if you open the monotribe you can see a lot of "hot spots" for DIYers, which in my opinion means that Korg was focussing on that audience. Maybe the Monotribe is just a marketing tool to see how the audience reacts to all this "DIY" euphoria and therefore, they might start building "not-finished synths/kits"... idk, it would be cool if they did synths with a lot of tweakbility in terms of electronics design
honestly the ribbon and portability is what makes this thing fun. If you just want to have it in studio hooked up to a keyboard, you might as well get a keyboard synth. Also the thing is monophonic. You can't play chords so...
It's most definitely on the high side for $10 of parts maybe $20 with shipping from various ebay stores, but any time I can avoid making bad solder joints and messing up things, it's worth the premium for me.
I'm liking Korg more everyday. Well done Korg. Keep the the hacks easy for us, appreciated! What a great and versitile little gadget. Everything done right considering the excellent price point. Its on my list,
I've added MIDI interfacing to my Monotribe with a different (significantly cheaper) kit, but I can confirm that the unit responds to pitch bend messages and can record them in the sequence.
I was the first to document this mod, and I've yet to make any money from it. I suppose it's my fault for not seizing the opportunity, but I'll still point out that $88 (after shipping is added) is a bit on the high side.
@sonicstate could you use the MIDI out to chain monotribes? Throw in some Y-cables to feedback the sound between them and I bet you'd get a pretty nice sound! :)
@KWHCoaster Obviously the lack of patch-storage will be an issue for some looking at the MiniBrute. Then again, how much more would it have cost once patch-storage was added? Real analogue differs in that you have every switch and dial upfront, so what you see is what you hear, patch-storage is less necessary that way. But if you cant interconnect things and sync it up, then there's a real problem.
To encourage both enthusiasts and a third-party sector. Plus, voided warranties are no skin off Korg's nose. If you look at it from a business perspective, it's genius.
Great demo! I think it answered this question, but I'll go ahead and pose it: can the monokorg be controlled by any external clock (i.e., drum machine, sequencer, etc.) via the midikorg?
Really interesting! At the moment I've got one MT controlled by CV/Gate from my Ms-20 (provided with the latest OS 2.1) However, this MIDI option provides more control over the little beast, so maybe one should go find another MT and get ones hands dirty :)
@Syntox The MiniBrute is everything people have been asking Korg to make really, and i think it'll cost Korg sorely. That said, it is a different beast compared to this cheaper module, but MIDI?
Hi @sonicstate (or anyone else that knows...) Is there anywhere I can buy the miditribe? Everywhere online is sold out & I cant find any second hand. Please help! I live in the UK. Thanks!
Have you had luck with Abelton syncing to external clock? Working with my partner it seems that he needs to run the clock on his computer because Abelton doesn't seem to sync tight enough to my hardware devices for example my Korg Electribe. Thanks! ~J
I own a KingKorg which has a dedicated Sync output that can be used to control the Monotribe. Are there any advantages to the MIDI kit that the Korg sync does not have?
Thanks for the review Nick! Love my Miditribe (the earlier version with just midi in). Unlocks the device for actual song composition! I think the filter is analogue so no midi control?
Ableton Live's external mode does not work with hardware sequencers. I tried Electribe, MPC, Kassoilator Pro, iPad. All of them resulted in Ableton to receive a jumping bpm number. Also, pressing play on the hardware makes ableton to speed up for about two seconds and then slowly adept the original bpm. So it is no use at all. Same counts for NI Machine, which cannot be used in midi slave mode due to bad synch.
@MarctheDarc I wonder how many people will complain about the MiniBrute's inability to save/load patches? Some are whining already. I'm still thinking of getting one though.
@MarctheDarc Or, perhaps Korg wants to bring newcomers into music? I started by getting the $30 Korg DS-10 Plus for the Nintendo DS and had a lot of fun with that and ended up buying a Korg Monotron to tinker with. Had so much fun with both that now I'm having fun with my Yamaha YPT320, Korg Kaossilator PRO, KP3, R3, Wavedrum, Roland SP-555 and Waldorf Blofeld module. All thanks to $90 worth of Korg toys.
