Korg ElecTribe Er-1 MkII

Every sound is tweakable like a synth so that is a plus. The step sequencer is cool you can tweak your sounds and set up your patterns ont he fly with ease because you just click a sound pad and then click the steps on the sequencer where you want that sound to play. The ERMKII can link up with other Electribe equipment in the series line for more tweaking and more sounds so that is a plus as well. For a small box and an ok price the ERMKII has solid features that fit it.

Price paid: 275.00 USD

UTILIZATION

I found the ERMKII easy to use. If you understand the concept of step sequencers it's pretty much pick up and go. On the tweaking hand, it is also pretty easy. You can just play with the knobs and hear the differences in the sound on the fly or you can look at the manual and get in depth and see what each knob does. Their wasn't anything with the ERMKII or any point of time during usage that something became difficult of confusing. Tweaking sounds was alittle confusing at first and I just played with them without knowing what I was actually changing but it's user friendly and a good starting tool.

SOUNDS

The sounds contained within the ERMKII and the sounds that can be created with it are mostly techno/dance sounds. Every sound can be tweaked to make a ton of compelty new sounds but theres only so much you can tweak the eventually you get the same sounds after a while. If your heavily into techno/dance and step sequencing the ERMKII would be a nice start for you. Their isn't really alot of amazing or crazy sounds in the ERMKII though. If your a techno/dance head you have most likely heard a lot of these basic sounds before. Even with the tweaking, it's not very in depth so the variations aren't really wide.

OVERALL OPINION

The casing is pretty solid but I wouldn't trust dropping it on hard ground. The knobs aren't really sturdy and you can wobble them, I didn't like that. The pads were ok, a little stiff but they were solid. I am careful with my equipment so I can't really say if it holds up to a a real strength test.

I only had it for about 2 months because I am more hip hop based while the ERMKII is more techno/dance oriented. It was cool to use sometimes. I would just sit down and and just start putting in patterns on the step sequencer easily and tweaking sounds on the fly. I'd reccomend it to someone just getting started with making beats and only if they have techno/dance oriented music in mind.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: H&R ( 4-, 2006)

Everything has been said ...

UTILIZATION

The general config is simple, once you understand the logic of the machine. And what do you stop a bit anyway ...

Wholesale buttons control the instrument "in progress": if the instrument changes, the same driver so the same parameter button, but on the other instrument, QED ... I wish I could assign buttons to a instrument continuously, but hey, given in the context of the time it is anyway really intuitive way.

Separate outputs have also been welcome ....

The biggest concern for me is the bank access patterns. The machine always starts on the A01 ... to go to D24 for example, a single solution, turn the whole contraption that serves frail = wheel is chiantissime. A button to switch from one bank to the other it would have been good. A numeric keypad, a luxury ...

Similarly start some things reset (syncro noon memory protect). This is boring.

Boring as the impossibility of erasing a beating. But ...

SOUNDS

There is need to dig. Frankly there are patterns to the limit of unlistenable. Like "ultra-goa-trance-hardtek-and-blues" you might want to delete quickly. Other, more traditional, sound not bad and gives a good impression of what it can do.

Because "it" can do! The synth engine is really not bad, although I find it hard to really get the "potato". it really is not a 909, but sounds "old school" a little cheap it does. The progra is very simple, brief playing quickly with is very much alive, and for the price, no complaints.
The sequencer is programmed "on Roland", the shots when you know it is not out of place.

In any case you should see the machine as a dedicated synth percussion, just a drum with static sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

Machine very underrated I think. Very low rating provides a very good rhythm box that fits quite well in a set "electro pop" cheap. My mininova adopted it immediately. My TR505 made him up.

I did that for a short time and I do not have all increased. But for now, I program my patterns, and I find my sound very quickly. hair cell is what I wanted.

Connectors of good quality midi in thu out, audio out and two in two.
The principle is simple, all sounds can be expressed thanks to the analog synth, so the infinite variations!
The format is nice, trs eye was quick to master the beast, without spending days the head in the manual.

UTILIZATION

Quick and easy master, this groove box gives way the imagination is easily made and the presets are already numerous enough to find happiness.

SOUNDS

Trs good, very practical to evolve the sound of his drum kit in real time and the infinite, there is even a part for the improv. I exploded with the audio in intgrant in vocals or guitar, I had some pleasant surprises.

OVERALL OPINION

I am satisfied, however, some of rticent acqurir a techno groove box itself, by grinding a bit, I quickly found my account in the style of hiphop and R & B, as sound s are fat kicks in, the hi-hats excellent. Since then, I said with 12 pieces, I stop by to ring my galrer battery kits.
I test Abors the Roland D2, too plastoc and sounds without any momentum, and the edition hello ... The Novation drum too, but not squence, so no travel and considering the price ...
So the ratio price quality is excellent, it is found 300 euros new, I recommend it!

Audio interface and MIDI standard, nickel
256 recordable patterns
Squenceur simple and effective
Only minor complaint, but a lack of effect that price we will not complain!

Edit: please note that you can not use the closed and open hihat at the same time ... Good a priori no other allows either and it's not useful forcment, tight deadlines is a limitation.
The same applies to the crash and the clap. It's a little boring but ... Other concerns, not for the Protection of Mute ...

UTILIZATION

There's no easier, you arm and everything is easy!
The squenceur, trs visual is very practical.
It's all good!

SOUNDS

The sounds are clearly orients electro / techno.
It's perfect for me, the sound is of good quality and the possibilities are standard.
It's a BAR but we can do well trs pieces of synth bass and minimal.
For molten minimal techno, dark, that's all that necessary.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a good month, bought just over 220 euros new! For this price it's amazing the quality of this small bte! I would do this choice with his eyes closed! The only small default is the lack of effects but it's no big deal.