The Korg Electribe series can precisely construct and modify patterns whilst playing intuitively and spontaneously generating new sound variations. A decade after the launch of the Electribe SX we now have a new electribe sampler - with even more ease of use and fun for beginners and experienced users alike. The electribe sampler can be found whenever there is a need for speed – be it for live performance or music production.
The newly developed electribe sampler uses the latest technologies of the KingKORG, kaossilator, kaoss pad, tactile and other popular KORG products. Its internal memory can record 250 patterns and already contains contemporary presets heard in the dance and electronic music scenes. One of the outstanding innovations is the polyphonic playback, which is indispensable for music styles with complex chord sequences such as house music.
With the 16 front pads you can intuitively create patterns and listen to the sounds at the same time. To record phrases in real-time the pads can be used as a keyboard. With Step Recording you can enter pitch and note values step by step. When performing, the patterns created with the "step jump" function (typical of the Volca series) can be called up as desired, or the "last step" can be changed to vary the length of each part. The "Motion Sequence" function is used to record its control and key actions to use as a sounder element in the created pattern. During creation of complex rhythms, assign a drum part to each of the 16 parts and 16 pads. This new feature is also applicable to synths.
'Poor man's Octatrack' some call it. Well the Elektron interface may be off putting to some but this thing ain't exactly a walk in the park, just try resampling several times in a row and you'll see what I mean. If you have used any of the earlier generation Electribes you will find this is a very different machine - not as intuitive or quick at all. If they had just implemented the UI of the earlier Electribes and maybe had a few less pages in the menu this could have been a classic. I won't go into the wonky polyphony or the cutting off tails when changing patterns as there is plenty of user reports already out there.
So now I should mention some upsides. Again in comparison to earlier Electribes it has more/better effects, more polyphony, better pads, better screen and clock sync. There is also the option to have different length patterns running alongside each other for polyrhythm/polymeter.
All in all it's not a bad machine, it's just irritating when it's obvious that it could have been so much better.