2 new units out from Korg both off-shoots of the Prophecy/Z1 line emanating from the mysterious 'OASYS' system from which these ranges' sounds are apparently drawn...... Both are aimed at the 'Dance' market, kinda like Korgs answer to the MC 'Groovebox' series from Roland ... and very interesting they are too....
You get a synth version - the ELECTRIBE-A... and a drum version - ELECTRIBE-R ..... each with Roland-X0X style sequencer running across the bottom.....Here's the synth version - the ELECTRIBE-A...
The ELECTRIBE-A ---- ok, the sound processing/synthesis is from the Z1 and Prophecy so listen to them to get an idea of what the synthesis sounds like... It's a 2 part multi-unit, which for newbies means allowing 2 sounds/parts to play at once max either from it's onboard sequencer or from an external sequencer.....
The Korg site states: "(2 VCO + 1 VCF) x 2 parts" - so we'll assume it's a 2 part monosynth... enuff for a bassline and a synthline if added to drums.....You can record patterns into the unit, and also record controller movement into the patterns by using assigned knobs to adjust parameters whilst the unit records the movement... nice touch that similar to something like the ASR-X from Ensoniq, and it'll also record fx movement from the controls too - so you can create interesting stuff i guess although the synth itself from the Korg spec-pages looks pretty basic - like no-where near as versatile as something like a Nova, Sunsyn, Sidstation, Microwave or whatever.... this is for basslines and single/twin vco synth-line stuff... a bass & synthline-box.... so you will haveta add-in other unit/s to get a fuller mix.... I guess It's more close to a 309 without the drums...
Having said all that, they'll probably sell shitloads of them - 2 reasons...
- They'll appeal as a first-time buy for starters.
- You should be able to have alot of fun with one of these, regardless of experience.
- You could play a gig with it in certain styles.
- It WILL integrate into a current setup.
On the potential downside - here is 2 things I can't find out today - (I'll add-it next week when I talk to Korg)
- Can it play an external synth ?? - is there any extra sequencer tracks ? This I doubt - it doesn't say so.
- Can it load midifiles so you can import pc sequenced songs ?
The first one is important, cos without it, you can't utilise the sequencer on the 'Tribe to seq' any other equipment you might have in with the 'Tribe's internal composition - so if you have a keyboard already that you like, but were figuring to get the 'Tribe to add a live sequencer and some modelling synthesis all-in-one, this will let you down if it can't seq' any additional outboard... I think it can't... but i'll 100% comfirm that next week...
The good news is you can just add-in another hardware sequencer and sync the two together to play a gig with the 'Tribe and another sequencer in sync to play the other hardware unit/s... or play additional parts live over the 'Tribe backing..... But to my mind whilst a solution, I think if it can't do that... if it cannot sequence addtional ouboard units into the song, Korg have made a mistake, cos if it DID, it'd seriously increase this units worth and sales potential...
Having said that, perhaps Korg though most people in that situation would have a sequencer already, and they'd mostly be right.... But still.... If it could do another few midi parts to accompany the 'Tribe's internal synth parts that would be nice.... So bare that in mind if you'te thinking of getting it partly to become a live sequencer & sounds-source for your current kit.....
The sequencer's storage ... You can store a total of 256 - (64 x 4 banks) phrases or patterns plus 16 songs consisting of multiple patterns.... enuff for a set -
All the above may seem harsh, cos i guess this is supposed to be a stand alone unit... but still - this seems like you could have alot of fun with it... It's supposed to tie in with the 'ELECTRIBE-R' which is the drum version ..... so both would be alot of fun and would be ok to do some gigs depending on style - BUT ... limited to the sounds therein..... there is always some compromise -
The upside is you can buy this synth version for use as a stand alone module cos it WILL work with incoming external midi from another sequencer... - so it's a good option to look at if you wanna add-in some of this sorta synthesis to your system and programme it with your current sequencer... On top of that, you could sync it up and use it's internal seq' clocked for all sorts of arpeggiated fx & patterns .... there's alot this can do over a stand-alone synth....
