Better Gear - RetroKits RK-002 - Make My Stuff Better!!! (Elektron Digitakt, Korg Kaossilator Pro)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ม.ค. 2021
- In this episode of Better Gear, the show about making gear better, we are talking about getting more out of instruments we already own (like the Elektron Digitakt and Korg Kaossilator Pro) by using the RetroKits RK-002 intelligent midi cable. Will it make my stuff better?
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Nothing gets me in the mood for making music like reading some physics papers
Same here!
Then you are in great company with the likes of Brian May of Queen who has a PhD Astrophysics and Brian Cox of D:Ream who has a PhD in high-energy particle physics :D
Oh yeah, that's how you know you're making approachable music, as well as being an approachable person. 😉
Hahahaha
@@NathanielPrinceCoulter this comment is too good and relatable 😂🤣
Just the fact that this cable runs off the midi power, and doesn't require a separate power adapter is magical.
Very cool!! thanks for giving it a whirl - and congrats on the MusicTech award! 😉
Thank you so much! Great product!
So many people who sold their kaossolator Pro are probably kicking themselves right now
This was the main reason I got one
nah, got a good price.
I wouldn’t say I’m kicking myself...but this would’ve been handy when I had it
Nope, didn't like the sounds at all ;-)
Meanwhile, I'm doing the opposite... using the Kaossilator to control other synths.
Got the Retrokits RK-002 for my Kaossilator Pro+ thanks to you and this video. It really allows for much more precision while using the Kaossilator Pro+. Many thanks for bringing this magical MIDI cable to our attention! You rock!🤘🤙
Christmas was just a month ago and now it's here again!
Christmas comes early this year ;)
I use the RK-002 as my instant-IDM machine. I play a combination of triggered acoustic drums and electric drums and the cable goes from my drum module (Nord Drum 2) to my sampler-sequencer (Digitakt or MPC500). I use the RK-002 to add velocity dependent sample layers to my drums, to send midi CCs on certain drum hits. And as a way to find “magic sequences” in the drum hits that will then send program changes and sequence changes. This way I can build a framework for playing a jam on my drums only, switching to the drops and halftime basslines by playing certain fills, switching snares, and muting stuff when I play certain types of beats. It’s quite rigid really, but better than a simple loop for 30 minutes
Wow, interesting technique!
This is an awesome episode of better gear. I am ordering one of these today.
Thanks!
Better gear for a better year
Love your stuff m8 keep it coming
Tasty jam at the end.
Thanks!
nothing much to say about the vid itself, just wanted to say that yourd vids always crack me up, you're probably one of the funniest people i follow on youtube. keep it up! -new subscriber from northern italy
Thanks! Stick around!
This is really cool! I hadn't heard of it before, thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching!
This really tempts me to look into the RK-002. I also really liked that little jam and the end.
Thanks!
I really admire you for your channel and you music. Well done ✅
Thank you so much!
Would love to see a Better Gear episode on the Retokits RK-008 midi recorder. That thing is a beast. Give any synth or groovebox an insanely powerful song mode with automation and program changes? Yes please!
Great idea, thanks!!!
@@AudioPilzplease, make it happen 😇 it could even tick the most-memes-and-features-applicable-to-such-a-small-calculator-boxes-all-time-hi-score, too ☑️
Love my 002. I use it on the digitakt as you did, for inspiration and fun. Nice job legend! Definitely makes my bad gear, great gear. :)
Thank you!
Saw the video (great as always), googled the manufacturer's website and saved it instantly for future purchases :)
Great review
Thanks!
I've been writing a RK002 script this year for Novation Circuit that adds Chord Mode, Random Patch Flip, Patch parameter randomizer, Splitting octaves into separate midi channels, and session chaining. RK002 is so versatile. I use the Tempo (45 - 55) and the bottom note to set which mode each synth is in.
Cool! Let me know when it's finished!
I've adapted Teensy sketch version to use with Arduino Leonardo (TeeOnArduino envirmnt) for same KO1 purpose but then I found VolKaoss that work fine with Volca Sample And KO1 on diff channels ) Thanks to TheKik
Hey Joel! This sounds really cool! I was wondering if you knew if the rk002 can make the circuit rhythm polyphonic the way it makes the digitak polyphonic?
@@n0.bio_ I'll try it out tonight with polymux using channel 9 as the input and 1-4 the output channels and report back.
@@Joel-re1jz thanks so much!!
