Gear Question: Rack Mount Drum Modules

Not sure if it is possible with the electribe. If you have the manual, there is possibly a section about controlling external devices. If you dont have the manual, do a google search for it, its probably online... hang on, did it myself...
http://www.ifrance.com/techno-id/ER-Manual/index.htm
Just had a look at the online manual, didnt see anything about using its sequencer to control external devices, but it might be there, just had a brief look... your best plan would be to go to site where there are definitely a few electribe users and ask them, there are lots of links here:
http://www.sonicstate.com/synth/Korg_ElectribeER.cfm
Or else there is probably a yahoogroup...yep...http://groups.yahoo.com/group/korgelectribes/
ask there and they will definitely sort you out.
there are lots of sequencers out there that will do the job, dedicated hardware ones, or computer ones, if you buy a midi interface for your computer... what you go for depends on how you like to work and how much money you want to spend..
Better get back to work!

I would be very suprised if the Electribe doesn't send out midi control signals.

First you will need a midi cable attached from the OUT on the drummachine to the IN on the module.

You probably need to have the drum module's MIDI input channel (1 to 16) the same as the output on the Electribe.

Being that it is a drum module, you may have to go into either the Electribe or module and ensure that the MIDI note assignements (like F#, 3rd octave = kick, G = snare, etc...) are set up to be the same. If this isn't done, when you hit a snare on the drum machine, you won't get the corresponding sound or no sound off of the module, if the note isn't the same. You might get lucky in this case, because most manufacturers set the percussion to similar notes based on General MIDI.

Following up on Conor's link to the manual, it seems you can do just what you want. Have a look at these pages:

ER1 as Master, Savings Global Settings

and

MIDI Mode :Midi channel, Midi note, Midi data dump

The second page about midi notes shows you what notes are assigned to the various pads by default, and how to change them.

wow, thanks for the info!

I'm new to this midi business but it looks as easy as assigning the different pads on the Korg to the respective sounds in the module.

I suppose then, once I do all this assigning, I no longer need to use the Korg as my main sound source when making patterns and loop.

I did a quick search on the yahoogroups and it seems that it is possible, but the midi out implementation is fairly limited:

-----Original Message-----
From: nicklisher [mailto:no_reply@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 11:30 AM
To: korgelectribes@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ Korg Electribes] Little help?

Hi,

I'm trying to use the ER1 as a sequencer, so that while it's
producing it's own sounds it's also controlling a synth via midi.

I've found this quite easy except for midi note length. The only two
parts that seem to have control over midi note length are the audio
in parts (using the decay you can control the note length with these
two)

However, I can't get anything more than a staccato note with the
other parts (PCM parts, hi-hat, crash, etc.) when using them for
controlling the synth.

Has anyone else tried this and come across this problem? The manual
doesn't seem to give any help. If the ER1 can overcome this i won't
need to buy another sequencer!

Many thanks, NL

...which was followed by someone else's comment...

"hm... electribe makes a cruddy sequencer, can't record any midi, buy a
computer."

...but it looks like you can at least get started with the korg and then maybe move on to something more flexible if its limitations become a problem.

jesus, thanks conor. sadly, you've done more research than me.

Another thing you might want to look into is picking up a cheap sampler rather than a drumstation. You can get old Akai S-series boxes on the cheap these days and get a lot more bang for the buck.

You are not going to get a drumstation online for less that 250usd, you can pick up a 2nd hand s2000 for not too much more.

no worries lawrence, i am in full work-avoidance mode today, and its very easy to find the info if you know where to look (and I have researched quite a few synths and samplers in the last while, been on a bit of a buying spree this last year...)
that sampler advice is worth thinking about too...