@KWHCoaster Quite impressive evolution. Still, dont get me wrong, i get that they use different outlets to lure people in, like the stuff for iPad. That makes sense, and is useful in its own right. My problem is how they start with a great idea, and then degrade it to a point where it boarders the useless. The speaker causes unnecessary noise in the output. They made it ready for MIDI but "forgot" to add the plugs for it. It's so intentionally inferior and doesnt fit in a studio or live setting.
That's where we fundamentally disagree, because this didn't need to be a toy. With a few minor changes that wouldn't have cost Korg anything, considering that it would save costs to ditch the speaker and the "sync", this would have gone from being the toy it is now, to being a must have tool present in every musicians studio. They have alienated their primary clientel for a few kids that use it a few times and bin it. "World leader in musical instruments" rofl! Rather poor business management.
I think this just underlines how off Korg was, not to put MIDI-plugs into the Monotribe to begin with! Like so many other of their products lately, they've focused on toy-ish things, like built in speakers for terrorising the schoolyard, and completely foregone actual useful and necessary features! And it's obviously not missing alot for it to be possible, so question is - what is their motivation for leaving it out when it would've required so little of them?
Hi. some help for a "noob" please. I play synthesisers but have no experience of sequencers. I am looking for something small to use busking, a compact battery powered synthesiser is great but the ability to loop beats is even better... IF I am able to program patterns which are not constant squares!!! Is there any way to program odd times into this thing, 5s, 7s etc? I'd go mad being stuck in such dull geometry. if that is impossible, are there any good alternatives without including an external looper? I can pick one of these up second hand pretty cheap but feel it may be rhythmically limiting. thanks :)
Kian Joseph also... and sorry if these questions are stupid (I don't understand the tech). am I going to be able to pitch bend to manipulate micro-tones? I need to be able to play non-ET scales.
not really, if you take into account the quality of all the parts, the easiness of putting it in, and the amount of functionality it adds, it is a good price. Especially if you compare to midi options of the monotron, which cost over 150 dollars and only gave you access to the keys and glide.
@pharmaecopia5 You're probably right. Though that still doesnt explain the lack of MIDI, or the incessant built in speakers Korg have been fielding as of late. Oh how i loathe them...
Is there any actual difference among the various MIDI kits currently available? For example, how do the following ones compare to the MIDItribe by Amazing Machines? www.altmustech.com/mm-q110.html www.usbtri.be/usbtribe_mono.html
I asked becouse I bought a miditribe very similar to yours. with the same configuration as the amazing machines and with the in and out exits from the base of the batteries. I looked for some other models of miditribe but almost everyone made passages in his own chassis. I bought it here in Brazil from a Brazilian musician named Dustan who is in the USA from time to time
@WootsonTV Actually, what they created was a nice instrument in a toy-casing, and as a result, significantly decreased its potential and draw for musicians. Like he says, you'd toy with it a few weeks, and then put it aside. Call me old fashioned, but i dont think a bunch of people taking what you've made apart for the sole reason that it's insufficient as you made it, qualifies as good advertisement. And i think it's put alot of musicians off from buying it in the first place.
Doubt it. To a company like Korg, those MIDI-plugs are like 1 pence a piece - certainly no more expensive than the sync plugs, particularly when you take into account that they already included the things integrating it with the rest of the circuitry (which would already have warranted any licensing there might be on MIDI, which i again doubt since most 30£ toy keyboards since the end 80's have had MIDI). And certainly cheaper than that damn speaker which audibly degrades the signal path!
"quality that allows for big sales and a large profitmargin[sic]" Since I last studied capitalism, quality doesn't allow for big sales. Quality encourages repeat business. I don't think Korg have any problem with that. Plus, not including a feature is not detrimental to quality, because the remaining feature-set is quite good. They just left something out that you want out of the box. What company does that these days?... oh, wait.
and then...... SPLASH!!!!!! shockingly the Englishman spills his tea and turns into the electrocuted WOBBLE MASTER that plays a special short circuited MONOtribe ... The End
No, genius would be to make a solid product that appeals to most customers possible, preferebly within their existing client range (makes for easier marketing), in such a way and quality that allows for big sales and a large profitmargin. Their consistent lack of MIDI and proper output in favour of built in speakers are alienating their primary clientel. And actively encouraging voiding warranty hints at a fraudulent lack of production quality, otherwise it would make no real difference to them.
