So I got the new Electribe...now my thoughts on it.

[Kilko]

Yes I know that and that is not what I mean I am talking about what they would call microtime adjustments ala Octatrack and Tempest. And also yes I know how to adjust the octaves when playing it chromatically but the playable range is less than the old electribes.

I wonder if it would work well with a little portable midi-keyboard. Have you tried testing that? With the Velocity-option on every single part, a little midi-keyboard would be a great companion to this. I might just buy myself a little midi-keyboard to use with the unit

[Glitchcraft]

Yes I know that and that is not what I mean I am talking about what they would call microtime adjustments ala Octatrack and Tempest. And also yes I know how to adjust the octaves when playing it chromatically but the playable range is less than the old electribes.

I wonder if it would work well with a little portable midi-keyboard. Have you tried testing that? With the Velocity-option on every single part, a little midi-keyboard would be a great companion to this. I might just buy myself a little midi-keyboard to use with the unit [/quote]


Yes I have. It is 2 octaves less than the EMX/ESX. Not as big a issues as the insert effects problems. I cannot get a decent transition using them especially the delays they completely stop and do not carry over like the master. Do you have the same issue?

[L551]

Thanks for the review, that cleared couple of things I was wondering. No big surprises there though.

Do you feel that the synth sounds are editable enough to get some real sound variation, or does it feel more like a preset machine?

I want to know this too

Synth sounds sound are good on it but the editing is next to nil on it. I am not a preset jockey and my fear would be that in the end the same noises are going to be heard everywhere from this.

Thanks for the aswer. I just cancelled my preorder, I'll wait for the sampler. I'm just way too much into sound design, it will be a better and more versatile instrument for me. Especially when the sampler will still have the synth engine minus the filter models.

It's gonna be a looong winter.

[Glitchcraft]

I want to know this too

Synth sounds sound are good on it but the editing is next to nil on it. I am not a preset jockey and my fear would be that in the end the same noises are going to be heard everywhere from this.

Thanks for the aswer. I just cancelled my preorder, I'll wait for the sampler. I'm just way too much into sound design, it will be a better and more versatile instrument for me. Especially when the sampler will still have the synth engine minus the filter models.

It's gonna be a looong winter.

If you are looking at deep sound editing it is not capable of that. You actually lose 1 effects edit parameter and 1 oscillator edit parameter from the EMX and that feels really awkward to me to just be able to adjust the 1 parameter. The drums are VASTLY improved and are the highlight of the machine to me but I am not super picky about using preset sounds for drums like I am synth parts in my music. Overall it is really fun and I am glad I have it. It has its use and place and hopefully they will fix some of these issues in a new update.

[MSix_Anthony]

I am a little bit surprised to see people equating a simple synth engine to the machine being a preset box. What's wrong with one editable parameter per oscillator? The oscillator is just a starting point, not the whole engine. In an analogue synth you usually get just the PWM on a square wave and that's it. With this electribe you get your standard set of waves each with an editable parameter, plus all the double/unison waves so it kinda comes close to having two oscillators. Plus a bunch of PCM crap which nobody forces you to use.

Obviously, if people are going to limit themselves to using only the oscillator and ignoring the rest of the engine, they will all sound the same. But I don't think that's the problem of the box.

Then we have a selection of filter models which haven't been properly demoed yet. I can't judge this box as a synth until I hear the raw waves with all the filter types and models. But the fact that you get multiple filter models on a single unit suggests that you might be able to get a good variety in sound from that.

A single modulation bus is limiting indeed, but then again, there're a lot of great synths with just one modulation bus and it doesn't turn them into preset boxes. One thing I'm not sure about in terms of the engine structure though is the envelope. Still can't figure out if it is AD or ASR, or maybe it is somehow possible to switch between the two (and I still secretly hope that you can use a superposition of AD and ASR envelopes to get a ADSR).

I'm not trying to say that the new electribe is great, I just don't understand judging a synth engine (especially one in a groovebox) based on it's complexity. The whole engine is on the front panel, there's no menu diving involved. I see this as a big plus. The limitations on it are not ridiculous, it is quite similar to what you get with some analogue gear. So I'm still waiting for more details and demos of the actual engine.

[Tom 62]

MSix_Anthony: Thank you ... I agree in all points!

Beside the uninspiring demos (mostly identifiable by this crappy "hey" sample), a lot of detail questions are still open (or verifiable false answered), for example the whole MIDI stuff, the pattern length per part, etc.

[L551]

I'm sure the synth engine is ok and the electribe would be tons of fun. I just can't afford both of them and I'll rather have the sampler when I thought it over.

[DrHoo]

I'd say if you can only choose one, the sampler is top of the pile. The diversity is a no brainer & when i first got an esx1 i shelved the emx1 forever.

Agreed on those points there, it's an interesting box of tricks waiting to be manipulated & my money's spent already so i'll deffo report back about my own experience with one.

