Wretch Machine controlled with Electribe?

mecanikill · Joined: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Chapel Kill

I'm going to hook my Wretch up to my Electribe EMX with a Kenton pro solo mkii, has anyone here ever used an Electribe to control the Wretch? I cannot wait to try this I have been thinking about it for 2 years now. The ribbon and arpeggiator on it I bet its going to sound unreal!
http://www.myspace.com/mecanikill

EdisonRex · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:36 am Post subject:

Haven't tried an Electribe because I don't happen to own one. I have used the touch plate on a Moog Voyager, among other things, to control the Wretch. I'd imagine that it should work pretty well.

mecanikill · Joined: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Chapel Kill

What do you use for a midi interface?

EdisonRex · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

Kenton Pro-2000 Mk II - one channel for the Wretch and the other for the M5N. Still need to play some more with the auxiliaries on that thing, but I've been using analog sequencers more lately so it hasn't been a priority.

I can't think of any reason the Electribe wouldn't work, but remember the Wretch's short range when you start playing. There are some ways to squeal out more range (oscillate the filter, for example) but it's one of the things you just have to get used to when working with the Wretch.

mecanikill · Joined: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Chapel Kill

I have a Kenton Pro on the way with it. Just wondering once you get it set up do you have to fiddle with the kenton to change things on the Wretch? I wanted to just stick it inside the rack behind the Wretch.

EdisonRex · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:37 am Post subject:

Just set up the Kenton for Hz/V for the Wretch, connect up the CV and Gate and make sure you know what midi channel you're on, and that's really all there is to it.

thermionicjunky · Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 90 Location: san francisco

One thing that you will discover is that the cv response of the Wretch is not quite linear, and it depends on the individual thyratrons in the VCO section. The Hz/V output of the MIDI/CV will generally give you about an octave and a half in tune. I'm planning on buying this microtonal tool in order to temper the output of my MIDI controller for more accurate tuning.
http://www.h-pi.com/TBX1intro.html
Eric Barbour just ordered one himself, so I may be on to something. Not only will it allow me to use the full range of each of the three range settings, but it will also allow me to overcome the offset induced by switching ranges. The device allows totally arbitrary assignments of MIDI note outputs to MIDI note inputs, along with pitch-bend tuning adjustments. Analog step sequencers are also great. I've been recording compositions for two years using only the Modcan CV Recorder as a controller. It has required what are essentially tape music techniques. But for the sake of both simpler and more complex compositions, I'm looking for a MIDI solution. Anyway, congratulations and good luck!

EdisonRex · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:01 am Post subject:

@thermionicjunky

!!!! Shocked

!!!!

!!!

Interesting indeed.

thermionicjunky · Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 90 Location: san francisco

EdisonRex · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

In my case, the most linear calibration of the oscillators gets me about 1.5 octaves of usable intonation. If I didn't care about linearity it would be more like 2.5 octaves, so a device like that would be very useful indeed. Especially with the rest of the features it offers. Thanks for the tip. I will seek this thing out.

mecanikill · Joined: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Chapel Kill

WOW! I got my Wretch a few days ago and it works great with the Electribe. I am in awe its amazing and sounds like nothing else period. Well worth the money.

Kent

Just Wretch and EMX-1. EMX-1 is sequencing the Wretch via the built-in MIDI to CV converter in the Wretch.

Wretch & EMX-1