KORG SIX new exclusive products---new Electribes

[Blue Monster 65]

Slightly OT: wasn't there supposed to be some reason for the five pins on a midi cable? Some extra functionality that's been left behind? I thought I'd heard thar years ago (late '80's).

The unused pins were reserved for future functionality, but as midi is still at v1.0 they haven't done anything with them yet.

Yes - that's been one of the complaints about midi: nothing new since ages ago. I'm sure I head something specific at the time, but I'll be damned if I can remember.

I'm quite sure the real reason Korg (and others) choose to go with Apple / iOS is due to the ubiquity of the system. There's been plenty of discussion about the lack of musical apps on Android and other systems. I'm sure that when (or if?) those operating systems get to the saturation point that Apple has, you'll see more manufacturers climb aboard there, too. Therein lies the conundrum: if the system doesn't offer what the other does, then how is it going to grow? And if it doesn't grow, how is it ever going to be considered for use by others? Not a lot of hipster-ism in those kinds of business decisions unless you're some bedroom developer, I'm afraid.

Frankly, it would be nice for an industry standard of an OS so that you could port whatever software you have between whatever device you have. But I don't see that happening.

[Bitexion]

That's what Java does.

[mute]

loading samples was laborious and the noise put me off.

http://www.skratchdot.com/projects/open ... be-editor/

easy-peasy

[StepLogik]

Slightly OT: wasn't there supposed to be some reason for the five pins on a midi cable? Some extra functionality that's been left behind? I thought I'd heard thar years ago (late '80's).

The unused pins were reserved for future functionality, but as midi is still at v1.0 they haven't done anything with them yet.

I always had the impression the main reason was that din plugs are cheap as chips...?

The official spec says to leave the extra pins unconnected (The Atari ST was famous for violating this requirement). I recall an article in Keyboard magazine from the 80's that discussed the midi spec in detail. The original 2-wire design was chosen so that MiDI signals could be included in stage snakes using DIN-to-XLR connectors. DIN connectors were chosen because they were cheap and abundant then and were the standard for serial data at the time. I think the article also mentioned (or I'm misremembering and making this up) that they were also chosen in lieu of TRS or XLR in order to prevent incorrect connections with audio or clock jacks.

[zoomtheline]

loading samples was laborious and the noise put me off.

http://www.skratchdot.com/projects/open ... be-editor/

easy-peasy

At the time I had a computerless setup.

[Blue Monster 65]

Just got the word that current ETA on the Electribe (not the sampler version) is November and US price is $399.

That's what Java does.

Yeah, I should have been more clearer. What I'd like to see is one universal OS that ran everything, so you didn't have to choose which platform you wanted to work on and either be stuck with that or buy multiple systems. I know, I know: you can run Windows under Bootcamp or buy a computer that switches OS (Sweetwater sells one), but what a PITA if you're just looking to run a few things that will only work on one or the other (and I'm not mentioning linux, either). I suppose if you're a programmer these things are probably readily understandable to you, but if you are (like me) an end user who just wants stuff to work without banging your head on the table, sometimes these tools are NOT very fun.

[fh991586]

Where do you get those TRS-Midi cables? I've never seen them anywhere!

[masstronaut]

I suppose the point is if Korg did the sample transfer app in Java it would be platform independent and would be somewhat future proofed if nothing else by being simple enough to run in a browser. As it is it does seem like a bit of a misstep for the Volcas even if it is otherwise cool. I wonder what the oldest version of iOS it will run in - you can pick up an old iPod Touch for less and less obviously. People are still managing to run old synths that need CP/M computers to talk to though.

[masstronaut]

Bit concerned about this simplified modulation on the new Electribes. I hope you can have a variety of LFO shapes at least. Let's not dumb it down too much eh.

[ninja6485]

I'm quite sure the real reason Korg (and others) choose to go with Apple / iOS is due to the ubiquity of the system. There's been plenty of discussion about the lack of musical apps on Android and other systems. I'm sure that when (or if?) those operating systems get to the saturation point that Apple has, you'll see more manufacturers climb aboard there, too. Therein lies the conundrum: if the system doesn't offer what the other does, then how is it going to grow? And if it doesn't grow, how is it ever going to be considered for use by others? Not a lot of hipster-ism in those kinds of business decisions unless you're some bedroom developer, I'm afraid.

Frankly, it would be nice for an industry standard of an OS so that you could port whatever software you have between whatever device you have. But I don't see that happening.

They can make these apps cross compatible, they just aren't doing it. Apple benefits from the fact that software won't run on their competitor's devices, and the software developers can probably make more money by doing business with Apple alone. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple invests their own resources to help maintain the heavy handedness of musical software compatibility with their devices.

[Kidney05]

edit: double post

[Kidney05]

Just got the word that current ETA on the Electribe (not the sampler version) is November and US price is $399.

Do you have a secret source? I hope the sampler isn't later than that.

new Electribes! Me wanna! I´ve owned each one of them, at the end, I kept only the ESX-1.
but only one model? Any hope to get a new version of the ESX-1??

I'm not sure if anyone else has answered you but there's two models, a sampler and synthesis version of the new one.

Edit: doubled post sorry

[Blue Monster 65]

Just got the word that current ETA on the Electribe (not the sampler version) is November and US price is $399.

Do you have a secret source? I hope the sampler isn't later than that.

I used to be a Korg dealer, so I still talk to some people.

They can make these apps cross compatible, they just aren't doing it. Apple benefits from the fact that software won't run on their competitor's devices, and the software developers can probably make more money by doing business with Apple alone. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple invests their own resources to help maintain the heavy handedness of musical software compatibility with their devices.

I'm sure they can. As to whether Apple would do such a thing ... I wouldn't put it past them. Or anyone, if they feel they can corner a market without getting nailed for it.

[masstronaut]

In fairness Android has its problems with hardware and OS variations. It's also still inferior for audio AFAIK, not that this would be much of an issue for sample management but it's one reason it doesn't have the take up of iOS for music apps. I'm sure the decision to go with iOS initially at least has something to do with perceived ease-of-use, reliability and quality of presentation, some of which may be true to an extent, and not true to an extent

[StepLogik]

Where do you get those TRS-Midi cables? I've never seen them anywhere!

I don't think anyone makes them since they are such a niche product. You would probably have to make them yourself. Fortunately, that isn't too difficult.

Midi to XLR: http://eventhorizon-srv.com/ecommerce/o ... ts_id=3944