Korg Monotribe

The last way I've used it was synced with Reaper (Reaper sends a click track to an hardware output of the interface, which is connected to the sync in plug of the Monotribe). This provides a pretty good sync but does nothing about the tiny sequencer of the Monotribe, which is for me the main limitation of the box.

That's the reason why I'd like to buy a Miditribe I/O Module, but I'm hesitating because I'm broke and because I'm not sure that those modules provide a good midi control. If it does, that would be a huge enhancement though.

I'm still interested in hearing some feedback about Miditribes in case someone there already played with it.

  On 2/13/2013 at 7:09 PM, Antape said:

The last way I've used it was synced with Reaper (Reaper sends a click track to an hardware output of the interface, which is connected to the sync in plug of the Monotribe). This provides a pretty good sync but does nothing about the tiny sequencer of the Monotribe, which is for me the main limitation of the box.

what do you mean it does nothing? As in, you have no external control over it?

All i'm really looking to achieve is sync playback with an external drum machine (my MC-505 groovebox) so hoping the sync cable should allow that easy enough

if not, i may well dish out and get the midi package and install - would be happy to report back with findings

I didn't imply that the sync is not working well (actually it does really good as soon as you've found a good sync signal - in my case I had to adjust the frequency and level of Reaper click if I remember well. The only thing is that if you stop the DAW in the middle of a measure, your monotribe will pause in the middle of its sequencer and start from that point the next time you'll press Play on your DAW, which means you have to manually stop the Monotribe practically each time your stop the DAW in case you're using it more in a recording studio configuration as I do. But if you're more wanting to set up a hardware based rig and jam with it without a stop this shouldn't be a problem at all).

Anyway, what I meant is that I found the first obvious limitation of the Monotribe is its tiny sequencer : in one hand it's a good thing because if forces you to go for the simplicity and the efficiency in the sequences you're programming, but in the other hand it can be quite frustrating when you'd like to develop your melody more or make the song structure go further. Another limitation of this sequencer is that you can just save one sequence, which will load every time you power the box up.

In those regards, being able to send midi to the Monotribe would allow to expend the sequencer capability to the ones of you DAW or of any other midi hardware sequencer, which could be awesome because I find the Monotribe is a very good sounding peace of hardware with a simple though very direct control over the sound : couple that with a good sequencer and you have a realm of analogue monophonic synthesis in your hands (well, that would need to be confirmed by someone who owns a midi I/O module).

Looks like you can see all the spec here on page 17 of this doc.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_CMqCIkdIkxYTE1ZTg4NTEtNTQxNy00MjZkLWI4ZTktM2I5YmM2MDdhM2U0/edit?pli=1

This kit's from Amazing machines :: http://amazingmachines.com.br/products_miditribe.html .

Looks like it does a whole lot actually. Can even output the ribbon controller to midi cc data!

Yeah from the doc going with the module it seems to be very good. I read somewhere that when you make a midi sequence that you want to output towards your tweaked miditribe, you have to make each note ending in the same time than the beginning of the next one, otherwise you can hear some clicks (but that's actually another flaw of the Monotribe sound that you can hear a lot when using the internal sequencer : the end and beginning of each note is not smoothed ; in some cases that can have some charm though (example here with the flanged clicks in the beginning of the track)).

What I'm looking for is more the opinion of someone who worked with the module several times and who would be able to tell if it's stable. I can't see why it wouldn't be though, and I think I'll go for one as soon as I receive the next pay.

  On 2/15/2013 at 11:09 AM, Antape said:

Another limitation of this sequencer is that you can just save one sequence, which will load every time you power the box up.

Really? i thought once you re-start it, the monotribe loads the pre-made factory set track, but sounds different depending on where your knobs etc. are set? Is there a way to save a sequence?

Also, just to clear something up in my head: i'm guessing if I wanted to save my various synth sequences one could (when modded with the midi) connect it into a DAW and literally hit play on the tribe and hit record in the DAW and the MIDI notes should just pop up as if i were playing it live? Then when one would want to recreate a sequence Live with the Monotribe they could reference these input notes - or even send them to it via MIDI - and if they had taken a photo of the physical monotribe's knob set-up it should all recreate just as it was originally?

