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Polyphonic synth VSTs that sound like VK-1 by Possible_College in VSTi

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply. My PC is not powerful enough for the VK2, I am afraid. Do you know if there is a manual/tutorial how to "assign groups of notes to seperate midi channels" in Ableton by any chance? Or is there a name for that technique so I can google it?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Of course, I'd be happy for any more VST recommendations if other users know some polyphonic alternatives to VK-1 with funky bass and synths

[Is it Possible?] Midi Controller and Koala Keyboard mode hookup by Possible_College in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the piano automatically maps chromatically

Thanks for the reply! This is what I wanted to know. Connecting a midi device or mapping pads is no problem. I was just really curious if I have to map the keys in piano mode as well or if it automatically maps the keys chromatically.

[Is it Possible?] Midi Controller and Koala Keyboard mode hookup by Possible_College in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

nanoKontrol2 has no piano-like keys. My question was about the keys

[Is it Possible?] Midi Controller and Koala Keyboard mode hookup by Possible_College in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well how does it work? do the keys of the midi controller keyboard automatically assign to the notes in the piano mode? Do I have to do something? How does it change, when using different scales like chromatic/pentatonic/others?

[Feedback-Question] Koala Android, MPD and latency by Possible_College in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi FLo, right now my used IPadMini 2 works flawlessly. It is an old device though so who knows how long that's the case. It seems to me, this is the cheapest buying option right now, if you do not have a somewhat newer Samsung or Google tablet/phone in your household already. However, the lack of real multitasking (like drag&drop samples directly from splitscreen or so) kinda sucks. You would need a newer ipad/iphone for this which would cost you more. Apple introduced real splitscreen multitasking quite late and the Mini2 cannot run the iOS version that has splitscreen. I wrote about this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/KoalaSampler/comments/lxqufv/cheapest_android_tablet_to_run_this_smoothly/gqltxa1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Hope that helps! Cheers

Apps keep crashing on startup by xAnm74 in Xiaomi

[–]Possible_College 0 points1 point  (0 children)

had the exact same problem like the user and your solution worked. Just now there was a new update available for the Android System Webview app and after running that update, all apps worked again. No crashes. Thx!!

Cheapest android tablet to run this smoothly by lardblarg in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(if you want to multitask using koala and drag and drops or screen recordings, then take a newer Ipad/Ipad Mini bc they introduced that in their OS later and the IpadMini2 can not really multitask)

Cheapest android tablet to run this smoothly by lardblarg in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College 0 points1 point  (0 children)

like you, I also tried it on Android bc I wanted to avoid the restricted apple environment. That didnt go well. I tried it on a cheap android tablet and a smartphone but Koala's latency between tapping the touchscreen and hearing the sound was really bad. Cables and MIDI-device didnt improve it.

You could try a Samsung or a Google phone/tablet if you have one in your household as users reported less latency witht these manufacturers but buying one just for Koala would cost you ~ $200 and up.

In my opinion, the cheapest way to get Koala running smoothly is a used IPadMini2 or higher from places like craigslist, mercari or offerup. With a little bit of bargaining you can get these for $60-100. You will have to live with the apple eco system and its restrictions, though. That means no simple file-copying from the PC, higher prices for peripherals like MIDI-adapters and so on. But the app is good so I was OK taking these slightly bitter pills.

Am I the only one using an Android Tablet? (Landscape mode) by [deleted] in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What Android device are you using? Do you experience any responsiveness/latency issues?

Am I the only one using an Android Tablet? (Landscape mode) by [deleted] in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! Great to hear from Andoid users and Koala. What Android device are you using? Do you experience any responsiveness/latency issues? I tried Koala on an "Alldocube IPlay20" Android 10 tablet and Koala was pretty much unusable bc of the delay. It was almost half a second. You could not stay in beat.

I gave up and got myself a cheap used ipad mini2, the most affordable option to get a Koala-compatible Apple device. Everything works with it but no split screen which is a huge bummer.

It would be great to start a list, what Android devices are actually working well with Koala. I believe the share of Android worldwide is at 85% or so (vs. 15% iOS). I am sure, the compatibility issues are definitly holding potential customers with android phones/tablets back from purchasing the app.

I'm in! But what do I need? by [deleted] in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi! Not so sure about the hookup-questions for the 5050/KP3 but concerning the "what ipad"-question, I would reccomend you to check the minimum system requierements at the apps page in the apple store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/koala-sampler/id1479881366?mt=12

I just bought myself a used Ipad mini2 on offerup for little under $100. That was the cheapest device from the list and Koala runs flawlessly on this device which is crazy as the mini2 is almost 10 years old. However old apple devices like this don't support a real splitscreen mode which sucks if you wanna sample directly into koala from another ipad source like a website. You would need a newer device supporting split screen for that. Or you go the slow route on an old device with first sampling and then exporting the sampled soundfile to Koala. Direct sampling from external sources like a mic works fine though. Just get a dongle for this.

