Korg ES-1 Electribe

This thing is easy to use.

Sort of gritty due to its 32 kHz sampling, but it was still cool and sounded nice!

Well, I loaded some wav files onto a flash card and BOOM!

My ES-1 never started up again. I tried reloading the firmware and everything but it just hangs on "electribe" for long periods of time.

I didn't really have money to get it repaired, which makes me very sad. It's just sitting in my attic.

I tried calling support to ask for help but there was none.

I didn't buy one again, instead I bought an MPC. I have to say that it's ridiculous that a piece of hardware can be permanently brought down by software problems. I'm very wary of buying from Korg now.

Just an addendum to my review of the Korg ES1 mkII.

For some reason it doesn't MIDI sync as my Korg EA1 syncs. I forget the MIDI term used where there is location points (song position locator)in the MIDI signal but whatever that is called the ES1 doesn't have that.
What I was trying to do is use my Fostex FD4 and Cubase as the MIDI master the ES1 with other gear as the MIDI slaves. The ES1 starts as soon as you hit the start button on the FD4 or Cubase but the other MIDI slaves instruments wait for the starting point. So what I do is hook up the ES1 directly to the master MIDI device and out the ES1 a MIDI thru to control the other instruments.

I am a very happy owner of the Korg ES1 mkII, I bought it when it first came out for $399.

This sampler uses drum machine style sequencing like most groove boxes which is easy to use, I already owned a Korg EA1, Roland TR707, and other drum machines so this sampler was easy for me to pick up and use. I just had to skim through the manual to learn how to sample sounds and how to use the smart media card.

I really like the fact one can integrate your computer with this sampler by use of a smart card. One can really get into the samples (ie. tweaking, editing)
One can edit samples entirely on the sampler but limited to truncating ends and beginings of samples, and fading out a sample at the end. One thing I would have like to see is the ability to make a copies of a sample so one can tweak a copy of the sample and have the original still intact, and so one can chop up a sample (ie. drum break) and have different parts. On the ES1 there is a feature called slice but I don't think you can rearrange the samples from their original state (or chop up and play different)

The manual is easy to understand, but I can tell that English wasn't the author's mother tongue.

***One tip for people that have not erased the preset sequences:
Use the presets sequences to see how the ES1 can be utilized, Korg and other manufactures spend a lot of money on sound designers to make the presets sound good so their product sounds like something you NEED to have when you demo it in a music store. Yeah presets usually sound like generic stuff you hear on generic radio stations and all the usual places, but if you watch how they use the motion sequence by checking out the presets you can learn tips and tricks that aren't covered in the manual.

There is no velocity on the keys, and I haven't used an external trigger so I don't know if it would effect the velocity. But you can use the volume level in the motion sequence to change up the volume if you wanted to. I don't think I'll ever use external triggers because I think this machine is fun to use on your lap on your couch and sounds good enough to connect to your other gear after you programmed some patterns then songs.

The keys are the gummy Alesis MMT8/HR16 type, hopefully they still work after a few decades. The knobs are little more sturdier on the mkII than the original. I really love the layout, it reminds me of an old school drum machine (that never existed, but should have). I love the gold metal casing it's very stylish. The red LED display reminds of the old calculators in a way, giving this drum machine an 80's feel. I would have preferred that the power input jack be recessed but if one is careful one shoulden't have any problems.
I'll take this sampler with me on trips boxed in a hard case with foam about the sides (would love the option of batteries like the TR505), I have never had any problems with it.

I like the fact that there are two pairs of on/off buttons (the x/a & x/b, x=6 & 7 the "a" being on, the "b" being off)that can be used for hi hats (open high hat=on=x/a, closed high hat=off=x/b) or to stop the sample sounding (note off) -this is good because the samples play to the end of the sample, so if you have a sample that you want to stop in some places in the sequence(without cutting the sample down)use these buttons (assign the x/b as "off" when you go into the sample selector).

Since this is a sampler, the sounds that you get are totally up to you. Though it's 32khz, it sounds real good to me. Maybe if I A/B'd it to a 44khz or 48khz sampler I would hear a difference but after adding effects and mixing the sounds I don't think it matters. Anyways I'm using this sampler as a drum machine most of my samples are individual drum hits, so I don't need super hi fi. When I use it to chop up non-drum-hit samples the source is phonograph records so I think the 32khz enhances the sound.

I think this sampler is perfect for Hip Hop, and I am really surprised more Hip Hop producers aren't talking about this machine. I know the Holy Grail of Hip Hop production is the SP, TR808 and the MPC but you can get 5 ES1s for the price of one of those and spend the balance of the money on records.
One can use this for live dj sets to trigger sound effects (as I have done), or can use this in any style of music if samples are used, or can be used strictly for the audio in effects.

