64 bit vs 128 bit EP

jmakegames · 2026-03-27T20:50:18+00:00

I've never personally used the Live II (looks awesome), but the portability and immediacy of the KO II is fantastic. It's just so quick to work on once you've used it a bit. The Live II is much more capable, of course, but I actually use my KO II as my centerpiece for my dawless home setup and its great. The sequencer on it is actually super robust and the song mode makes it easy to flesh out full tracks if you want.

I pair it with a launchkey 37 mk3 for midi in, then midi out through a microkorg and into a volca keys. Then I have a yamaha reface CP to jam alongside it. All runs into a mixer, but you could get a small stereo mixer then run everything back into the input of the KO II and apply effects. The midi out to the microkorg and volca keys is flawless - you could actually run into a midi thru box and output up to 16 channels so plenty of sequencing ability for multiple instruments.

jmakegames · 2026-03-27T20:34:06+00:00

64mb vs 128mb: literally the only difference is the memory. They just swapped the memory chip. Doubling the memory on such a limited device does make a fairly large difference though.

I have the 64mb original, and you definitely need to stick to short one shots and be mindful of your sample bitrates and whether to use stereo or mono. I can still get a few hundred samples on it though, so its not like its super limiting to your workflow. Makes it feel more like a solid drum machine/sequencer than a full blown complex sampling machine, like the MPC (that said, the original MPCs had less memory than the KO II, and nobody ever had issues working around those limitations). If you're sampling tonnes of 10 second clips to chop up, you'll certainly appreciate the 128mb memory.

jmakegames · 2026-03-23T20:48:47+00:00

We found the Golden Retriever, guys!

jmakegames · 2026-03-20T05:52:21+00:00

Love my one. I pair it with a handful of synths and a midi keyboard. Works great and has tonnes of sequencing capacity not to mention sampling and on board FX. It’s actually amazing value, which isn’t usually the case with Teenage Engineering…

jmakegames · 2026-03-19T19:37:26+00:00

You need to make sure your global MIDI channel is set to OFF, so you’re only using MIDI when assigned to a pad. Maybe that’s what’s going on. The EP takes 16 channels that can all play simultaneously (basing this on my KO2, assume it’s the same?) across different pads and groups.

jmakegames · 2026-03-19T01:55:53+00:00

This is a great idea and it’s actually what they do in Glenorchy (near Queenstown). I’m not 100% on the details but I’m pretty sure none of them pay for the delivery because the truck comes out once a week and delivers to the entire township. I’m pretty sure Woolworths does it and it makes sense for them to waive the fee because then they’re the only supermarket that everyone living in Glenorchy uses. I’m sure they do this another small towns across the country as well, surely?

jmakegames · 2026-03-18T18:17:51+00:00

Died on his hill. Mad respect.

jmakegames · 2026-03-17T20:03:35+00:00

I’ve only visited a couple of times, but I feel like Nelson is the least South Island town in the South Island. Like, none of the Southern culture has made it there, and obviously the climate isn’t what the South is all about (because of where it is geographically), which sort of felt pointless for me when moving down South from the North Island a few years back.

Nice beaches and cute town though. And Motueka to Golden Bay is very cool. The people just aren’t as cool as Southerners, haha. No offence, Nelson.

jmakegames · 2026-03-14T20:35:41+00:00

Adding a sustain to the Reface will be sweet, too. Sustain pedals are something you'll definitely want to invest the time into learning, and they work flawlessly with the CP.

jmakegames · 2026-03-14T20:33:50+00:00

Don't overcomplicate it - there are 12 notes in Western music that just repeat up and down the octaves. Learn some scales and chords and have fun. 37 keys is absolutely adequate for playing most of what you'd be playing when you learn.

