Strange problem with my ESX's Arpeggiator Ribbon!!!!

[skinnyjimbo]

Hi,

Wondering if you guys can help me.... I bought a brand new Electribe SX (SD card version) about 8 months ago, and it was fine to begin with.

But recently, I've noticed that when i play the Arp ribbon and slider, it often inadvertently adjusts the values of the Cutoff or Resonance or Sample-start point knobs on the keyboard parts... (as well as playing the arp scale as normal).

It's just weird... I litarally have my pattern playing fine - then as soon i start playing the arp, the bass or another keyboard will sound dull or strange because the ribbon has just adjusted the sample start point or cutoff or resonance or a mixture of the three!!!!

My understanding is that the Arp ribbon is there just to play notes and 'stutter' drum hits, and not to control any other perimeters like Cutoff or Resonance etc etc???!!!

Can't find anything in the manual about this. I've tried disconnecting all MIDI cables from the machine, MIDI resets and restoring the machine back to its Factory bank... but to no avail. I have OS 1.02 installed.

Anybody had this problem before, and does anybody know how to fix it?


Cheers,

Jim

[gil videla]

I can only think that maybe the Cut Off is being modulated by the LFO and thus the ARP and LFO aren't in sync. Arp is playing 16ths and LFO is BPM Sync'd to 1/3rds.... just a thought.

[skinnyjimbo]

I can only think that maybe the Cut Off is being modulated by the LFO and thus the ARP and LFO aren't in sync. Arp is playing 16ths and LFO is BPM Sync'd to 1/3rds.... just a thought.

Thanks, I'll investigate that possibility and get back to you.

[skinnyjimbo]

Nope.... tried messing about with different arp types but the problem still occurs. Can't understand why just playing the ribbon alters filter cutoff etc etc.... real strange!!

Anyone else have any ideas? lol

[FranzK]

congrats! you have a fine example of

" its not a 'bug' its a 'feature' ! "

because it would be cool to control other things
beside the standard with those!

( ive often wished you could set it in the OS,
or that we get an XY ribbon aka Kaoss pad on a new Ekectribe!)

but its not cool if its uncontrollable.



random patam adjustment sometimes happens with my EMX,
but its a knob issue.

or you sure its actually related to the ribbon control?

[mesoboy]

I don't think it is connected with the ribbon, because I have just noticed the same issue. It appears that from time to time, for no apparent reason, one of the knob's parameters will flash up on the display and that parameter will change to whatever value the knob is currently set to. For example, if you've turned the cutoff up to 127 for one part, and then switch to another part which has a different cutoff value, if (randomly) the 'glitch' happens and the cutoff flashes up on the display the new part will take the value of where the knob is (in this case 127) - does this make sense?

I've no idea why this is happening - it's as if the knobs will 'fire/connect' randomly, as if an invisible hand had just slightly adjusted a knob. It's a right pain because unless you've seen what parameter has changed it can be difficult to know what has changed.

This happened to me after only 9 months of light use!

[skinnyjimbo]

@ FranzK

Yep, i am sure it's related the the ribbon control only.... if i leave the ribbon alone then the problem does not seem to occur. But it's a somewhat intermittent issue anyway.

@ mesoboy

Yeah, that makes sense. Weird thing is: the problem seems to occur on my ESX only when i play the arp ribbon and slider. I have heard of electribes having issues with jittery/unstable knobs...but the ones on mine all seem fine.

Funnily enough, my ESX is only 9 months old as well and has had very little use.

Thanks for the replies, guys. Will probably contact Korg and get it fixed under warranty.

[nicetones]

I have had this problem on two electribes. I have had a EMX and now have a ESX (both smartmedia) they both suffer from the same problem being described and this makes the electribe useless. when I accidentally touch the ribbon it activates the problem and other times when no pattern is being played the effect edit controls seem to go crazy... even when you dont touch the ribbon you can hear the adjustments that are being made... not cool. Its tough and looks like it would last a long time, its got a metal face plate and metal body but what good is that if the software or whatever is s**t... Im thinking about disabling the ribbon...but doubt it will work.

[Marsu]

I'm having this exact same problem with my EMX smartmedia. It always fucks up my groove, because I don't always notice what it has changed and it's hard to backtrack if I haven't saved for a while. Hate it since EMX is this far the best groovebox I've worked with :/

[roblabs]

Wow, this sounds horrible...I hope all you guys are contacting Korg about this issue regarding random changes. Something like this could be horrendous during a live set - has this happened to anyone?

Also I wonder how long this has been ongoing...seems almost like this could be a glitch inherent in the OS.

If anyone solves the problem, pls post what happened...I'm thinking of picking up an ESX at some point but this has really scared me, haha. For now ill just rock with my ea1 and es1 and pray for your machines' stability. Good luck!

[Marsu]

Well what I've gathered this far is, it affects mostly cutoff and fx edit knobs randomly. And afaik it only happens in the older SmartMedia version of the Electribes. Wouldn't be worried if you're buying new.

Well I could contact Korg just to inform them, I really doubt they'd do anything about it, just saying "that's bad" since I don't have a reciept :p

[Electromachines]

I have EMX and ESX, both smart media versions and have been jamming the s**t out of the ribbon/sliders(reverse config) for years. Iv even worn a shiny dip in the center of my emx ribbon, but so far iv not had a problem on either machine.

I hope it dosnt happen to mine... it sounds like a right pain in the arse!

[Billyb3va]

I also have the smart media version of the ESX. It is acting up also. The Modulation speed, depth, FX Edit 1, and FX Edit 2 will jump values when the unit is tapped or bumped. My guess it has something to do with a bad or weak connection in the unit. That would explain the settings changing when using the ribbon. Even the dial becomes unstable when its acting up. Now if you turn the mentioned controls all the way down the unit including the dial works fine.

[jameskdpis]

Hi guys,

I have an Electribe MX Smart Media and am having a similar problem. At least half the time I use the arpeggiator it will begin to control other features such as the cutoff, depth, effects etc.

It's basically made the unit unusable for me, as I used the arpeggiator in almost every song my band plays live and now I can't risk it, in case it starts increasing the cutoff level when I press the arpeggiator.

Did anyone happen to find a solution to this problem?

Cheers!

[thehighesttree]

There's been other issues people have brought up with short circuiting between the 2 main boards inside. You might be having some a short circuit coming from the arp somehow. People have fixed this using a sheet of insulating material between the boards.