electribe2 - What a disappointment!

[Re-Member]

So you're feeling ripped off with the new Electribe because at it's pricepoint, it is massively underpowered compared to a laptop.... yet you're also saying you'd be willing to pay over $1,000 for a better Electribe, which at the end of the day, would still be underpowered compared to the laptop.

Also, the Elektrons machines only offer like 8 parts total. The Electribes have twice that for only one third the price.

[thesigma]

So you're feeling ripped off with the new Electribe because at it's pricepoint, it is massively underpowered compared to a laptop.... yet you're also saying you'd be willing to pay over $1,000 for a better Electribe, which at the end of the day, would still be underpowered compared to the laptop.

Also, the Elektrons machines only offer like 8 parts total. The Electribes have twice that for only one third the price.

Someone who Gets it, finally!

Also add the cost of software to the laptop and its not cheaper anymore, though you wont get any argument from me about it being vastly more powerful. Yes there is plenty of free software and some of it good, but lets face it you all want ableton and NI komplete and waves plugins...

[sl23]

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[thesigma]

What made you think I didn't get it?! I have paid for only one piece of software so that doesn't come into it, 70 euros is nothing.

I understand the economics and that's all well and good, but doesn't change what I've said.

That comment was not squarely aimed at you, even though it was a response to a response to one of your comments. If you've read my comments on various threads here I think you will see we agree more than disagree. I never meant to change what you said but I think it is kind of pointless to complain that computers and software are more powerful in a hardware forum. I think everyone knows that here in 2015.

I too wonder why the capabilities don't seem to live up to the capabilities of hardware in 2015, but for the most part, General purpose computers will likely always have more raw power in terms of CPU and Memory.

And heck I'm willing to pay a grand for a modern Groovebox too,even one that only had half the power of an i7 based DAW, heck even 1/4.

Lastly sl23, I hope you don't feel like I was bashing on you, I'm, not, like I said I feel like I agree with you more than not. However I enjoy a good reasoned discussion/debate, and you are not the only one to make similar comments, so I jumped into the discussion. It's always hard to know how you will be perceived on an internet forum.

[jbvdb493]

So?
Compare the electribe to the jdxi
4 parts 16 steps and less effects for more money
Tell me again how shitty the electribe is?

[jbvdb493]

Finally got my hands on an electribe2, it is certainly an amazing instrument, especially considering the price! Looks like Korg listened to some of my enhancements I sent for the EMX1 10 years ago!

Trouble is, by changing the format, ie layout, it's made it so much more awkward to use.

Massive downsides for me:
1. Lack of the traditional keyboard is a pain. Should've at least labelled pads with key names.
2. Combining part keys is a good idea but would prefer seperate buttons to see instantly what's playing instead of having to keep switching back and forth.
3. Seq Step Mode. When pressing the Sequencer button to show step data, it makes reading the data confusing. Why? Because on older electribes a step was a note trigger that lasted one pad. Now, a triggered pad that lasts for say, a bar, lights up 4 pads even though only the first pad is the trigger?!
4. Reducing the knob count was a really bad idea. A single knob for Osc Edit, FX! No Filter Drive!
5. No front panel display LED's. Yes the display can do all that, but certain things are better and more informative on the front panel. Osc/Mod/Filter Types could have had a seperate small LCD or LED config to display which is selected.
6. Sensitive but poor quality touchpad.
7. Power Saving needs much shorter time options.
8. Too many god damn menus!!!
9. Pad shortcuts should be assignable to your favourite ones.
10. No info on how to change Filter types! Nice one Korg!
11. Reducing the sequencer to 4 bars!!! WTF?! Why? This is one of my main problems with this unit. I knew, of course before purchase, but that doesn't change the fact Korg are c0x for doing that.
12. Where's the write protect gone?
13. Part Erase is far to easy to press by accident!
14. The display is wasted. It doesn't display enough info and could display the pattern/menu info and last used parameter simultaneously. BPM is taking up space needlessly when it could be moved to mid right and use top line to show last used parameter.

I have to say that as a sound module this is superb, I love it but the way everything has been built around it is a very bad move! I mean the whole idea of the original electribes was simplicity and ease of use making for a fast workflow. Yes that is possible with the e2, but nowhere near as intuitive as the originals. It took around 30 mins of diving in menus and pressing buttons before realising you have to hold Shift and a Filter Type to change the algorithm!

