My experience with the Electribe (a positive review)

blackholesun · Post by **blackholesun** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:36 am

After reading a lot of the negative reviews and experiences here, I'd thought I'd counter with a positive and, in my opinion, pretty fair one.

My background: I have never owned a previous Electribe. I've been making music for 13+ years, mostly as a guitar player, but have dabbled in the electronic side of things just as long.

I've had the new Electribe for a little more than a month now. On first turn on, the Electribe can almost be a little daunting. Sure, switching between oscillators and putting in patterns is easy, but there are quite a few menu options and it immediately seemed like workflow would be an chore. The first thing I noticed was that you only have the one edit knob for editing each oscillator, which changes function from osc to osc. Despite this, I find it pretty easy to dial in very usable sounds, between tweaking the filter, modulation, eg and fx. It would be nice to be able to edit each osc as you could another synth or drum machine, but I also appreciate that I don't have to start from scratch on a new sound and can dial in things pretty quickly.

The filters in this thing sound really good. You have a nice variety, including some classic filters. The modulation section is great. I really feel like I haven't seen many people use the mod section on youtube videos I've seen of the new Electribe. There are so many ways to get creative with this and tweak each osc, be it subtle or insane. The effects...well I could take or leave them. They are mostly pretty weak, but they are appreciated. It sucks that there are no reverb insert effects, and it sucks that you can't stack effects either, insert or master. All in all, it would be hard for me to expect Strymon-like effects from this in the first place. This isn't an effects unit.

The sequencing in this machine is quite useful as well. Not being able to go beyond 64 steps in a pattern (without tedious workarounds) is another issue. But it's quite easy to get whatever is in your head out onto this machine. I haven't had any issues with MIDI like others have had, though I'm not a fan of those 3.5mm MIDI cables. Sequencing external gear has been a joy, and running them through the filters, modulation and effects is awesome. I wish that I could choose the MIDI channel of each pad, but then again, it makes it easy to remember what I have on each channel/pad. Looking at other sequencers, there aren't a lot that can do what the Electribe does, especially at this price point.

Of course there are the most common issues..the clipping...the pattern switching issue...voice stealing...but then again, it's only been out a few months without a major OS update and it feels like we are guinea pigs. There's still time for an update.

After having the Electribe for a month, I think my bottom line is this: this thing makes for a great, possibly even amazing tool to sketch out song ideas, pattern ideas or anything you can think of. A musical diary if you will. It's portability is a boon. I take it to work each day (I work in an office) and it fits perfectly in my laptop case/bag. If an idea pops in my head, I can switch it on, find a close enough sound, record it and revisit it when I have time. After that, I can make it sound pretty damned good and dial in the sound I'm looking for, if not close.

If I'm honest, I'd probably never use just the Electribe by itself for recording...maybe a live set. But for a tool in my creative arsenal, it has been a major boon. No one should think of this as their only instrument, but as something to compliment everything else and possibly use as a musical diary.

I could be way off base, but I just wanted to share my own experience thus-far.

Andrew_OM · Post by **Andrew_OM** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:31 am

Your review is is so positive that almost each paragraph you're including at least one aspect that could be improved on the E2

captain johnson · Post by **captain johnson** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 12:05 pm

You can stack effects on insert an master. Mistabishi shows 3 types of filter on one sound on the sonic state preview.....

Frenzies · Post by **Frenzies** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 12:16 pm

captain johnson wrote:You can stack effects on insert an master. Mistabishi shows 3 types of filter on one sound on the sonic state preview.....

He shows a filter, with another filter in the ifx and another filter in the master fx, he doesn't show effect stacking.

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 3:15 pm

but that's the general idea.

and you could further stack effects by using modulation.

atb1983 · Post by **atb1983** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 11:24 am

I guess I have had mine for around a month now. I honestly enjoy it more and get cooler things out of it each and every time I turn it on. It's my only instrument (sold a MicroBrute and a Volca Keys to get here) and I have never been happier or more inspired by my setup.

Kcearl · Post by **Kcearl** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 2:22 pm

Just got mine a few days ago...a new baby means my studio is off limits so Ive been looking for battery powered sketchpads.

I like it simplicity and sound...was building sketches in minutes with no need for the sparce manual. I also think its Live integration is excellent. With only two outputs this is a must if anythings going to be fleshed out.

What I dislike....well 4 bars means its limited for me, im not interested in playing parts in a performance, the instruments are a waste of its memory, and the fx are a little meh.

Overall though Im enjoying it and Ill think seriously about adding the sampler too.

bladuck · Post by **bladuck** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:50 am

Kcearl wrote:Just got mine a few days ago...a new baby means my studio is off limits so Ive been looking for battery powered sketchpads.

Exactly, my situation too, a Bose portable speaker, e2 on battery ,one short 1/8" cable and I run from room to room ..... Portability is the key for me

apapdop · Post by **apapdop** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:22 am

bladuck wrote:
Kcearl wrote:Just got mine a few days ago...a new baby means my studio is off limits so Ive been looking for battery powered sketchpads.
Exactly, my situation too, a Bose portable speaker, e2 on battery ,one short 1/8" cable and I run from room to room ..... Portability is the key for me

I think portability has made a huge positive impact on (my) music making, ipad, battery powered kit etc. inspiration can strike while you're sat on the bog, grilling the kid's fishfingers, on your lunchbreak or upstairs round the inlaws. It doesn't always strike when you sit down, at the time you have specially put aside, and proclaim "I am now going to make music". All hail he rechargeable battery in all its forms...

Kcearl · Post by **Kcearl** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:16 pm

bladuck wrote:
Kcearl wrote:Just got mine a few days ago...a new baby means my studio is off limits so Ive been looking for battery powered sketchpads.
Exactly, my situation too, a Bose portable speaker, e2 on battery ,one short 1/8" cable and I run from room to room ..... Portability is the key for me

I had mine out on my porch the other day...its killing my batteries so I just make sure Ive always got six on charge!

If I just use one volcas with it I can still keep it on my lap, dunno what Ill do when the sampler drops...get a bigger lap I guess

bladuck · Post by **bladuck** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:45 pm

Kcearl wrote:
bladuck wrote:
Kcearl wrote:Just got mine a few days ago...a new baby means my studio is off limits so Ive been looking for battery powered sketchpads.
Exactly, my situation too, a Bose portable speaker, e2 on battery ,one short 1/8" cable and I run from room to room ..... Portability is the key for me
I had mine out on my porch the other day...its killing my batteries so I just make sure Ive always got six on charge!

If I just use one volcas with it I can still keep it on my lap, dunno what Ill do when the sampler drops...get a bigger lap I guess

I get anywhere from 5 to 7 hours with one battery set. But I'm a battery freak. I have this charger
http://www.amazon.com/Powerex-MH-C800S- ... 1429565717
and best result with these batteries
http://www.amazon.com/Powerex-MH-8AAI-B ... B0057OLF9Y

Make sure that you use the charger on "soft" charge to prolong the battery life. This charger individually charges each AA to get you the best performance. I have 4 sets of AAs and just keep swapping them
also I use the power-saving features on the E2 to get such a high run on one set. The power saving setting makes working under a direct sunlight impossible. Then I use umbrella over the E2 so I see the freaking mute state lights.