Triton Extreme Tube Problems

[MarkDTMMZ]

I have been going back and forth about whether to buy the Motif ES or the Extreme. The tube is a great feature, but has anybody else found that in order to get to the valve force, you have to change the assign button to the valve force controlls, then turn one of the control knobs in order for it to kick in. This would be a big problem while manuvering under the gun. It also shoots the volume up a lot, and after you leave the sound, if you try to go back, you have to do that all again to get the tube to work.
Is there any way to set your effects to go straight to the tube, and do you always have to toy with the knobs to kick in? Thanks

P.S. Nice to meet all of you

Mark
www.mmzband.com

[Tusker]

Yeah, the tube can be programmed in as an insert effect. So the settings will be saved with your patch. The manual process is only necessary if the tube was not a part of the original patch/combi EFX architecture. Additionally you can process external audio in with the tube, just like any master/insert effect.

Best,

Jerry

[MarkDTMMZ]

So if you have the tube saved with your insert effect, you wouldn't have to tweak the knob to have it kick in? Also, your manual control settings would have to be completly different for a lead as opposed to say a piano or a String patch, so does it become inconvienent to keep having to switch.

I've been racking my brain trying to decide between the Extreme and the Motif. Do you extreme users find you are satisfied with the tube and the other features you've got. Something in me still feels like the Motif sounds are better, but you can make some pretty bitchin stuff with the Triton tube.

Thanks for the help
Mark
www.mmzband.com

[Tusker]

So if you have the tube saved with your insert effect, you wouldn't have to tweak the knob to have it kick in?

Mark, that's correct. It works like the filter settings on the front panel. You can tweak resonance and cutoff from the frton panel, but you can also save a set of settings with the patch.

Also, your manual control settings would have to be completly different for a lead as opposed to say a piano or a String patch, so does it become inconvienent to keep having to switch.


Exactly. If you want the tube flavor, monophonic things will want to have a bit more gain. It's a whole lot more convenient than constantly adjusting the gain on an ouboard pre or tube processor. Or re-routing audio through different busses when you change patches. (Though you could conceivably have patches mapped to different outs, to different processor paths.)


I've been racking my brain trying to decide between the Extreme and the Motif. Do you extreme users find you are satisfied with the tube and the other features you've got. Something in me still feels like the Motif sounds are better, but you can make some pretty bitchin stuff with the Triton tube.


I don't have an Extreme, but I've considered it. (Great minds think alike.) One of the first questions I asked was . "What can I do with that tube." I use a Nord Modular and the ability to integrate audio through the Extreme was attractive to me (Nord does not have reverb or tube.)

You might want to pull down the manual:

http://www.korg.com/service/downloads.asp

Something in me still feels like the Motif sounds are better, but you can make some pretty bitchin stuff with the Triton tube.


I agree. The Motif ES (Mike Martin, I'm being specific :D ) has more comprehensive features and a better Rom. The Extreme is really a stopgap until the platform can be enhanced to compete with the Motif ES and Fantom X. It's interesting that Vox and Korg brands both hit the market with the tubes. Related Vox gadget:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--VOXTONELAB

I guess it shows that you leverage the investment across all instrument lines. You could infer that this implies a commitment to sourcing and implementing tubes which may mean that the next Korg workstation will also have a tube. However that's my speculation. I have decided to get an outboard tube processor (probably something from speakeasy or groove tubes) for my modular. And wait for the next Korg.

Btw, I like your band lineup. It must keep you busy without a guitarist. I wonder if you've done any ELP or Triumvirate covers.

Best,

Jerry

[MarkDTMMZ]

Hey man, thanks for the advice and checking out the site. Yeah I have been pretty busy with no guitarist, and my buddy Tim brings a lot of effects and distortion to the bass. We have just added a guitarist to help fill out the sound a bit, but it's not going to change the music too much, just make it richer and wider. We've never done any ELP covers, but we do some Floyd, and we use to reorchestrate some Dream Theater.

The pondering continues....=)

Mark
www.mmzband.com

[Scrap]

We've never done any ELP covers, but we do some Floyd, and we use to reorchestrate some Dream Theater.

Floyd, eh? I live in Waterbury and I've got a ton of custom programmed Floyd sounds for the Triton/Karma. If you decide to get the Triton, lemme know if you're interested in any of my programs.

