Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this quick tutorial, I show how you can control the KAOSS control pad in Korg Multi/Poly Native using an external MIDI controller — even if you don’t own the hardware synth.
This video focuses entirely on the software/editor version of Multi/Poly and explains how the KAOSS pad behaves when controlled via MIDI, including how the physics engine reacts when values are released.
What’s covered in this video:
Using the KAOSS pad in Multi/Poly Native without the hardware
How the X and Y axes are controlled via MIDI
The three key MIDI CCs needed to make it work
Why CC20 acts like “pressing” and “releasing” the pad
How the physics engine kicks in once you release control
Differences between hardware KAOSS control and MIDI control
Tips for mapping CCs on controllers like the KeyStage
Optional CC ranges for velocity, position, and advanced control
Key MIDI CCs explained:
CC18 – KAOSS X position
CC19 – KAOSS Y position
CC20 – Pad press/release (acts like your finger on the pad)
When CC20 is active, you can freely control X and Y. As soon as CC20 is released, the KAOSS physics take over — just like lifting your finger from the hardware pad.
⚠️ While MIDI control is powerful, it’s not a full replacement for the hardware KAOSS pad, which allows expressive gestures like flicks, velocity-based movement, and more organic interaction.
00:00 Introduction
00:10 What this video covers (Multi/Poly Native, not hardware)
00:24 Using the KAOSS pad without the hardware
00:31 MIDI control example with drum pattern
00:41 Controlling KAOSS X and Y via MIDI
00:56 Why MIDI doesn’t trigger KAOSS physics
01:15 How the physics engine behaves in software
01:26 Comparing MIDI control vs hardware KAOSS pad
01:47 Hardware KAOSS pad demo
02:08 Required MIDI CCs explained
02:21 CC20 – Pressing and releasing the KAOSS pad
02:32 CC18 & CC19 – X and Y axis control
02:40 Simple physics example
03:02 KAOSS pad orbit and gravity examples
03:21 Using a pedal or button for CC20
03:35 Why X & Y don’t work without CC20
03:57 Advanced CC ranges (velocity & position)
04:10 Changing CC ranges in settings
04:21 Controller mapping considerations
04:48 Hardware vs MIDI limitations
04:59 Final thoughts
05:02 Outro
This video should help answer a few common questions I’ve been getting about using KAOSS control in Multi/Poly Native.
Thanks for watching — see you in the next video!
In this quick tutorial, I show how you can control the KAOSS control pad in Korg Multi/Poly Native using an external MIDI controller — even if you don’t own the hardware synth.
This video focuses entirely on the software/editor version of Multi/Poly and explains how the KAOSS pad behaves when controlled via MIDI, including how the physics engine reacts when values are released.
What’s covered in this video:
Using the KAOSS pad in Multi/Poly Native without the hardware
How the X and Y axes are controlled via MIDI
The three key MIDI CCs needed to make it work
Why CC20 acts like “pressing” and “releasing” the pad
How the physics engine kicks in once you release control
Differences between hardware KAOSS control and MIDI control
Tips for mapping CCs on controllers like the KeyStage
Optional CC ranges for velocity, position, and advanced control
Key MIDI CCs explained:
CC18 – KAOSS X position
CC19 – KAOSS Y position
CC20 – Pad press/release (acts like your finger on the pad)
When CC20 is active, you can freely control X and Y. As soon as CC20 is released, the KAOSS physics take over — just like lifting your finger from the hardware pad.
⚠️ While MIDI control is powerful, it’s not a full replacement for the hardware KAOSS pad, which allows expressive gestures like flicks, velocity-based movement, and more organic interaction.
00:00 Introduction
00:10 What this video covers (Multi/Poly Native, not hardware)
00:24 Using the KAOSS pad without the hardware
00:31 MIDI control example with drum pattern
00:41 Controlling KAOSS X and Y via MIDI
00:56 Why MIDI doesn’t trigger KAOSS physics
01:15 How the physics engine behaves in software
01:26 Comparing MIDI control vs hardware KAOSS pad
01:47 Hardware KAOSS pad demo
02:08 Required MIDI CCs explained
02:21 CC20 – Pressing and releasing the KAOSS pad
02:32 CC18 & CC19 – X and Y axis control
02:40 Simple physics example
03:02 KAOSS pad orbit and gravity examples
03:21 Using a pedal or button for CC20
03:35 Why X & Y don’t work without CC20
03:57 Advanced CC ranges (velocity & position)
04:10 Changing CC ranges in settings
04:21 Controller mapping considerations
04:48 Hardware vs MIDI limitations
04:59 Final thoughts
05:02 Outro
This video should help answer a few common questions I’ve been getting about using KAOSS control in Multi/Poly Native.
Thanks for watching — see you in the next video!
