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KO II

Chapter 9

Sampling & chopping

Record from the mic, line in, USB or yourself — then chop it up.

0/9
In this chapter · 9
  1. 9.1Sampling basics
  2. 9.2Choosing an input, level and threshold
  3. 9.3Hands-free sampling
  4. 9.4Resampling
  5. 9.5Resampling a chord
  6. 9.6Choosing where a sample is stored
  7. 9.7Sample rate and length
  8. 9.8Chopping samples
  9. 9.9USB audio
9.1BasicsTE guide §10.1

Sampling basics

Sampling on the K.O. II takes one key and one pad. In SAMPLE mode every pad of the current group blinks, ready to record: hold one down to record into it, and let go to stop. The new sample is stored in the library straight away.

  1. Press the group key you want to sample into, A–D.
  2. Press SAMPLE. The pads blink.
  3. Hold a pad and make the sound. Recording stops when you let go.
  4. The pad stops blinking and stays lit. Press it to hear the sample.
  5. Record into more pads the same way, then press MAIN to leave.

Key combinations

SAMPLE
Enters SAMPLE mode; the pads blink to show they can record.
Hold PAD
Records into that pad for as long as it is held.SAMPLE mode
SAMPLE
Lets you retake the sample if it didn’t come out right.After recording
MAIN
Leaves SAMPLE mode.SAMPLE mode

From the community

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9.2BasicsTE guide §10.1

Choosing an input, level and threshold

In SAMPLE mode, − and + choose where the sound comes from, X sets the input level and Y sets a threshold so recording waits until the sound gets loud enough — no more trimming silence off the start.

Sources

SourceDisplayNotes
Built-in mic—In the speaker grille.
Line in, monoinBoth input channels summed to mono.
Line in, stereoinThe full stereo input.
Resample, monorspThe K.O. II’s own output — Resampling.
Resample, stereorspAs above, in stereo.
Line in leftL.INLeft channel only, as mono.
Line in rightR.INRight channel only, as mono.
USB, monousbAudio from a computer or phone — USB audio.
USB, stereousbAs above, in stereo.
SAMPLE · SamplePress SAMPLE.

LEVELInput level

How loud the incoming sound is recorded.

Knob X

9.3BasicsOS 2.0+TE guide §10.1, OS 2.0 notes

Hands-free sampling

Holding a pad is awkward when you need both hands for a guitar or a keyboard. Hands-free sampling holds the pad for you: start it with SHIFT and a pad, play, then stop it with SAMPLE.

Key combinations

SHIFT + PAD
Starts hands-free recording into that pad.SAMPLE mode
SAMPLE
Stops hands-free recording.While recording
Hold FX
Lets you tweak the effect’s X and Y while recording (OS 2.5).Hands-free resampling
  • Set the threshold first (Choosing an input, level and threshold) so recording starts when you do, not when you press the keys.
  • Recording stops by itself at the maximum sample length.
  • Choose an empty pad: since OS 2.0.1 hands-free sampling isn’t allowed on a pad that already has a recording.
  • After starting, you can switch to another group to play its sounds into the recording.

From the community

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TE’s own four-minute tour of OS 2.0: resampling a chord, hands-free sampling, song mode and sidechain, each shown on the device.

9.4IntermediateOS 2.0+TE guide §10.1, OS 2.0 notes

Resampling

Resampling records what the K.O. II is playing back into a new sample. Bounce a finished beat to one pad, print effects and punch-in FX, combine several samples into one, or stretch a whole section — and free up voices and groups as you go.

Resample a pattern

  1. Press SAMPLE, then + until the display shows rsp.
  2. Hold SHIFT and press an empty pad to arm hands-free sampling.
  3. Optionally press − or + to choose how many bars to record.
  4. Press PLAY. The K.O. II records the current pattern (or the chosen number of bars) and stops by itself.

Key combinations

SHIFT + PAD, then PLAY
Records the length of the current pattern into that pad.SAMPLE mode, resample source
− / +
Sets how many bars to record once PLAY is pressed.Hands-free sampling armed

From the community

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Short demo of printing punch-in FX into a new sample via OS 2.0 resampling, with notes on the time limit.

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Ten workflow tips for the EP series, such as quick FX switching, scene-building and using resampling to beat voice stealing.

