Elektron Musical Instruments

I'm interested in getting one, but I have a few concerns. Here goes:

- Max 32 songs, max 64? kits, max patterns?
Can these be backed up and saved somehow, and loaded back in? I have an electribes ES-1 which I've already filled up over 2 machines worth of patterns. I can do this because it can load pattern/song data from memory card. 

- Any shaker/tamb/organic sounds?
I know this is a digital synth machine, but are there any good shaker or tamborine sounds? I use those quite regularly and it would be a shame to have to use outboard gear for them. Also good non-digital sounding snares are hard to come by. I know it wasn't designed to make these sounds, but maybe the physical modeling or SP12 synth has some?

-Effects
what the hell is a 1-band eq, is it parametric? If so why not call it that? I've heard the reverb is poor quality, i hope this isn't true. One of the reasons I don't like my electribes because the reverb effect is the absolute worst i've ever used, and I've used a lot. 

-Illumination
In the past the displays appear orange. Now on the elektron the display appears to be red. I have to say I really like the red, much much better. Is this on newer models only, or just the way they show up differently in photographs?

I think thats all my concerns for now. Unless someone knows where i can get a good deal on a used one!


james.d.stark
http://jamesdstark.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

"--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "james.d.stark" <james@j...>
wrote:
> 
> I'm interested in getting one, but I have a few concerns. Here goes:
> 
> - Max 32 songs, max 64? kits, max patterns?
> Can these be backed up and saved somehow, and loaded back in? I have
an electribes ES-1 which I've already filled up over 2 machines worth
of patterns. I can do this because it can load pattern/song data from
memory card." 

You can save your sysex data to your pc assuming you have a midi
interface on your computer.  You can save with a number of programs. 
One is MidiOx and my preference is Dumpster(sysex only!).  With all
the features I assume you would do more tweaking and so kits will not
pile up so fast considering you will be trying to get the right sound
you want for each part.

"> - Any shaker/tamb/organic sounds?
> I know this is a digital synth machine, but are there any good
shaker or tamborine sounds? I use those quite regularly and it would
be a shame to have to use outboard gear for them. Also good
non-digital sounding snares are hard to come by. I know it wasn't
designed to make these sounds, but maybe the physical modeling or SP12
synth has some?"

I think there is a tamborine sound.  Both, I believe, are not hard to
emulate on this thing.  Once you know what feature tweaks what in
whatever instrument
 
"> -Effects
> what the hell is a 1-band eq, is it parametric? If so why not call
it that? I've heard the reverb is poor quality, i hope this isn't
true. One of the reasons I don't like my electribes because the reverb
effect is the absolute worst i've ever used, and I've used a lot."

The eq they talk about has a gain and frequency knob.  This is on each
instrument.  I didn't care for the reverb that much, but there are
parameters that I have not gotten into tweaking.  Maybe someone else
can answer about this.  The reverb and the eq can really change a
sound, however.  I have had some surprises with the eq.  I have
requested some better effects directly to Elektron.  Hopefully a new
OS is due soon. 
> 
" -Illumination
> In the past the displays appear orange. Now on the elektron the
display appears to be red. I have to say I really like the red, much
much better. Is this on newer models only, or just the way they show
up differently in photographs?"

They are red.

"> I think thats all my concerns for now. Unless someone knows where i
can get a good deal on a used one!"

If you got the patience and live in N. America, use Ebay.  Once in a
while one will show up there, usually with a warranty.  This machine
blows the electribe away.

> james.d.stark
> http://jamesdstark.com
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Once upon a time, james.d.stark wrote:

jds> I'm interested in getting one, but I have a few concerns. Here goes:

Hi James, hope I can help.

jds> - Max 32 songs, max 64? kits, max patterns? Can these be backed
jds> up and saved somehow, and loaded back in? I have an electribes
jds> ES-1 which I've already filled up over 2 machines worth of
jds> patterns. I can do this because it can load pattern/song data
jds> from memory card.

Yes, I also own the Electribe ES-1, and an EA-1.  MachineDrum does not
back up to SmartCard like the ES-1 does, but it *does* handle backups
via SysEx like the EA-1 does.

In fact, I have created an Emagic SoundDiver Adaptation to handle
slot-specific save and restore functionality, if you use that
application as a MIDI librarian. Also, with the help of Elektron's
incredible support staff, I am also in the process of developing a
standalone editor for MachineDrum that will be even more flexible and
useful when it comes to backing up your data.


jds> - Any shaker/tamb/organic sounds? I know this is a digital synth
jds> machine, but are there any good shaker or tamborine sounds? I use
jds> those quite regularly and it would be a shame to have to use
jds> outboard gear for them.

