contributed by: Andre Cato
Manufacturer: Korg

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW!

Kaoss Entrancer – See but don’t hear, hear but don’t look, look but don’t touch, oh bugger it. Touch it!

The Korg Kaoss Pad is an efx unit that has been around for several years now and is designed for DJ’s to manipulate their audio signal. By the use of a touch pad with a Y and X axis for control purposes, the DJ can perform a range of efx in a very free flowing and inventive way.

Well, its time to throw your Kaoss Pads, EFX500’s, or any other audio efx unit you own because the future is here and we’ve got the first look!

The Kaoss Entrancer is an effects unit come sampler that works with both audio and video signals. Ok, so what does this really mean? What it means is that this tool is a one man band and those that choose to develop their skills over this duel format of performance will not only set themselves apart from other DJ’s, but will blow the minds of themselves and their audience.

For years I have been looking for the right way to put on an event that would display and promote to all human senses. I love going to parties and being apart of the atmosphere, but I have always wanted the whole environment to sync together. The Kaoss Entrancer is a miracle box that allows you to input both a video and audio signal that can then be edited and moulded to create a sense of unity throughout the production.

People, this is a brand new toy and over the next two weeks I will be bringing you all up to date with different features we find with this awesome little box.

What I can tell you, is that we tested it last night with a VJ friend of ours called Robin McPherson, who is a highly talented man behind such driving forces in Australia’s underground dance scene such as ‘The House’, ‘BLTC’ and ‘Entrance Digizine’. First impressions of the box before we even turned it on were positive due the sleek look and solid design. The steel casing adds to not only the look but also helps the unit keep the many chips safe inside. Once you turn on the unit, oh, stuff just goes nuts.

The touch screen on the unit lights up and changes colour depending on where you are on the X/Y axis. Ok, so what can we do with it?

Well, by inputting your audio and video signals through the Kaoss Entrancer, you have the ability to control the audio and visuals throughout your room. The unit contains 99 presets that allow a meriod of ways to view and hear your experience. Ok, so that within itself is unbelievable and will change the face of performance as we know it for higher end DJ’s. But you guys know me, there is always a packet or two of steak knives in my back pocket where DJ and Studio gear is concerned… Ok so the Entrancer also has a sampler for Audio and Video, meaning that you can store up to 12 seconds of audio and 6 seconds of video to relay at any time during your set. This as we demonstrated last night over our first 6 hour testing session by using a single short loop of 2 seconds of video with a soundtrack running behind it. Oh my god. Give me one image and one track and I could entertain you all for hours! You see on top of the sampler, and A/V efx this machine also acts as what can only be described as a control platform to blend and create new music, ie a tone/drum generator. I can’t describe this without swearing as it excites me to much at this stage, but seriously there are a number of drum loop patterns laid into the 99 presets as well as a range of mono synth parts. With the X and Y axis, you can control the time placement and quantisation of your beats and tones making this tool also a third deck…

Ok, the full review is coming probably next week, so please feel free to contact me if you would like a demonstration of the Kaoss Entrancer. 12am has the first in the country and are showing it off right now to DJ’s throughout Melbourne. Please call Andre Cato on 95338255 for a look up close.

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW!