
CENTER
P-11/14 LOOP SAVE/LOAD
Allows you to save or load data.
--
P-12/14 MASTER RECORDER
Records your kaossilator 2 performance onto the memory card.
--
P-13/14 AUDIO PLAYER
Plays back audio data from the memory card.
--
P-14/14 UTILITY
Tap the center of the VALUE slider to enter the UTILITY menu selections.
--
Utility menu contents
Press the FNC button repeatedly until UTILITY appears; then tap the VALUE slider to make utility menu settings.
Page Item
Content
U-1/10 DATE
Sets the date and time of the internal clock. This information is used to time-stamp files.
U-2/10 BATTERY TYPE
Specifies the type of battery you’re using.
U-3/10 POWER SAVING
Lowers the power consumption of the kaossilator 2 by limiting the speaker output, extending
the battery life.
U-4/10 AUTO POWER OFF
Specifies whether the kaossilator 2 will automatically power-off (after four hours). *2
U-5/10 DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS Adjusts the brightness of the screen. *3
U-6/10 EXT.MIC SETTING
Specifies the type of mic that is connected.
U-7/10 CARD TEST
Tests the inserted memory card to check whether it can be used with the kaossilator 2.
U-8/10 CARD FORMAT
Checks and formats the memory card.
U-9/10 PAD CALIBRATION
Calibrates the active region of the touchpad and VALUE slider.
U-10/10 SOFTWARE UPDATE
Updates the system software of the kaossilator 2. For more details on updating the system, please
refer to the Korg website.
*1 Availability depends on the program. Depending on the settings, you might not hear sound, or noise might be produced.
*2 Even if this is Enabled, the power will not turn off automatically if there is audio input.
*3 Extended use at high settings will affect the display's lifespan.
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After you select this setting, the program display will reappear if you don’t perform any operation for a while. By pressing the SND button
you can immediately return to the program display.
Do not use a hard or sharp object to operate the slider. Also,
the slider might not work if you attempt to operate it with an object
other than your finger, or while wearing gloves.
7. Touchpad
Please refer to the “Performing with the touchpad” section.
8. FNC (function) button
Use this button to adjust various settings. Repeatedly press
the FNC button to select the menu item that you want to set.
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By holding down the SND button and pressing the FNC button,
you can step through the menu items in reverse order.
9. BPM (tempo) indicator
This indicator will light up in time with the current tempo.
10. Power button
Please refer to the “Turning the power on/off” section.
11. DEL (delete) button
Please refer to the “Partially erasing a recorded phrase” and
“Erasing a phrase completely” section.
12. Volume buttons
Use these buttons to adjust the volume of the headphones or
the internal speaker. You can adjust the input volume by holding
down the MIC ON/OFF button and using these buttons.
13. Loop I/II buttons
Please refer to the “Loop recording” section.
14. Internal speaker
The sound of your performance is played from this speaker.
If you connect headphones to the PHONES jack, the internal
speaker will not produce sound.
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For some programs, the volume might be low or difficult to
notice.
Performing
Turning the power on/off
To turn the power on, hold down the power button until the
startup screen appears. To turn the power off, hold down the
power button until the shutdown screen appears.
Do not touch the buttons or touchpad while turning the power
on.
Auto power-off function
The kaossilator 2 has an auto power-off function. After approxi-
mately four hours have elapsed since the last user input, the
auto power-off function will automatically turn off the power.
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The auto power-off function will not engage if there is audio
being input.
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To disable this function, set the AUTO POWER OFF setting to
“Disable” in the utility menu. To enable the auto power-off function,
select the “Enable” setting. The factory setting is “Enable.”
Selecting a program
Press the SND (sound) button to access a screen where you
can select a program.
To change programs, slide or tap your finger on the VALUE
slider.
TIP
By using the VALUE slider while holding down the SND button,
you can switch programs by category.
Performing with the touchpad
Perform by using your finger to rub or tap the touchpad.