[SMK]

Third is no way to assign different midi #'s to the individual parts. WTF?!? Just one global midi setting that's it! Also when hooked up to my other gear, it will send/receive midi note info but all the pads are hardwired 1 - 16 respectively.

Huge question.

It looks like you have a good handle on midi and the gear with it.

I was wondering if you could try an experiment with your keyboard controller: Set all of the parts on your new tribe to "keyboard" and have a different sound on each new tribes 16 pads then have your keyboard controller cycle through the different 16 channels to see if it triggers a different pad. My guess is that the parts / pads 1-16 are hard wired to each one of the 16 channels. If I am correct, at least from sending midi to the Tribe, you should be able to control each part separately by switching channels on the keyboard controller as oppose to reassign channel numbers on the parts and pads them selves in the Tribe.

If this works right, then, based on the midi chart (notes 1 - 127) those 2 missing octaves should be easily triggered.

Yes that is how it works. You do not need to set it in keyboard mode though.

Oh WOW sweet!!!! Thanks Glitchcraft! My Quneo is going to advance this Electribe to the NEXT LEVEL! Awesome!

Now for the real tough question, Glitch: Can the new tribe send out midi note information to other modules in the same way?

I was imagining that I would control my MicroSampler by creating a blank, no sound, no nothing, part on the pad relating to midi channel 16 (or the 16th pad) and that would be I would just create patterns to trigger my samples.

Can you do an experiment, or did you do this already and this is the midi issue you are having?

Again thanks for answering my question.

[Tarekith]

Keep in mind that in the Sonic State video the Korg rep said that the one OSC edit parameter could actually be controlling multiple parameters at once. Just because it's one knob, doesn't mean that it's not functioning like a super macro control on some levels too.

[SMK]

If you are looking at deep sound editing it is not capable of that. You actually lose 1 effects edit parameter and 1 oscillator edit parameter from the EMX and that feels really awkward to me to just be able to adjust the 1 parameter.

Well, coming from the Kaoss world I am having a hard time seeing how there is no sound editing.

In my performances I was able to use my padkontrol to control my Kaossilator Pro with ease and in doing so I was able to play the notes from the patch's effect setting. This process actually allowed me to get a lot more unique variation in sound in such a limited box. Add to that I would toss in one effect from the KP3 and I was good.

So coming from that to a box that actually is Kaossiltor like but with a modulation option setting, an osilator setting, a filter setting, an insert effect setting, plus you get EG and Pitch / Glide...that is a lot to play with. And that has not accounted for the motion record settings for each knob. Oh and there is the master effect (which I would be treating as if I had a KP3). Kind sir I have to disagree because I can see some deep sound design just with the options alone.

Now of course you're going to bring up the gap issue with the insert effects. But if I understand this correctly; the gap problem (though it needs to be solved) only happens when you switch patterns, right? So if you stay in the same pattern and build your set kit in that pattern then the insert effect is perfectly fine and adds to the sound design.

I know for me, for my live sets I will be using the patterns as sound kits to perform everything live. The mute feature will make this so damn easy as James Pullen has demonstrated so much.

Wouldn't you agree?

[Olivander12]

I do not understand why the OP does not mention anything about the actuall sound of the machine. Criticism seems to be aimed towards secondary things like lfo routing options, external midi gear and octave range, but he does not say anything about the actual sound. Also, he is saying the EMX is not about to be replaced by the new electribe. That is probably true, nevertheless the EMX can not replace the new electribe either.

[Tom 62]

Criticism seems to be aimed towards secondary things like lfo routing options, external midi gear and octave range, but he does not say anything about the actual sound.

Maybe secondary for YOU. Usability, MIDI options and sequencing features are not less important for the most users here. Because the whole package makes the spirit of the Electribes, not only the sound.

[SMK]

Criticism seems to be aimed towards secondary things like lfo routing options, external midi gear and octave range, but he does not say anything about the actual sound.

Maybe secondary for YOU. Usability, MIDI options and sequencing features are not less important for the most users here. Because the whole package makes the spirit of the Electribes, not only the sound.

I just type in "Electribe" in my Youtube search and I hear all the sound I want. Combine that with the patch list, it's pretty conclusive...that it sounds awesome!

I'm with Tom 62; usability, MIDI options and sequencing features are not less important...hell in fact to me, they are more important.

Glitchcraft is doing an excellent job of going over the most important parts of the unit. Plus he has good insight on how the new tribe works other midi gear.

[SMK]

Hey Glitchcraft-

Since you are the midi controller and midi gear source on the new tribe, I have another midi question for you.

If you have the keyboard parts set to specific scale on the tribe, for example ionian mode and you you are playing a normal keyboard controller, with that part on the tribe reject midi note data from the keyboard that is not part of the scale? Or will the chromatic keyboard controller over ride what ever scale is programmed into the part?

Will appreciate a response to this as well as my other midi question. Thanks dude!