Korg have announced the launch of a pair of new performance instruments in the form of the MPS‑10, a powerful drum, percussion and sampler pad, and the KAOSS Replay, a self-contained performance tool that combines a sampler with their iconic XY pad-based effects system.
MPS-10
Korg say that the MPS-10 has been designed to cater to the evolving needs of today’s drummers and percussionists. It has been designed by the team behind the WaveDrum and Pearl e/MERGE, and aims to offer a powerful blend of sonic capability and performance control. There are six large drum pads, along with four CC pads that promise to provide precise real-time control over a wide range of instrument parameters, and the device also packs in an intuitive sampler and four-track looper.
There are over 3000 high-quality samples built in, ranging from expressive instrument tones to the essential electronic hits that drive modern drum sounds, and users are able to import their own samples from a USB flash drive and assign them to any pad. It is possible to replace portions of preset kits to create custom soundsets, and a web-based MPS-10 Editor application makes it possible to edit kits from a computer in addition to the device’s onboard capabilities. A Smooth Sound Transition feature ensures seamless transitions between patches by allowing decaying sounds to continue uninterrupted as a new patch is loaded, and a Sound Off button makes it possible to mute the output on demand, if required.
The CC pads are placed along the top edge of the MPS-10, and are said to be capable of detecting the position of a strike with incredible precision. As a result, they offer powerful and detailed control over instrument and effects parameters, making it possible to perform EDM-style drum rolls and transform sounds in real time by manipulating filtering and effects functions.
The unit boasts a selection of built-in effects, with master reverb and filter processors joined by a pair of insert effects and an assignable master effects slot. Usefully, effects can be toggled on or off independently for each pad. The onboard four-track looper makes quick work of creating repeating phrases, and is capable of exporting each track as an audio file.
The majority of the MPS-10’s connectivity is provided on quarter-inch TRS sockets, with a pair of main outputs joined by two sub outputs and dedicated headphone output. There are also line-level and microphone inputs for use with the sampler, and a pair of trigger inputs make it possible to accommodate up to four external triggers to expand the on-board pads. The unit also supports a pair of footswitches and an expression pedal. A MIDI output is provided on a five-pin DIN socket, and connectivity with a computer is taken care of by a USB-B port. The MPS-10 accepts 9V DC power from an external PSU.
KAOSS Replay
Designed for use both on stage an in the studio, the new KAOSS Replay combines a powerful sampling system with the XY pad-based effects originally introduced in Korg’s KAOSS Pad devices. 16 velocity-sensitive pads with eight banks offer access to up to 128 samples, whilst the built-in touch pad offers intuitive hands-on control over a vast collection of 128 effects.
Filters, delays and reverbs are joined by a range of modulation effects, loopers, vocoders and synth-style effects, along with a selection of pitch-based options dedicated to vocal processing. A Pad Motion feature allows users to easily automate their effects, whilst a Touch Hold mode makes it possible to fix them at the pad’s current position, and a FX Release function helps to ensure smooth transitions.
KAOSS Replay is capable of sampling line-level or microphone sources, and is kitted out with a range of features that make it quick and simple to capture incoming audio and assign it to the built-in pads. Once a target pad has been chosen, users can simply set the desired number of measures and record in their desired sound, where it can be instantly played back, or fine-tuned with the unit’s onboard trimming functions. The device can also act as MIDI controller and also boasts an integrated USB audio interface.
Stereo line-level inputs and outputs are provided on RCA connectors (the input can also be switched to Phono mode for connecting turntables) and a 3.5mm mini-jack aux input is also present. A pair of five-pin DIN sockets provide MIDI I/O, and a quarter-inch TRS socket offers footswitch connectivity. A pair of quarter-inch TRS sockets placed on the front panel offer a headphone output, and a microphone input. Power is delivered via USB-C.
Pricing & Availability
The MPS-10 and KAOSS Replay are both priced at £949 including VAT, with shipping dates yet to be confirmed.
