Electribe Sampler 2 - review (of sorts)

Skimmo · Post by **Skimmo** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:13 pm

Disconnector, I'm considering the Electribe 2 Sampler as a master live sequencer, driving a midi'ed analog synth, a Volca Beats, and an Arturia Microbrute. I'd probably sync the Volca Beats, but do you think this is capable of sending midi out to sequence my other 2 synths?

I heard somewhere on Sonic State Preview that the new ES 2 had some jacked up MIDI implementation that might interfere with doing the job of a master hardware sequencer.

Thanks for your early and honest info on this piece.

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:36 pm

Skimmo wrote:Disconnector, I'm considering the Electribe 2 Sampler as a master live sequencer, driving a midi'ed analog synth, a Volca Beats, and an Arturia Microbrute. I'd probably sync the Volca Beats, but do you think this is capable of sending midi out to sequence my other 2 synths?

I heard somewhere on Sonic State Preview that the new ES 2 had some jacked up MIDI implementation that might interfere with doing the job of a master hardware sequencer.

Thanks for your early and honest info on this piece.

So, you'd have to plan a bit in advance on this. Each pad sends MIDI on that particular channel. Pad 1 sends MIDI note info on channel 1, Pad 2 = channel 2, etc. You'd just have to plan accordingly for this, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

One issue I can potentially see is the AMOUNT of MIDI information that's being sent. Sometimes, older devices can choke up when receiving a lot of MIDI information. If everything, clock, 16 channels of notes, and CC info every time you turn a knob, the pipleline is going to get full, real quick. Depending on the complexity of what you're doing, you may need something like a MIDIpal to filter the unneeded info.

Skimmo · Post by **Skimmo** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:56 pm

Disconnector, thanks for the quick response. There's not much I can send downstream to my synths, but a midi-pal for a data filter is a good recommendation.

Frenzies · Post by **Frenzies** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:46 pm

Skimmo wrote:Disconnector, I'm considering the Electribe 2 Sampler as a master live sequencer, driving a midi'ed analog synth, a Volca Beats, and an Arturia Microbrute. I'd probably sync the Volca Beats, but do you think this is capable of sending midi out to sequence my other 2 synths?

I heard somewhere on Sonic State Preview that the new ES 2 had some jacked up MIDI implementation that might interfere with doing the job of a master hardware sequencer.

Thanks for your early and honest info on this piece.

I run an e2 as a master live sequencer running an MS20, Microbrute, Roland Gaia and syncing up to 3 Volcas. It's been rock solid, the midi has been fine. The only problems occur if you have more than one synth that can't be changed away from midi channel 1, such as the ms20, but as long as you can set the midi channel on the synths it works fine. Also sequencing external gear means you can cover up the pattern switching issues.

jurfin · Post by **jurfin** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:17 pm

Noob question for you guys - How can I set up the ES2 to only send out midi clock info? No notes, no program changes, just the clock. I can't seem to find any such function in the menus.

Thanks!

blackholesun · Post by **blackholesun** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:53 pm

jurfin wrote:Noob question for you guys - How can I set up the ES2 to only send out midi clock info? No notes, no program changes, just the clock. I can't seem to find any such function in the menus.

Thanks!

In the Global Parameters, there's a MIDI send filter. Turn it to Short + Program and it will turn notes and program changes off.

jurfin · Post by **jurfin** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:22 am

blackholesun wrote:
jurfin wrote:Noob question for you guys - How can I set up the ES2 to only send out midi clock info? No notes, no program changes, just the clock. I can't seem to find any such function in the menus.

Thanks!
In the Global Parameters, there's a MIDI send filter. Turn it to Short + Program and it will turn notes and program changes off.

Thanks for that! I guess I assumed that was for sending filter cutoff info, which, in hindsight, seems like pretty faulty logic...

Modular Grey · Post by **Modular Grey** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 1:33 am

disconnector wrote:Also discovered (this is probably shown in the video) - in my above example, the original loop, after slicing, is still located at slot 999. Hitting the pad repeatedly will step through all of the slices.

So, you can assign that sliced sample to a single pad, use the sequencer function, and light up each step, and you (more or less) get the full drum loop playing back.