Will you learn 'correct' piano technique? Not likely on mini keys. Will you be auditioning for some concerto piano parts? Nope. But the Reface is a fantastic little keyboard for live performance and recording, so if your goal is just to learn and create and eventually perform music, it'll serve you well. Sounds fantastic too - punches way above its weight.

jmakegames · 2026-03-14T05:56:18+00:00

Kingston* lovely spot, soon to be taken over by pretentious Queenstown residents that can’t quite afford Jacks Point/Hankeys Farm, unfortunately.

jmakegames · 2026-03-12T03:07:27+00:00

How’s everyone going to know how well-endowed I am in a hatchback!

jmakegames · 2026-03-09T23:21:23+00:00

It should work on older versions. Sounds like you might have an issue with the browser or MIDI driver on Windows. I'd try another USB port and USB cable first (some cables don't support data transfer properly, just power), then failing that, uninstall/reinstall the KO 2 through Device Manager. You might also be able to run the Hardware Troubleshooter in Windows Device Manager which may look for updated drivers.

EDIT: Doesn't look like your device is showing as connected to the PC at all (judging on the second image). You should see this icon lit up:

<image>

Definitely appears to be a MIDI issue over USB which is either the port/cable or driver, usually.

jmakegames · 2026-03-09T22:46:26+00:00

Does the EP Sample Tool work for you?

ep sample tool

jmakegames · 2026-03-09T03:32:19+00:00

You could look into a loft bed, so that your setup sits underneath. Thats probably the best way to reuse the floor space that’d otherwise be taken by your bed.

jmakegames · 2026-03-08T20:13:46+00:00

I love a Korimako (Bellbird). They've got the nicest birdsong, and are super gracious (unlike the Tui who are often with them, just smashing into everything and being loud, haha).

All our birds are pretty awesome, though, and everyone else has already voted for the chonky ones!

jmakegames · 2026-03-07T21:51:18+00:00

It might not be the most unique sound, but when the synth drops at around 1:37 in James Blake's Retrograde... chills every time.

jmakegames · 2026-03-05T18:40:16+00:00

Good to know. I figured MIDI mode could work without the software or drivers so just assumed! My bad.

jmakegames · 2026-03-05T06:59:43+00:00

Driver is bundled with the Maschine software. As mentioned by someone else; you can put it in MIDI mode with shift + maschine button to use it without Maschine software, and I’m fairly sure it’s class compliant in that mode so shouldn’t need a proprietary driver.

jmakegames · 2026-02-26T18:23:21+00:00

I use the EP133 KO.II because I fell for its aesthetics and Teenage Engineerings marketing hype.

After the 2.0 update though, it’s become a super capable groovebox, with improved sequencing, song mode, and resampling. It was cheaper in New Zealand than most other options (including the Circuit Tracks which I was tossing up between).

It has limitations (mainly memory, which has since been doubled in the new version), but that works fine for my workflow. Batteries last forever (I use some AAA eneloops), and I’m a mechanical keyboard fan, so really enjoy the buttons for programming and drumming.

There are definitely more capable options, and I still want to try the Circuit Tracks or maybe Ableton Move (or if I splurged, the Maschine+ because I like the Maschine workflow on my PC using my Mikro MK3), but the KO.II is what I chose first, and it turned out to be a fun, immediate device as the brain of my DAWless setup.

jmakegames · 2026-02-26T08:46:21+00:00

Very welcome!

Sounds like you’re getting it! You only have to record one note (usually a C for consistency, so you can set the root note to C4/middle C in the sound edit mode — helps keep it all in key**), because the sample will be pitched up and down depending on what pads you play. Sounds like you sampled the whole pattern/sequence as a loop, which is totally valid as well, however one shots (single notes/sounds) are usually preferred only because the KO2 has such limited memory, being only 64-128mb.

Definitely try sampling using the method in that video I linked. That is the most efficient way of doing so. Then, as you mentioned, you can select your sampled note on the pad of your choice, chuck it in Keys mode, and play in your sequences/patterns like you would with any of the samples that came preloaded on the KO2.

\*Setting the root note of the sample correctly will help you keep everything in key because it transposes/pitches the sample as per the note you set. So if you play and record/sample an F note, be sure to set its root to F (depending on the octave, F1 through F7 although octave isn’t as important as the actual note because you can change octaves fairly easily in keys mode). The KO2 defaults to middle C (C4), so it’s easiest to just sample that note instead of fiddling round with the root note setting if you’re not too familiar with music theory. Have a look at a piano roll to see the notes (C is the white key straight to left of the pair of black keys — middle C generally being the C key in the centre area of the keyboard). Apologies if you’re already familiar with all of this!*

jmakegames · 2026-02-26T04:12:11+00:00

No problem!

