Korg Kaossilator Grid Modification (Mod/Hack)

[TokyoChopSquad]

Plastic wrap/ cellophane works great too.

[BladerFromHell]

if this would be an app for android :O

[petemk1966]

and here's one i broke earlier

[tank9]

Dude I have a Kaossilator Pro and this was a very helpful video. Thank you very much.

[Saxofaxo]

Well, I just finished it. Very exciting. I almost fucked up the tap button. When you pull of the silver top, watch out for that button.

[inarinokami]

@Saxofaxo So true!!!I I got the same problem :) , but it's ok , work perfectly , thx KGridMod !!! Great stuff!!!

[RaguelAngelofBalance]

That should have been done in the sweat shop, but kudos to you for showing us how to do it.

[VuelaBand]

Thats a really good idea, Ill be modifying mine soon

[BikeTileHit]

i like the bit with the kaossilator

[slickpimp66]

i used to do that when i was a kid, but i couldnt put it back together. youve got some balls for doing that

[kortedfranela]

does it afect the sensitivity?

[ssbattaglia]

great, thanks for sharing.

[AnnexGroup]

Finally someone comes up with a great solution to this problem.Hopefully Korg is listening.

[xandircruz654]

At 3:30 when you pull that flat piece where the L-R sound output are, Do you just tug on it? I reeaaalllllyy dont wanna break my KP

[DJGianz97]

Hack ?? Pff . . .

[Ausut]

Thank you for sharing your great idea! I bought a Kaossilator the other week and this should be a nice improvement. Take care! I hope your economic situation gets better. /Robert

[takkers]

you can also print those grids onto a colourless sheet, then put in between the touch pad and the screen protect.

[KikuMistoffelees]

Thank you dude <3 this makes it easyer for me =D

[aktechfreak]

Just did this. Thanks :D

[friendlyflavour]

cool!! can you give me the measures ??

[OGbedwetter]

Nice video man, my printer couldn't print onto acetate without smudging, so i traced it on in biro, still works nicely :) thanks x

[blankvsblank]

think it would be possible to mod some knobs into it somehow to control x/y instead of having to touch the pad??

[Topdoginuk]

It's strange how the manufacturers didn't put this simple grid on to begin with!

Well, your video was great and very informative. You should be credited for that.

I'd be tempted to glue/tape a grid straight on top rather than dare to take the Ka apart!

Top marks for your video.

[flux302]

@Topdoginuk yeah it's odd I remember my kaoss pad kp2 actually came with stickers and one of em was a grid.

[Topdoginuk]

@flux302 I just taken delivery of a Kaossilator Pro! It seems a awesome bit of kit!

[IRBaboonVideo]

It's a good idea thanks. Just so you know, I've never seen a video editor (free or not free) that didn't have the ability to speed up sections of a video.

[KGridMod]

Cheers! Just so you know...

I have absolutely no interest in editing videos! This video is just how it came out of my digital camera.

Audio editing, yep! Video editing, no thanks.

[ssbattaglia]

@IRBaboonVideo Just so you know, you can fast forward in youtube.

[blinx503]

@IRBaboonVideo what about audiowave editor and/or window moive maker? (a.k.a. movie FAILURE)

[fillepo]

bear.....Grylls?

[KGridMod]

You've lost me there...

[KDUBBS1000]

haha because your british

[ssbattaglia]

@KGridMod he's basically saying that you sound like Bear Grylls watch?v=gRTIkj5HF90 it's likely because he is ignorant to how the english talk.

[captswiss]

@fillepo

Digital Grylls :D

[benelvy1234]

do u reli have to take it apart cudnt u just lay it over the top with liek some stick tape

[KGridMod]

Its up to you. Opening up the device means that you can fix the grid securely in place so that it stays put, but you can try just placing it on top and using some tape if you want. Merry Christmas! TJ

[odbguy21]

Fook that! I wouldnt dare take my Kaoss to bits like that! haha And no way does it look better with the silver thing off!