Can you re-sequence and/or hand play and record those slices out of order with-in the single part though? Most modern samplers like the op1 and octatrack can do this.

Thanks for the info mine isn't shipping till later this week.

Skimmo · Post by **Skimmo** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:31 am

Frenzies wrote:
Skimmo wrote:Disconnector, I'm considering the Electribe 2 Sampler as a master live sequencer, driving a midi'ed analog synth, a Volca Beats, and an Arturia Microbrute. I'd probably sync the Volca Beats, but do you think this is capable of sending midi out to sequence my other 2 synths?

I heard somewhere on Sonic State Preview that the new ES 2 had some jacked up MIDI implementation that might interfere with doing the job of a master hardware sequencer.

Thanks for your early and honest info on this piece.
I run an e2 as a master live sequencer running an MS20, Microbrute, Roland Gaia and syncing up to 3 Volcas. It's been rock solid, the midi has been fine. The only problems occur if you have more than one synth that can't be changed away from midi channel 1, such as the ms20, but as long as you can set the midi channel on the synths it works fine. Also sequencing external gear means you can cover up the pattern switching issues.

Great news. I'm about 90% sold on it. I wish the sequence patterns were something that could be linked up any way you like. I can't believe it's just 4 frikin' bars per pattern?!

Sclr · Post by **Sclr** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:55 am

Thanks for the review. Man thats a real bummer about menu diving. That was the thing that sold me on the electribes in the first place. NO menu diving and practically every shift press labelled on the unit. Once you get the gist of using it there's no need to refer to the manual. I'll be keeping my esx.

Skimmo · Post by **Skimmo** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:56 am

After taking a look at a few videos made by VJ Franz K as recent as yesterday, it's getting better.

I haven't owned an Electribe Sampler since the original ES-1, so I've almost forgotten the "Electribe" workflow and work-arounds, like offsetting the sample pitch to compensate for the lower frequency for the Smart Media Card transfer coming from Wavelab. When I got it in 2000 I think the steps per part wasn't even an issue.

Skimmo · Post by **Skimmo** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 1:25 pm

I read the ES2 Parameter book and on the last page.... what's this "EVENT" function? Can you chain patterns in an event?

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:48 pm

So, Disconnector, you got it...decided to return it...then changed your mind it seems. What made you decide this? Is it as fun as the e2?

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 1:23 am

roblabs wrote:So, Disconnector, you got it...decided to return it...then changed your mind it seems. What made you decide this? Is it as fun as the e2?

Ha, well, I feel like I've used it enough to not return it, but it is for sale (it's on eBay, and no, I will not take $300 for it, so stop asking).

I tried one last thing tonight - using loops cut from existing tracks I've make in Ableton. They were long-ish - either 2 or 4 bars. Turns out, you can't slice something that's that long (or maybe in stereo, but either way...). Also, doing this is a great way to fill up that memory quickly.

Short end of that - this is not the strong suit of this device (though, granted, I didn't think it would be).

What I like about the E2 is that there's less fuss. There's a lot of good (and a lot of bad, but I can look past that) samples on it, and the oscillators and filter options are great.

The sampler is, even by historic standards, barely a sampler. Yes, you can sample directly on the unit, but not in any useful way. Importing samples is more difficult than either the ESX or even the Volca Sample, though a future Korg or 3rd party app may change that. There's a lot of hoops to jump through with it, particularly with exporting your sample set if you change anything.

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 1:43 am

Cool, well thanks for your *extremely* balanced and fair review of the es2. Unless I see some other review/video that somehow makes me look at it in a different light, I think I will be holding off for a while. I own an es1 and was thinking of upgrading to an ESX. Would you say that I might have an easier time importing samples and using the esx than the es2? I know its a subjective thing but based on what you've said, im not looking for a complicated process with sampling (lets just say I'm spoiled by my KP3!) or importing the samples. I want a smooth workflow. I agree with what you said about the e2 - theres very little fuss with it - its immediate and you can work quickly. If it had 8 bars itd be a dream machine. But as it is, I guess we have to work within the limitations (anyway the older EA1/ER1/ES1/EM1 were all 4 bars and much was achieved by them).

Anyway, thanks again