All in all, a great synth flawed by a crap user interface, Korg strikes again! When I got my EMX1, I was amazed how much better it was than the ER1/EA1 combo I had. But then as I got into it I realised it's sounds are actually inferior in some ways. I have hardly used it in the last 8 years as I dislike it's sound compared to the, more limited previous tribes.

So, that's why I sent Korg some suggestions about improving the EMX1. One was integration of the EMX1 and ESX1 capabilities, which is coming in the eS2, though limited synth options are likely. Why don't they just make one almighty electribe with a full sequencer and no limitations like sequence length, filter only working on synth not drums, or EMX1 can't filter drums, ESX1 has no drive but can filter drums, ridiculous unnecessary limitations that are there for one reason and one reason only - TO MAKE MONEY!!!

How? If you want to filter drums, buy the ESX, if you want a synth buy the EMX! So pay nearly a grand for both! It seems that philosophy has stuck with Korg, very money orientated, as a company should be, but without care or thought about consumers needs or wants!

Imagine a single electribe with all capabilities of previous gen but without the limitations imposed on each. Where a sampler is integrated into the e2, allowing full sampling and synthesis in one box without limiting parts abilities, parameters or sounds. Imagine an electribe version of Roland's fantastic MC-909! Who here would NOT want that?

The majority of your complaints are along the lines of "this isn't how it used to be" but guess what this is a new machine and if you can't see past that that's your issue
And if you want a more expensive machine with more features you mentioned the mc 909 go on eBay or ask elektron to make an octatrack and analog 4 in one box and see how much that sets you back
Or stop beeping pissy pants and make music
That is all

[sl23]

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[dutchcow]

Oh god! Not another one!

Yes that may be, but as its called electribe it should've upgraded the original system or, as already discussed, called it something else.

+1

They should've called it a Kaos Pad Pro. It is in no way an updated Electribe. It lacks many functions and is full of silly bugs and omissions.

And sure you can argue an update doesn't have to be an update. But once you backwards or sideways it is not an update anymore

[Discore]

It's definitely closest to an electribe. Don't know why everybody thinking of it as an Kaoss Pad. It has a sequencer, you can manipulate sounds in realtime, you can actually EDIT the sounds, mute sounds.

I also liked the workflow of the older generations (EMX, ES-1) way more and of course it's buggy as hell but that doesn't mean it's not an electribe. I wouldn't call it an "update" but just another sort of electribe. All main characteristics are the same, some features are gone, some features are new.

[sl23]

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[Re-Member]

I think the lesson to be learned here is that it's important to download and skim through the manuals first, plus talk with others online before you buy it. When you go out buying gear on blind faith alone, chances are you're going to be disappointed.

I remember one of the first "new" synthesizers I bought was a Roland RS-5. I just happened to walk into a store and liked how it looked and how a few of the presets sounded. I figured somewhere in the menus there would be a whole new world of editing parameters and exciting sounds waiting to be tweaked... nope. It was a total piece of crap and I wasted $600. To this day, I never buy a piece of a gear without downloading and reading all the manuals first.

[sl23]

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[dutchcow]

I will say it before Ted3000 does, but we haters need to order a soldering kit and start studying electrical engineering and DSP design

[22tape]

It's usually less about disliking forums for me, than it is certain people on said forums.

so true. this forum seems great. except for teddygraham3000. dude is way too smarmy for his own good. but it's not our fault that the patch of hair on the small of his back is ruining his korg tramp stamp.

[Ted3000]

this forum seems great. except for teddygraham3000.

I think I bring a certain something to the discussion.

At the very least I give ex-e2 owners a target for their pain and betrayal. Otherwise, they'd just be howling about being a genius whose soul cannot be imprisoned behind 4 bars.

Lord knows my browser has a long row of URL icons for all the gear I've loved and lost. Better go check the SP-303 forums and tell people they are loving something WRONG.

In the meantime, did you know that you can use the X-Y pad with a little bit of glide and triangle LFO to pitch to make a decent theremin sound? Try a narrow pulse osc.