[KGridMod]

Yeah dude, who do they think they are?! Those people who told you have to take your Kaossilator apart, or told you that you have to like things that look a certain way? Whoever they are I think they're just winding you up or trying to make you look like a fool. Don't listen to them.

[mogen317]

I used cad to draw up a grid for each note across the touch pad. its a pdf and should print out as a full 8.5 by 11 in sheet. the highlighted boxes are root and 5th.

you can download it at megaupload . com /?d=Z9AK3FTO and megaupload . com /?d=LRAIT0TI with no spaces

[KGridMod]

These look really good man. Cheers for making them and sharing. I wish my printer wasn't broken, but I'll have to wait until Monday now before I can try them out... Does this fit a particular scale?

[mogen317]

This grid is relevant for any 7 note scale: ionian, dorian, mixolydian, etc. Each note for a 6 note scale, such as major or minor blues, falls roughly on a grid line.

[vtecgogos]

Haha I laugh that people think there are only 45 boxes in the Korg Kaossilator - there are actuall 105 grid boxes! 7 x 15! Please change this asap - Im making the grid as I speak and will post up the real true grid and prove it to all of you with a video and show all of you a life difference :)

[KGridMod]

I look forward to seeing the grid! How did you come up with 7 X 15? Does that just work with all the scales? Will be cool to see it.

I think that we are all aware that there are a lot more than 45 selectable parts of the touchpad!! If you read the info on the right, or read my blog you will see the reasoning for why mine has 45 squares... but hey, from the time I have had this video up I understand that not everyone want to read stuff!

Anyway, sounds cool, can't wait to see it, TJ

[pointsofhonesty]

did you ever make the grid? I am curious

[Lucidman1]

See it now...thanks a bunch!!!!

[Lucidman1]

Are you suggesting from your video to use the 8x8 instead of the 5x9 since I don't see the 5x9 template on your blog anymore?

Thanks!

R

[KGridMod]

No for some reason that grid keeps disappearing from the blog. I can't understand why, the other one is always fine. Its like every two weeks or so I have to upload another one and replace the link. Weird... Anyway, its back up again now.

[matiasmonkeyman]

why not just get a laminated stick back plastic cover and stick it on the front to save dismantling it

[KGridMod]

Yeah I thought about maybe using some stuff like you get to protect the screen of a PDA or some other similar gadget. Laminated sticky plastic will do the job, provided its not so sticky that you can't remove it if you wanted to!

[matiasmonkeyman]

might try getting some of that for mine.

[mogen317]

I tried using a clear printable sticker, but the air bubbles and other tiny imperfections in between threw off where my touch was registered. I was trying to play on a grid with 15 columns so the boxes were smaller.

[IPOXstudios]

This modification is great, thanks!!! I added numbers to each square and my artist symbol. Some things to note when you take it apart...It's easier to pull housing apart from the RC input side rather than the ARP side. Also when putting back together make sure the switch is seated good. Also make sure you put the battery "wire" back in correctly. Do this Mod though. It will def help!!!

[philipgregorymusic]

question...does the grid affect the sensitivity of the pad at all. For example, I'm using the mini on my guitar, and would hate to have to use a pointer device to operate it. Let me know? Thanks!

[KGridMod]

In theory putting something over the pad should lower the sensitivity, and this question has come up before, but in practical use you'll notice that it doesen't make any difference at all. Its like the grid just becomes the top layer of the pad. As long as people just use thin transparency film I don't think they'll notice any difference.

[STUDIOMcCOY]

tá maluco!

[KGridMod]

Hey, grid designs back up again on my blog now.

[cbulen]

Broken link on your blog site: the Kaosillator 9x5 grid image is not showing. Please fix.

[KGridMod]

Yeah, see what you mean... Can't do anything about it from where I am right now, but will sort it out on the weekend. Thanks for letting me know!

[MischievousGoat]

Wow, I thought of something like putting a paper on the touchpad, but this is even better!

Would it be possible to create a sheet for every scale, and make it exactly the same shape as the visible part of the touchpad? If you put the Kaossilator on a table while playing it wouldn't fall off, and this way you don't need to open it up :-)

Great work though!

