Are Electribe MX/SX tubes supposed to be a little noisy?

panorama1003 · Post by **panorama1003** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:58 pm

Are Korg Electribe MX/SX tubes supposed to be a little noisy? (not through headphones or monitors but the machine itself)

The other night I was up pretty late, so it was very quiet in the room/house/outside, working with the MX and I noticed the MX itself was a little noisy and had a hum type of sound.

Is this normal or are the MX/SX themselves supposed to be dead quiet?

Anyone else experience noise/hum with their MX/SX?

Thanks.

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 2:33 pm

The unit itself is subject to a bit of noise, but changing the tubes with a better set definitely improves this. When you're researching what tubes to buy, look for ones that say they "smooth out" the sound, or simply turn down the ratio of tube gain vs. normal volume. I got some that reduce the overall volume to about 70% (see it here), but boost certain levels...like a compressor does, and it works really well!

panorama1003 · Post by **panorama1003** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 5:26 pm

So it, is, somewhat normal then. Thank you for the reply! I will eventually look into replacing the tubes for better ones. Sounds like a good idea!

djcactus · Post by **djcactus** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:40 pm

if it just happens to be the unit itself and not in the signal chain then its probably the circuitry. Im always under the firm belief of "dont fix it if it isnt broke".

panorama1003 · Post by **panorama1003** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:09 am

Thanks for your comment. So you mean it's, normal, right?

Another question since you mentioned the signal chain.

Is it normal to hear slight hiss/hum noise through the headphones when plugged into the Electribe powered on and the volume is turned up?

I'm assuming these machines aren't 100% dead quiet since they do have electric circuitry, but I just wanted to ask.

Right now I mostly only work with the Electribe using my headphones and when powered on I do hear slight hiss/hum noise through the headphones when the volume is turned up.

Is this normal?

Thanks.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 2:19 pm

panorama1003 wrote: Is it normal to hear slight hiss/hum noise through the headphones when plugged into the Electribe powered on and the volume is turned up?

I'm assuming these machines aren't 100% dead quiet since they do have electric circuitry, but I just wanted to ask.

Right now I mostly only work with the Electribe using my headphones and when powered on I do hear slight hiss/hum noise through the headphones when the volume is turned up.

Is this normal?

Thanks.

completely normal. If it didn't make a noise I'd trade with you

djcactus · Post by **djcactus** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:58 pm

It sounds normal, all equipment has some bits of "signal to noise ratio"(s/n). Now if your plugged into your mixer and the noise is just as loud as your signal i would suggest you have an issue. Now if no sound is playing and the electribe is still turned up and a little noise exists this should be normal.

panorama1003 · Post by **panorama1003** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 5:47 pm

thank you so much, guys. djcactus, that makes sense.

I should have mentioned the reason why I was asking is because I bought the MX used so I just wanted to make sure these small details weren't defects.

the MX is my main instrument at the moment, I love programming it and am currently going through the manual, I want to learn this thing like the back of my hand.

neotechtonics · Post by **neotechtonics** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 5:59 pm

panorama1003 wrote:thank you so much, guys. djcactus, that makes sense.

I should have mentioned the reason why I was asking is because I bought the MX used so I just wanted to make sure these small details weren't defects.

the MX is my main instrument at the moment, I love programming it and am currently going through the manual, I want to learn this thing like the back of my hand.

I wish you well on your journey.

The EMX was my first piece of hardware which still to this day is my favorite and the core of my current setup. Work methodically with the manual from the ground up and along the way experiment further with the knowledge you gain. Dig deep with each synth type individually and you'll discover pure gold.