The effects are OK not bad but could be much better -but for the price of the unit it's good, I would have prefered four assignable outputs to the effects but I think Korg was trying to be a all-in-one. If I was good at electronics I would try to modify the ES1 to have separate outputs -I'm sure it's been done or at least thought of.
I don't like the fact that you can only use one effect at a time, (ex. sometimes I want to have reverb on the hand claps but on the same sequence use mod. delay for the rim shots but I can't because it's one effect)

This sampler is fun to play with, I can usually get the sound out from my head without too much trouble. I like the fact you can "audition" samples in a sequence by switching up the sample as the pattern sequence plays. I find the best results come when you use the 32 rather than 16 measurement. One can bring your sequences to life with the motion sequencing but be careful when the patterns change it has a MIDI zippering effect if the effect parameters are changed. One can also add life to a sequence with the accent but the accent is global to all the sounds and not that dramatic.

I love this machine, hopefully it will out live me.

One problem though, they stopped making 64mb smart media cards and the 128mb smart cards don't work. If you plan on using your computer to save ES1 sequences and songs, and to edit samples make sure you can find a couple of 64mb smart cards before you buy a ES1.

I don't gig out but if I did I'd have a backup because I'd be paranoid that it would break down -but that's just me trying to play it safe.

before you buy the ES1 download the manual so you know what you are getting into.

I'm happy I haven't run into any problems where I had to call customer support.

I really love this machine. I can get a lot done with it. After five years I want to be a master at ES1 -knowing every possible trick and knowing the insides and outs. If I had the extra money I'd buy a back up ES1 and just keep it in the box.

I check out sites like Harmony Central, Sonic State, and the like, do internet searches on various gear and read Future Music and Keyboard magazines and I can't think of another sampler I rather have. Though I wish it had four assignable outputs or the ability to use different effects on different samples on the same pattern sequence. It would be nice to be able to make copies of a sample so you can chop up different sounds from the original sample but I don't need this because I use the computer to edit all my samples and the smart cards to load them.

Love:
1) easy and fun to use
2) straight foward layout and operation (no long menus)
3) computer editing integration via Smart Media Card

Hate:
1) the fact you can only use one effect at a time
2) the fact they phased out 64 & 32mb Smart Cards
3) global accent -I would rather it be individual accent

I have been making beats since middle school and I'm 33 years of age as of this writing. For a list of my other gear and music samples you can check out my web site; http://markseventyone.com
I am always interested in tips and tricks for musical gear/song making so if you have any you would like to share, or would like to ask question of me please mail me.

These are easy to use, yet hard to learn inside out .. you need the manual to get anywhere into this .. I haven't had much experience with hardware groove boxes but this does seem to be easier to use than the Zoom Sampletrak .. I had one of them too ,, the ES-1 is way more intuitive to use than the ST-224 but you need the manual for both .. and then you have to be fairly well organised if you want to maintain a large library of sounds via memory and SmartMedia storage/transport .. it is just not as elegant an interface as many would have you believe and the reason for that is the complexity of the ES-1 .. it does lots of things .. some well and some not so well ..

.. I won't rabbit on about specifications here as I notice that is well covered so please permit me to move onto what features work well and what doesn't quite cut it (IMHO) .. I love the Delay master effect on the ES-1 and I believe that is on all the early Electribes .. truely an awesome and powerful feature right there .. and yes you can record delay filter adjustments into the motion sequencer .. that is very cool .. next I love the pitch shifter effect and that is programmable to different sound channels including the live input and motion sequencer .. tastey!!! .. most of the other ES-1 effects suck and don't cut it when stacked up against most any other effects unit I can think of .. and it was here that the ST-224 had the edge .. darn thing (the ST224 that is) had a scratch wheel effect too! (not on live input though) and the effects were better (Distortion effect was excellent) .. having said that; the delay and pitch shifter on the ES-1 is very hard to match, electribes have the edge there .. oh yes they do .. next thing that is common to both samplers and many other vocoder/groove boxes and that is; the ability to mute parts of the incoming live input .. crazy .. you need to mess with that stuff .. (apparently some people have found specialty uses for some of the filters I just dissed too .. so I may be misleading slightly there) .. I still give this a 10 in this category because of the sheer value for money!!!

.. it does come close to being a standalone instrument but seems to lack tonal expression (fidelity) only because of the 12bit samples and audio compression used .. I mentioned the effects stuff already but there is a lot more to the ES-1 in the sequencer and song control sections in particular .. it is pretty darn good and you can work around that LoFi/gritty sound and thus put it apparent weaknesses to good effect .. sounds great in a mix!!! and again it gets an additional point here 'cause it is cheap and cheerful!!

