I just found your forum post on this, and this is blowing my mind right now. I was literally reading it and thinking how I’d love for a video about it. Thank you for sharing all of this!
Now I finally really understand at least some of what people are talking about with music theory and chord progressions. I regret that I can only click the like button one time.
Random question but when I hit multiple pads at the same time, it seems like my KO II is only playing one of the notes (maybe the first note I hit?). Have you ever run into something similar?
I think I've run into something similar. My best guess is it's either in one-shot or legato mode, or it's part of the mute group. You can check both of these settings in Sound Edit mode. Navigate to SND and make sure it's set to KEY and not ONE/LEG. If that's all good, navigate to GRP and make sure the pad isn't part of the mute group (its LED will be solid if it's in the mute group and flashing if it isn't). If a pad's in a mute group you're only able to play that sound monophonically. Hope this helps!
@@windowbed thanks! It turns out it’s just a limitation of a few sounds I happened to have on the same pad - they were all vaguely complex and chord-sounding so I’m thinking they maybe have some sort of specific limitation because of how the sound is rendered (that’s my best guess 🤷).
Yeah, I definitely understand the frustration there. I'm using mine as 1-2 "voices" in a larger setup so I don't run into that issue as much but it really sucks for people who want more out of it. Side note: I'll discuss arrangement in either the next video or the one after, which will cover how to use these chord shapes across different samples. That way you won't use 8/12 voices making a 7th chord with a stereo sample.
Amazing video, i know something about music theory and learned it with launchpad pro note mode. Coming from launchpad, now the ep is really familar for me and capable for doing great chords. Before this video, I was confused about how to use the keys mode properly. Thank you for that. I have one question: What to do when my base note of the sample is not c. How do i know that it is actually correctly translated to the grid? So that for example the original sample is on the correct pad on the c major scale? Do you have any tips for that?
Thank you! I'm glad the video helped. You can specify the note that a sample is, but I don't think there's a way to specify the note before you record so you'll have to do it on every pad (edit: but you can copy that pad using shift + C) 1. In sound mode, select the sample pad you want to change 2. Enter sound edit mode (Shift + Sound) and go to the second-to-last page, MID 3. Adjust the Y knob to specify which note you sampled. You'll probably want to hold shift while doing this because this value spans 11 octaves (no joke). To fine tune, keep holding shift and hit +/- to adjust the value by a semitone
Yes, you can add notes to a step in step sequencer mode. You can also edit and nudge them pretty precisely but there are some limitations--for example, you can record a note that you hold for 2 bars on a step, but if you use the KO II's duration parameter you can only manually set a note to last for 1 bar.
@@windowbed You mean you can hold multiple notes in a chord in step sequencer mode and extend them up to the length of the pattern by pressing the direction keys? I understand that the note length parameter has limited range, but if chords can be hold for longer, than that is what I am looking for (in order to create chord progression with sustained pad sounds)
The chords can be held for longer like you’re describing, though you almost have to guess how long to hold them for. That gets messy if you want to have a 4-chord progression where every chord is held for 8 bars-you’ll have to estimate 8 bars while holding record and the pads. If you hold it for 7 or 9 bars by accident I don’t think there’s a way to correct it. Also, you can’t adjust the duration of the notes by using the direction keys, but you can adjust the timing. One last thought: there’s currently no way to loop a sample (or have it repeat part of a sample) on the KO II, meaning it’s a bit limited for playing sustained chords. There are workarounds like time-stretching but there’s no direct way to just loop a middle point of a sample.
Yep, totally. As a warning, though: MIDI implementation is pretty minimal right now (FW 1.2.1) so aside from syncing and using a keyboard to record or insert steps there's not much you can do.
I'm happy to help and I'm glad you asked because, unfortunately, you can't. Right now the KO II reacts to every incoming MIDI note on every incoming channel by either playing the note for the current sample in Keys mode, or playing one of the 12 pads if you're not in Keys mode. There's no way to filter it, turn it off, or have one pad or group respond to only one incoming MIDI channel. You can set a single pad to output MIDI on one specific channel, which can be helpful, but that's as flexible as it gets right now. Also, I have no connection to TE so I have no idea what updates they plan to make.
@@windowbed Thanks! So you say that it can't sequence external gear/ act like a sequencer for multiple instruments like say a Mpc? By the way, your channel rules! Great work!
