PCG Tools for Electribe

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 11:30 am

I am the developer of PCG Tools, which is a free application for managing PCG files. More info can be found at http://pcgtools.mkspace.nl.

Currently I support a variety of workstations/synths, like Kronos, Oasys, M3, M50, Kross, Krome, Triton, Karma, Trinity etc.

Would anybody be interested in such free software for the Electribe?

_INTER_ · Post by **_INTER_** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:30 pm

I'd be interested yeah.

But I didn't quite understand what the tool can do. Especially regarding the EMX. The files that can be loaded into and from the Electribes are in .emx / .esx format. They include bank, pattern, fx, motion and sample (esx) information. Can those files be edited?

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:50 pm

_INTER_ wrote:I'd be interested yeah.
But I didn't quite understand what the tool can do. Especially regarding the EMX. The files that can be loaded into and from the Electribes are in .emx / .esx format. They include bank, pattern, fx, motion and sample (esx) information. Can those files be edited?

I don't know anything about the .emx/.esx format ... can you please mail me with some of those files so I can take a look?

PCG Tools can be used (if I can find out how the format works) to:
- change the name of the programs (probably bank content)
- create a list of them in text, html or csv/excel format
- move programs up/down.
- copy programs from one bank to another or from one file to another file (as long as they both are from Electribe).
- and possibly some other goodies.

Hugo · Post by **Hugo** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:07 pm

I'd be interested as well

_INTER_ · Post by **_INTER_** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:29 pm

- change the name of the programs (probably bank content)
- create a list of them in text, html or csv/excel format
- move programs up/down.

It'd be really cool if you could make that work. I've tried to open the files myselfe once, neither .zip nor editor works. I really hope you got more insight and luck than me.

It's a pain right now to rearrange the patterns.

Here some files for EMX:
EMX1SD.EMX (factory preset)
UK_BASS.EMX

For ESX:
ESXSD_Factory.zip (including the .ESX file, factory preset)
TAMA.ESX (by Balma)

revo nize · Post by **revo nize** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:04 pm

that is a great idea, i'm pretty sure that every emx user will find such an editor very, very useful. arranging / transfering patterns between banks is a hellova job now. i wish u the best in developing that software, mate!

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:29 pm

I'm afraid I'm only talking about programs, patterns are very specific for the Electribe.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:32 pm

michelkeijzers wrote:I'm afraid I'm only talking about programs, patterns are very specific for the Electribe.

In the Electribe, pattern and sound settings alike are all stored in a slot.

So you have your set of sound parameters and step sequencer data, and then you can seamlessly change to another entirely different set of sounds and sequence data by turning the program (pattern) knob.
Basically a program IS a pattern.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:47 pm

Thanks for the explanation ... when I have enough information about the files, I will check what is the result and what I can get out of it.

button · Post by **button** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 12:38 pm

also check out Open Electribe Editor, a program that allows one to edit esx files. I've found OEE to be frustrating, especially with preset info regarding sample looping for the keyboard parts. have to go in and manually set the loop start and stop when they should be predetermined to loop already. Plus teh whole interface is unintuitive/confusing.

http://skratchdot.com/projects/open-electribe-editor/

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 12:55 pm

button wrote:also check out Open Electribe Editor, a program that allows one to edit esx files. I've found OEE to be frustrating, especially with preset info regarding sample looping for the keyboard parts. have to go in and manually set the loop start and stop when they should be predetermined to loop already. Plus teh whole interface is unintuitive/confusing.

http://skratchdot.com/projects/open-electribe-editor/

I will check it o ut when I will start analyzing the Electribe files in detail.

Sparker · Post by **Sparker** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:30 am

Yes I'd like PCG Tools for the ESX.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:55 am

I'm currently busy with microKorg, but I'm sure (some day), the Electribe will be added too ... I will post it here when available.

djcactus · Post by **djcactus** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 6:27 pm

Im glad you have taken an interest in the electribe, it would be great to have something that can organize my samples and make a .esx file and actually work. The esx editor that is out there gives me hit and miss results, usually missing when i need it most.

Although i dont think this is the direction you were going to take.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:02 pm

djcactus wrote:Im glad you have taken an interest in the electribe, it would be great to have something that can organize my samples and make a .esx file and actually work. The esx editor that is out there gives me hit and miss results, usually missing when i need it most.

Although i dont think this is the direction you were going to take.

I'm afraid PCG Tools mainly focusses on programs/combis, not about samples. So the .esx format is something for a (very) far future.

However, I hope PCG Tools can do some useful things for you anyway.