[KGridMod]

Yeah I guess someone could make a grid for each of the scales, but it would involve a lot of trial and error. As you've probably read, my grid is not based on a scale, just the 45 display symbols. I reckon the best thing to print the grids onto would be those screen protectors that stick on the screeens of gadgets, you could have a whole load that you can peel on and off. I haven't done any more developing of the idea, but am still using my kaossilator and I will always keep a grid in it!

[SoldFingers]

I thought that transparency film wasn't expensive!

[IPOXstudios]

Dude, go to Kinkos or Office Max. I got 2 printed up and it was only $2 :D

[VIPKYD]

Oh BTW I think that the grid mod might be useless at some point - because u have 9 sections divided for keys - Kaossilator is a 12 note mini-synth so it's going to be kind of confusing when you play a full 12 note keymap and there are only 9 dividers. Also if you use scales - some scales don't have just 9 notes. (Ex Bluse scale - 7 notes)

Sorry if I seem to sound kinda cocky - I just got confused cuz of this...

[KGridMod]

Hey, don't worry about it, comments are welcome.

Its cool to get into the habit of reading the information on the right hand side of videos on Youtube, y'know where you click "more info" to read more about the video.

[VIPKYD]

Oh sorry - I'm just like the rest of the youtubers - I have seen 2 much "LOL's" in the descriptions... so I stopped payind attention to it...

[VIPKYD]

And that lowers the sensivity of the pad...

[KGridMod]

Yeah, in theory putting something over the pad should lower the sensitivity, and this question has come up before, but in practical use you'll notice that it doesen't make any difference at all. Its like the grid just becomes the top layer of the pad. As long as people just use thin transparency film they won't notice any difference.

[VIPKYD]

'l right

[KGridMod]

Cheers, for your comments. As I've said, it really doesen't seem to make any difference,

BUT... If anyone is worried about a about loss of sensitivity when using a grid, then they might want to consider removing the black plastic layer that korg put on top of the touch-pad. I've not tried removing it myself, but its only attached along one edge, is thicker than the transparency film grid and doesen't serve any purpose other than to add a little bit of protection to the touch-pad...

[VIPKYD]

Ok, if u'll ever get a mighty microkorg - check out my tutorial on saw lead creating

[KGridMod]

Cool I'll check it out tonight! Cheers.

[thepk203]

verry nice man ... i was thinking the same about some grid .... nice joob ... it looks good

[swimsuitparker]

id like to see some one make a new shell for a kaossilator using the circuitboard and pad but new plastic outer.

i'd buy one

[paijire]

you should be more careful when handling the circuit board mate :P dangerous...

[KGridMod]

Hey Paijire, I reckon life is too short to worry about that sort of thing...

[swimsuitparker]

i agree scratch some components and can stop it from working =/

i.e. bad times (:

[KGridMod]

Hey thanks for letting me know how you feel about the grid design. Its really nice to get this kind of feedback, and I really mean that. When day to day problems and bad attacks of social anxiety get me down its really cool to know that people out there appreciate something I've done! Makes life seem a little less harsh I guess... Cheer psychopath3000!!! TJ

[psychopath3000]

Hi there mate. Just wanted to say thanks again for this advice! I'm still using my Kaossilator loads, and ever since I installed the grid, it's been a dream. So, so, so useful. Korg should buy your idea for a LOT of money. If they re-release the Kaossilator with this idea, you should take them to court :D. Cheers!

[simbo12]

anyone know of any midi mods for kaossillator, in part ticular midi clock clock in, (but note in would also be useful)?

[slipdpk1]

Great video man! You could easily set up a buisness where people send in there kaosssilators to you and you do the job for them! i know i would! thanks very much...

[VJFranzK]

i too thought there should be a grid there ;-) Good video

[djcb1]

Nevermind. I saw your great website. Thank You!!

[djcb1]

Is there any way that I can get one of your grids? Thanks for the great video!