Thank you! It can actually send out a wild amount of outgoing MIDI with impressive resolution, and each pad in each group can be assigned its own MIDI channel. There's no way to edit the CC values on the KO II but it will record them and pass them through at per-tic resolution. Also I keep saying kinda misleading things in my replies on accident, but my third tips & tricks video probably answers your questions: th-cam.com/video/Bmg1O7F5qsE/w-d-xo.html
Hah! I just realized that the QuNexus looks tiny because it's not raised up with the KO II. Thankfully the pads aren't too bad to play when it's angled up but now that I'm thinking about it maybe someday I'll make an ergonomics video.
Great question! The short answer: that's probably what I'll do personally because I'm comfortable playing keys and I'm only planning on using the KO II for a couple voices at a time. The long answer: I'm fascinated by what makes instruments unique, so this series is mostly about playing the KO II the way I think it "wants" to be played, and along the way teaching basic theory. Making chords on pads never felt natural when I tried it on the Digitone, Model:Cycles, or Maschine, but I've really enjoyed exploring the KO II's pads due to the 1-9 numbering and the 3-pads-per-row layout.
![ว้าว!ลุงบีมแบกทองมารับขวัญหลานกันยกบ้าน [cc] แดนแพทตี้ SS2 | EP.49 |](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Osihq1OAs-4/mqdefault.jpg)
Makes a KO II video, drops some substantial scale knowledge while at it. Really appreciate your easy to follow approach to theory.
Thank you! Glad you found it easy to follow.
I just found your forum post on this, and this is blowing my mind right now. I was literally reading it and thinking how I’d love for a video about it.
Thank you for sharing all of this!
This is a madddd valuable video. Thanks!
This video was fantastic. Great job explaining this in such a straightforward way.
Jesus it finally makes sense. Thank you for breaking it down so freaking CLEARLY.
Now I finally really understand at least some of what people are talking about with music theory and chord progressions. I regret that I can only click the like button one time.
This means so much to me! I'm so happy that it helped your understanding.
wow this is amazing. I've literally just been button mashing this whole time lol
Exactly what I’ve been searching for…. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this so thoroughly! You are a good man. 👊🏻 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm happy to hear it's what you were looking for!
Man thanks for building this! I've bought a KO II I was looking for this type of material! Keep going please!
You're welcome! And thank you for the encouragement! There's definitely at least one more KO II theory video on the way.
First two minutes alone are worth knowing well. Cheers 🎉
Really helpful, thank you for making this
You're welcome! Thank you for watching.
Very useful video, congrats!
Thank you!
There are lots of KO II demo videos are there, but very few on theory and how to make good progressions w/ the device.
Random question but when I hit multiple pads at the same time, it seems like my KO II is only playing one of the notes (maybe the first note I hit?). Have you ever run into something similar?
update, in case anyone else is running into the same issue, it only happens with certain sounds. Others seem to work just fine.
I think I've run into something similar. My best guess is it's either in one-shot or legato mode, or it's part of the mute group. You can check both of these settings in Sound Edit mode. Navigate to SND and make sure it's set to KEY and not ONE/LEG. If that's all good, navigate to GRP and make sure the pad isn't part of the mute group (its LED will be solid if it's in the mute group and flashing if it isn't). If a pad's in a mute group you're only able to play that sound monophonically. Hope this helps!
@@windowbed thanks! It turns out it’s just a limitation of a few sounds I happened to have on the same pad - they were all vaguely complex and chord-sounding so I’m thinking they maybe have some sort of specific limitation because of how the sound is rendered (that’s my best guess 🤷).
Wish this thing had more Voices
Yeah, I definitely understand the frustration there. I'm using mine as 1-2 "voices" in a larger setup so I don't run into that issue as much but it really sucks for people who want more out of it.
Side note: I'll discuss arrangement in either the next video or the one after, which will cover how to use these chord shapes across different samples. That way you won't use 8/12 voices making a 7th chord with a stereo sample.
Amazing video, i know something about music theory and learned it with launchpad pro note mode. Coming from launchpad, now the ep is really familar for me and capable for doing great chords. Before this video, I was confused about how to use the keys mode properly. Thank you for that. I have one question: What to do when my base note of the sample is not c. How do i know that it is actually correctly translated to the grid? So that for example the original sample is on the correct pad on the c major scale? Do you have any tips for that?
