The Korg Electribe

Electribe

Electribe is the name given to a group of electronic musical instruments by Korg. From its beginnings with the Electribe R to the ESX-1, this series includes both analogue modeling synthesizers and sampling drum machines that can be programmed the same as a drum machine...

 R was released in 1999 as a dedicated electronic drum machine

Drum machine

A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...

 to complement the Korg

Korg

is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...

 Electribe A bass synthesizer. It features a 64 step sequencer

Music sequencer

The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...

 and is MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface

MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...

-controllable. The sound is generated by digital signal processor

Digital signal processor

A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...

 circuits but can be manipulated in realtime (analog modeling synthesizer

Analog modeling synthesizer

An Analog Modeling Synthesizer is a synthesizer that generates the sounds of traditional analog synthesizers using DSP components and software algorithms to simulate the behaviour of the original electric and electronic circuitry, in order to obtain the sound in a more precise manner from the...

 principle). A cross modulation function (replacing the previous ring modulation

Ring modulation

Ring modulation is a signal-processing effect in electronics, an implementation of amplitude modulation or frequency mixing, performed by multiplying two signals, where one is typically a sine-wave or another simple waveform. It is referred to as "ring" modulation because the analog circuit of...

 of the Mk I version) can be applied to percussion synthesizers 1 and 2 in the ER-1 Mk II version. The only other differences were new preset rhythm patterns and the metal casing. Because of the easy programming possibilities and competitive pricing the ER-1 quickly became popular among DJs and studio musicians. The overall sound character can be described as synthetic, similar to classic Roland

Roland Corporation

is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...

 TR drum machines. However, the sound remains completely "tweakable" allowing realtime human variation and interaction, not unlike 4 simultaneous percussion synthesizers. In 2010, Korg released iElectribe R, a software version of the Electribe R for the iPad

IPad

The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...

.

Korg Electribe R mkII Features

Analog modeling system plus PCM

Powerful Cross Modulation

Audio Input function

Step Sequencer

Motion Sequence function

Low Boost and Delay effects

Tap Tempo and MIDI Clock

4 synthesizer parts

4 PCM parts

2 audio-in parts

One accent part

256 patterns, 16 songs

Delay effects: Normal, Motion Sequence, Tempo Delay

Motion Sequences: synthesizer part-3 parameters, drum part-2 parameters, accent part-one parameter, 64 events

Pattern sequencer: 64 steps maximum per part; one parameter per part; 64 events per part; 256 patterns maximum per song; 35,700 events maximum

Specifications (Korg Electribe R mkII model)

Connectors: Stereo phone plug (nominal level: 21 mW + 21 mW, 32 ohm); Output phone jacks (PART1/MIX, PART2): mono x 2 (nominal output level: -10 dBu, output impedance: 1 kilohm); Audio in phone jack: mono x 1 (nominal input level: -10 dBu, input impedance: 47 kilohm); MIDI: I/O/Thru

Dimensions: 11-2/3"W x 2-3/16"H x 8-2/3"D

Weight: 3-1/3 lbs. / 1.5 kg

Power Supply: DC 9 V

Power consumption: 5.5 W

Accessories: AC adapter (Korg KA181)

External links

• http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/etr.php
• http://www.planet-groove.com/korg/electribe_r.html