Do not use a hard or sharp object. The screen might not
work correctly if you attempt to use it with a different object or while
wearing gloves.
Specifying the scale
SCALE: This function specifies the scale assigned to the touch-
pad. The display will show the note name. The availability of
this setting will depend on the program. Please refer to the
program list.
Specifying the key
KEY: This function specifies the root note of the scale. The
availability of this setting will depend on the program. Please
refer to the program list.
For some settings, there might be no sound, or noise might
be produced.
Specifying the note range
NOTE RANGE: This function specifies the range of pitches
assigned to the touchpad.
Program: The optimal pitch range specified for each program
will be used.
1–4 Octaves: The pitch range will be 1–4 octaves.
Max Range: The pitch range will be the maximum.
TIP
The actual range of Max Range will depend on the program.
For some settings, there might be no sound, or noise might
be produced.
Specifying the BPM (tempo)
You can specify the tempo for drum pattern programs, the arpeg-
giator, or loop recording.
BPM: With the BPM displayed, stroke the VALUE slider or tap
either end of the slider to change the value. In addition, tapping
the center of the VALUE slider several times will set the BPM to
the interval that you tapped.
Using the arpeggiator
The kaossilator 2 contains an arpeggiator that lets you gener-
ate rhythmic performances simply by touching the touchpad.
When you press the ARP button, the ARP button will light up.
Now when you touch the touchpad, the arpeggiator pattern that’s
currently selected will play.
Selecting an arpeggiator pattern
The kaossilator 2 contains numerous arpeggiator patterns.
While holding down the ARP button, use the VALUE slider to
select an arpeggiator pattern in the range of Type: 01–50.
TIP
This item can also be set from within the menu.
Changing arpeggiator settings
To set the arpeggiator parameters, press the FNC button to
select the parameter that you want to edit, and use the VALUE
slider to set the value.
Specifying the note duration
ARP TIME: This specifies the duration of the notes. If ARP TIME
is set to “100%,” the notes will be played legato. If the setting is
“-100%,” the duration will be extremely short, and the notes will
appear to be interrupted.
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With short settings, some programs might not produce any sound.
Adjusting the note timing
ARP SWING: This specifies how the timing of the notes will
be adjusted. You can adjust this from a straight 16-beat to a
shuffle rhythm.
Loop recording
You can record a performance of up to eight beats (two mea-
sures of a 4/4 time signature) and play it back as a loop. You
can also overdub additional performances while playing along
with that phrase.
Recording the sound of a program
Here’s how you can record a rhythm or bass phrase using one
of the program sounds built into the kaossilator 2.
1. While holding down one of the loop buttons (I or II), perform
on the touchpad. Your performance on the touchpad will be
recorded while you hold down the loop button.
During recording, the loop button will light up red. Even
when the specified number of beats have been recorded,
loop recording will continue, allowing you to overdub onto
the previously-recorded phrase.
2. When you release the loop button, the loop button indicator
will turn green; recording will end, and the recorded phrase
will continue playing as a loop.
3. During playback, you can hold down the loop button and
use the touchpad to overdub onto the phrase that’s currently
playing.
4. If you press the loop button during loop playback, playback
will stop, and the loop button indicator will blink green.
5. If you press the loop button while stopped, the recorded phrase
will start playing as a loop, and the loop button indicator will
light up green.
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While stopped, you can hold down the loop button and use
the touchpad to overdub from the beginning of the phrase that was
previously recorded.
Recording audio input
You can record the audio from the built-in mic of the kaossilator
2 or from a mic connected to the kaossilator 2.
1. While holding down the MIC ON/OFF button, use the volume
buttons to adjust the input volume.
2. While continuing to hold down the MIC ON/OFF button, press
the loop button to start recording. The phrase will be recorded
while you continue holding down the loop button.
3. When you want to stop recording, release the loop button.
Adjusting the volume balance between
two loops
1. Hold down the FNC button to access the LOOP FADER page.
2. Use the VALUE slider to adjust the balance.
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You can use the VALUE slider as a crossfader.
