Directly sampling thru a microphone--Electribe Sampler

[squigges]

Hi all, I would like to know if it is possible to sample with a microphone into the "audio in" jack. I'm thinking it's definitely possible, but maybe I'm wrong. I only have an old crappy computer mic which I tested and it didn't work, but I'm not sure if it's because the mic is broken or if it's not possible. The documentation doesn't clearly state possible audio sources for sampling.

The only other mic I have is my XLR mic. Before running out for an adapter or a cheapie mic, I'd like to confirm that it's OK and if there are any specifications I should be aware of when purchasing a suitable mic.

Much thanks.

[gizmoismogwai]

Provided the mic is loud enough this should work no problem. You'll just need a cable or adaptor so you can input to the 1/8 inch Audio In jack. To simply sample with it all you have to do after that is set the Audio In volume appropriately and go into sampling mode and choose sampling instead of resampling.

But if you want to hear what you're doing on the microphone live and ALSO manipulate it with the sampler's filters and effects then do the following:

Set one of the parts to the Audio In osc. Mono or stereo option depending on your goal.

Next, go into sequencer mode and light up every single step.

Then go into step edit mode and set the Gate time on all of those steps to TIE.

This basically means that the sampler will allow you to hear your mic audio at any point that a step is activated for that part. Tying the steps together makes it so this is a continuous, uninterrupted signal. This is also the only way that the internal resampling recorder will "hear" the signal.

You can then use "resampling" instead of plain old sampling to record whatever the mic is catching but now you have the option of further sound mangling the new recording.

Using a mic is a great way to get original and organic sounding samples. One thing I like to do is write songs with it. I'll sing random lines and lyrics from my notebook into the sampler and then attempt to piece together a song with them but slicing and modulation, etc... It ends up feeling kind of like I'm remixing myself.

[squigges]

Genius, thanks!

And I want to try your idea as soon as I grab a cheapie mic from the electronics store, should be a blast! I prefer recording live as lo-fi as possible, especially my own voice!

[squigges]

OK, so first I bought an XLR to 3.5mm adapter, and tried to record with my dynamic mic, I'm not sure if it was an impedance issue or what but, no sound.

So then, I returned that and bought a computer "Skype" cheapie mic with a 3.5mm connector, nope, no sound.

But when I run a sample from my mobile phone to the sampler via a male to male 3.5mm, no problem. Also, I ran sound from the Volca Sample in the same way--again, no problem at all.

So, I'm wondering if I have a setting incorrect or if only a certain type of mic is usable for sampling directly into the ES.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[OldHorny]

You could use a mixer between a mic and E2S. That's how I do it. Just put mixers output into E2S Audio-In, then pick Audio-In as OSC, and you're good to go.

[squigges]

Thanks, but may I ask why is a mixer necessary? Is it because the output from the microphone is too low for the electribe to register sound input?

[DiscoDevil]

Thanks, but may I ask why is a mixer necessary? Is it because the output from the microphone is too low for the electribe to register sound input?

Unless it's got a line level output, yes.

[gizmoismogwai]

I think I forgot a crucial step. In the sampler's menus (I believe it's in the Global parameters menu) you can turn the Audio In on or off. I think it defaults to off. Check that out because I think this is why you're not hearing anything.

[squigges]

I think I forgot a crucial step. In the sampler's menus (I believe it's in the Global parameters menu) you can turn the Audio In on or off. I think it defaults to off. Check that out because I think this is why you're not hearing anything.

Yeah, thanks, I already had that turned on. I'm guessing because an ordinary microphone alone has no amplification running out of it, it's just an input device with wires running out of it, therefore the sampler gets the input as no sound because of lack of amplification, but when input comes from a Volca or mobile phone out jack, it is amplified and then is recordable. I just assumed since it was a sampler that you could directly plug a microphone in and it could record, but at the very least you need to use some sort of amplification.

In the end what I did what plug my XLR mic into my Focusrite Scarlett, then plug the headphone out from the Scarlett to the audio in on the sampler. This worked well.

I think a mixer would be even better, but haven't made the investment yet.

[gizmoismogwai]

One more thing you could try - the start point knob of the electribe turns into an additional gain knob when the Audio In osc is chosen. Try using this to get some more boost out of it. So first you set your input level with the Audio In knob to something desirable and then you essentially get two more volume controls (one is the start point knob and the other is the standard per-part volume knob).

And another two more volume control methods that are sort of unconventional and don't always work - set the Modulation to one of the "Level" parameters and then adjust the knobs for modulation. You can sort of fake a volume boost with this if you find the right settings. The other method is adding on the Limiter insert effect to that part and getting some more gain but since this is also technically compressing your sound it might not be what you want.

If none of that works then yeah, a mixer or some kind of mic pre is what you'll need.

[squigges]

One more thing you could try - the start point knob of the electribe turns into an additional gain knob when the Audio In osc is chosen. Try using this to get some more boost out of it. So first you set your input level with the Audio In knob to something desirable and then you essentially get two more volume controls (one is the start point knob and the other is the standard per-part volume knob).

And another two more volume control methods that are sort of unconventional and don't always work - set the Modulation to one of the "Level" parameters and then adjust the knobs for modulation. You can sort of fake a volume boost with this if you find the right settings. The other method is adding on the Limiter insert effect to that part and getting some more gain but since this is also technically compressing your sound it might not be what you want.

If none of that works then yeah, a mixer or some kind of mic pre is what you'll need.

Thanks for the tips, but none of that worked. I think an ordinary wired mic of any type will not work without amplification. I thought if out and about using the electribe with a mic to do on the spot sampling would be fun, but seems without amplification it's not possible. No worries; at home use the audio interface to amplify the mic and when out and about record into the mobile; only need to bring along the 3.5 male-to-male plug provided with the Volca to transfer wav clips to the electribe.