Buy 2 Electribes or just one?

thefinesmusic · Post by **thefinesmusic** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 4:31 am

I already own the Electribe ESX-1 and I was thinking of buying the Electribe EMX-1 but I am having second thoughts. Is it worth it to have both machines? Or is one enough?

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:57 am

If you're wanting to supplement the ESX with additional synth capabilities then the EMX is a good choice, especially because it wont be a massive leap in terms of learning curve since you're already familiar with the operation of the ESX in terms of building up patterns, muting, effects etc.

the two together make a good team.

the ESX should be enough on its own depending on what you're trying to do with it but if you're finding the number of parts is limiting you or you're wanting to go more into synthesis with basslines and melodies etc it might be worthwhile getting the EMX or something else along similar lines to supplement the sampling of the ESX.

Olivander12 · Post by **Olivander12** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:57 am

As you may know there are two versions of the EMX out there. Bascially, their only difference is that the older one uses a Smart Media Card for importing/exporting data whereas the latest edition uses SD cards.

Eventhough I own the recent sd card version I would not mind buying the more cheaper old edition. The internal memory is enoigh to store your patterns, and if you want to make a backup the smart media card does the job too.

Wavemaker · Post by **Wavemaker** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:28 pm

ESX and EMX are great together but you get the 100% playing them live. So you can dig your own patterns in the studio and then use them on stage to play live sync to the bpm... it's great! like using two turntables for mix but in much more detail plus making your own tracks!

would you ever buy just one turntable?.... nope!

hazabikit · Post by **hazabikit** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:12 pm

Olivander12 wrote:Eventhough I own the recent sd card version I would not mind buying the more cheaper old edition.

Smart Media cards are getting more expensive and difficult to find... given a choice, I'd go for the latest SD card version.

Olivander12 · Post by **Olivander12** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:22 pm

hazabikit wrote:
Olivander12 wrote:Eventhough I own the recent sd card version I would not mind buying the more cheaper old edition.
Smart Media cards are getting more expensive and difficult to find... given a choice, I'd go for the latest SD card version.

I do not use the card functions at all. The internal memory is totally sufficent. Back ups can be stored on 4mb sm cards which costs 5 bucks, so I do not see the point why one need to buy the sd card version.

robosardine · Post by **robosardine** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:48 pm

Agreed. The chances of filling an EMX with patterns you are totally happy with is slim (256!). you would have to be a genius... or have fairly low standards to do it three or four times over. Save your money and put it towards something else (like effects pedals). You will only need a 64mb SM card at the very most for the EMX... ebay is full of SM cards.

sauce · Post by **sauce** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:43 pm

hazabikit wrote:Smart Media cards are getting more expensive and difficult to find... given a choice, I'd go for the latest SD card version.

Hello.. I have a tip! Many old cameras take the SM cards, but are all-but-worthless as cameras anymore. Check on Ebay for an older model that takes the card.. I have picked up 128 mb Smart Media cards, even recently, for under $10.

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:21 pm

^^^Definitely the best way to go.

As for the original subject, if you've got a budget saved up for gear, it's really something else to run an EMX into the ESX. Be patient and keep your eyes out for a local used one. You'll have so many synth parts that you can keep adding layers and build up a track intuitively while still having room for 1 or 2 melodic tracks' worth of whatever bloopy synth noises you could throw on top....then perform it live! It's great fun, especially with something like a Kaoss Pad on top of everything.

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:48 pm

Totally agree with thehighesttree. Running tribes into each other is great stuff. Granted I don't own the Xs, I have an EA1 and ES1, both mk1s, but its the same premise. I like to run the EA into the ES, then out into my kp3. Then I run something like the Kaossilator 1 or iKaossilator into the EA (or sometimes keys or DS10+). Its basically a nice full setup, works great live, but yet its still manageable.

Bottom line: 2 tribes is the absolute way to go.

FreshHorses · Post by **FreshHorses** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:28 pm

robosardine wrote:Agreed. The chances of filling an EMX with patterns you are totally happy with is slim (256!). you would have to be a genius... or have fairly low standards to do it three or four times over. Save your money and put it towards something else (like effects pedals). You will only need a 64mb SM card at the very most for the EMX... ebay is full of SM cards.

It depends how you use patterns. I have taken to using like 20 or 30 patterns a song, just setting them up in the song playlist one after the other and writting kind of linearly. But even with that I think its impossable to fill up a card. So if you can find a SmartMedia EMX plus card for a super deal, its probably woth it.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:01 pm

20 to 30 patterns per song??! EISH! sometimes I get by with one pattern for a song :p but then again I never use song mode.

I've had the SM- EMX for a couple years I think... don't have an SM card and she's still not full of patterns (but has been sitting gathering dust for a few months due to fried PSU and quickly replaced with SD version)

FreshHorses · Post by **FreshHorses** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:12 am

well, alot of the patterns are very similer. stuff you would normally just mute or unmute I make into a new pattern. I start with a main kind of climax pattern with everything and then add and subtract from that and copy to new slots. but I just started writting that way once I got a card because I felt like I could use as many patterns as I wanted.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:18 am

I see. I'm very hands on with my muting/unmuting. I try to get as much as possible out each pattern. Ordered my PSU so will finally have both EMXs at my disposal so I can build a proper live set. So keen!

18 drum parts and 10 synth parts... Oh the possibilities!

sauce · Post by **sauce** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:28 am

punpkomg wrote:I see. I'm very hands on with my muting/unmuting. I try to get as much as possible out each pattern.

Man, me too. That's the fun of it. Plus, after mangling a pattern beyond all recognition -sometimes I record notes and motion sequences on-the-fly - then all I have to do is hold shift and press pattern, and it all snaps back to it's original state and I can start mangling again.. Dear Lord, I am thankful for this brilliant machine! =)