Electribe MX as a synth sound module

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:22 pm

I'm sure this has been covered before but If someone can help out here with this question: Does the Electribe MX make a great great synth sound module?

I have been looking to invest in a new synth but only a box to use with external keyboard controllers. Radious looks great but is too expensive so the next best thing (so fare for the money) is the EMX

From what I have been reading on korg it sounds like I might have a good mono synth that is also a beat machine. I really like step sequencing...and the arps and LFO are perfect for me but I have to ask; are any of your tribes people out there using the EMX as a primary synth?

Thanks ahead of time for your input.

sohatyi · Post by **sohatyi** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:55 pm

You could, but if you're not interested in the ROMpler aspect and the sequencer, my money would be on something like a Novation Nova... They are 6 part, 16 note polyphonic, 3oscs per voice (including some basic fm and a supersaw) loads of filter slopes, multiple lfos, full asdr envelope control, loads of knobs and buttons, six outs. As a sound source, the emx can't hold a torch to it. I like to route one or more of my emx synth parts to the nova to get a nice mix of the ease of programming on the emx vs the advanced engine of the nova. You can get them for £120 second hand too!

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:30 am

Actually the Sequencing aspect is very important to me as well as being able to still produce beats.

Arp / gate

Beat making

Sequencing

Synth

I need all 4 in one box with out getting a lap top.

If the Nova does all of that then great, I'm there.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:10 am

the EMX is a great affordable all in one groovebox. the ease of use and workflow is unparalleled in my opinion and they are truly awesome for live use. but as a sound module its not very powerful.

monophonic synth parts (which you can always layer over eachother for polyphony.. and have each layer modulated separately)
no real ADSR envelope.
synth sounds can be a little weak sometimes, it takes some tweaking to get the most out of it.

if you want a powerful polyphonic synth and don't intend on using the drum parts I'd suggest you look elsewhere..

are any of your tribes people out there using the EMX as a primary synth?

yes. my EMX is the core of my entire live and studio setup. It was the first piece of hardware I bought and I loved it so much I got a second one.

it does almost everything well... but it doesnt do synth fantasticly.

sohatyi · Post by **sohatyi** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:27 am

It is great, others offer more polyphony and more professional sequencing (mc505, emu command station) but they tend to be ROMplers rather than a proper VA and their control surfaces aren't as intuitive. With a finer grained sequencer, a couple of polyphonic parts, velocity recorded, an additional lfo and asdr envelopes the emx would be in a league of its own. Not that much to ask really. I mean some extra samples in the roms would be nice.

I have a Command Station, the sounds are startlingly good in parts, the sequencer is sophisticated and it has 128 voice polyphony, but that 2-line display and dependence on menu diving don't mix. I really don't enjoy using it. Same for my rm1x (although that has an awesome screen but crappy sounds)

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:03 pm

I can see that most of you are concerned with the fact that the EMX is only (or mostly) monophonic.

Let me explain more of where I am going with this:

I am only using the Kaossilator Pro as the keyboard controller which only gives on monophonic control over the any synth it controls.

The type of sounds I am looking to produce are more like what can be created on a Monotribe. So why don't I get a monotribe then? Well the fact you can not alter the drum sounds was a total let down and I need REAL midi control (midi in out and thru).

So I guess my next question is can one create the same types of sounds you can on a monotribe on a the EMX?

Telengard · Post by **Telengard** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:46 pm

SMK wrote:I can see that most of you are concerned with the fact that the EMX is only (or mostly) monophonic.

Let me explain more of where I am going with this:

I am only using the Kaossilator Pro as the keyboard controller which only gives on monophonic control over the any synth it controls.

The type of sounds I am looking to produce are more like what can be created on a Monotribe. So why don't I get a monotribe then? Well the fact you can not alter the drum sounds was a total let down and I need REAL midi control (midi in out and thru).

So I guess my next question is can one create the same types of sounds you can on a monotribe on a the EMX?

You can create sounds "kinda-like" the montribe, but not quite. You can get a midi adapter for the monotribe, though.

You would be suprised, though by what sounds you can create with the EMX. If you really dig into it there are a ton of options for sounds that it seems that most people miss. And it isn't only a ROMpler. It has a similar synth engine as the microKorg, but with less controls.

Note that all the drum parts ARE PCM and you would have to sacrifice some of the syth parts to create drums from just synthesis.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 5:03 pm

Monophony has never bothered me. I just assumed that when you asked for synth that you'd be another person wanting a bazillion voice polyphony that you won't even use. The drums are PCM but very tweakable still.

Telengard · Post by **Telengard** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 5:43 pm

punpkomg wrote:The drums are PCM but very tweakable still.

Yeah, what I typed didn't come out right. You can really make them sound different with the modulation, effects, pitch, and sort-of envelope control.

sohatyi · Post by **sohatyi** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:24 pm

Plus, the last set of pcm sounds on the synth engine are drumkits so you can get a kit on one channel and run filters over it (shame the standard drum parts aren't filterable, boo). The audio in processing and filtering open up yet more options to you.

The synth engine is great for most things electronica aside from pads which aren't really its strong point. The instrument pcm samples sound awful dry, but with filter, lfo and effects they can be made to sound quite funky.

I love my emx. I can honestly say, shortcomings aside it is by far the easiest, most creative, most fun box I've ever played with. Paired with an esx you're in flavour country. I love my emx so much I bought two to crossfade between!

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 6:42 am

BTW I gotta tell you guys have been very helpful. Now I have learned that the drum parts are PCM...thats kinda important. Also Telengard mentions that the microkorg has more control, really?!?! For some reason I always saw that microkorg as not having as much control. Does the mictrokorg have beat making capability, gate arps and step sequencing?

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 6:56 am

no step sequencer on the microkorg other than the arpeggiator which is pretty good. also its 2-timbre and 4-note polyphonic so more control over the sounds you can get out of it... that thing really is a beast under its understated retro chassis. as for controls in the literal sense... hell no.. alot of menu diving to do anything unless you're using the software editor. I've been looking for a behringer BCR2000 or something similar for MIDI Control so that I can have more parameters directly on hand.

no beat making capabilities unless you construct a very convoluted patch to do so.

if you're interested to hear a bit of what kinda sounds the EMX is capable of, check out my soundcloud. I think all but 2 of the tracks are EMX and I venture into alot of different genres and sounds with it.

Telengard · Post by **Telengard** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:10 pm

SMK wrote:Also Telengard mentions that the microkorg has more control, really?!?!

I meant only more fine controls of the synth engine.

SMK · Post by **SMK** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:36 pm

Well it looks like the EMX is still a clear winner for me...

Can any of you guys tell me your experiences of using the EMX as synth with your key board controller?

What do you like about using the EMX as a straight synth? Any Advantages?

Thanks!

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:23 am

The MX's superpower is its 24 motion sequences per pattern; this kicks ass, and it's on top of the assignable, BPM-synchable (but kinda limited) modulation on each part. If you combine all this with the normal sequencing, you can have it do some insane automation. You could easily play the KPO with one hand and have another one free to control the parameters on the MX. That's the basic idea with the Electribe arpeggiator only you've got 2 dimensions, whatever way that can be routed.

You've gotta be pretty careful on the EMX about making sure your voices don't cut each other off; you get the best results if you use filters to keep your lead/harmonies from choking off the bass. The interface is quick enough that it's not a problem to tweak the cutoff or most everything else on the fly.

EMX is a great choice because you've got 5 parts, but it might be worth looking around at some of the analog monosynths available as well. Bang for buck though, I'll keep my EMX.