You get more... The audio-Input thing looks very interesting, cos you can input a synth-pad from one of your current units, and use the clocked 'Tribe sequencer to gate the incoming synth-pad -.... VERY interesting addition to the old sonic arsenal that'd be ... adding in a 'Tribe would add alot of potential arpeggiated effects via the sequencer, as well as allowing synthesis of external sounds via it's filters & fx.... They can all be clocked to the main sequencer... so you can start to see the possibilities there for adding in great rhythmic stuff to your setup whilst at the same time satisfying your need for some analog modelling..... Sure, other synths process external sounds, but I like that ability of the actual sequencer to process incoming sounds... interesting !!...
: Also interesting is the audio tempo thing where it can take a clock tempo from a tap-tempo or an external audio input such as from a turntable !.... cool....
My overall evaluation is that using the unit as above would reap greater dividends.... but where it'll fall down is to become a center sequencer for a system... BIG oversite if it doesn't do that.... but this unit all in all if bought as a sound-source for an existing studio would be very interesting with those onboard arp' facilities, synthesis of external-kit, and realtime control of paramters & fx.... well worth checking I reckon... just don't buy it as a newbie expecting to expand around it's sequencer... maybe Korg can release an OS upgrade to add-in some external tracks ?? ... I dunno if this is an open OS unit or fixed....
ELECTRIBE-A - SPEC'S
• Sound Generation Method: Analog modeling
• Number of Parts: 2
• Memory: 256 patterns, 16 songs
• Effects: Distortion, Tempo delay, chorus/flanger
• Sequencer: (Pattern) 64 steps maximum per part, motion sequence, 1 parameter per part, 64 events, (Song) 256 patterns maximum per song, event recording 65,500 events maximum
• Input: AUDIO IN (1/4" phone jack - mono x 1)
• Nominal Input Level: -10 dBu
• Input Impedance: 47k-ohms
• Output: PART 1/MIX, PART 2 (1/4" phone jack - mono x 2), Nominal Output Level = -10 dBu, Output Impedance = 1k-ohm, Headphones (1/4" phone jack), Nominal Level = 21mW + 21mW @ 32-ohms
• AD/DA Conversion: 18 bit linear
• MIDI: IN, OUT, THRU
• Power Consumption: 8W
• Power Supply: DC 9V (AC adapter)
• Dimensions: 300(W) x 222.5(D) x 53.4(H)mm / 11.8"(W) x 8.8"(D) x 2.1" (H), (including rubber feet)
• Weight: 1.25kg / 2.76 lbs
• Accessories: AC adapter (DC9V)
Tell you what... one of these with an old MC-303 would be a VERY interesting system if you think about it... you could have an MC- sound playing out in sync to the 'Tribe's clock, and feed the MC sound into the 'Tribe's audio-in, then use the 'Tribe to 'Evolve' the MC's sound with it's controllers or sequencer gate.... like a cross-sequenced sound !... that would be cool... old MC-303's are well cheap now at around 250 in London at least - so many were sold - they are cheap... and the 303 would provide piano's, strings and more digital chord stuff & drums too if you didn't have a'Tribe-R drum-version....add an old MC to the 'Tribe pair... that would be MORE interesting.... Or add this 'Tribe-A to an MPC... nice center setup !!....
I guess the good thing is more of this sorta stuff comes on the market, and there'll be shit-loads of it around s/h cheap in a few years... look how cheap MC303's are now.......hmmm....
I reckon they'll sell shitloads of this.... top marks Korg..... one of these would be a killer for most styles from Trance and hard-house arpeggiations to wicked Drum & Bass or Jungle subs, squeels & blips....
The ELECTRIBE-A - ..... comments please....
Read 42 comments
Add review/comment