Electribe Sampler as a polyphonic midi sequencer

[justmull]

I recently sold my original ESX as it was no good for sequencing external synths as it only had 2 monophonic parts. I've been looking at the latest electribe sampler and wondering what it is like for sequencing external synths. How many synths can you sequence on different midi channels and is there any polyphony limit when using external synths? Thanks!

[megamarkd]

Taken from here: https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/ele ... ations.php

Sequencer:

• Number of Steps 16 steps x 4
• Number of Parts 16 parts (one part consists of a sound, steps, insert effect, modulation sequence, etc)
• Number of Patterns 250 patterns (150 Presets / 100 Initial) (one pattern consists of parts, master effect, key, scale setting, etc)
• Motion Sequences Up to 24 motion sequences can be stored (for each pattern)
• Groove Types 25 Pattern Set Up to 64 patterns can be stored
• Pattern Chain Up to 250 patterns can be chained Export Ableton Live project file format, WAV file format (48 kHz, 16 bit)
• Event Recording Up to 100 files can be saved

[justmull]

Thanks I read that and also the manual but there is nothing about setting a midi channel per part or polyphonic sequencing of multiple external synths and whether e.g. you can record parts in from an external keyboard as with a more traditional sequencer etc. So looking for anyone's experience of this sort of a setup in actual practice.

[Steeplemouth]

Each pad on the new electribes corresponds to a different midi channel, so you can sequence up to 16 external devices I guess, though I have never done this so can't comment on how it works or answer your question on polyphony.

[1_inch_punch]

**and whether e.g. you can record parts in from an external keyboard as with a more traditional sequencer etc. So looking for anyone's experience of this sort of a setup in actual practice.***

I believe so - just check what channel your keyboard is recording to. Even if its the wrong part/channel just use Copy Part to the correct Pad you want it to play on.

I had a whole bunch of Arp patterns recorded on my E2 - it took about ten minutes and a 1/8 inch stereo cable to record all those patterns from the E2 to the ES2 via midi.

[Poumtschak]

How many synths can you sequence on different midi channels

Technically, you can have 16 parts running simultaneously, so that's 16 channels since they are hardcoded for each part.

is there any polyphony limit when using external synths?

You're limited to 4 notes per step per part, hard quantized and resolution is very poor (16ppqn) albeit mitigated by the BPM doubling trick, and real time non destructive swing/note length/beat edit.

The sequencer being tightly linked to the sound engine, there is no real local off parameter : you can just set the OSC to external in, and disable most synthesis/effect for each part to prevent CPU processing power being wasted.

Not quite ideal IMHO.

you can record parts in from an external keyboard

Yes but bear in mind the electribe2 has no MIDI Thru, and a very scarce MIDI implementation (no Pitchbend, no Modulation, hardcoded CC, etc...). So you'll need a complex MIDI routing, involving a MIDI splitter or a computer, if you want to hear what you're playing if not using the internal sound engine.

And editing sequences after recording is a PITA, unless you export those to Ableton. Non standard midifile format, no editor/converter that we know off except a very brave Max4Live implementation in the early days of the electribe2 series release.

Yet, as a skecthpad or happy accident tool, it goes along very well with a Keystep from Arturia.

[justmull]

Thanks for the detailed reply Poumtschak!
Sounds OK for what I want - but I don't think I'd pay full price for one just yet. I'm still using a Yamaha RM1x as a sequencer but love the Korg electribe workflow (and that arpeggiator!) so would really love one with a bit more of a serious sequencer. But if I can find one cheap I'll probably give it a go - the limitations may not bug me too much for what I do.

[Steeplemouth]

If you're just looking to sequence other gear then I'd stick with the RM1X. The sequencer on that thing is still one of the best in the business and it pisses all over the electribe sequencer, there is no comparison.

[Poumtschak]

love the Korg electribe workflow (and that arpeggiator!)

There's no arpeggiator on the electribe2 series.

Hence the Keystep suggestion.

[justmull]

Hence the Keystep suggestion

Thanks for pointing that thing out - looks cheap enough that I think I'll give it a spin as it may do everything I want anyway!

*edit - oh hang on - it only does one sequence at a time

[Poumtschak]

*edit - oh hang on - it only does one sequence at a time

Damn, you're picky.

The electribe can play 16 sequences (sort of), the Keystep has an arpeggiator or a sequencer : just record what's spitted out by the Arturia on the tribe, and move along on the Keystep.

The Keystep can transpose on the fly, or play live a second channel while the sequence is running on another one. It has MIDI merge. And a very precise MIDI clock, much better than the tribe, if you can live with a tempo knob and no display.

Quite a no brainer, really.

Unless you want a Beatstep Pro, which has its idiosynchrasies (no chords, needs a computer to configure) but is a nice unit since the latest firmware.

[justmull]

Well I got a keystep yesterday and it is fantastic! I sequence a line, record it into the rm1x and move onto the next channel/synth. And not a screen in sight! Thanks for the suggestions