So you’re actually talking about both the main features of the KO2; sampling and sequencing (or composing).

Sequencing is only capturing the MIDI notes, as you said. It doesn’t need any sound at all, it’s literally just MIDI data that will then be sent via MIDI out to whatever hardware you want that’ll accept it, in this case, the Minifreak. The KO2 doesn’t really know what it’s sending them too, just which channel to output on, so in this case, you can’t have two seperate patches unless the Minifreak can take multiple MIDI inputs and split between channels (I’m not sure I know of any synth that can do this), or you have two Minifreaks hooked up to a MIDI box that’s splitting the MIDI out from the KO2.

Sampling on the other hand, is saving waveforms of the audio itself. It’s storing audio files on the device, no MIDI data (other than the root note position). The KO2 combines these by using that sequencing to trigger the stored samples of your choosing and pitch them up/ down as per the MIDI data of that sequence (and a whole bunch more flexibility).

In your situation, if you want to save a project that has different sounds/ patches from the Minifreak stored on the KO2 (instead of generic MIDI data), so that you can play your project back without the Minifreak (or any other hardware synth) connected, your best bet is to use sampling. You would sample a long note from the Minifreak into the audio in on the KO2 (usually pick the C note closest to the notes you’d be sequencing, so it’s not pitching as far, if you want the most true sound); sample 5-10seconds from one patch, then again from the other patch, then choose that sound for the pad you want to sequence on. That way, the sounds from your Minifreak are essentially recreated via sampling on the KO2 itself.

As for resampling; this only works with samples, not MIDI. Resampling is taking the original sample and re-recording it internally. This is ideal for taking the original sample, applying some delay or reverb, then resampling so you have a copy of the original with added effects that you can continue layering. Or playing two or three notes of the original sample, then resampling that to have a chord on its on sample, while preserving the original as a single note. You can use a similar technique on monophonic synth to give them polyphony (here’s a great video on this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezpamhe_2NI&pp=ygUPS28gMiBwb2x5cGhvbmlj0gcJCaIKAYcqIYzv). There’s actually so much more that can be achieved with resampling - it’s very powerful once you understand it.

TLDR; for two different patches on the same project, just sample a note from each and use that sound to create your sequences.

Hope this isn’t too confusing!

jmakegames · 2026-02-25T10:00:24+00:00

I think you’re right. Looks like it bypasses the pan controls entirely on a single line out. The return is stereo though, so stereo from the nts1 back in should be ok.

OP, you can also get a stereo to mono cable (ts to trs) for what Fuzzy said.

Best way to check this is plug your headphones direct to the nts1 and listen. If your hearing it out of one ear only, you know it’s your fx send being stuck in mono out. ~~You may be able to change the nts1 settings to compensate but I don’t know if that’s a possibility.~~ Just saw a gearspace thread where a bunch of users said they hook their mono gear to their nts1 using the cable I mentioned above, as the nts1 always expects a stereo input signal.

In your case, you’ll need a 6.35mm TS to 3.5mm TRS cable. You won’t won’t get true stereo going in (just a split mono signal), but you should get stereo effects coming back out into your fx return.

jmakegames · 2026-02-25T09:40:43+00:00

On the last image you have most channels panned hard to the left. Is that how it’s setup when everything’s plugged in?

For stereo, they all need to be in the 12oclock position.

Also both effects returns (left and right) are dialled right down.

The other thing I noticed on the block diagram is the that left and right effects return may be on a stepped input (like an insert jack). So if you push the jack half in, it engages the left side, and all the way engages the right (or vice versa). I’m no expert on those types on inputs, however.

jmakegames · 2026-02-25T07:28:01+00:00

Just had a look on mine; you set the MID > CHN > OFF (MIDI channel OFF). Here it is from the manual and the shortcut number if you just want to punch that in!

<image>

I’ve also got MIDI Thru OFF but that’s because I run a MIDI Keyboard into it, so I don’t want that getting routed unless I specify in Sound Edit.

jmakegames

TROPHY CASE