Nifty cable! Glad it made the Digitakt usable 😉
Lol, nice stab ;)
Great concept and reasonably priced.
The polka was strong in this video.
True! Polka for days!
So if HP Lovecraft was a producer, he would probably claim his music was non-euclidean.
Lol, good one!
Haha! As a fan and one-time student of non-Euclidean geometry I approve 😂
He'd make non-euclidean TRANCEndental EDM.
I gotta get one of these. Thanks for the great video.
Thanks for watching!
Wow Digitakt, I have some serious gear envy!
Digitakt is a great Instrument!
@@AudioPilz Great Gear channel soon? ;-)
Nice jam at the end!
Thanks!
@audiopilz thanks to you, I bought a microFreak today!!! Looking forward to learning and making some music!!
Nice! Thank you!!!
I’m shocked you don’t have 500k subscribers. I’m new to your channel. Subscribed 👊
Thanks for subscribing! Working on it!
Great video! Thank you ❤
Thank you so much!!!
Retrokits makes incredible utilities. I own an RK-006, which it now permanently mounted into my dawless jam rig as well as countless TRS-X adapters. Everyone should support them!!
True! Nice guys, too!
Geile Folge , vorallem für uns Gear-nerds😁 man kann das Rk002 auch benutzen , um mehrere volca keys für mehr polyphony zu chainen! So kann man sich billig nen Monster-synth basteln. Es lebt -
Franken-Volca
Danke! Sky's the limit!
i didn't understand anything you explain and yet i feel more aware of possibilities
I'll try to be a little more clear next time, thanks for the feedback
@@AudioPilz oh sorry, no i wasnt meaning this in that way (it was on me to be more clear). you've put something on the table that i didnt know since then and i guess i overreacted cause it "scares" me how deep midi controled stuffs are, and at the same time i found your explaination about the rk002 and euclidian sequences (didnt know that was a thing) really interesting.
Your videos help a lot for getting rid of stereotypes about music genders and prodution hardwares, and your humor/ memes/ video editings are so funny !
Would have loved to see a more in depth exploration of the polyphony capabilities with the Digitakt! Love your content.
TBH, there isn't a lot more to it. It just round-robins through a predetermined number of voices. Great if you use different samples
Alright now were talking 💪💯 digging these hacks thank you
Always a pleasure, thanks for watching!
2 in less than 7 days! Damn! We are at the end of days..❤️
❤
Danke für die better Gear Serie.. Is viel better.. Cool 😎
Danke fürs Zuschauen!
I got a RK-002 when I first got into the Volca Sample. I put it away (maybe lost it?) when I pajen's firmware fixed the things I didn't like about the Sample. I didn't even consider using it to fix the weirdness of the MIDI on the Korg Kaossilator Pro. Now that I'm going through my old unused gear to sell most of it, I guess I'll have to move the Kaossilator Pro out of the "Sell" box and try it.
Thanks for making this video! Informative as always.
Thanks! Gamechanger for the KO
subscribed! thanks for your interesting videos!
Thank you!
I was going to build this from an arduino! Thanks you saved me some time!
Yeah, super-reliable solution!
Right then. I definitely have to get one of these too when I get my Digitakt.
Highly recommended!
You just made me order one. While it might take eternities to arrive in Kuala Lumpur I just dug out my Kaossilator Pro from the cupboard where it peacefully lived in exile since long . Looking forward how it will work together with the octatrack.
Greatings to KL, love that city! Malaysia is one of my favorite destinations!
Ich liebe diesn Channel
Danke!
A better gear omg this day just got better
Thanks for watching!
You have inspired me to try the Euclidian feature in my Squid.
Very inspiring technique!
And I noticed you changed your format!!!! I gotta get a digitakt now
👍👍👍
What!? Im new to midi world but I do see this is better than the external ctrl the kop uses with usb. Totally checking out that non-cable !! Thanks again good man. Greetings from Perú
Always welcome, thanks for watching!
Ever considered doing "just good gear" episodes? That Korg NTS...NTF?-1 is the best piece of gear I bought in 2020. I love some of the free and paid oscillators so much. The effects are insane for a $99 box WITH line in...what was Korg thinking??
Rad Gear is already in planning!
@@AudioPilz yes, yes, yes!
There could be some gear on both.
I used a custom firware to connect my boutique Tr-08 to my Digitakt. Had to modify the code (i'm no coder but I bodged something) but could have used the original firmware. I use the song mode of the roland 808 to trigger drum samples on the Digitakt. It's a great cable, thanks for your video !