  On 2/15/2013 at 12:22 PM, Antape said:

Yeah from the doc going with the module it seems to be very good. I read somewhere that when you make a midi sequence that you want to output towards your tweaked miditribe, you have to make each note ending in the same time than the beginning of the next one, otherwise you can hear some clicks (but that's actually another flaw of the Monotribe sound that you can hear a lot when using the internal sequencer : the end and beginning of each note is not smoothed ; in some cases that can have some charm though (example here with the flanged clicks in the beginning of the track)).

 

What I'm looking for is more the opinion of someone who worked with the module several times and who would be able to tell if it's stable. I can't see why it wouldn't be though, and I think I'll go for one as soon as I receive the next pay.

ya that would be due to the really primative volume envelope. :)

  On 2/15/2013 at 7:19 PM, TRiP said:

 

  On 2/15/2013 at 11:09 AM, Antape said:

Another limitation of this sequencer is that you can just save one sequence, which will load every time you power the box up.

 

Really? i thought once you re-start it, the monotribe loads the pre-made factory set track, but sounds different depending on where your knobs etc. are set? Is there a way to save a sequence?

Yeah, you just have to press the record button for two seconds and your sequence is saved and will load each time you power up the Monotribe.

  Quote

 

Also, just to clear something up in my head: i'm guessing if I wanted to save my various synth sequences one could (when modded with the midi) connect it into a DAW and literally hit play on the tribe and hit record in the DAW and the MIDI notes should just pop up as if i were playing it live? Then when one would want to recreate a sequence Live with the Monotribe they could reference these input notes - or even send them to it via MIDI - and if they had taken a photo of the physical monotribe's knob set-up it should all recreate just as it was originally?

Ahh, very handy knowing that you can save your last sequence...although it would be a shame to lose the preset one, its a nice sequence to just turn on and jam a lil' with it before inputting new notes (is there a way to factory reset it i wonder?)

I agree with what your saying about learning what each knob does, and over time having the muscle memory to just tweek and squeek to your hearts content, with the little time i've spent playing with it so far i'm starting to understand each switch and knob, it's nice

So to finally confirm my thoughts - if i was to convert it to a miditribe - all i'd need to do is route a midi out cable from my MC-505 groovebox to the midi in on the 'tribe and it should send transport playback sync?

I actually forgot to watch this video :

It responds to your question about recording midi from the Monotribe (basically you can record midi from all the knobs except filter cutoff + resonance), and also responds to mine because the guy shows that the mod seems to be pretty efficient and stable. The few reviews I watched from him are always interesting and well made. Anyway, I've decided to buy a Miditribe IO soon.

Regarding your question about the MC-505, I'm not familiar with that but I guess that if this sequencer sends its information in MIDI then everything should work well.

Good luck to you

you too, good sir. Do update us when you make the mod, interested to hear results

Good idea, let's make that !

cya

guys the vanilla MonoTribe is getting CV input:

autotranslated korg japan site:

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.korg.co.jp%2FProduct%2FDance%2Fmonotribe%2Fversion2.html&act=url

yes:

  On 2/26/2013 at 1:14 PM, phling said:

guys the vanilla MonoTribe is getting CV input:

 

autotranslated korg japan site:

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.korg.co.jp%2FProduct%2FDance%2Fmonotribe%2Fversion2.html&act=url

 

yes:

what'chu'talking'bout? please elaborate - does vanilla refer to version 1 or something?

sorry i meant un-modded. a firmware update (2.11) from Korg came out which enables CV/Gate control through the sync-in port. I've skimmed through the google-translated instructions.. you can calibrate it, it supports both Hz/V and V/Oct and if I interpret it correctly, also both V-Trig and S-Trig.

Anyway I've just built a single-purpose cable for hooking a Monotribe up to the Analog Four, like the guy in the video above.

