Ergonomics and Electrical Safety

[paul_courville]

I've had my EMX for about 3 years now.

Absolutely love it.

Sure Ableton Live can do some killer stuff but for a hardware machine this thing kicks some serious butt.

Now, I've watch tons of video tutorials and read the manual cover to cover.

From the beginning I felt this was THE instrument for me but oftentimes during the last 3 years I've felt something was missing.

But before all of you chime in "It's your lack of talent, you worthless hack" (lol) let me explain.

There is something to be said for the ergonomics of an instrument albeit a guitar, bass, piano, keyboard or drums.

The thing has just gotta feel good in your hands.

Well I just stumbled across something so simple yet so effective I always do this when I play around with my EMX.

I simply put it in my lap while sitting in the ole' lazy boy recliner or any good computer chair that reclines.

Now that may seem soooo obvious, but wait.

Most of us have the EMX sitting flat in a static position on a table or stand of some kind.

That tends to make one very cerebral and analytical.

Lean back in your favorite chair with a pair of high quality headphones with your left hand on the arp and your right hand on the cutoff filter and let er' rip.

You might be surprised how much faster the creative juices start to flow.

Now, because I've worked as an electronics techs for many years I'm a bit leary about setting a 120v device in my lap.

I'm not sure what kinda current this thing pulls but it only takes about 800mA to kill a man.

So, just to be on the safe side I rest the EMX on a plastic three ring binder that I place on my lap.

That way I'm safe and comfortable.

I know this sounds so simple it's almost silly.

But if I consider the results I would say the quality and quantity of my output has gone up 3 fold since implementing this simple change.

I would reccommend it to any newcomer looking for a way not to "over-think" the EMX and just groove with it.

This thing is so powerful you don't really need to read the manual cover to cover.

Intuition and imagination go along way with the Korg EMX.


www.psyuniverse.com/papaheavypsy

[Pastor-of-Muppets]

Now, because I've worked as an electronics techs for many years I'm a bit leary about setting a 120v device in my lap.

I'm not sure what kinda current this thing pulls but it only takes about 800mA to kill a man.

hmm, I use my ESX on my lap but I hadn't thought of that - the old (not SD) models use a 9V 3000mA AC transformer

[Aciphecs]

I actually prefer to play standing up with my tribe in it's coffin. I seem to get better control when it is in a fixed position. Plus I like to shuffle my feet (almost dance) while jamming!

Personal preference I guess

[oobs]

New SD Electribes have an external 12v (not 120v) 3500mA DC power supply (at least here in Italy/Europe) - I'd think they're not more dangerous than any other equipment, but the plastic sheet makes sense anyway. My Electribe came shipped with a soft, synthetic thermo-insulant blanket that may work as well.


I find the whole ergonomics topic quite interesting. For sure, the environment you work in can affect the way you work. Placement of devices, body posture, use of headphones vs. speakers...all these factors may matter.

Personally, I only recently started playing and I'm still looking for the correct position.

Right now I stand up, while exercising at home - it's a sort of training for when I'll go live.
My neck usually hurts after 1 hour, though, so I'm experimenting placing machines at different heights. Unsurprisingly, placing gear higher than the usual seems better for my neck.

[Aciphecs]

My neck usually hurts after 1 hour, though, so I'm experimenting placing machines at different heights. Unsurprisingly, placing gear higher than the usual seems better for my neck.

I get this too! Maybe I need to start working on raising my rig

[cooptrol]

I'm tuning completely with this thread. I have always had my laptop and the Electribe side by side, and this has always been a little bit weird. Now for instance, I have the ESX on the right, and to me it would be ideal to have it on the left, but the laptop's vent grid is on the left, and it exhales hot air directly to my ESX, so no way.

The other problem is the monitors. If I sit right in front of the laptop one monitor stays a little farther. If I sit right in front of the ESX, the other monitor gets off axis. Putting the ESX in a angle is not a good solution either, cos you have to work with your head turned in the same angle towards the monitors. So this slight feeling of uncomfortableness is alway there. I guess the best solution is to spend in a really big table, monitor stands, and an expensive chair with actually-rolling wheels to switch location swiftly.

I've used my ESX on my lap on some occasions, but I always get some static from the metal chassis unless I lift my feet off the ground. And I'm not talking about the bottom side of the box, the top plate does the same thing. And the power supply is correctly earthed. I guess it's like that with metal-made gear.

[oobs]

New SD Electribes have an external 12v (not 120v) 3500mA power supply (at least here in Italy/Europe) - I'd think they're not more dangerous than any other equipment, but the plastic sheet makes sense anyway. My Electribe came shipped with a soft, synthetic thermo-insulant blanket that may work as well.


I find the whole ergonomics topic quite interesting. For sure, the environment you work in can affect the way you work. Placement of devices, body posture, use of headphones vs. speakers...all these factors may matter.

Personally, I only recently started playing and I'm still looking for the correct position.

Right now I stand up, while exercising at home - it's a sort of training for when I'll go live.
My neck usually hurts after 1 hour, though, so I'm experimenting placing machines at different heights. Unsurprisingly, placing gear higher than the usual seems better for my neck.