@MarctheDarc - How INFURIATING. It's like they are purposely in the business of pissing off their customer base. Would it have REALLY cost them that much more money? Look at what Arturia did with the MiniBrute Analog Synthesizer: $500 street price, KEYS that someone who is not the size of a Smurf can play, all the knobs, all the midi. I hope they make Korg and Roland bleed.
Obviously you haven't studied sales and commerce, because then you would know that when talking goods and production, the term quality doesn't just refer to the actual production quality. But at that, since when doesn't the production quality influence how you view an item? I know it puts me off if it's falling apart in my hands. Excluding features that make or break the item for many customers, aka. they perceive as A quality, is just a bad business choice no matter how you spin it.
if you open the monotribe you can see a lot of "hot spots" for DIYers, which in my opinion means that Korg was focussing on that audience. Maybe the Monotribe is just a marketing tool to see how the audience reacts to all this "DIY" euphoria and therefore, they might start building "not-finished synths/kits"... idk, it would be cool if they did synths with a lot of tweakbility in terms of electronics design
honestly the ribbon and portability is what makes this thing fun. If you just want to have it in studio hooked up to a keyboard, you might as well get a keyboard synth. Also the thing is monophonic. You can't play chords so...
It's most definitely on the high side for $10 of parts maybe $20 with shipping from various ebay stores, but any time I can avoid making bad solder joints and messing up things, it's worth the premium for me.
I'm liking Korg more everyday. Well done Korg. Keep the the hacks easy for us, appreciated! What a great and versitile little gadget. Everything done right considering the excellent price point. Its on my list,
A cup of tea that looks like coffee:-) A good reviewer with a good pleasant voice.Go on like that! Greetz Jason
I've added MIDI interfacing to my Monotribe with a different (significantly cheaper) kit, but I can confirm that the unit responds to pitch bend messages and can record them in the sequence.
I was the first to document this mod, and I've yet to make any money from it. I suppose it's my fault for not seizing the opportunity, but I'll still point out that $88 (after shipping is added) is a bit on the high side.
Excellent report - as usual! Eager to see what else comes out to mod the Monotribe.
I'd love for sonicstate to review mods more often. Very cool.
Great presentation, that.... nicely done
I was thinking it might be because A. Added more to the price, and B. There may be some sort of licensing etc to get it working properly
@sonicstate could you use the MIDI out to chain monotribes? Throw in some Y-cables to feedback the sound between them and I bet you'd get a pretty nice sound! :)
@KWHCoaster Obviously the lack of patch-storage will be an issue for some looking at the MiniBrute. Then again, how much more would it have cost once patch-storage was added? Real analogue differs in that you have every switch and dial upfront, so what you see is what you hear, patch-storage is less necessary that way. But if you cant interconnect things and sync it up, then there's a real problem.
@MarctheDarc Agreed, lack of a midi port is the main reason I bought a meeblip instead of a monotribe.
To encourage both enthusiasts and a third-party sector. Plus, voided warranties are no skin off Korg's nose. If you look at it from a business perspective, it's genius.
Great demo! I think it answered this question, but I'll go ahead and pose it: can the monokorg be controlled by any external clock (i.e., drum machine, sequencer, etc.) via the midikorg?
Thank you for the video, We've just ordered one, how long did it take for the miditribe to be shipped?
@Nippe0000 its called MIDI Monitor - for OS X jolly useful.
Really interesting! At the moment I've got one MT controlled by CV/Gate from my Ms-20 (provided with the latest OS 2.1) However, this MIDI option provides more control over the little beast, so maybe one should go find another MT and get ones hands dirty :)
so know with keyboard control we basically have a ms-10 with drums and a sequencer?
@Syntox The MiniBrute is everything people have been asking Korg to make really, and i think it'll cost Korg sorely. That said, it is a different beast compared to this cheaper module, but MIDI?
does the ribbon keyboard still work while you are running an arpeggio from a DAW into monotribe?
