Tarekith's electribe thoughts thread (& video review)

Ted3000 · Post by **Ted3000** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:18 pm

Tarekith wrote:I think for me it wasn't so much the functionality of the Touch Pad I didn't find useful (it definitely is), it was the physical touchpad itself. It just feels really cheap to me, almost a step down from the EMX strips.

Do you think Korg intentionally made the pad bumpy thinking that people would be able to track it better for accurate note input, as opposed to a 100% smooth featureless slab?

1_inch_punch · Post by **1_inch_punch** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:21 am

While on the touchpad arp -

I am hoping somebody can show me i have gone wrong this time.

I cant find a "HOLD" control on the touchpad - for the KPRO this was a boon to set an arp going and would be where you would be developing the majority of your improvising on this thing...

SMK - you should be right onto this.(?)

[EDIT] - I know one short answer is to record yr arp setting but that's not the same dynamic as anybody having used the KPro will tell you. It's very clunky as you will then have to erase that part whereas the hold button allowed you to be more fluid - set, leave, move it around and so on..

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:29 am

Ted3000 wrote:Do you think Korg intentionally made the pad bumpy thinking that people would be able to track it better for accurate note input, as opposed to a 100% smooth featureless slab?

I have no idea.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:11 am

Overview of some sync tests I did tonight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ0YBj5 ... e=youtu.be

jimmyfontana · Post by **jimmyfontana** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:32 am

Oh, well, that was a bit disappointing with the electribe as master. Would be interesting to see if the issue is with the usb midi master, only gadget, all ipad apps and if din master and analog sync master also display this problem.

Maybe a firmware update can tighten things up.

Re-Member · Post by **Re-Member** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:06 am

I work with Ableton a lot and it's notorious for not syncing well when it's being slaved to external gear. I've tried several different devices in the past and had the same issue, so I can assure you it's not a problem with the Electribe.

The problem (usually known as MIDI jitter) is due to the way the computer has to read the incoming MIDI tempo signal first, then convert it into a BPM within the program. If you watch the tempo in Ableton as it's being slaved, you'll notice it jitters up and down a lot. When the computer is acting as a master device though, it's fine because it generates it's own data and sends it out without having to read any incoming tempo signals in real time.

It varies from computer to computer and DAW to DAW, so you really have to experiment and find what works best. I remember reading that there's programs you can download to have act as better MIDI clock hosts for a DAW, but it's been ages since I've looked into it. I just keep Ableton as the master clock device whenever I'm recording or sequencing from my laptop.

apapdop · Post by **apapdop** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:08 am

1_inch_punch wrote:While on the touchpad arp -

I am hoping somebody can show me i have gone wrong this time.

I cant find a "HOLD" control on the touchpad - for the KPRO this was a boon to set an arp going and would be where you would be developing the majority of your improvising on this thing...

SMK - you should be right onto this.(?)

[EDIT] - I know one short answer is to record yr arp setting but that's not the same dynamic as anybody having used the KPro will tell you. It's very clunky as you will then have to erase that part whereas the hold button allowed you to be more fluid - set, leave, move it around and so on..

Pretty sure there is no hold function for the gate arp/touch scale function. Only for the Master FX xy values.

1_inch_punch · Post by **1_inch_punch** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:39 am

Thanks for confirming apadop. I was getting into the arp and getting more enthused then... Something's missing.

That function would have tipped me over into fandom. As it is am still on the fence.

markxl1 · Post by **markxl1** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:06 pm

Mr T.

Thanks for your video review.....
it's really helpful as I have found the electribe challenging also.

I've spent the first 2-3 weeks trying to figure out how to trigger the electribe with the rs7000 and mp7 but as each electribe pad is just one waveform rather than a 'kit' and it's midi channel opposite to the rs7000 and mp7, it makes it tricky to use the electribe factory patterns as good templates.

Some workarounds are changing the rs7000 midi channels and feeding midi sequences from 1-8 ( 9-16 ) and 9-16 ( 1-8 ) .. Also midi the mp7 to rs7000 first before changing things then feeding into the electribe.

You can also copy parts from the electribe pads to un used parts then to the pad you want so not to delete any to if you want drums 1-8 and synth 9-16....if thats how you want to work and keeps some good 'template sounds' but I've lost patience and more importantly, not 'played' my electribe!!

After watching your video, i will make some notes the next time i watch it and have decided that I will convert to the electribe midi channel way of synth 1-8 and drums 9-16 as 13-16 have properties you explained on the video.
I was mostly impressed how you explained the synth side of the electribe and have new faith in this machine. I hope to make up some patterns for sharing soon.
So my set up will be rs7000 to electribe and mp7 to rs7000 for some on the fly superbeats ( thank god for divide drum track and loop remix on the rs7000 ).

PS thank you for your work on the command station many moons ago

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:21 pm

As a mastering engineer, one of the things I most notice when listening to all the electribe demos people are posting is just how mono-centric they are. The stereo imaging is almost nonexistent, everything is panned dead center and sounds like. Add a bit of width with some effects, and make use of subtle panning to spread things out a tiny bit more.

Buska · Post by **Buska** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:32 pm

Tarekith wrote:As a mastering engineer, one of the things I most notice when listening to all the electribe demos people are posting is just how mono-centric they are. The stereo imaging is almost nonexistent, everything is panned dead center and sounds like. Add a bit of width with some effects, and make use of subtle panning to spread things out a tiny bit more.

Yeah I panned something for the first time tonight and also used the mod pan on a lead synth.. Made a big difference.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:46 pm

Buska wrote:
Tarekith wrote:As a mastering engineer, one of the things I most notice when listening to all the electribe demos people are posting is just how mono-centric they are. The stereo imaging is almost nonexistent, everything is panned dead center and sounds like it. Add a bit of width with some effects, and make use of subtle panning to spread things out a tiny bit more.

Yeah I panned something for the first time tonight and also used the mod pan on a lead synth.. Made a big difference.

Buska · Post by **Buska** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:52 pm

Should probably note that I do understand the importance of stereo placement/imaging, use of mid/side processing etc

not a total noob.

Just neglected it on the electribe so far

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:59 pm

Easy thing to forget when you're having so much fun.

goony · Post by **goony** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 1:25 am

Its a shame when you export to Ableton it destroys any panning that has been done.....