mc 303 and cash or electribe emx1?

So if you guys didn't know I flip gear on craigslist whenever I see a good profit. My motif classic wasn't really for sale, but a friend wants it "reallllly bad" and I can always find another newer one. Part of the offer he gave me was his mc 303 which he values at 150 or should i roll with his Korg electribe Emx-1 which is still rather new, and take a lot less cash? He'll do the trade value of the tribe at about 280-300. Thing is I've always wanted these two, well a 303/505, and the emx is impressive for what they are. My upcoming "Ark-a-Texture" album is going to be more of a dark, ambient type vibe so either of these will fit in well to what I'm doing, I'm just an indecisive bastard

Only messed with an electribe for a little bit at a friends, granted- this was years ago and I was drunk so it's a bit foggy.


I'd take the 303 only because it was one of my first pieces of gear and I made some hilarious stuff with it

Actually, yeah....if he's offering you $150-ish for the 303, that may be a good deal...here's one on fleabay about to end. 0 bids and it's $85


Then again, if you're not sure- the tribe may be the way to go as it has a better resale value...

They'r both bollocks imo, I wouldn't waste my time.. I'd probs take the Roland as at least it's polyphonic and has some nice sounds esp the 808/909 kits sound pretty decent for what it is... Also has a nice sound to it unlike the Korg which is all thin and plastic'y coupled with those shi**y valves which are noisy as f*ck

are saying the Korg isn't polyphonic I'd probabaly switch the tubes out, but I for the limited time I spend with it I didn't think the sounds were that bad on the emx

The 303 is really dated now... In fact it was quite dated when it dropped because all the sounds are 'retro' synths and drums. I also had a lot of fun with mine, but it has severe limitations in every department. No real midi implementation, poor filters, thin sound, frustrating sequencer... the list goes on.

I was going to frame mine and hang it on the wall, but I let it go a few years back. I've no idea what the Korg is like in comparison.

Yea the 303 is rather dated now indeed but still has some "usable" sounds on it

Yep the Korg is monophonic, all synth parts are mono and neither are they anything to write home about imo... I'd keep the Motif to be honest

To be honest I'm not sure at the kind of music you make but there are aimed more at a dance matket... the 303 still has some usable dance sounds on it imo.. As for the Korg, can't stand em

the MC303 has MIDI sync issues and the built-in sounds can be downloaded for free... and those sounds are all you would ever end up using it for anyway... as mentioned, yes it is very dated... the electribes are nice, but they're no motif... i think i'd just keep the motif for now.

Either that, or just tell him full cash...

honestly, with the 4000 especially... I would grab the electribe. I am almost certain you could record the knob tweaks of all the knobs on the electribe in the 4000.. so essentially you take a track 1 for recording the melody (say with your midi keyboard connected if you dislike the electribe buttons) and as you know it plays back.. then track two you move knobs on the electribe and it re-does those tweaks. That is what I find fun about those VA synths.

finally, it may not sound like a moog.. but it also doesn't cost what moogs cost. I suggest using additional effects on the master output of the electribe (for example some analogue ones if you got those lying around) ... that is what I would do if I was building an album called arkatexture ..



keep in mind the motif is the most valuable piece of equipment monetarily but what does that count for if it aint helping you make the album?

mr_debauch wrote:
keep in mind the motif is the most valuable piece of equipment monetarily

Is $450 what they are really going for these days? Seems a bit low, but I'm pretty out of the loop as I haven't looked at 'em in awhile...

b.read wrote:

mr_debauch wrote:
keep in mind the motif is the most valuable piece of equipment monetarily

Is $450 what they are really going for these days? Seems a bit low, but I'm pretty out of the loop as I haven't looked at 'em in awhile...

I think it greatly depends on where you are located.. here in montreal people try and sell motifs for like 1500 if they are new ones.. older ones often for like 800 bucks..

the two electribes with the tubes often get listed at 400-500 bucks.. the old red drum machine electribe gets listed often at 300 which I find crazy.. and the ea-1 and the green or silver one often about 175-275

the motif classics are around 400-500 now, talk about dated sounds.......I'm leaning towards the tribe, I know what i can do with it when hooked correctly to the 4 and reason, I plan on getting another keyboard later down the road, or just keeping my kurzweil k2600x which is still in the damn shop I only payed 300 for the motif...well 200 and some so its win win for me either way,

for sure.. oh and one cool thing is lets say you did the thing with recording knob tweaks... then messing with track mutes .... the knobs will stop at almost random spots.. kinda neat and almost unpredictable.

^^^ keeping in mind I'm getting reason six, that right there is worth trading off for plus some cash on the side.