It's unbelievable that filter cutoff isn't mapped.
Hi @sonicstate (or anyone else that knows...)
Is there anywhere I can buy the miditribe? Everywhere online is sold out & I cant find any second hand. Please help! I live in the UK. Thanks!
Have you had luck with Abelton syncing to external clock? Working with my partner it seems that he needs to run the clock on his computer because Abelton doesn't seem to sync tight enough to my hardware devices for example my Korg Electribe.
Thanks! ~J
I own a KingKorg which has a dedicated Sync output that can be used to control the Monotribe. Are there any advantages to the MIDI kit that the Korg sync does not have?
Best swig of tea ever !
so - if i connect the Monotribe to logic pro - will it sync with the logic tempo?
Will the MIDI-out transmit the sequence data?
Thanks for the review Nick! Love my Miditribe (the earlier version with just midi in). Unlocks the device for actual song composition! I think the filter is analogue so no midi control?
Ableton Live's external mode does not work with hardware sequencers. I tried Electribe, MPC, Kassoilator Pro, iPad. All of them resulted in Ableton to receive a jumping bpm number. Also, pressing play on the hardware makes ableton to speed up for about two seconds and then slowly adept the original bpm. So it is no use at all. Same counts for NI Machine, which cannot be used in midi slave mode due to bad synch.
Sweet mod. I have a midi kit, but I have yet to install it.
Can you use the monotribe sequencer as midi out to controll another synth with this mod?
Miditribe is available to order again. May, 22.
@MarctheDarc I wonder how many people will complain about the MiniBrute's inability to save/load patches? Some are whining already. I'm still thinking of getting one though.
wait so you dont need to Solder or anythinggg?? wtf... Can you still buy these?
@MarctheDarc Or, perhaps Korg wants to bring newcomers into music? I started by getting the $30 Korg DS-10 Plus for the Nintendo DS and had a lot of fun with that and ended up buying a Korg Monotron to tinker with. Had so much fun with both that now I'm having fun with my Yamaha YPT320, Korg Kaossilator PRO, KP3, R3, Wavedrum, Roland SP-555 and Waldorf Blofeld module. All thanks to $90 worth of Korg toys.
This just answered all of my questions as usual, nice one 👍🏻
could this be done for a USB MIDI keyboard?
@KWHCoaster Quite impressive evolution. Still, dont get me wrong, i get that they use different outlets to lure people in, like the stuff for iPad. That makes sense, and is useful in its own right.
My problem is how they start with a great idea, and then degrade it to a point where it boarders the useless. The speaker causes unnecessary noise in the output. They made it ready for MIDI but "forgot" to add the plugs for it. It's so intentionally inferior and doesnt fit in a studio or live setting.
That's where we fundamentally disagree, because this didn't need to be a toy. With a few minor changes that wouldn't have cost Korg anything, considering that it would save costs to ditch the speaker and the "sync", this would have gone from being the toy it is now, to being a must have tool present in every musicians studio. They have alienated their primary clientel for a few kids that use it a few times and bin it. "World leader in musical instruments" rofl! Rather poor business management.
Did you finish your tea? lol so funny
@KWHCoaster Thanks ^^ and thanks for watching ;-)
at 6:28 what did you use for monitoring midi data?
I think this just underlines how off Korg was, not to put MIDI-plugs into the Monotribe to begin with! Like so many other of their products lately, they've focused on toy-ish things, like built in speakers for terrorising the schoolyard, and completely foregone actual useful and necessary features!
And it's obviously not missing alot for it to be possible, so question is - what is their motivation for leaving it out when it would've required so little of them?
production cost
Hi. some help for a "noob" please. I play synthesisers but have no experience of sequencers. I am looking for something small to use busking, a compact battery powered synthesiser is great but the ability to loop beats is even better... IF I am able to program patterns which are not constant squares!!! Is there any way to program odd times into this thing, 5s, 7s etc? I'd go mad being stuck in such dull geometry. if that is impossible, are there any good alternatives without including an external looper? I can pick one of these up second hand pretty cheap but feel it may be rhythmically limiting.
thanks :)
Kian Joseph and I am looking for analogue sounds for when I use it in the studio or gigging. no digi-synths do it for me.