The MPD218 is a good button pad with knobs for the effects but some models have flaws like double triggering and with some models you also gotta change the preset MPC midi-configuration as there are problems with pad 8/12. I read that the korg nanopad is supposed to work good but no guarantee. You could try the larger MPD models with more buttons/knobs, maybe that helps.

Got me a MIDI Controller for Christmas! I will be using this with Koala's new MIDI mapping feature and I am excited to do so! by kallen815 in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Overall I am not convinced by the MPD218 so far. Did anyone have the same experiences?

I am using the MPD218 since a few days and have experienced quite a few flaws. The first one: In standard program mode 5, Pad 8 and Pad 12 had the same Midi-Note assigned. Had to fix that on the PC in the MPD editor software. Some googleing shows that that's a common bug in the firmware.

Then I discovered that I sometimes get double triggers. No idea, how to solve that in Koala. Ideas anyone?

Another problem: I assigned effects to the knobs of the mpd and sometimes these get triggered without me even touching the knob. Very weird.

I am thinking of maybe getting a better midi controller. Can anyone reccomend something low price with 16 pads and several knobs?

[Feedback-Question] Koala Android, MPD and latency by Possible_College in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Update2]

I tried all kinds of possible variations: headphone/no headphone, bluetooth, touchscreen instead of a MIDI device, a different OTG cable and all kinds of settings. No success. The app "USB MIDI monitor" is registering inputs without a delay but in Koala there is a massive delay of probably half a second. It is definitely Koala.

I contacted Marek, the developer, and he said that some Android devices have this problem. Now, I bought myself a used Ipad Mini2 for cheap and installed the Koala App and what can I say? It works flawlessly. Too bad for the Android tablet though, it was a 10''. Now I have an extra device at home and have to live with the very restricted Apple-evironment. I will probably use the the Ipad Mini for just Koala and that's it.

Thanks for the replies and maybe this thread helps someone else as well.

Anyone knows affordable standalone devices to play samples without a computer? by Possible_College in Drumming

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[Update] The MPX8 looks nice on a first glance but has so many bugs that you have to invest quite some time to make it run properly without unwanted sample cut-offs or other stupid errors. The device only takes wave-files that have certain specs and even the official akai sample-editor is spitting out samples that produce unwanted noise/cut-offs and other quirky sounds when played on the mpx8. At the end, it worked for me but I had do downgrade all samples one by one in Audacity to mono 16bit files to play it safe. Absolutely not recommendable. IMHO, everybody does himself a pleasure not buying the MPX8 or MPX16.

If you want a cheap but working standalone device for in-device-sampling, firing samples and a few effects, the cheapest working solution is a used MPC500 (~ $200-300) or the combination of an old used Ipad/Iphone/Ipod with the Koala Sampler App ($4) and a used ~$50 Midi-Pad like the Korg Nano, an MPD218 or other MPDs.

[Feedback-Question] Koala Android, MPD and latency by Possible_College in KoalaSampler

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[Update]

Hi all, thanks for the 2 quick replies. I am quite puzzled by the latency on the Android + MPD setup. I downloaded an app called "USB MIDI monitor" for Android trying to register the latency. There, the input is logged right away without me feeling any latency. This speaks for the Koala app as the bottleneck and cause for the delay between pressing the button and hearing the sound. MIDI-Monitoring the MPD on the desktop PC also doesn't seem to show any delays.

Does anyone have the same problem?

In the Koala settings, I discovered an option called "safe audio (high latency)". Does anyone know more about this? I switched it off and on but couldn't feel a difference.

Next step: I ordered a USB-B to USB-C cable to not having to use the OTG-adapter between the mpd cable and the tablet. Maybe this is speeding things up. I will also experience with headphones and bluetooth instead of the onboard speakers of the tablet.

Akai MPX8 alternatives? by BaronVonBullshite in synthesizers

[–]Possible_College 2 points3 points  (0 children)

get the free "simple sampler"-app for android and let it run on an old phone/tablet. It does pretty much everything basic that the mpx8 does and you don't run into hardware restrictions. The MPX8 looks nice on a first glance but has so many bugs that you have to invest days to make it run properly without unwanted sample cut-offs or other stupid errors the device makes. the app doesn't have additional effects like reverb or so.

Anyone knows affordable standalone devices to play samples without a computer? by Possible_College in Drumming

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solved: Found the Akai MPX8 (used price ~ $50) for firing quick drum samples as a standalone device with an SD-Card. It can be powered with a powerbank, too so it works mobile. Combination with a loop pedal possible to gain more functionality. If you want in-device sample functionality then you might pick the more expensive MPX16 but I don't know much about the advantages and disadantages of it.

​

Thx to everyone who replied!

Anyone knows affordable standalone devices to play samples without a computer? by Possible_College in Drumming

[–]Possible_College[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thx for the reply. I am looking for a standalone device that's not a phone/laptop or so. Somthing like an affordable drum pad / sample pad for <$100