9.5IntermediateTE guide §12.10

Resampling a chord

One pad, one chord: resample a chord from KEYS mode and you can trigger the whole thing from a single pad, chop it, or play it chromatically.

  1. Press SOUND, press a pad and choose a sound from the library.
  2. Press MAIN, press the pad, then KEYS.
  3. Press SAMPLE, then + to choose resampling.
  4. Press the group key of the group you want the new sample in.
  5. Press SHIFT + an empty pad to start hands-free sampling.
  6. Go back to the group with your sound and play the chord on the pads.
  7. Press SAMPLE to stop. The chord is now a sample on the other group’s pad.

From the community

9.6AdvancedTE guide §10.1

Choosing where a sample is stored

New samples go into the next free slot. If you keep a tidy library — say, your own acid lines in the 300s — you can choose the slot before you record.

  1. Hold SOUND and type the slot number on the pads (for example 3, 0, 3).
  2. Press ENTER.
  3. Press SAMPLE and record as usual. The sample lands in that slot.
9.7IntermediateOS 2.5+TE guide OS 2.5 notes, §14

Sample rate and length

Lower recording rates use less memory and add character — the lowest is properly crunchy. The setting lives in the system settings and applies to new recordings.

  1. Press SHIFT + ERASE to open the system settings.
  2. Press + until you reach smp, then ENTER.
  3. The display shows rec. Press ENTER again.
  4. Use − and + to choose lo, mid or hi, then press ENTER. Or type the code directly.
CodeSettingRate
500lo26.25 kHz — very lo-fi
501mid32 kHz — some character
502hi (default)46.875 kHz — the K.O. II’s standard quality

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9.8IntermediateOS 2.5+TE guide §10.3, OS 2.5 notes

Chopping samples

Chopping cuts a sample — a drum break, a chord progression, a vocal — into slices spread across the pads, so you can replay them in a new order. Auto-chop finds the slices for you; live chop lets you tap them in by ear.

Auto-chop

  1. Press the pad with the sample you want to chop.
  2. Press SHIFT + SAMPLE to enter CHOP.
  3. Press the group key the slices should go to. That group’s pad assignments are replaced.
  4. Use − and + to choose the number of slices. They fill the pads from bottom left to top right.
  5. To change the method, hold the same group key and use − and + to pick equal length (EQU) or attack mode, then let go and set the slice count.
  6. Press MAIN when you are done.

Auto-chop methods

Beat tracking
The K.O. II detects the slice points from the beats in the sample.
Equal length (EQU)
Perfectly even slices — best for loops with exact timing (OS 2.5).
Attack
Slices at the loudest hits — best for percussive material.

Live chop

  1. In CHOP, start the sample playing.
  2. Press pads as it plays — each press marks a slice, and the gap until the next press sets its length.
  3. To fine-tune a slice, select its pad and turn X for the start and Y for the end. Hold SHIFT for finer steps.
CHOP · ChopPress SHIFT + SAMPLE, then a slice’s pad.

INSlice start

Where the selected slice starts. Hold SHIFT for finer steps.

Knob X

Key combinations

SHIFT + SAMPLE
Enters CHOP for the selected pad’s sample.
A–D
Chooses the group the slices go to and auto-chops into it.CHOP
Hold A–D + − / +
Switches between the auto-chop methods.CHOP
− / +
Sets the number of slices.CHOP

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Part 4: recording samples and chopping them across pads.

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9.9IntermediateOS 2.5+TE guide §12.11, OS 2.5 notes

USB audio

One USB-C cable now carries stereo audio both ways. Play audio from a computer or phone into the K.O. II to sample it or run it through the effects, and record the K.O. II’s output straight into a DAW — no headphone jack needed.

Sample from a computer

  1. Connect the K.O. II to a class-compliant USB audio host (a computer or phone) with a USB-C cable.
  2. On the computer, choose the K.O. II as the audio output device.
  3. Press SAMPLE, then + until the source is usb.
  4. Hold a pad to sample what the computer is playing.

To record the K.O. II, select it as the input device in your DAW or recording app.

USB input mode (system settings)

CodeMode
510 (default)USB audio goes to the sampler only.
511Sampler plus live monitoring — you hear the USB audio through the K.O. II.

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