ES2 as a looper?

pgerv · Post by **pgerv** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:06 am

Hey guys, just wondering if someone that is lucky enough to have an ES2 could confirm something for me.

I'm still holding on to the hope that the ES2 will function as a phrase looper. The workflow I'm envisioning would be something like:

1. Create a 4 bar beat
2. Plug a keyboard into the ES2's Audio In (with the audio in thru) to just jam along at first
3. Sample my keyboard part for the full 4 bars and have it loop back and continue to play afterwards without stopping

Is this just a nice dream?

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:23 am

hey. don't have an es2 (but I do posess an e2)

But I can tell you its just a dream. When you sample external audio in, you have to stop the sequencer. You can check this with some of the new videos floating around online.

But...you can do this with an e2 - set up an Audio In OSC on one of your parts and make sure you have the e2 sending midi out to the keyboard (assuming it has it) and then the keyboard's outs going into the e2's audio in. IF the es2 has an Audio In OSC you should be able to do this as well.

But as far as actually sampling it, nope

jurfin · Post by **jurfin** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:36 am

The ES2 has a waveform setting for the audio in, but I think this just means that as you press the pad the audio in comes through the ES2's output. Actually that happens all the time, so long as you have the input gain up enough to hear it, so disregard that bit. I will have to test that to determine it's purpose. You could put a 4 bar pattern in, but it is not anywhere near as immediate as any phrase looper I have ever used.

I have an infinity looper synced up with the ES2 to quickly grab synth parts. Lots of gear for a seemingly simple task but it works alright for me...

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:50 pm

Yeah, you can't do sampling while the sequencer is running, AND, it's somewhat difficult to grab a "loop" of audio that's a specific length. It's up to you when you start and stop the recording.

I am going to run some tests today to try this, though - to get a loop that's generated from an external instrument, but sequenced via midi from the ES2.

pgerv · Post by **pgerv** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:33 pm

Ok thanks for the replies guys.

Looks like I'll have to consider a separate looper to go with the ES2.

I had taken a look at the RC-505 and the Boomerang 3, any insight on which of these would suit me better for the workflow I described?

Obviously MIDI sync is an absolute must and I'm pretty sure the RC-505 will do this but the info I've found on the Boomerang seems a little more vague, like there is a software update that may or may not improve the original sync capabilities.

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:56 pm

Well, that didn't take long.

You definitely CANNOT sample while any part of the sequencer is running. Thus, if you wanted to sample an external synth that's sequenced by the ES1... nope.

You also cannot slave the clock of the ES2 to trigger the start of the sampling to another sequencing device. You can't even trigger the sampling to start at a certain level threshold, which, sorry Korg, my EPS from 1988 can do.

Basically, sampling loops and melodic phrases on this is going to be difficult, to say the least, if you're looking to synchronize this with material that's on the ES2. It's not a portable DAW, basically.

Sequencing external instruments, and routing the audio in as you could on the ESX is fun, still. Muting certain steps and applying effects and whatnot. I just want to record that w/out my computer!

Ah well, we can't have everything.

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:05 pm

One other thing that's VERY well done about the sequencer (on either machine) - punching in new material (overdubbing) is so seamless. Just hit record at any point, and hit it again to stop the recording (but keep the pattern going). That feature is awesome.

Steinberger · Post by **Steinberger** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:06 pm

pgerv wrote:Ok thanks for the replies guys.

Looks like I'll have to consider a separate looper to go with the ES2.

I had taken a look at the RC-505 and the Boomerang 3, any insight on which of these would suit me better for the workflow I described?

Obviously MIDI sync is an absolute must and I'm pretty sure the RC-505 will do this but the info I've found on the Boomerang seems a little more vague, like there is a software update that may or may not improve the original sync capabilities.

I've found the RC-300 works better for guitars but really does well with anything. You can also use it on the desktop and manipulate it with a separate pedal. The RC-505 is a slightly different beast but is also very nice. Also consider the EHX 45000 with the optional pedal.

More info here http://looperpedalreviews.com

sauce · Post by **sauce** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:09 pm

pgerv wrote:I had taken a look at the RC-505 and the Boomerang 3, any insight on which of these would suit me better for the workflow I described?

Obviously MIDI sync is an absolute must...

I used the Electro Harmonix 2880 for years, in conjunction with the ESX, to accomplish exactly what you want.

disconnector wrote:Sequencing external instruments, and routing the audio in as you could on the ESX is fun, still.

Actually, without the extra assignable audio outputs, I can only imagine my frustration concerning this feature.

Hugo · Post by **Hugo** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:44 pm

disconnector wrote:Well, that didn't take long.

You definitely CANNOT sample while any part of the sequencer is running. Thus, if you wanted to sample an external synth that's sequenced by the ES1... nope.

You also cannot slave the clock of the ES2 to trigger the start of the sampling to another sequencing device. You can't even trigger the sampling to start at a certain level threshold, which, sorry Korg, my EPS from 1988 can do.

Basically, sampling loops and melodic phrases on this is going to be difficult, to say the least, if you're looking to synchronize this with material that's on the ES2. It's not a portable DAW, basically.

Sequencing external instruments, and routing the audio in as you could on the ESX is fun, still. Muting certain steps and applying effects and whatnot. I just want to record that w/out my computer!

Ah well, we can't have everything.

Does that mean it's impossible to resample sequences as well?

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

No. You can totally resample sequences. I was simply referring to sampling external audio.

gizmoismogwai · Post by **gizmoismogwai** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:18 pm

disconnector wrote:No. You can totally resample sequences. I was simply referring to sampling external audio.

Can you sample with the internal metronome running? The ESX let you do this - you could play out a loose feeling drum beat on the part pads and know it was going to be in time. And the metronome was not recorded as part of the sample, which was great. I really hope the ES2 can do this!

gizmoismogwai · Post by **gizmoismogwai** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 5:55 pm

gizmoismogwai wrote:
disconnector wrote:No. You can totally resample sequences. I was simply referring to sampling external audio.
Can you sample with the internal metronome running? The ESX let you do this - you could play out a loose feeling drum beat on the part pads and know it was going to be in time. And the metronome was not recorded as part of the sample, which was great. I really hope the ES2 can do this!

I should specify that in my post above I'm talking about re-sampling specifically. The ESX allows you to resample with an internal metronome and I'd love for the E2 to allow the same. I'm not actually sure you can sample via the audio in with a running metronome but perhaps someone here can clarify. I'm at work so I can't verify that till I get home later.

For me it's enough to know that I can play the pads on the E2 while resampling and have an internal metronome. Important for making loose hip hop drum loops. Sampling via audio in while running the metronome would be great too, though!