Korg Kaossilator review

Synthesizers have come a long way since the early days of the Moog, but most have conformed to a similar format: a piano-style keyboard for playing the notes, topped with an array of flashing lights, buttons and dials.

The Korg Kaossilator is a synthesizer with a difference.

Dubbed a “Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer” by its creators, the Kaossilator uses a touchpad instead of a keyboard for tapping out notes, which makes for an incredibly small device.

There’s a huge array of sounds to play with, split into seven categories (lead, acoustic, bass, chord, special effects, drum and pattern), and you can spend hours just tapping away on the pad creating weird and wonderful noises.

This isn’t simply a toy, however. All the sounds, from bass notes to drums, are excellent quality, and there’s a clever recording function that lets you layer sounds and create complex loops for use in mixes or larger compositions.

The only downside to the device is that the only way to get music off it is to record it analogue-style, using the stereo RCA outputs.

Other than that minor criticism, the Korg Kaossilator is an ingenious piece of kit, which is fun to use and has a lot potential for serious use; it’s a Theremin for the modern age.

Author: Jonathan Bray