[Fearlessone88]

An excellent idea mate. thanks heaps

[UltimateLazer]

Perhaps one could use pieces of clear plastic double-sided tape to secure the grid to the pad with relative ease? (good jab on the grid dude)

[KGridMod]

Instead of having to open it up you mean? Yeah I had thought of doing something like that. My idea was that you could maybe print the design onto one of those stick-on protective screen covers like people use on pocket PCs. Cheers, TJ

[a280281]

hello mate i was wondering if you could help me out,ive just bought a kaossilator second hand but for some reason the sound only comes through 1 headphone this is the same if i play it through my stereo,only comes out of 1 speaker,i was just wondering as youve looked inside of one if this could just be a minor repair,any help would be great cheers mate...

[KGridMod]

I'm not sure I can help you mate, but search on Youtube for 3amsleep, he is a guy who has also got into taking his Kaossilator apart, but from what he says I reckon he's got a better knowledge of electronics than me, hopefully he can help you out or give you some pointers, sorry I can't help you myself. TJ

[a280281]

ok thanks for that mate ill give him a try.

[PANDEMONIUMDJ]

You need to take this item back. if you cant, follow the trace from the channel that is damaged. If you dont know much about microtronics then you wont have a clue. it wont be something simple as it happening to both the RCA and 3.5 jack sockets so it will be internal. Sorry to be the voice of doom

[KGridMod]

Hi there, yeah I am probably gonna make more designs in the future, so I could try that. With the Kaossilator it all varies hugely depending on what scale you have selected though, so its very hard to make a grid to suit all situations. Cheers for the comment! TJ

[KGridMod]

Sorry, I forgot that you also mentioned buying one. I did consider selling these, and I mention that at the end of the vid, but its a lot easier if people just print out their own. If you have no means at all to make one I guess we could so something out. If you want you can send me a message and we can discus it. TJ

[PANDEMONIUMDJ]

When i first got my Kaossilator i thought about doing this and have made little paper points for certain songs. I never though about acetate though! what does it feel like when using it with your finger? does it still perform as good? I have a laser printer so will look into making one. :-) thank you for all your kind help. you are a very genuine guy

[KGridMod]

To me it seems like the transparency film has not changed the playability and feel at all, but its hard to say without having two Kaossilators to compare between. I'm hoping other people will try it out and let me know what they think about that! Cheers! TJ

[PANDEMONIUMDJ]

Was it a laser printer you used to print? Luckily I got one of them afew weeks ago :-)

[KGridMod]

No I just used an old Inkjet printer with some Inkjet transparency film. (check my blog, a link is in the info on the right) I don't have a laser printer. A laser printer would probably do a better job, but I heard that you have to be careful using transparency film with a laser printer, because the laser printer uses heat, and if the heat melts the film you can shag your printer, so make sure all your settings are correct first! TJ

[PANDEMONIUMDJ]

Hi. I am interested in buying one of these from you. can you message me the price. Great idea. The downside to having 9 sections on the x axis is that it does not follow the default scale of 15 notes. If you go to A.21 and slowly slide from right to left you will hear 15 different pitches. Maybe a grid with 15 sections could be a consideration for the future.

Good work anyways!

[KGridMod]

Hi there, yeah I was lucky that I already had this mini hole punch that came with a music box kit (you punch out holes in a strip of card with notes on it like a piano roll and feed it through the music box to play the notes). I did wonder if others might be able to carefully use a drill, or dremell? Its one way of doing it neatly I thought anyway.

[psychopath3000]

Hey thanks a lot for posting this. I've done this to my Kaossilator today and it is SO useful. It's more like a synth now instead of a random phrase sampler. It's such a good idea that I don't know why Korg didn't think to include it in the design in the first place. You'd better get in there with the patent! Thanks again. I'm going to post a video response to show what I've managed now that I've got the grid installed. (Btw opening up the yellow bit took me SO long lol). Best wishes!

[KGridMod]

That's brilliant! I've been waiting for someone to say they had tried it out, and you are the first so far. Glad to hear that you like it. Yeah, getting the yellow casing apart is damn tricky. Enjoy it! Cheers, TJ

[psychopath3000]

Thanks man. Just one question... for a stylus, what are you using? I find that with my finger, the sensitivity is not affected, but using the stylus I'm using, I quite often get jerks because the contact has breifly been lost.