.. This seems to be a quality build but I would certainly be very careful with it .. no sunlight, no heavy bumps or drops and gentle with the knobs .. I hear that it is a real hassel replacing the battery on these things too and Korg advise a tech does that .. just keep everything crossed that nothing goes wrong with it .. lots of antique circuitry that would take a real specialist to repair any problems .. apparently they are crammed full of wiring and circuitry so aint something you would want to be repairing yourself unless you are a real mad scientist type .. I have heard of these going belly up and that is the end of them .. :( .. these have been known to crash occasionally too .. usually after a mad tweaking session .. so do remember to do incremental backups of your works in progress ..

.. they have manuals on their website in PDF format .. thanks for that KORG!!! .. the aftermaret DIY crowd kinda picks up the pieces and runs with it where Korg dropped the ball by not developing the computer interface side of things for ES-1 users ..

okay the ES-1 tops out over the St-224's only because it is a much nicer interface (plus slightly more grunt in the memory department only) ... both very nice toys but the ES-1 is easier to drive .. the ES-1 usually costs a few dollars more than the Zoom St-224 Sampletrak so if you are really bare-ass broke a ST-224 will suffice .. if you have a few bucks more I would say to go for an ES-1 .. the sound quality is approximately the same between the two .. of course if you are loaded up with cash you would probably be looking at spending your money on a higher resolution sampler with more grunt .. there is nothing wrong with either the ES-1 or the St224 for musicians who enjoy working with budget equipment ..

a reference for anyone who wondered what the guy was talking about when he complained about the patterns changing tempos when you switch from one pattern to the next.

it's designed to do that. if you're playing a song with two different patterns, the idea is that you don't want to change tempos. it facilitates that by carrying over the tempo from the first pattern into the next.

if you're not playing a song, you can just stop, switch patterns, then play, it will retain its original tempo.

it's all described in the 30 page, large print manual. easy. to. use.

I Have the Korg ES-1. one of the first additions.
I use it mostly for production and sample manipulation; although my DJ party options have been helped.

Let me tell you.....if a note was played mistakenly for your sequence, you can go in manually and change the note or effect.
There are several different effect modes including time delay(based on your BPM), and the ability to create motion sequences!!!!!!

This unit works well with orchestra hits, vocal samples, and all kinds of drums (includig kicks, snares, hats/symbals(any), amd preplayed samples.(This includes the ones you'll need clearances for). Normalizing certain sounds help, but be careful as you will have to resample if you don't like this effect. Pay attention to the manual if you're looking for particular things.......I'm not a manual reading type of person, but with noone to guide me in their past experience(i was the first in the crew to have this), it was easy to read and helpful!

The only upset I,ve encountered is the power cord. It can develope a short easily where it will cut off at any time in certain positioning. I purchased a reliable back-up source at radio shack for less than $15 (USD) that works super. If you plan to move the unit around a lot you might want to tape the power source.

Never had to Deal with.
I,ve had this unit brand new since 2001. It still works like new.

My Overall Rating is a 10. This is good for Producers, and dj,s alike!
I fall into both categories, and yes I am A female (o.k.),(Chicago Subarb). You will love the internal memory and motion sequencing. The eternal memory aint no joke!!!!!!!! Sequencing either. Everthing already ready for each gig!!! (get your smart media card for instant access to several sets)!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE IT!!!

I would keep this Forever Just for the portability options alone.

all said.

I just wanted to add some words about the es-1 MKII.
the reviewer before wrote about the pausing when changing the effects. well, this bug has been fixed in the MKII version. you can switch the effects in realtime without any glitches. superb!!!
I can't complain about anything. this unit simply kicks a$$ :-)

just go and get one of them - they will be sold out soon. I'd paid 277? for mine. that was the BEST deal I've ever made. ....n I made alot ;)

the soundset has been changed. although those preset-patterns are still unusable. but WHO uses preset-phrases anyway?! ;)
there are some really cool drumsounds in it - but the rest is all crap. but hey: it's a sampler. so what do ya do with it - if not sampling ya own stuff?! :-)
and believe me: when loading good samples, this unit boosts them to be pretty good. when loading kicka$$ samples, this units boosts them to blow a$$es off...hehe. ;)

best gear for live - solid metalcase. and the electribes at all are one of the tightest machines I've ever used. no stupid sequencer-bugs like those roland boxes liked to have. and their midification is also a pleasure.

made a whole track with it in the first week i owned it. very easy to use. the motion sequence is awesome and very useful.

you can find ES-1 OS updates on yahoo groups.. they load from your smart media card.. i have the french version 1.06. to know which OS version you have hold down stop and record as you turn on your es-1.

the only thing i don't like is the pausing in between the 11 fx. this is a problem imo and probably will not be solved in the mkII.

other than that it sounds f*cking great. really focuses on the lower tones (bass .etc). you can f*ck the samples as much as you like to get the weirdest sounds possible. great for electro.

it has done some odd things to me but so has software. some bugs have come up, dissapeared, and not seen again. this has not happened often.

i would rely on this at a gig if i was given the chance.

never dealt with them. guess that stands for the reliability part.

this is an excellent tool. great interface. great sounding fx. great sequencer. love it love it love it.

i just wish the leds were with what color the electribe was. er-1=red,ea-1=blue,es-1=green. that would be real cool.

I have been doing music for almost 2 years. Little to no formal training. After taking 2 computer and music classes , I got a CPU with Cubase, a Yamaha PSR keyboard and NI's Battery and got nothing but headaches and missing files.

Saved up summer 2002 (today is 1/2004) for this baby and was putting sketches together within a matter of weeks. I can now cook the meat&potatoes of a beat in under an hour. This is definitely a first-time producer's wet dream and a swiss army knife for the pro who wants something cheap, portable and quick.

I use my ES along with a Roland SPD6 (I hate the ES's gummy keys) and a laptop for saving files/samples. I have yet to get into software manipulation. The display is limited, but you'll get used to it, my only issue is that you have transfer each file into the ES one-by-one after converting them to 32khz. I haven't checked Korg for updates, so I am running with original OS.

The integration of the sampler and sequencer is seamless. Separated I don't think the sampler or sequencer can stand-alone tho'.

The sampler has sufficient space, but the 32khz is a pain in arse. This is resolved by converting every sample CD you have over to 32khz with software. I never use the time slice function, it may be the one thing not intuitive on this machine. Recycle is no doubt better. The effects are good for harsh electronic music, but not for smooth, subtle. I suggest you use software if you really want flexibility with sampling.

The step sequencer is both the up&down of this unit. It makes the process easy and visual, but I have found it limiting for the rapid drum flurries or swinging rhythms that I like to put in my music. This may be the only reason I step up to an MPC. The swing function is just not cutting it, so I never use it. At the same time, I don't know what I would have did without the visual step sequencer when I first started.

I work under the idea that the musician makes the instrument, not vica-versa. The ES1 is one of the best at what it does, but it does not do everything. For the price, what do you expect tho'?

I am not an audio editor/expert, so my opinion is weak here. This unit's sound is raw electronic music. My hip-hop junkie is hooked on the ES, my jazzy salsa other half is not.

The 32Khz gives it a sharpness and the effects are geared towards being rough. Korg designed the unit for electronic music, not to back Carlo Santana or John Coltrane.

From what I know, the unit responds to velocity from my SPD6, but not playing the keys directly.

There is a difference between reliable and sturday. My ES1 has never so much as hiccuped on me. In regards to gigging, I would warn that it's plastic. In terms of banging out beats in my room, this thing may outlive me. The knobs may need to be tightened in due time. No gigging with it, No problems in 1.5 years

Never used Korg b/c no problems. Try yahoo groups, there are plenty on online users, they offer some support/advice. Search under "korg_es-1". The "KorgES1" group is plagued with porn as of 1/2004.

First, let me publicly thank the designers of this instrument. This instrument will always have a special place in my kit. I lost my beat virginity to the ES.

My other gear is a Roland XP30, a mic, a laptop and a $40 tape recorder as of 1/2004. I shopped the Korg ES1 against a used Roland SP808, used Yamaha SU700 or Boss SP505. My only regret is its step sequencer limitations and the annoying 32Khz.

It's limitations are a result of its affordability and accessibility. Korg seems to have answered a lot of my wishes on the revision for the Electribe sampler. I will not buy the newer version tho'. The only step up worthwhile for me will be an MPC. I haven't even decided to do that yet, b/c I'm still running with this baby over a year later.


If you want to do drum sampling and crazy loops, get the ES and a used Roland SPD6 or Yamaha DD55 and GET TO WORK.

Just an update from my previous posting...

You can always load samples between files, so you can have several hundred samples on your card instead of just 100 mono samples and/or 50 stereo samples (00-99.wav on the card). Load samples to the SmartMedia card, import all of them and save as 1.es on the card (see manual for how to do the saving and loading). Then take the SmartMedia card to the computer, load 100 new samples (00-99.wav), plug it back into your ES-1, load the samples and save as 2.es on the card. Now you have 2 separate .es files with 100 samples. You can load individual samples from any .es file, so now you can start a new file (3.es for example) and load any samples from the other two .es files. It sounds a little complicated, but it's very easy once you try it. You can have up to 9 different .es files with (potentially) 100 mono and 50 stereo samples. That gives you a lot more to choose from and free's up space in the file you are currently working on. You can then sample longer phrases to loop and pick and choose the drum samples from your other saved files. Cool, huh?

Also remember that bigger samples take up more room. Use SoundForge to make samples 16-bit mono (if you don't need stereo) and trim the blank edges. You can also do like an SP-1200...sample a fast phrase and pitch it down in the ES-1 to make it sound right.

Anyway, that's my $0.02 for you ES-1 users out there.