Part 4A - Connecting Monologue to Electribe

 

To use the Korg Monologue to process external audio, such as a guitar or another synthesizer, follow these steps:

1. Physical Connection and Global Setup

  • Connect the Source: Plug your external device into the AUDIO IN jack (monaural 1/4" phone jack) on the rear panel of the Monologue.
  • Enable Audio In: Navigate to the GLOBAL EDIT menu (Button 4, Page 3) and ensure the Audio In parameter is set to On; if it is set to Off, signals coming into the jack will be muted.

2. Mixer and Sound Configuration

  • Mixer Settings: To hear only the external audio without the internal oscillators, turn the VCO 1 and VCO 2 knobs in the mixer section all the way down to zero.
  • Signal Path: The external audio enters the signal path after the mixer section but before the filter, meaning your external sound will be processed by the Monologue’s analog filter and drive circuit.

3. Triggering the Audio

  • The Gating Mechanism: The Monologue’s audio input is "synced" to the oscillators, meaning you will only hear the external signal when the synthesizer is actively producing a sound (i.e., when a key is pressed or a sequencer step is triggered).
  • Using the Sequencer: To process audio without holding down a key, record a sequence with a note in every step.
  • Achieving a Continuous Signal: If the audio sounds "choppy" or like a natural vibrato, use the Slide function. Highlight every step in the slide category of the sequencer to connect the notes; this creates a clean, continuous signal that passes through the unit.

4. Processing and Modulation

  • Filter Effects: Use the Cutoff and Resonance knobs to shape the external audio in real-time.
  • Drive: Use the DRIVE knob to add harmonics and analog distortion to the external source.
  • LFO Modulation: Apply the LFO to the filter cutoff to create "wobble" or tempo-based motion effects on your external audio.
  • Envelope Shaping: Adjust the Envelope Generator (EG) knobs (Attack and Decay) to control how the external sound fades in and out whenever a note is triggered.

By using the sequencer's Motion Sequence capability, you can also record and automate real-time knob tweaks to the filter or LFO while the external audio is playing.

How to Sync by MIDI

To sync your Korg Electribe Sampler as the master and the Korg Monologue as the slave using MIDI, follow these physical connection and menu configuration steps:

1. Physical Connection

  • Conversion Cable: The Electribe requires the included MIDI conversion cable to connect standard MIDI cables to its mini-jack ports.
  • Routing: Plug the conversion cable into the MIDI OUT jack of the Electribe. Connect a standard MIDI cable from that adapter to the MIDI IN port on the back of the Monologue.

2. Electribe Sampler Settings (Master)

You must configure the Electribe to use its own internal clock and send that information out.

  • Access Global Menu: Press the Menu/Enter button, use the cursor buttons to find GLOBAL PARAMETER, and press Enter.
  • Set Clock Mode: Navigate to the CLOCK MODE page and rotate the Value knob to select Internal. This sets the Electribe as the master device.
  • Save Settings: Press the Write button while in the Global menu to ensure this setting is saved.

3. Monologue Settings (Slave)

The Monologue must be set to listen for the incoming MIDI clock signal.

  • Enter Global Edit: Press the EDIT MODE button and use the PROGRAM/VALUE knob to select GLOBAL EDIT.
  • Navigate to MIDI Settings: Press button 6 (which corresponds to the GLOBAL 4 page).
  • Set Clock Source: Locate the Clock Source parameter and turn the PROGRAM/VALUE knob to select Auto (MIDI). In this mode, the Monologue will automatically act as the slave whenever it receives MIDI timing clock data.
  • Transport Control (Optional): On the same page, ensure En Rx Transport is set to On if you want the Monologue sequencer to start and stop automatically when you press play/stop on the Electribe.
  • Exit: Press EXIT to return to Play mode; settings in GLOBAL EDIT are saved automatically.

4. Operational Tips

  • BPM Control: Once synced, the Monologue’s tempo will be driven by the TEMPO knob or the pattern-saved BPM of the Electribe.
  • MIDI Channels: If you only want to sync the clocks and not have the Electribe trigger notes on the Monologue, ensure the MIDI Global Channel on the Electribe is different from the MIDI Ch on the Monologue.
  • Stability: If the devices do not seem to be communicating, check that the MIDI Route on the Monologue is set to USB+MIDI (the default) to ensure the physical DIN ports are active.

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