Thanks! Love the RK-002!!!
Kinda amazing something like this is even possible
Yeah, RetroKits really upped the game!
Didn't realise it was that easy to swap firmwares after you mentioned the RK002 in the Kaossillator Pro video.
I had to double-check that one too before getting one
those beats sound perfect for neo-disco
I had to look that genre up ;)
good Florian! I´ve done the same with a Midisolutions Proccesor plus on the Kaossilator
Thanks! I have to check that one out
FYI. Current version of Microsoft Edge is built on Chromium, and also supports Web MIDI without any plugin. (on macOS and Windows)
Good to know. Thanks for posting!
Saw the video, got the cable for the Digitakt: not mentioned here , but using the sample flip for finger drumming is awesome
Good to know!
i love my rk-002. i f ed around with a bit and tried some weird shit out but settled on just leaving it going into my korg sampler and using the clock divider patch from the website. it is great. my korg electribe emx-1 runs at tempo and korg sampler is at half that tempo. i have my korg volca fm after all that synced off my midiclock+ and quarter time relative to the main tempo. good chit mang.
Great patch, haven't tried that yet
Great piece of gear- having been influenced by your previous bad gear if I’m almost ready to waste money on a Korg kaoscillator pro- this cable would be the must have accessory I would also get..
Agreed! Total must for the KO
@@AudioPilz do you think this cable would allow you to get midi into the zoom arq so you could play with keyboard?
I’m kinda confused about what the hell is going on here, but I think it’s neat you’ve gotten your tiny dancefloor working again
As the big dancefloors are currently closed ;)
What is this, a dance floor for ants?
Nice one Cyril
Thanks!
@@AudioPilz always mate great channel been with you since start
I watched this a while back thinking: What do I need this for... Well... how about a pseudo-polyphonic Evolver... Yeah! OK, I went insane trying to load the firmware, as I had recently gone back to using my old Edirol VStudio100 that didn't get recognised by the DUY... neither did any other instrument that had USB and MIDI (VG99, SY1000, Keystep37, Octatrack, Primova MIDX-20 and even tried my loopers, RC202 and Voicelive3...), but then I remembered I have two Blokas MIDI-Hubs under my desktops, and again, Blokas saves the day! Loaded firmware, works great though the Evolver isn't really made for this sort paraphonic kind of thing unless you sequence it like that. Still, great fun and great video, again!
Thanks! Nice technique
@@AudioPilz Dammit… ended up using the one of my Blokas as the polyphonic splitter for the Syntakt (replaced the Evolver, makes the Syntakt a 3 voice polyphonic analogue, practically unuseable, monster), and now I have to get a Digitakt so the RK-002 doesn’t get rusty or something or whatever, gotta get a Digitakt now... dammit dammit 😬
Now I know. And knowledge is half the battle!
True that!
Well you’ve sold it for me.
I can’t wait to give it a run with the Syntakt and see what I can wring out of it.
RetroKits is a great company!
cool !!
It is!
nice "frühling" sample from Paul Kalkbrenner in the intro :)
Mr. Kalkbrenner and I sampled from the same source (It's the Universe preset of the Korg M1;)
Time to finally dust off this kaossilator. Thank you so much for this game changer!
Pleasure! It indeed is a game changer!
I want that lead so i can add the kaosillator to my live set midi chain. Buying that lead will be like buying a new synth!🤩
Indeed, next level Kaoss!!!
Hell yeah
Yessssss
Oh that end demo! How to create a really bad TB303 simulation using a Kaoscillator, and RC2 smart midi cable, and a lot of effort!! Even Euclid calculated that it would be a total disaster and waste of time. (It was neat to see the KO automated however.) Probably not a configuration I'll be adding to my rig soon. It might be nice to have some easily automated Matrix-1000 filters however...
Instantly regretted selling my MTX1000 (and there's a reason I put it after the end credits;)
I wonder would it be possible to make one of these for the Reface CS? I love mine to bits but I wonder if it's possible to use loopback to give it velocity sensitivity(the keyboard outputs velocity, so you'd just need to map it to volume, maybe cutoff)
It works for the Volca FM. Never tried it with the Reface
Shoutout to Gearfacts for figuring the Kaossilator out with the RK002 paving the way
True that! Found that vid after completing the episode, great channel!