Thank you! I'm glad the video helped. You can specify the note that a sample is, but I don't think there's a way to specify the note before you record so you'll have to do it on every pad (edit: but you can copy that pad using shift + C)
1. In sound mode, select the sample pad you want to change
2. Enter sound edit mode (Shift + Sound) and go to the second-to-last page, MID
3. Adjust the Y knob to specify which note you sampled. You'll probably want to hold shift while doing this because this value spans 11 octaves (no joke). To fine tune, keep holding shift and hit +/- to adjust the value by a semitone
@@windowbed thank you, this is really helpful. I didnt knew that option in the midi menu.
I am thinking of buying the EP-133 KO II... can you enter chords in step sequencer mode (not live playing them)?
Yes, you can add notes to a step in step sequencer mode. You can also edit and nudge them pretty precisely but there are some limitations--for example, you can record a note that you hold for 2 bars on a step, but if you use the KO II's duration parameter you can only manually set a note to last for 1 bar.
@@windowbed You mean you can hold multiple notes in a chord in step sequencer mode and extend them up to the length of the pattern by pressing the direction keys? I understand that the note length parameter has limited range, but if chords can be hold for longer, than that is what I am looking for (in order to create chord progression with sustained pad sounds)
The chords can be held for longer like you’re describing, though you almost have to guess how long to hold them for. That gets messy if you want to have a 4-chord progression where every chord is held for 8 bars-you’ll have to estimate 8 bars while holding record and the pads. If you hold it for 7 or 9 bars by accident I don’t think there’s a way to correct it.
Also, you can’t adjust the duration of the notes by using the direction keys, but you can adjust the timing.
One last thought: there’s currently no way to loop a sample (or have it repeat part of a sample) on the KO II, meaning it’s a bit limited for playing sustained chords. There are workarounds like time-stretching but there’s no direct way to just loop a middle point of a sample.
Thanks for the info
Can you use the external keyboard to insert chords on each step of the sequencer? Thanks!
Yep, totally. As a warning, though: MIDI implementation is pretty minimal right now (FW 1.2.1) so aside from syncing and using a keyboard to record or insert steps there's not much you can do.
But can u assign a midi channel to each track and sequence externally? Thanks a lot!
I'm happy to help and I'm glad you asked because, unfortunately, you can't. Right now the KO II reacts to every incoming MIDI note on every incoming channel by either playing the note for the current sample in Keys mode, or playing one of the 12 pads if you're not in Keys mode. There's no way to filter it, turn it off, or have one pad or group respond to only one incoming MIDI channel. You can set a single pad to output MIDI on one specific channel, which can be helpful, but that's as flexible as it gets right now.
Also, I have no connection to TE so I have no idea what updates they plan to make.
@@windowbed Thanks! So you say that it can't sequence external gear/ act like a sequencer for multiple instruments like say a Mpc?
By the way, your channel rules! Great work!
Thank you! It can actually send out a wild amount of outgoing MIDI with impressive resolution, and each pad in each group can be assigned its own MIDI channel. There's no way to edit the CC values on the KO II but it will record them and pass them through at per-tic resolution. Also I keep saying kinda misleading things in my replies on accident, but my third tips & tricks video probably answers your questions: th-cam.com/video/Bmg1O7F5qsE/w-d-xo.html
Great content, but for the sake of not getting carpal tunnel, let's get an actual keyboard :DD
Hah! I just realized that the QuNexus looks tiny because it's not raised up with the KO II. Thankfully the pads aren't too bad to play when it's angled up but now that I'm thinking about it maybe someday I'll make an ergonomics video.
Isnt it easier to just connect a midi keyboard 🎹 and be done with it?
Great question! The short answer: that's probably what I'll do personally because I'm comfortable playing keys and I'm only planning on using the KO II for a couple voices at a time.
The long answer: I'm fascinated by what makes instruments unique, so this series is mostly about playing the KO II the way I think it "wants" to be played, and along the way teaching basic theory. Making chords on pads never felt natural when I tried it on the Digitone, Model:Cycles, or Maschine, but I've really enjoyed exploring the KO II's pads due to the 1-9 numbering and the 3-pads-per-row layout.