[KGridMod]

I've been using a stylus that came with my old Palm, but I know what you mean about losing contact, using something hard is not so smooth sounding. I've been thinking about getting a pencil with an eraser on the end and shaping it! Or something softer like that. TJ

[psychopath3000]

Yeah I was considering the same thing. I'll keep experimenting. And I''ll keep an eye on your blog for future developments! Thanks again.

[psychopath3000]

Just one more thing. To punch the holes in the corner, how have you been making them so neat? I find that the plastic just sticks out on one side, making it difficult to get it in. I'd like to give my MIni Kp a go, but I would like to found out about this first. Thanks.

[furrtek]

Great idea ! 'Have to try this as soon as I get mine back :)

[TimRideout]

awesome, man! You could make a gazillion bucks - patent and market this idea, man!

[KGridMod]

Ha, yeah I did think about selling these, and that's why at the end of the video I say "or buy one from me", but to be honest I'm not sure there's a market. Most people are kind of reluctant to open up their Kaossilators (maybe when people's warranties run out...) and also because of the huge variation due to what sound you are using and what scale you are in, I'll never be able to make so that there is a square for each note. Oh well, I think I'll have to find another way to make my fortune!

[KGridMod]

Sorry to the person who wrote: "very useful mod, man! thanks for sharing!"

I just went to click 'Reply', but hit 'Remove' instead! I should learn to be more careful.... Anyway, it would be cool to hear back from anyone who has tried out my design, at the moment I think I'm the only one that has given it a go! (or the only one foolish enough.....)

[Mamiya645]

I was going to have the metal shield of mine painted black for a great waspy look, I recommend it to anyone who still have their Kaossilator.

If I still had mine I'd gone and done this mod, what I managed to do a little work on before selling it (needed money for more useful synths) was a notation system, so I could reproduce stuff I worked on, I should put that stuff up on my personal site so people can evolve that system.

[KGridMod]

Yeah I like the sound of a EDP Wasp style Kaossilator, I might give that a go!

I would like to see more on your notation system idea that you were working on, sounds interesting. TJ

[yorkshirerepresenter]

reali good idea,but i wont be taking myn in2 tht many pieces lol

[albinowolf2]

EEEEEEK! I saw a naked kaossilator!

[KGridMod]

I have left the metal cover off my Kaossilator as its so much sexier half undressed... Shit, I need to get out more.

[skyskraberen]

That is really cool! Thanks for posting this, I might give that a go - beats drawing on the touchpad with a marker. :)

[israeliguitar]

Very impressive and very brave of you to open it like this.

Doesn't this effect the sensibility of the touch pad?

[KGridMod]

Good question! No, as far as I can tell putting a layer of transparency film has not made any difference to the sensitivity of the touch pad at all. If it has made a difference, it is too slight to be noticeable. Try cutting a bit of paper, or transparency film to the size of the touchpad and just lay it over the top to see what you think. Cheers, TJ

[ColinKochevar]

i don't think it doesbut it might

[soulsonicfarce]

Nice work! I've been looking online for a while now to see if anyone could be bothered to do this as it is really hard to repeat solo leads and hit individual notes the same time and again.

I know it's a robust little machine but I'd be a litttle scared of screwing mine up :-p

Maybe I'll have the courage to do this one day...thanks very much for posting and sharing the design.

[KGridMod]

Yeah, it depends if you are happy taking stuff like this apart! I take loads of stuff apart, and I guess so far I have been lucky not to screw anything up... I reckon the Kaossilator is pretty tough though, just because its so simple inside. Cheers, TJ

[KGridMod]

Hey thanks guys! I have now put up the design on my blog so that you can print it out and give it a go. Cheers, TJ

[evilkillermouse]

Great idea, man.

[PatrickLynx]

Brilliant idea dude !!!! I have the same problem. Thanks for posting !