Gotten one for having velocity on the volca FM - but now there is that 3rd party OS for the FM and the RK002 can be repurposed. Greek philosopher sequencer sounds like a good idea. :) Oh - I think one can also play several mono synths polyphonically - like three monologues or so.
Yeah, many generic patches that seem useful
the pajen firmware on the volca sample is awesome. he did one for the volca fm too.
Agreed! Big fan!
Yes! I just got a Volca Sample recently and updated it with Pajen b7, but haven't gotten into it yet. It's like having a stack of Akai S-612s in my pocket - but better! I'm still organizing my samples while I learn the Drum. It amazes me that nobody I've bought used gear from has updated their firmware.
I have one of these and it's amazing what it can do with such a tiny chip in the plug. The velocity for Volca FM was worth it for me, it turns it into a completely different instrument. It was really cheap of Korg to never include that functionality.
True that! I've yet to try so many of the firmwares
I used to do stuff like this with Logic's environment layer, I made my Electribe ES1 respond to midi notes by scaling the pitch knob, and did the matrix 1000 filter control thing. I suppose there are a lot of computer environments where you could do this kind of thing, like PureData or Max..
but damn this looks way easier.
Did a lot of midi translation stuff with software but it's always a crutch. Really dig the cable
@@AudioPilz Good to hear. Love that you don't have to get into Arduino programming too. Congrats on the tech personality award too btw
I was using Logic in the v4-6 days, and found its Environment quite under-rated. Nowaways Max would be my first choice. Even if I was making this as hardware I'd prototype it in Max first.
@@voltijuice8576 to be fair, Max was a mess in that era.. any decent action took way too many steps and filled many screens of space, plus Logic wasn't trying to take them head on, they just had some nifty features built in. And yes that's when I used it most, I still have all my dongles to prove it!
I used the rk002 for sequencing my kaossilator pro for a while with a zaquencer. Better gear+better gear = greater gears
Nice technique!
This way the velocity mapped on the Y axis could be automated with the zaquencer's midi LFO
@@EmergingPatterns - You live up to your name!
Crazy Guy! ♥️
Ain't we all a little crazy ;)
Oh wow I thought this cable was purpose built for volca sample only. Did I miss the memo? I was going to get one until Pajen came out. If I can use it with other stuffs too imma get one. "volca FM velocity fix"? Holy crap!
So many great features!
Haha you stirred up that hive of rabid Electron fans!
Now i have to read "The Euclidian algorithm generates traditional musical rhythms" by G. Toussaint, thanks to alerting me to it. The extended version is particularly good. And to smart MIDI cables!
Great paper! I know, there was some irritation but only in that one FB group (or I just didn't get it;)
🤔
Am I understanding it correctly that the Digitakt's Euclidian parameters introduce an element of scalable randomness into the patterns? And this scalability of randomness in on a per sound basis? (Not Global) Does the elektron digitone offer this as well? Thank you for the video
Thanks! Quite to the contrary, it's all about reproducible equal distribution of events (as far as I have understood it)
Is it possible to record the sequence created by the euclidean sequencer into digitakt so you could then free up the midi ports for other duties afterwards, or is the only option to keep the sequencer running?
Thanks for this video btw, I am likely getting one of these now just for that sequencer
Thank you!!!
I used my RK-002 recently to let me change MIDI channels on my reface CS via program change messages. Otherwise, you have to power cycle the synth and hold down a certain key. Yikes, Yamaha!
Any of the reface series would make for a good episode of Bad Gear. I love these cheap and cheerful keyboards, but they have a number of annoying flaws (midi dongle, weird phrase looper, inscrutable configuration system, mini keys, etc.)
Great input, thanks!
Wondering if this is a good workaround to use the volca drum with a midi sequencer (ex an MPC 1000)? As of right now I don't think there is a way to assign each of the 6 parts to a midi controller, you can only trigger one sound at a time. If anyone has insight on this, would be much appreciated
I would like to know as well...
I use it to play my Model: Cycles (as a sort of multi-timbral FM-synth) from my Digitakt, 1-4 are set so they cycle through them, so I can get 4-note polyphony, and then 5 is for bass sounds, and 6 is for an arp. It's insane how much this cable opened up what I could do with the Cycles! Now I'm going to try some Euclidean rhythms, great tip!
