Korg Kaoss Synth???

I just posted a new track of mine.
What's so special about it is that the melody synth was played on a Korg KP2!
Yes- it was played on a multi effect through (very stubborn) MIDI.
Now in case you don't know, the Kaoss pad features built-in synth sounds that can be played with the pad, but although it's got MIDI In you can't control the pitch through a MIDI keyboard.
Why? Probably because Korg prefer to sell you another synth instead, if they can…

Enter FL Studio which is my main sequencer.
Among the different 'generators' it's got, you can use something called 'fruity keyboard controller' which allows you to use the MIDI keyboard to send continuous MIDI messages.
Now all you have to do is-
• Assign a 'MIDI Out' generator to the Kaoss Pad.
• Assign one knob to controller 12 and configure it to be controlled by the 'fruity keyboard controller' note (this will control the pitch of the Kaoss Pad sounds).
• Assign another knob to controller 13 and configure it to be controlled by the 'fruity keyboard controller' velocity (this will control the volume or filter of the Kaoss Pad sounds, depends on the program you choose).
• Now choose a program on the kaoss pad- 80 for example, and press the 'HOLD' on the Kaoss Pad.
• Now use your MIDI keyboard to play the 'fruity keyboard controller'- you should be able to play the Kaoss with your MIDI keyboard!

Is it worth it?
Well it's not all rosy as it may sound.
First of all you need to tune each key on the 'fruity keyboard controller', as it doesn't divide the keys the right way.
Even after you've tuned it more or less, it will be valid only for the program you were using, as each program has a different pitch range.
However it was an interesting challenge and you can't argue with the results ;)

If you've got a Kaoss Pad, it's worth trying. You can download FL Studio demo here and give it a go.
If you haven't, don't get one a as synth...