Two Years Later...E2 yea or nay?

Redmond Barry · Post by **Redmond Barry** » Fri Jul 01, 2016 3:54 pm

Sulfur wrote:How about Zoom ARQ and Casio XW-PD1? Would you take them into account over the E2? If I wouldn't have mine, I would be fascinated by the former most of all but the price is higher. Regarding Casio, I could say it accompanied my growth but I've developed a sort of toyish preconception about their products. Unfortunately they're both missing MIDI I/O ports.

The Zoom ARQ is nearly twice the price of the E2 so you could get the E2 and E2S for just a bit more. I think with both you have a pretty formidable setup and a lot of the limitations complained about with the new Electribes are no longer an issue with both. I'm pretty set on completing the set once Korg wisens up and fixes the bugs after the solid success of our petition (I'm optimistic).

HappyTed · Post by **HappyTed** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 12:32 pm

o.w.t.m wrote:Love it and love to hate on it! but seriously there is no other piece of kit I keep going back to as much as this! I love the lush ambient pads and fx capabilities, I only wish editing and song construction tools where stronger.
If you have a spare hand to change patterns and trigger pads, it should fit right in.

Ambient pads? Didn't really think it was good at pads, maybe I've missed a trick??

Steinberger · Post by **Steinberger** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 3:11 pm

HappyTed wrote:
o.w.t.m wrote:Love it and love to hate on it! but seriously there is no other piece of kit I keep going back to as much as this! I love the lush ambient pads and fx capabilities, I only wish editing and song construction tools where stronger.
If you have a spare hand to change patterns and trigger pads, it should fit right in.
Ambient pads? Didn't really think it was good at pads, maybe I've missed a trick??

Examples are all over. You have MFX on E2.
http://youtu.be/uIpv9_Xv2PY

Redmond Barry · Post by **Redmond Barry** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 8:34 pm

HappyTed wrote:
o.w.t.m wrote:Love it and love to hate on it! but seriously there is no other piece of kit I keep going back to as much as this! I love the lush ambient pads and fx capabilities, I only wish editing and song construction tools where stronger.
If you have a spare hand to change patterns and trigger pads, it should fit right in.
Ambient pads? Didn't really think it was good at pads, maybe I've missed a trick??

Ambient might be one of the E2's strong areas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEaAQddF-SU

111213forlife · Post by **111213forlife** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:18 pm

checking in after about 18 months with my e2...

recently upgraded to 2.02, and am loving the chain feature. the pattern gap has been minimized, although i still have a few issues happening on pattern switch like resetting the touchpad arp note on, and some fx tails and stuck notes and voice stealing occasionally.

overall, this is my favorite tribe to date. i can do so much with it, and my workflow has really grown into the quirks and features. paired with my kp3+ and kp 2s, i have so much i can do, and am still enjoying coming up with new ideas each week. i definitely want to add the new red e2s and see what those two can do together.

here's my latest video with it; check it out and let me know if you like it!

https://youtu.be/Wqw6XGAFVxs

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:39 pm

Still yeah!!!

E2 and ES2.

BubbleTrailsMusic · Post by **BubbleTrailsMusic** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:12 pm

Yeah, all day long. This thing is so underrated, sure it has issues- but for 400 bucks I think it is insanely powerful.

I love it, it is one of the funnest pieces of gear I've ever owned. Yeah yeah yeah.

https://youtu.be/1kvIBI89EhI

Does it look like I'm having fun?!

Vint4ge · Post by **Vint4ge** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 4:06 pm

Love my E2, and gonna buy the ES2 in a few days as well.
There's nothing in this price range better than the Electribes, in this category. Plus I always loved the interface and workflow. I cannot say the same about Elektron, Roland and Akai machines, which I all owned too. Not even talking about learning curve and actual fun! using them... I tried many things and always went back to my trusty Electribes, and gonna stay there for a while I guess.

mihata · Post by **mihata** » Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:00 am

1 year down the road - yes
but I had to buy a circuit to get in peace with the E2 and start enjoying it:))

jpeg · Post by **jpeg** » Tue Aug 23, 2016 9:37 am

both units sound good but still a missed oppotunity to make something great.

there are fiddly limitations that for 2014 unit; the limitations should not be there.

krakapow · Post by **krakapow** » Wed Aug 24, 2016 12:25 am

had mine for a yr now, and i love my grey alien.
sure she can be annoying, but if u tickle the cut off,caress the osc edit while licking the ifx, she`ll stop being coy and scream youre name like u want her too

not the best i ever had but the cheapest most motel room friendly dirty girl out there.

(pardon me guys it must be the ritalin and carlsberg talkin)

jpeg · Post by **jpeg** » Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:01 am

in hindsight I think the E2 is better than the sampler.

the sampler is two fiddly yes u can get around the annoyances with the editor as far as loading in samplers and sample settings.

The sample chop process is a bit frustrating, there is a few little workflow issues that annoy me personally coming from an MPC/ Maschine background.

Obviously that is a non issue in the synth version so I think the synth is the better box overall but its a real shame that that the sample handling is not better cos they both sound great.

Spheric El · Post by **Spheric El** » Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:04 pm

That's good krakapow.
Over all you guys have made me realise E2 is worth a play.
E2S stay away.

jpeg · Post by **jpeg** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:16 am

Spheric El wrote:That's good krakapow.
Over all you guys have made me realise E2 is worth a play.
E2S stay away.

Yup I would say of the two u may have more fun with the E2 for the aforementioned reasons.

Redmond Barry · Post by **Redmond Barry** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:22 pm

I just picked up a blue E2 to go with my E2S (which I've had for a year). My opinion on these boxes is that the sum is greater than the parts. By that I mean if you look at any one thing, like say just the VA engine. It's just OK, and some of the filter models suck, imo (the acid filter can sound horrible at high resonance sometimes). But the tweakability is just so huge on these things that you actually get places with it and I had a song going I liked within hours. So if you want to tweak and make songs, it's awesome. If you obsess over tone and rely on tone to make music (rather than your creativity) then you'll hate it to the ends of the earth. The new electribes are like a dirty rusty work tool that I don't have any "gear lust" for but I use all the time and I get s**t done with.