Euclid stuff is great! Mindblowing how easy it is to use
Blasphemy! The whole point of a Kaoss Pro is to mash your finger around on the screen getting all sorts of creative goodness. 😎
Controlling it by midi is like plugging a midi cable into your bass guitar and getting your Digitakt to play bass notes... Eewww. 😳
Agreed, it's a bit unromantic;)
But still it's an unmodified Kaossilator. There are people who are changing more than 50% of the hardware in an old synth and still claiming they have an original Moog, Arp, or whatever. In my eyes they used to have a classic but now they just have a...... well, mongrel.
thanks
No, thank you;)
Nice! Can you show us how that other thing RK gave you makes gear better? I need more midi tricks!
Thanks! I still haven't found the time to try it ;)
wow! thank you for this idea, how to use the chaossilator as a normal synth!!!
Yeah, that sold it for me. Thanks for watching!
"Better Gear"??? This direction is like the ultimate redemption for having gear featured on so many of your episodes! (quickly deletes all my Reverb listings just in case)
Quite a few Better Gear episodes out there!
Do you need this cable to use the Kaossilator pro plus with a controller too or does the pro plus work better with controllers than the pro?
AFAIK it's the same thing (only minor updates in the plus)
I got to ask. How did you setup that silver oxygen midi keyboard to play midi into external gear without using it with a daw. I tried several times with a volca bass and it never worked. Do you need to set the midi channel first to acquire midi from other devices?
There's a shortcut for that (advanced - midi out, methinks...)
Hey cool... Thank you... Got my Special Cable for my Kaossilator... Now i can play my Kaossilator like Mozart haha... How about a video about Yamaha QY 20... Or Casio Sk-1? Cheers from 🇨🇦
Great ideas, both on my list. Thanks!
Any suggestions for midi interfaces that are compatible for programming RK002?
Gonna buy my first one an wanna make sure I’ll be able to program the cable. With my luck I’ll choose one that one program the cable! :/
Got an old MOTU here but there are a few suggestions on their homepage
I feel special
You are!
I almost bought the kaossolator recently. But I got the mini instead. IDK maybe later.. it looks like it's going to hurt my brain yet might be worth it with all that midi info you dished out.
It's actually rather easy. RetroKits did most of the thinking for us
@@AudioPilz it took a day or two of tinkering around with manuals to stop all my midi equipment from glitching out.
Have been wanting that cable for my Volca Sample for years. Maybe soon?
Highly recommended!
I would love to use this to figure out a way to play the Akai s612/AX60 Sampler In combo through midi. It cycles through 6 channels
Haven't tried that but it sounds interesting
I'm trying to trigger my Kaossilator with an Arturia Keystep, and it seems the RK002 will be necessary to do this. If I'm understanding this correctly, I need an audio interface to power the RK002. I'm trying to go for a dawless set up but I'm still figuring out the technicalities and want to make sure I'm on the right track before purchasing something.
Nope, RK-002 runs on midi power but you'll need a midi interface to upload the app in question
Hey Gerrit ...look what the AudioPilz did for you .....
Gerrit is such a great guy!
@@AudioPilz Refused to Best Offer for rk006 on ebay, so I used arduino instead )
I want these for my Digitone! Does the version for the Digitakt work?
There's a generic firmware for polyphony and Euclid but you have to be careful not to generate midi loops
Sorry to be the "ask a question in the comments" guy, but does anyone know if you can use the rk002 to make the novation circuit rhythm polyphonic? I know there are ways to make your own firmware, but I have no idea where to even start with that. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Love bad gear and better gear by the way! Keep it up! 👋
I have yet to try the newer Circuits - interesting...
I’m still confused about playing td3 cassette tapes on technics1200 with a credit card bar code .. can you fill me in a out the way it works / also the the Raleigh grifter .,gear sync
I'm confused too;)
Does the RK002 allow poliphony sounds vía MiDi from keyboard to Kaossilator?
I've yet to try that
Hi Florian, i'm trying to find a way to power on a Korg NTS-1 with the last setting that i used when turning it off. For now, i stumbled upon with the rk-002, may be can do that?
Good question, I'd like to know too!
@@AudioPilz I asked to somebody if the retrokits rk002 can save presets, but it seems that doesn't save customs oscillators settings, may be it has a solution. Still i'm interested to know if it can save custom effects presets
So if I want the digitakt to control the KP, I need to buy the smart cable that's preloaded with the firmware for the KP? And if so it will work out the box?
You can order it preloaded but changing firmware is very easy
@@AudioPilz thanks, but that didn't really answer my question, if I was to buy it for the digitakt to control the KP, do I purchase it preloaded with the software for the KP, and will it work out the box?