I like the tamb in the E-12 kit, but usually end up mangling the
track into something alien!  Shakers are plentiful between the E12 and
PI machines, especially with the amount of tweaking you can do to each
of the machine tracks.

To an outsider reading the available names of "sounds" in the
MachineDrum, it may seem as if this thign is limited in what it can
produce.  However, once you try it out and see how far you can push
each individual machine with the parameters available, you will
understand the full potential of this machine.


jds>  Also good non-digital sounding snares are
jds> hard to come by. I know it wasn't designed to make these sounds,
jds> but maybe the physical modeling or SP12 synth has some?

The MachineDrum has the best of both worlds. But, like you said - this
is a digital synth, not a sample-playback device. If you are looking
for true real-world sounds, I would suggest a good sample library to
compliment the MD. That's not to say that you wouldn't be happy with
JUST an MD, but it sounds like you also want access to some sounds
that might just not be to your liking with a synth-based module.


jds> -Effects what the hell is a 1-band eq, is it parametric? If so
jds> why not call it that?

Because its better than just allowing you to specify a frequency
bypass. It also allows adjustment to the notch width and Q of the
filter. Kind of like a combo filter / EQ.  Its nice.

jds> I've heard the reverb is poor quality, i
jds> hope this isn't true. One of the reasons I don't like my
jds> electribes because the reverb effect is the absolute worst i've
jds> ever used, and I've used a lot.

If you want a true-life reverb, invest in the Waves TrueVerb or
AltiVerb software plugins... or even similar high-end hardware
counterparts like the Lexicon line.

I personally love the Electribe Reverb, simply because of it's
'other-worldly' sound...  but I wouldn't use it for all of my drum
sound, for sure.  Same goes with the MachineDrum...  its Reverb
algorithm is unique to the Machine.  Granted, it is not the end-all
be-all of reverbs, but it is very nice in certain situations.

When I want an ultra-realistic reverb, I usually just route one or
more of the tracks out the MachineDrum's multiple outputs into Logic
via a Live Input, and apply Waves TrueVerb.


jds> -Illumination In the past the displays appear orange. Now on the
jds> elektron the display appears to be red.

They are red.  Could be a photo quality issue, like you suggested -
but I only own, and have only seen, 1 unit...! :)


jds> I think thats all my concerns for now. Unless someone knows where
jds> i can get a good deal on a used one!

Try Ebay, though its only rarely I have seen one for sale there.
Also, keep an eye on this list - there have been a few for sale over
the past months.

Frankly, I can't see why anyone wouldn't love this machine.  It's one
of the most innovative pieces of rhythm hardware I have ever laid
hands on.  There isn't a time when I have used it that I haven't gone,
"Wow, that's awesome!"

I know I sound like an advertisement - but this device is really that
cool. Best of luck to you. If you want more info, just say the word...



----
Best regards,
Adam Watson

soundwithin
www.soundwithin.net

>I am also in the process of developing a
>standalone editor for MachineDrum that will be even more flexible and
>useful when it comes to backing up your data.

I'm interested :) Have you some release date ?

The MachineDrum has the best of both worlds. But, like you said - this
>is a digital synth, not a sample-playback device. If you are looking
>for true real-world sounds, I would suggest a good sample library to
>compliment the MD. That's not to say that you wouldn't be happy with
>JUST an MD, but it sounds like you also want access to some sounds
>that might just not be to your liking with a synth-based module.

The machinedrum is very powerful by itself but.... she's very powerful with 
other drummachine to !!!
I have plugged my oldies but goodies Roland R-70 to the machinedrum (MIDI) 
and i have made some Kit espacially for the R-70 with the Midi machine so i 
can make a song with the kick ass R-70 sound but using the MD !!! And since 
i'm in heaven, i have more sound that i can use and if i want i can hook up 
another drummachine.

a+

onosendai

http://onosendai.free.fr

Once upon a time, onosendai wrote:

>>I am also in the process of developing a
>>standalone editor for MachineDrum that will be even more flexible and
>>useful when it comes to backing up your data.

o> I'm interested :) Have you some release date ?

No, no set date yet, I have only started development recently. You can
be sure I will announce here once something is available for download.



----
Best regards,
Adam Watson

soundwithin
www.soundwithin.net