Kaoss Pad V is the first major upgrade to Korg’s touch-based effects in 13 years

The Kaoss Pad has seen galore different iterations, but the mainline effect portion and sampler hasn’t received an update since the motorboat of the KP3+ successful 2013. Korg has yet fixed it the attraction it deserves pinch the merchandise of the Kaoss Pad V. Rather than a melodramatic reimagining of what a Kaoss Pad is, the V takes the halfway thought — an effect portion pinch an X / Y pad for controlling parameters successful a natural, performance-focused way.

The large invention connected the Kaoss Pad V is that it tin admit 2 fingers simultaneously to power 2 chopped sets of parameters, aliases moreover 2 wholly different effects. It besides has a dedicated sound effects motor for vocoding and harmonizing. It tin moreover person vocal input into MIDI for controlling different gear. Imagine being capable to power a drum instrumentality by beatboxing, aliases a synth by humming.

The sampling and looping features person besides been improved. You tin grounds up to 8 bars, overdub, and moreover chop and rearrange your loop. Those looping features are each the much useful since Korg yet added a balanced input truthful you tin seizure cleaner audio from mics, synths, and different instruments. Though, it sticks pinch unbalanced RCA ins and outs connected the back, which are much useful for DJ setups, but little truthful successful a studio.

One point that has not gotten an upgrade, unfortunately, successful 13 years is the price. The KP3+ launched astatine $349.99 successful 2013, which, accounting for inflation, is astir $493 successful 2026 money. But the Korg Kaoss Pad V is for preorder astatine a whoping $649.99.