[MarkDTMMZ]

Thanks man, if we decide to do Floyd, I would appreciate that.

[Deceit]

Triton Extreme is perfect, absolutely perfect. Motif ES isn't worth a half of it.
I LOVE KORG - and Korg loves me - but why won't they endorse me?
Deceit.

[Enigma™]

Triton Extreme is perfect, absolutely perfect. Motif ES isn't worth a half of it.
I LOVE KORG - and Korg loves me - but why won't they endorse me?
Deceit.
Again a personal opinion - mine is that I would take the ES over the triton anyday, but that's just me :)

[Tigerfolly]

I have been going back and forth about whether to buy the Motif ES or the Extreme.

I think the most important thing to base your decision on is what you want out of the keyboard itself.

What kind of sounds do you want to use?
When it comes to traditional keyboard sounds, nothing beats the Motif. Pianos, EPs, B3s, analogs, guitars, basses, strings.. they all sound really meaty and good. This totally comes down to personal preference, but if I had both a Motif ES and a Triton Extreme in my studio, I'd be using the Motif for every piano, EP and cello track. But for guitars, multiple strings and orchestral patches, I'd be plugging in that Triton.

What kind of controllers do you prefer?
This was a big issue for me at first, but I've gotten used to using two wheels versus a joystick, so it's not as big of a deal for me now. However, when it comes to patch changing, sequencing, and just overall control of the board, I prefer the joystick, assignable knobs, and touch screen of the Triton. Your mileage may vary, of course.

What amount of expansion do you need?
The Triton offers more expansion cards than the Motif. The Motif can use the Yamaha breath controller.. etc.

Make a list of pros and cons for each board. I am a Korg fan through and through, but the Yamaha Motif is outstanding as well. I have to say that I've recently played a Motif ES, and surprisingly was -NOT- impressed with it at all. It didn't sound as good as the Motifs and S90s I've played, and the action was awful (it was an ES8 ). Granted, I played it in a shitty store, so the monitors and general abuse easily could've caused those problems, but if I was buying a keyboard that day, I guarantee you that I would not have walked out of that store with a Motif.

Basically, with a good working knowledge of your keyboard, you can make it do anything you want. The perfect example is the Kurzweil K2600s. The presets pretty much suck in it (they're not awful, but they're not all that great either), but with a little tweaking and a little programming you can make them sound absolutely awesome.. just ask Jordan ;) But if you're not as fluent in programming, or just don't have the time, then you may want something that's more suited towards your playing.

For me, it simply comes down to this: For aural inspiration and just jamming around with sounds, I like the Motif. For sequencing, songwriting, and pushing the envelope of my playing, I like the Triton. I'm looking at picking up a new board this year, and I'm going through something similar.. I love the Triton, I love the Motif, I love the K2600, and Roland's new VR-760 is really catching my eye. For what I need to do, the Triton and VR-760 are the top two, but I'm keeping my eyes, ears, and mind open to the Motif ES, because of how much I liked the original Motif, and because my first impression of the Motif ES may not have been the fault of the board itself. The K2600 I'll only get if I've got the money to burn, or find a deal that I just can't pass up.. and even then, it's not all that likely. I just don't have the time to dedicate to basically programming the sounds I want from scratch, or sampling everything in as I need it. I want a little instant gratification too ;)

Keep your eyes open for Keyboard Magazine's reviews on these.. a couple years ago they did a bit Keyboard Shootout between the Motif, the Triton Studio, and the Fantom. I'm sure they'll do it again, if they haven't already.

Disclaimer: All of the above is an opinion, albeit an experienced, educated one. Take all opinions with a BIG grain of salt (although, I prefer my opinions with ranch dressing)

[MarkDTMMZ]

Hey man, thanks for taking the time to write all that, I appreciate it. Those are some great things to think about. I feel like the Motif sounds are all great, even ones I wouldn't use, they sound authentic. Some of the triton sounds sound fake. The only thing about the motif is there isn't that one bitchin lead in it, though I'm sure I could create one. The tube can create some bitchin stuff, but before I was worried about it being more of a pain than a help, but after reading, it looks like there is a way around it.
I have been using joysticks all along, so I'm sued to them and I like them, though I could get used to the wheels if I had to. I did check out the keyboard reviews, and of course they're both good :lol:

More stuff to ponder...thanks for the advice.

Mark
www.mmzband.com