Ableton Forum

rikhyray wrote:I enjoyed the MX but then after sometime you hit its limits, I like the UI specially wicked arp/touch pad combo, to trancend the limitationsI experimented with it to drive analog synth module and jomox with great results. Since i need compact sequencer for stage this is the best out there with usable lenght of patterns. I ordered ESX to keep the nice UI but upgrade the sounds to my liking, additionally to ext modules.
If you want just to have fun, specially live on stage ESX and EMX are unbeatable, if you cant enjoy them then maybe you don enjoy music, these are ultimate musicians toys, specially if you like improvising

Rikyray is right...

The Korg ESX is a better buy. The user interface on either the EMX or ESX is wonderful. It's just that the ESX obviously allows you to import your own sounds (it's a sampler).

I would figure that Korg will be releasing a new version here soon, and it will include a usb port for quick transfers. I hope they decide to keep the same UI. They are loads of fun to play with. Effects are god awful and kinda a pain in the ass to use. My suggestion is to buy the ESX, keep it simple and apply the effects to what ever you sample before putting it into the ESX. The filters are real nice on the Korg. Talking Modulator is pretty good in my opinion. Other than that stay away from those effects...

I have both the EMX and ESX so far and I've been surprised to find that I like the EMX a lot better so far. Getting samples on the ESX is a pain and editing them without a graphical display is tricky too. You're limited to only two melodic parts also.

The ESX makes a nice drum machine but I can write whole tracks on the EMX. I hope Korg does keep improving the Electribes though.

I've also got a Korg radias which is pretty much an EMX after being bitten by a radioactive spider and developing super powers. Great sounding and surprisingly versatile synth that's only $1099 new now. Makes the Virus C it sits next to look a little stodgy.

i own and use extensively a ER-1 and EA-1 and they are both great machines.

Since ESX is on the way, the fellow who bought my MX got to wait till Monday, I am working with it right at the moment with hooked up Jomox Mbase, it works perfectly. Specially that using RME changed dramaticaly whole midi sync issues.I will be definitely looking for the Airbase rack since for my way of working Electribe seq is better then Jomox itself ( i mean seq) or Machinedrum. i plan to load ESX with perc samples and use it as drum machine while using 2 of its tracks for analog synths.
I should mention that these boxes are perfect for little jobs like the one I am doing right now, music for dance/exercise aerobic kind of shit. means not to demanding really. With Electribes you can manufacture hours of such "utility" music a day and have fun along the way.

when i saw neil landstrumm in detroit last month, he had several of the electribes in his setup. knows how to work em too...

yes, the emx and esx are both very nice. i was using the esx first (sampler) and figured the emx wouldn't be worth it. i was wrong. the internal synth of the emx is very capable (despite the pretty limited architecture).

here's some pics of landstrumm's setup. i saw him at demf but didn't catch his setup there.

http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~thayl/landstrumm.html

i started using the ER1 in the last couple months. the range of sounds is limited - but i think that presents a nice challenge - through tweaking the various filters and delays you can get some nice sounds.

and knobs and blinking lights are just good things.

swishniak wrote:

i started using the ER1 in the last couple months. the range of sounds is limited - but i think that presents a nice challenge - through tweaking the various filters and delays you can get some nice sounds.

i use mine since the ER-1 came out first, yeah the sounds are limited, but for creating patterns / programming they are superb you can create enormous human grooves, the timing is not tight just right for grooves, mnjam.

just my 2cents.

apart from the clicks you get all the time that drive me nuts and wanna squash the thing against the wall, the EMX-1 is a killer.

but it clicks clicks clicks every stupid attack bass sound....fuck that.

and try to use the delay wirth those sounds... all you here is that click bouncing the walls and screwing the whole sound.

why isn't there just a simple ADSR in there that would solve everything... really übersucks.

BoimB son of BoB wrote:apart from the clicks you get all the time that drive me nuts and wanna squash the thing against the wall, the EMX-1 is a killer.

but it clicks clicks clicks every stupid attack bass sound....fuck that.

and try to use the delay wirth those sounds... all you here is that click bouncing the walls and screwing the whole sound.

why isn't there just a simple ADSR in there that would solve everything... really übersucks.

Just wait...

I think Korg has the next generation of the electribes coming out this week (Namm)...

I would predict maybe 1 new electribe that combines the features and user interace of bioth the SX and EMX and throws in a usb port for quick file transfers. Whatever the new electribe is, it WILL have a usb port on it which is overdue. I hope they keep the touch ribbon controller and heck, even the tubes which don't actually do anything but look cool...

thelike5 wrote: Just wait...

I think Korg has the next generation of the electribes coming out this week (Namm)...

I would predict maybe 1 new electribe that combines the features and user interace of bioth the SX and EMX and throws in a usb port for quick file transfers. Whatever the new electribe is, it WILL have a usb port on it which is overdue. I hope they keep the touch ribbon controller and heck, even the tubes which don't actually do anything but look cool...

Are you just guessing here or do you have actual information?

A combo emx/esx with usb and velocity-sensitive pads and a full asdr envelope would be great.

kuniklo wrote:

thelike5 wrote: Just wait...

I think Korg has the next generation of the electribes coming out this week (Namm)...

I would predict maybe 1 new electribe that combines the features and user interace of bioth the SX and EMX and throws in a usb port for quick file transfers. Whatever the new electribe is, it WILL have a usb port on it which is overdue. I hope they keep the touch ribbon controller and heck, even the tubes which don't actually do anything but look cool...

Are you just guessing here or do you have actual information?

A combo emx/esx with usb and velocity-sensitive pads and a full asdr envelope would be great.

Nah, just guessing but I'm sure the new electribe will have usb (all other Korg products have had a built in usb port for data transfer since the Korg Legacy collection came out).

I along with a lot of other people here pay pretty close attention to NAmm Meese, etc. and just figure it's overdue. As history has proven, a manufacturer like Korg usually drops the price of previous models (take the elctribes EMX1 & ESX as examples) for roughly a year or so before clearing the way for the new model. The MX and SX have been discounted long enough from their original price tag of $750 down to $499 to justify the new version coming out. Plus, every other product of theirs has been somewhat updated- (Korg Legacy digital edition, newer Triton, heck even newer chromatic tuners!)

The only thing that makes me a little UNSURE that an electribe WON't be introduced is that Korg announced/released a ton of new gear this past Winter at NAMM (MicroX, Radias, padkontrol, etc.) and could justify holding off for another few months.

Other then that, look out for Native Instruments to make an annoucement for newer software or updated versions. You don't discount Absynth, Traktor, Guitar Rig and FM7 by more then 50% unless you have something up your sleeve. Then again we are talking about Native Instruments who thought it was a good idea to release KORE!! Maybe they will have more hardware everyone can make fun of...

NI = absynth 4, fm8 and a wavestation synth i cant remember the name of - not out till xmas apparently

no idea about korg - nothings been mentioned

mo

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Korg does come out with new Etribes. I hope they do. I love my EMX but getting samples onto the ESX is a bitch.

I'm sure NI has stuff coming too. They'd better or all the Komplete Kare customers will mutiny.

octave one's myspace photos page has live shot using the emx too. it's a live monster box.

i agree about the clicks - i get them some too.

a new electribe would rock. i slept on these for so long thinking it was more shitty "groove gear". i was so wrong.