NAMM: Korg Introduces Tube-Powered Electribes

Electribe MX (Click for a close-up)

Electribe SX (Click for a close-up)

The Electribe MX Music Production Station and Electribe SX Music Production Sampler join Korg's Electribe Series of dance tools. They are designed to provide DJs, musicians, and producers with powerful new sounds and intuitive production methods for laying down tracks in the studio and performing live.

In addition to Korg's new Multi Modeling Technology (MMT) synthesis engine in the Electribe MX and advanced sampling technology in the Electribe SX, both Electribes feature Korg's Valve Force circuitry, which employs two 12AX7 vacuum tubes at the output stage for added analog warmth and saturation.

Both units have an extensive selection of pre-loaded patterns (192 -- Electribe MX; 128 -- Electribe SX) from various musical genres including house, hip-hop, R&B, electronica, drum'n'bass, techno, trance, and more. Up to 256 patterns can be created and stored to internal memory. Data can be quickly saved and loaded via SmartMedia. Three on-board stereo, digital multi-effects processors can be used simultaneously, each offering 16 effects such as reverb, delay, flanger, and chorus, as well as more extreme effects like talking modulator, tempo-based delay, grain shifter, decimator, and more. Each part can be routed to any of the three effects processors and multiple effects can be chained together.

Both Electribes are equipped with new multi-mode resonant filters offering four filter types, as well as a new modulation matrix enabling the user to create their own unique sounds. Real-time and step sequencing functions are also provided, as is a new performance arpeggiator with a ribbon controller and slider that allow the user to enter data or improvise over a pattern in real-time. The ribbon controls the length of a note while the slider controls pitch changes (selectable from 32 musical scales the Electribe will generate). Korg's proprietary "Motion Sequence" function is also included and can record up to 24 real-time knob movements per pattern. Finally, Tap Tempo, MIDI Clock, and Auto-BPM detection facilitate easy lock-up with any external device or source needed.

The Electribe MX

The Electribe MX employs Korg's new Multi Modeling Technology (MMT) with 16 different oscillator algorithms providing powerful analog synthesis models as well as unique additive, PCM, chord, unison, wave shaping, formant models, and more. Its built-in PCM library includes 207 drum sounds and 76 synth sounds ranging from powerful kicks and snares through amazing, organic sounds. External audio signals can be manipulated using the Audio+Comb oscillator algorithm, then further processed by the internal filter and effects.

With nine PCM-based drum parts and five DSP/PCM synth parts the user can produce full-sounding and complete tracks. In addition to the new multi-mode filter design, the Electribe MX also has a new "Drive" parameter that produces the distinctive overdrive of saturating an analog filter, creating powerful and biting sounds.

Electribe SX

Using sample-based sound creation, the Electribe SX offers 16 parts for building patterns. Nine parts are "one-shot" samples, or Drum Parts, while two Keyboard Parts allow samples to be played melodically at various pitches using the step keys or a MIDI input. Sampled loops can be assigned to the two Stretch Parts, and their tempos can be adjusted without affecting their pitch, which enables playback synchronization of different loops. Phrase samples can also be "Sliced," or divided up at the rhythmic peaks of the sample. Once sliced, individual samples can be muted to generate new grooves. A generous 285 seconds of memory (at 16-bit, 44.1kHz resolution) can be used to create up to 384 user samples.

The Electribe MX and Electribe SX will be available September and October 2003, respectively, with suggested list pricing of $850.