Kian Joseph also... and sorry if these questions are stupid (I don't understand the tech). am I going to be able to pitch bend to manipulate micro-tones? I need to be able to play non-ET scales.
not really, if you take into account the quality of all the parts, the easiness of putting it in, and the amount of functionality it adds, it is a good price. Especially if you compare to midi options of the monotron, which cost over 150 dollars and only gave you access to the keys and glide.
How many sad onions though?
@pharmaecopia5 You're probably right. Though that still doesnt explain the lack of MIDI, or the incessant built in speakers Korg have been fielding as of late. Oh how i loathe them...
@MarctheDarc BTW, cool LED fingertips! :-)
Is there any actual difference among the various MIDI kits currently available?
For example, how do the following ones compare to the MIDItribe by Amazing Machines?
www.altmustech.com/mm-q110.html
www.usbtri.be/usbtribe_mono.html
That's some dirty tea
Do u Still have this miditribe?
No went back years ago
I asked becouse I bought a miditribe very similar to yours. with the same configuration as the amazing machines and with the in and out exits from the base of the batteries. I looked for some other models of miditribe but almost everyone made passages in his own chassis. I bought it here in Brazil from a Brazilian musician named Dustan who is in the USA from time to time
There website is down now
I second that.
I also agree.
@WootsonTV Actually, what they created was a nice instrument in a toy-casing, and as a result, significantly decreased its potential and draw for musicians. Like he says, you'd toy with it a few weeks, and then put it aside. Call me old fashioned, but i dont think a bunch of people taking what you've made apart for the sole reason that it's insufficient as you made it, qualifies as good advertisement. And i think it's put alot of musicians off from buying it in the first place.
Doubt it. To a company like Korg, those MIDI-plugs are like 1 pence a piece - certainly no more expensive than the sync plugs, particularly when you take into account that they already included the things integrating it with the rest of the circuitry (which would already have warranted any licensing there might be on MIDI, which i again doubt since most 30£ toy keyboards since the end 80's have had MIDI). And certainly cheaper than that damn speaker which audibly degrades the signal path!
"quality that allows for big sales and a large profitmargin[sic]"
Since I last studied capitalism, quality doesn't allow for big sales. Quality encourages repeat business. I don't think Korg have any problem with that. Plus, not including a feature is not detrimental to quality, because the remaining feature-set is quite good. They just left something out that you want out of the box. What company does that these days?... oh, wait.
@sonicstate Thaanks for anserw
The English put milk in their tea......!!
Blatend Crude So do the Irish :)
And the Scots and the Welsh...
and then...... SPLASH!!!!!! shockingly the Englishman spills his tea and turns into the electrocuted WOBBLE MASTER that plays a special short circuited MONOtribe ... The End
No, genius would be to make a solid product that appeals to most customers possible, preferebly within their existing client range (makes for easier marketing), in such a way and quality that allows for big sales and a large profitmargin. Their consistent lack of MIDI and proper output in favour of built in speakers are alienating their primary clientel.
And actively encouraging voiding warranty hints at a fraudulent lack of production quality, otherwise it would make no real difference to them.
@MarctheDarc - How INFURIATING. It's like they are purposely in the business of pissing off their customer base. Would it have REALLY cost them that much more money? Look at what Arturia did with the MiniBrute Analog Synthesizer: $500 street price, KEYS that someone who is not the size of a Smurf can play, all the knobs, all the midi. I hope they make Korg and Roland bleed.
Obviously you haven't studied sales and commerce, because then you would know that when talking goods and production, the term quality doesn't just refer to the actual production quality. But at that, since when doesn't the production quality influence how you view an item? I know it puts me off if it's falling apart in my hands.
Excluding features that make or break the item for many customers, aka. they perceive as A quality, is just a bad business choice no matter how you spin it.
It's a sub-$200 toy. Bro, if you want a "quality" piece of hardware then pay some cash-money for it.
now i can seriously make some little beats instead of just messing around
cant wait to buy the midi thing