Specifying the length of the phrase
While holding down the loop button of the phrase whose length
you want to change, use the VALUE slider. The recording/play-
back length of the phrase that you’re editing will be shown in
the display.
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The length of the phrase you can record is limited to a
maximum of four beats when the BPM value is 37.5–74.9, and to a
maximum of two beats when the BPM value is 20.0–37.4.
TIP
This item can also be edited from within the setup menu.
Partially erasing a recorded phrase
While the phrase plays back, hold down the loop button and
press the DEL button; the portion of the phrase that plays while
you’re holding down the DEL button will be deleted.
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When you hold down the loop button and press the DEL
button during playback, the previously-recorded phrase will be
erased during the time you hold down the DEL button, allowing
you to replace it with a newly recorded phrase.
Deleting an entire phrase
1. Press the DEL button. The DELETE LOOP page will appear.
2. Press the loop button for the loop you want to delete. If you
want to delete both loops, press both loop buttons. The
phrase will be deleted.
Saving or loading data
Settings and loop recorder data can be saved on a memory card.
By loading this data later, you can reproduce the previous state that
you saved.
Saving to a memory card
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You can also access LOOP LOAD/SAVE by holding down the FNC
button and pressing the loop (I or II) button.
1. Press the FNC button to make the screen indicate LOOP SAVE/
LOAD.
2. Use the VALUE slider to choose “SAVE.”
3. The display will indicate “Finished,” and the name of the saved data
will appear.
Loading from a memory card
1. Use the VALUE slider to choose “LOAD.”
2. Use the VALUE slider to select the data that you want to load and
execute loading.
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The saved data is created as two files named KO2D??_1.WAV and
KO2D??_2.WAV located in the DATA?? folder inside the DATA folder inside
the KO2 folder (?? is 00–99).
Do not use your computer to edit the files inside the DATA folder.
Master recorder
The performances that you’ve created on the kaossilator 2 can be
recorded to a memory card.
1. Press the FNC button to make the screen indicate MASTER RE-
CORDER.
2. Tap the VALUE slider to start recording. A counter will start.
3. Press the SND button to return to the program indication, and start
performing.
4. To stop recording, press the FNC button to make the screen indicate
MASTER RECORDER, and tap the VALUE slider.
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Recording will end automatically when the memory card has no
more space left, or when the recording time reaches approximately two
hours.
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The audio data is saved as a file named KO2REC??.WAV (?? is
00–99) located in the RECORD?? folder inside the RECORD folder inside
the KO2 folder.
Do not use your computer to edit the files inside the RECORD folder.
Audio player
You can play back the audio data that was recorded by the master
recorder. You can also play back audio data that you’ve copied to
the memory card.
1. Press the FNC button to make the screen indicate AUDIO PLAYER,
and tap the VALUE slider.
2. Use the VALUE slider to select the file that you want to play.
3. During playback, press the SND button to stop playback and return
to the program indication screen.
Supported file formats
16-bit 44.1 kHz/48 kHz stereo WAV files
1. Internal mic
Sounds picked up by the internal mic will be used while you hold
down the MIC ON/OFF button.
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Sound will not be output from the internal speaker while you’re
using the internal mic to avoid feedback.
2. Display
This shows information such as the program that’s currently se-
lected. The lower part of the screen functions as the slider guide.
3. SND (sound) button
This button takes you back to the screen where you can select
a program.
4. ARP (arpeggiator) button and indicator
This button the arpeggiator on/off, and allows you to adjust
settings. Please refer to the "Using the arpeggiator" section.
The indicator will light up when you are adjusting settings for
the arpeggiator and when it is playing.
5. MIC ON/OFF button
Soounds picked up by the internal mic or from a mic that’s con-
nected to the MIC IN jack will be used while you hold down the
MIC ON/OFF button.
6. VALUE slider
You can change programs or edit a value by sliding or tapping
your finger on this slider.
Stroking the slider will change the
value smoothly. To change the value in steps of one, press
either end of the slider.