Electribe Sampler 2 - review (of sorts)

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:14 am

Well, I'd say some sort of software for this is inevitable. That USB connection can't only be relegated to MIDI over USB.

The ESX is a great machine, but you're buying a used machine, and they're often used heavily. I've owned, at one point or another, everything in the Electribe lineup. I can say that the sound quality of the ES2 is significantly better than the ES1, along with the sample management. Yes, you have to import one at a time on the ES2, and export before shutdown if you change anything, but you also get actual file names, and the ability to map out where you want them, leaving space for future samples of similar sound. You can run it on batteries, and (compared to the ES1) there are significant advances in effects, and even polyphonic sequencing capabilities.

dutchcow · Post by **dutchcow** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:26 am

I don't think Korg has added a proper USB audio interface like the Roland JD-Xi unfortunately. How nice would it be to have separate outputs.

bog · Post by **bog** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:45 pm

Modular Grey wrote:
disconnector wrote:Also discovered (this is probably shown in the video) - in my above example, the original loop, after slicing, is still located at slot 999. Hitting the pad repeatedly will step through all of the slices.

So, you can assign that sliced sample to a single pad, use the sequencer function, and light up each step, and you (more or less) get the full drum loop playing back.
Can you re-sequence and/or hand play and record those slices out of order with-in the single part though? Most modern samplers like the op1 and octatrack can do this.

I'd like to know this as well.

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 12:59 pm

bog wrote:Can you re-sequence and/or hand play and record those slices out of order with-in the single part though? Most modern samplers like the op1 and octatrack can do this.

Yes. You can assign an individual slice to any pad. In trigger mode, you can then play the slices as you would any drum sound.

This is one of the strengths of the ES2 - slicing up one-bar loops, and re-sequencing them. It's best if you import a loop that's already "prepared" for the ES1 - one bar in length, mono, WAV format is ideal.

thesigma · Post by **thesigma** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:26 pm

Yes the op wanted to know could it be done on a single part (pad), to which we assume the answer is no, which is a shame but oh well.

disconnector · Post by **disconnector** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:30 pm

Someone else will have to try this, but after slicing and saving the sample, select the "main" sample (not one of the 001, 002, etc versions), and go into "keyboard" mode.

I'm not sure if this will transpose the sample, or allow you to play different keys/pads to trigger slices.

I don't have the ES2 anymore, so I can't verify what it will do.

Modular Grey · Post by **Modular Grey** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 5:52 pm

Yea that's the info I'm after. Somebody try it! I'm dying to know.

Also I think I read in the parameter guide you can't slice stereo samples?

thesigma · Post by **thesigma** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:57 pm

Modular Grey wrote:Yea that's the info I'm after. Somebody try it! I'm dying to know.

Also I think I read in the parameter guide you can't slice stereo samples?

Stereo samples would really complicate the slicing algorithm. think about it, it would have to decide how to slice when there are differing peaks in the left and right channels....honestly it's not a big deal to me, but playing the slice on the keyboard, in one part, would be awesome.

ComputerControlled · Post by **ComputerControlled** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 12:31 am

Just got my ES2 yesterday, after 24 hours, here are some initial thoughts...

Solid, hefty build. It'll last a while.
Encoders and Pots feel smooth, with a nice resistance to them.
Pads could be better.
Having to "Save All" when importing user samples is a bit of a drag, but luckily, i usually just load in a bunch and that's it.
They need to fix the issue of tails being cut off when changing patterns. I just can't figure out why this happens. Having a ride cymbal abruptly cut off is rather amateur sounding.
Most of the stock samples are garbage, and they will soon be deleted!
There should be more outputs! I like to separate my drum sounds in the mixer when playing live.
The USB isn't for importing samples like i assumed it was. Not sure what the use of a USB port on a simpler is, if it isn't for importing samples.
No MIDI Sync out when in slave mode. This needs to be fixed as well.
Lots of menu diving.

Overall, i'd say it's def worth the price. The ability to save a pattern as a wave file is unique. Not sure i'd ever use it, but it's cool nonetheless.
Hopefully an OS update is near that fixes the tail cut off issue, as that shouldn't be a problem what so ever. Come on Korg.

dutchcow · Post by **dutchcow** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:25 am

ComputerControlled wrote: They need to fix the issue of tails being cut off when changing patterns. I just can't figure out why this happens. Having a ride cymbal abruptly cut off is rather amateur sounding.

Yeah, this is my main issue along with exported loops all being wrong cuz they never include the tails from the last bar in to the first bar, which makes sense but sounds like crap.

It won't be fixed though. According to the people here the DSP isn't powerful enough, which may be true, but I think Korg hasn't got coders with enough skills to optimize properly and/or just doesn't care enough. Nobody has heard anything from Korg itself regarding firmware stuff. Only James Pullen spreads some lies every now and then. Where's this swappable firmware James?

I don't believe anyone until I see what the new firmware will fix. Pops and clicks and FX/note tails and decays should work. Working around shortcomings like this is undoable for many due to the type of music they make.

So if you need FX tails and note decays to behave normally don't buy this box. If you don't care about such silly things, go ahead and give Korg your money.

ComputerControlled · Post by **ComputerControlled** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 5:30 am

DSP isn't powerful enough? They sent people to the moon with less. I find that reasoning hard to believe. I think you are correct in that their coders aren't able to pull it off. Time to clean house Korg. Every sampler i've ever worked with that had a sequencer never had this issue, not even the original ES-1. And that was 1999! No excuses.

thesigma · Post by **thesigma** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 4:45 pm

If you don't trigger a sample on the same pad on the following pattern is the sample still cut off? Even if it's the same sample?

I can remember times on the es1 where I wish the sample would cutoff on pattern change, like a drum loop being retrieve red on a normal part, only way to cut it was to trigger on the first step of next pattern with volume down.

As for fx tails...well if the parts fx don't change from one pattern to the next the tails should carry on, same for max. If it's the same fx but parameters changed, on old electribes you'd here the delay time jump. But it wasn't cut off. To have tails carry over when the fx changed in the next part would require double the dsp, which is not impossible as someone once stated. It may well be impossible on this hardware though. And it would cost more. Certainly not impossible though.

ComputerControlled · Post by **ComputerControlled** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 6:00 am

Yes, the sample still cuts off. If i have a ride cymbal playing, and i switch to another pattern, even if the ride is still active on the new pattern, it cuts off.

If i have the MFX on, and i switch to another pattern, the effects shut off. I find that odd as well.

22tape · Post by **22tape** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:02 pm

Ted3000 wrote:"What's the difference between the e2 and the es2, daddy?"

"Well, son, they're similar. The e2 has synthesis, the es2 has sampling. But the sampler has analog modeling synthesis, and the e2 has PCM waves."

"What's a PCM wave, daddy?"

"A PCM is like a factory sample you can't delete."

"Can you delete the factory samples on the sampler?"

"Only the ones you put on there. The factory samples can't be deleted."

"What do the es2 factory samples sound like, daddy?"

"Well, about half of them are samples of the PCM from the e2."

"So... what's the difference between a PCM and a non-deletable sample?"

"Ask your mother."

dschroeter wrote:
Of course you can delete their samples - did you read the manual or try it before posting? See ya later, saxophones!

"To increase the available sampling time, delete unwanted preset samples to free up more sampling area, and execute EXPORT ALL SAMPLE while in this state; then load this data when restarting."

but... but... I thought ted was always right <fart>

ComputerControlled · Post by **ComputerControlled** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:17 am

here's something i can't find in the manual, is it possible to preview a sample before loading it up?