What Makes the Korg Electribe 2 Unique in 2021

A 2021 semi-review of the Korg Electribe 2 - the synth version. It's still a unique standalone groovebox / portable synthesizer and might still be worth getting for some of y'all.
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[RandomNoiseMusic]

This thing gets real fun when you use it in ways that were never intended for, like an analog drum machine :) specially the synth version with all the extra oscillators and filters, you can get some really cool percussive sounds

[jantuitman]

This thing looks mysteriously cool and definitely has the “can be totally self contained music making” attraction factor.

[frederick]

Got rid of my Electribe 2 and purchased an old school Emx 1. Whoa what a beast.

[josepha]

I like the fact that you are keeping the Electribe flame alive. Thank you.

[johnmcnally]

I use mine all the time and I love it. I love the work flow and the sound design options.

[xeppepochannel]

I still can't understand why people hate this wonderful machine. I bought the synth version first and some days ago I decided to buy his partner, the sampler. I really love them.

[rgrant]

I like your timing of this video as just this week I busted mine out after having it on the shelf for a year or so, I got sidetracked by Elektron gear, and it was so much fun to get back onto it again, feels much more tactile and immediate than newer gear and so easy to mangle sounds.

[GeorgeL]

If I were CEO of korg I would just hire Jim Pavlov to design a hardware version of grooverider gr-16, pump some money into it and call it Ultimate Electribe 3... or Electribe III 3rd strike

[AndyVonal]

Hi Gabe - just a note about the MIDI out on the Electribe... those mini MIDI outs do not seem carry the standard current (I had a similar issue on the BSP). If you chain devices "In/thri/in/thru" it seems to struggle. it works fine if you have a powered MIDI thru box, however. Funnily enough I have just come back from a short holiday and I took my electribe with me (first time I have used it in ages) and thoroughly enjoyed using it! Sure it's limited by MPC standards but the thing is just soooo easy to use to get an idea going. I have had my MPC One for about a year and am only just getting to grips with it. Nothing like "simplicity" for inspiring creativity. sometimes too many options just get in the way!

[majasobiech]

Perfect timing with this video, I have been looking for some info about this device just recently and there you are with this! :) Thanks!

[NeoLudditevisons]

Its super underrated! Pair it with the sampler version and boom!! This allows for layering of synth sounds which can get pretty wild. It takes time but totally worth once it all clicks

[telumatramenti]

It's still relevant in 2022. Once you fix the annoying issue of ruining your work by mistaking "sessions" knob for "Oscillators" knob either marking it a different colour from the rest, or making a cap cover for it (I made a nice raised metallic cap cover for it) - you're good to go. It's the only hardware synth I need to take with me whenever I do promotional EDM busking. It makes it possible to simultaneously play 2 oscillators, - one Oscillator on MIDI channel 1 by using a mini keyboard, and entirely another oscillator by using the pads which gives you a very rich synth sound repertoire, even though you have to use external reverb, - it's no big deal. And, when you play Acid House it covers for TB-3 (303) very decently with squelchy, screaming sounds. Finally: batteries. 6 rechargeable batteries let's you have fun for hours without draining your portable lithium battery power supply, leaving more time for the DAW on my laptop drum machine.

[MistabishiTV]

You can do the sidechain/duck effect by using the limiter on the mfx section... :)

[JustinThomasProducer]

Thanks Gabe, I used to have the black sampler version . I bought the grey synth version yesterday and wow ! Its so easy to sound design high level sounds on it and has more to offer for me as far as synth sound design. Im using this with Novation Circuit, Korg Gadget, AUM and a few inter apps for live looping style performing. Thanks for helping me decide what to get .

[Inbellion]

Praying for a firmware update or a custom firmware...just to fix some of the small quirks the device has. Also an improvement on the sample manager.
I have the black sampler (for hip hop beats). The interface of this device is great. I love that I can manipulate the samples with knobs instead of menu diving. Makes for a great machine to carry a ton of samples on.

[fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Most people just don't realize how capable this thing is. I've created sounds with this that sound like they came straight from a movie. I've even made big Moog sounding synths and complex digital sounds as well. It may take some time but it is very rewarding in the end. You don't need software. I just have more fun by doing it all in the electribe.

[ritualsoundsystem]

Truly underrated box. I much preferred the hacked sampler version though and never went back. If they had included all of the synth version oscillators, filters and the ES2 samplers functions, it would’ve been really dope. I used mine as the master brain for live shows along side an Elektron box and loved the results. Plus, the grooves you can put on tracks really can make the tracks come alive more than just adding swing.

[grouponspeam]

7:45 Yes! The“play to start recording” function is such a basic need for a groove box and I can’t believe my Circuit Tracks simply neglect that :(
10:18 I believe you didn’t use the right cable. Korg applies a different type of mini TRS-A midi jack, which is not compatible with TRS-B (from Novation, Arturia).
At the beginning, I thought I should sell my ES2 for CTracks, but it turned out that I kept both. CTracks is excellent but not enough to take place of ES2. Especially, 2 melodic tracks is way too limited.

[KrevardTM]

There's also a custom firmware named hacktribe to add the sampling function on the synth

[johnchesters]

Great video Gabe. I’ve recently re-bought an Electribe 2. Yes, it does have its limitations (that are well documented) but the sound design capabilities are good to my ears.
I’m going to try and sequence with an iPad, to overcome the limited sequencer.