Electribe and Namm 2011?

Discussion relating to the Korg Electribe products.

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bigfatpaul
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Electribe and Namm 2011?

Post by bigfatpaul »

Hey all -- given that the Electribes saw an "update" at last year's Namm (albeit a paltry one with the SD card), does anyone think there's a chance of any updates this year - my biggest wish being USB out?

I ask because I'm tempted to pull the trigger on an EMX-1, but don't want to do so now if there's going to be an announcement of a new one in a few weeks.

Also, any ideas where best to buy? It seems like a lot of retailers (e.g. Guitar Center) are no longer carrying them in-store, and I haven't found much on the used market (that is a significant enough discount over new).

By way of additional info, I'm not interested in a sampler - hence not the ESX-1 - and I've been using the old EA/ER series since back in 1999 and I love the format and ease of use.

Thanks for the input.
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X-Trade
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Post by X-Trade »

Considering the series was just updated with the SD model, I'd say absolutely no chance of an EMX or ESX successor or replacement this or next year.

But, I wouldn't rule out any parallel product which may be interesting to Electribe users.

If I were you I'd just go for it, the ESX and EMX are both pretty well-featured pieces of kit.
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
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Griffin Avid
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Post by Griffin Avid »

There's a bunch of artists willing to give them up on the Vintage Synth Explorer Forum. Just make a post in the selling gear section and you will get offers. Nice bunch of folks over there.

I actually doubt there will be an update for years to come. I've only recently seen Elektron update its drum machines with new storage so this idea isn't totally unheard of. The old electribes held their value for a while and then suddenly dipped for 'more than worth it' prices.

You'll be waiting for a while before this newer generation of tribes drops in value. Actually, with the new SD cards, there's probably going to be a decent amount of bumping up or jumping in with the new marketing hype.
It's basically a Grand re-opening of the electribe series.
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gil videla
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Post by gil videla »

the SD card is really not a huge change as has been discussed. and when it comes to sampler, once again ELEKTRON has beat the s**t out of KORG
with the OCTATRACK.
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Griffin Avid
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Post by Griffin Avid »

Don't forget to consider that the Octatrack is 3X as much as an electribe.
The Octa needs to be compared to an MPC 5000 and the MV-8800, which is now a little long in the tooth, but still very powerful.

And since those are more about full-on production, I don't know how the Octa fares beyond clever sample manipulation.
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Pastor-of-Muppets
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Post by Pastor-of-Muppets »

the octatrack has a pretty good sequencer in it - it's not just for manipulating samples

anyway, back on topic: I predict zero electribe news at NAMM
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gil videla
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Post by gil videla »

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:the octatrack has a pretty good sequencer in it - it's not just for manipulating samples

anyway, back on topic: I predict zero electribe news at NAMM
yeah not this close to the recent release of the SD versions, just too soon.
3rd Generation of Tribes have done so well for KORG and now extending that product offering with the SD there's no NEED for KORG to do anything new.

Besides, I think most of the new stuff KORG is release is pure s**t. Kaossilators looks stupid, the microsampler isn't micro anything, MicroKorg was a good hit as well, but nothing special, R3, etc... just don't do it for me. Though I appreciate Korg for releasing stuff year after and not disappearing from the game. If only they'd care about what us long time ELectribe users want. The Octatrack appears to be Elektron's stab at Ableton Live in a groovebox. Korg can learn from that example: not create the Korg version of Live in box, but create something that meets the demand - I can't say the SD card was the biggest demand on Korg...
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Pastor-of-Muppets
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Post by Pastor-of-Muppets »

I think the R3 is pretty good - I have no complaints about it at all, very glad I bought it - I have more Korg gear than any other brand, so I won't complain about their products much ... I love my KP3, ESX, R3, DS-10 and Monotron ... they're all great products, and apart from the R3 are unlike anything else on the market
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Griffin Avid
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Post by Griffin Avid »

If only they'd care about what us long time ELectribe users want.

Then there should be a thread Stickied at the top like a Next Generation Electribe WISHLIST. The stuff I'd like added in are all minor improvements like the SD Card update. I'd like USB like the K-Pro where you can export/import right from the machine without 'tracking out' your tunes.

I'd like a real soft editor that does way more than a librarian. I'd also like that to work Standalone and VST with realtime updates without a DAW and all the cumbersome MIDI set ups.

The leap from the original electribes to these current models was HUGE.
+ Less models with more functionality each.
+ Tubes
+ Effects
+ Multiple Synth engines
+ more sound slots
+ Ability to mix and match parts/sounds from different songs

Unfortunately they kept some stuff the same.
- Arranging songs as patterns
- Loading system
- Naming Convention
- No Audition for pre-loading samples/sounds.

Anyone who's spent some time with these could really lay on the mustard either way, but it does what it says on the tin. I'd love to hear about these demands and share some cool ideas about a wicked drum machine/groovebox.

I love KORG's simplicity. You get so much with very little effort with all of their products.

I do disagree with the comment about the Kaossilators looks. Everyone is drawn to that piece first in the studio. I think it's blast and so does the GF. Dudes start to play with the interface and get hooked. The lights alone gets it done as far as Jammin in the dark.

For me, the K-Pro answered EVERY complaint I had about the Kaossilator.
+ 4 Banks
+ mixer
+ Drums
+ Import/Export
+ Soft Editor
+ Save/Load

The only thing I can think of to add for the next version is to add back in the original gate and arp system, Longer Pattern lengths and minor behavior modifications- like having the counter always run or alternate so I can see where I'm at in the pattern, tempo flexibility....

Oh wait I remember some of my list. It needs some more robust sync options along with MIDI in being fully developed. And and...a way to expand the sound set- even if it's a pay-for expansion set.

And for the amount of stuff they added, the price is quite fair. I also keep the original plugged in to the INS so I rock them both together using only two audio channels.[/i]
sadist%vince
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Post by sadist%vince »

I guess I'll get a Octatrack now!
DJ Zombot
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Re: Electribe and Namm 2011?

Post by DJ Zombot »

bigfatpaul wrote:I haven't found much on the used market (that is a significant enough discount over new).
That's because they're awesome machines that have held their value very well. I've mine 6 years now and it's still one of the center pieces of my live rig and easily the best $500 I ever spent.
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