Will elaborate further after testing this. I don't own a Mono personally, but a friend has one... he won't be happy to lose control over his little nasty box haha....

man, i cannot over-stress how i dislike the limited sequencer of the Monotribe, because other than that it's a fun little thing innit, so this update is really cool.

tis' odd - upon a few searches it seems they haven't offically released it other than in Japan

I got one more MIDI'TRIBE question,,,

i'm thinking of buying this: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Midi-interface-for-Korg-Monotribe-IN-and-OUT-easy-to-fit-external-box-miditribe-/300860037255?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Pro_Audio_Samplers_Accessories_CV&hash=item460ca7d887#ht_2022wt_1394

and i'm hoping to do the following:

X-station MIDI OUT - to - MC-505 Groovebox MIDI IN - MC-505 Groovebox MIDI OUT - to - Monotribe MIDI IN

this i'm hoping will allow me to control the Monotribe with the keys on the X-station (like a synth), plus send sync clock info (start/stop/bpm) to monotribe with the MC-505 groovebox

does that sound possible/correct?

  On 2/27/2013 at 9:52 PM, TRiP said:

 

tis' odd - upon a few searches it seems they haven't offically released it other than in Japan

 

I got one more MIDI'TRIBE question,,,

 

i'm thinking of buying this: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Midi-interface-for-Korg-Monotribe-IN-and-OUT-easy-to-fit-external-box-miditribe-/300860037255?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Pro_Audio_Samplers_Accessories_CV&hash=item460ca7d887#ht_2022wt_1394

 

and i'm hoping to do the following:

 

X-station MIDI OUT - to - MC-505 Groovebox MIDI IN - MC-505 Groovebox MIDI OUT - to - Monotribe MIDI IN

 

this i'm hoping will allow me to control the Monotribe with the keys on the X-station (like a synth), plus send sync clock info (start/stop/bpm) to monotribe with the MC-505 groovebox

 

does that sound possible/correct?

I think that you should use the MIDI Thru of the MC 505 if you want the keys midi information coming from the X-Station to pass through. That said I don't know any of this machine and you should simply refer to the manuals if you want to be sure it'll work.

Oh, and I also have a question for the Monotribe users in here. Did you already try to use the audio IN input ? I did, but I realized that the incoming audio was coming out of the box only when the synth part was playing, and I couldn't succeed in having the source alone (but instead a mix of the source + the synth ; the VCA controls the volume of both signals together).

I went through the manual and couldn't find any information about how having the incoming source only. Is that definitely impossible ? Any ideas ?

  On 3/4/2013 at 12:50 PM, Antape said:

Oh, and I also have a question for the Monotribe users in here. Did you already try to use the audio IN input ? I did, but I realized that the incoming audio was coming out of the box only when the synth part was playing, and I couldn't succeed in having the source alone (but instead a mix of the source + the synth ; the VCA controls the volume of both signals together).

 

I went through the manual and couldn't find any information about how having the incoming source only. Is that definitely impossible ? Any ideas ?

yea there is a way around this i believe - its the same problem on things like the monotron and its friend the Delay.

I saw it in a video - perhaps a Sonic Labs video (?) where he basically kept a very high note pressed down and set it to such a high frequency that you couldn't hear, so it allowed the input audio to play-back and allowed control of the filters on said imputed audio...but again, afraid i don't any more specific settings etc.

also - ordered a MIDI unit for my 'tribe last week - should arrive 2moro...will post my findings

Cool, thanks for the reply.

I ordered a module too, I'll keep you updated ;-)

my MIDI unit arrived today - too easy to hook up, the lad did a great job putting it together

didn't have much time to test, however the first big issue i'm realising is that when sending clock info from my groovebox i'm finding the monotribe doubling the tempo of the groovebox's tempo - as the monotribe is an 8-step, and my groovebox a 16

hopefully i'll find some way around this - unless anyone has any suggestions? trying to make my groovebox only play back 8-steps may be a solutons, but it almost misses the point in buying this MIDI unit

With the second version of the monotribe OS it's possible to switch the internal Monotribe sequencer in 16-steps mode. Everything is explained with the little upgrade manual that you'll find easily on internet.

  On 3/7/2013 at 9:08 AM, Antape said:

With the second version of the monotribe OS it's possible to switch the internal Monotribe sequencer in 16-steps mode. Everything is explained with the little upgrade manual that you'll find easily on internet.

true that, but i've also read that this update doesn't affect the MIDI part of the monotribe, only the sync out part

i told you its a piece of shit

use your words sonny

I ordered the miditribe more than three weeks ago and it's still not there... I'll probably mail Amazing Machines tomorrow, too bad it takes so much time. Did you solve your problem and have some interesting results TRiP ?