Korg ES-1 Electribe

Very easy to use,,especially if you have used one of the other electribes, presets are cool and give you a general idea of what the machine can do. The manual is basic but straight forward.

The 808 style sequencer is cool . But realtime recording is the best as evrything is perfectly quantized as soon as you play it. Things can get a bit findly on the little buttons but a midi keyboard acn be added. Haven't used smart media yet,because i am using it for drums more than anything and after sampling loads of drumhits i still have around 60 secs of memory left to mess about with. Effects are cool.Some better than others.

If your game is hiphop breakbeat drum and bass or electro this is the bitch for you. Sounds are cool and there is plenty of room to add your own stuff. It has been an insiration for drum beats. Can't leave the little bugger switched off for more than an hour.

No probs so far. Definatly gig it without back-up..All stored in rom memory so pretty fail safe.

The best thing i've ever brought , without a doubt..The initial buzz of using it still hasn't passed even after a month.If your into the music i have talked about,, Buy it ,, simple as that.

I just bought the ES-1 a couple weeks ago and I was impressed. It's obviously not one of Akai's top-end models, but it's the best overall value I could find on the market. I have never been into techno, electronic, whatever you want to call it. I just got out of a very hard rock band and wanted to branch out. No problem!!!! I was programming my own beats the first day!

The onboard memory is pretty weak, as are the samples that come with the thing. This is my primary complaint about the ES-1. But, with some Smartmedia cards, you can backup any work you don't want to lose. I really like the step and pattern keys. The sequencing is so simple, I couldn't believe that was all there was to it.

I read on another website that people weren't able to write whole songs with this thing. C'mon! It's not going to be a finished production, but this will get you out the starting gate! If you've used high-end samplers before, give it a chance. I like most of the drum sounds, and the effects are really cool, I just wish I could use more than one effect per step.

Couldn't say, haven't had it long enough

N/A. Though they seem really nice....?????

I would definitely replace this one if anything happened to it. I played most of the other samplers in the same price demographic and I have no regrets. Need to get a 16 track and some MIDI going so I can really explore it's sonic capabilities!

switch on,plug in and hey presto!! instant dj/producer!!.Why spend thousends of pounds on samplers,keyboards and mixers when #399 can buy you this!!.
preset sound are a bit naff,but its a sampler so dont worry!
throw the manual in the bin!!!!!,this is very brief and misses some imorptant points eg when editing the start point press shift and turn the dial,this moves the edit point faster!. this is not mentioned!,just play with it!!

the effects are excellent,easy to use and sound great!!.you can sample from any source,i prefer cd.if you have a large sample collection you will be very happy!!

1000%!!no trouble at all.i have made a battery hook up so i can make music anywhere.i haven't tried saving to a memory card yet, iam not sure on how much you can save on a 8mb,16mb etc??

not yet,but i have thought about geting a job at korg as a instruction manual producer,can't be that hard!!

i would buy ten!!!,i have had it 6 months and i have made loads of tunes ( i hope to be releasing a single next year )its the dogs b******S!!.if you are thinking about making music, buy this kit.don't pay ####### for something you will never use ( enjoy useing!! )

Painfully simple x0x step sequencer. It's like fruityloops in a box. Get a usb smartmedia reader and copy your samples to flash cards, then stick 'em in the box. What the hell more do you want? If you've ever used a tracker on a PC or amiga, you'll love it. Unless you actually like hex.

The 4mb onboard is a little limiting... 95 seconds mono, and you can't strectch it by using lower bitrates, it's locked at 32k. It does more than I expected it to do, I especially like the distortion on this unit. What REALLY annoys me is that it's capable of pitch strech over two octaves, but the only way to use it is with the little knob, or using 0-127 values with an outboard seq. It would have been ridiculously easy to implement external keyboard control of melodic samples, but they wanted to keep it a 'rhythym box' I guess... Sigh.

The onboard sounds are crap, and they're not public domain anyway. Huck 'em. I am not into techno at all, and most of the songs I program on this thing are 3/4 or 6/8, which it (surprisingly) does rather well. It's obviously for dance musicians, but that doesn't keep me from using it for experimental noise ballads. It's very tweakable, but I have my hands full during gigs anyway.

It was built for gigs. I think the idea is that it can fit in a dj coffin or something. I just like the fact that I can velcro it to my ESQ-1 without sacrificing any controls (except the cart slot).

Never dealt with Korg...

I'd probably replace it if stolen. If the Zoom Sampletrak didn't have the worst MIDI implementation on earth, I would have gone for that instead. Pretty damn good for the money, but a tad more onboard ram would'nt hurt.

Can't get any easier than this! Itried them all DR-770, Jamstation for the same price the Korg blows em' away. Manual is fraction of the size because it's that easy to use!!! I have a day job so don't have time to be looking every task up in a manual, you can learn the interface in a couple hours, I rarely need the manual.

More features than what i expected I was looking for a basic drum machine. I really like the Smartmedia expansion, a 16mb ccard is more then what you need, I bought a 32 so I can have tons of samples, very hand when doing a lot of travel. Only reason I would give it a 9 is I wish it had digital outs.

Comes with a bunch of sounds, heck if not the sounds you want you can make your own, transfer from CD etc. 9 again for lack of digital outs, but if you are using the SmartMedia transfer you can almost do it anyway.

No problems whatsoever.

Called them once on my Triton, they were very helpful, not toll-free and youmay have a hard time finding their number I had to get it ftom the store. But they were very good. Never had to use for ES-1. 9 just because it was not 800 number

Lost or stolen, yep I'd buy another, it's worth what I paid no questions asked, I would have like it even more if it were same as other Electribes $399

Very simple to use step sequencer in the 303/808 style. Some presets are worth keeping, most are not. I highly recommend an expansion card to store your own stuff on.

Lots of features, look at the other reviews for a consensus. I mainly entered my review to register the single complaint I have that made me return the box for a refund. While you can assign a sample to a step, there is no_method_for_gating_individual_steps. This caused the ES-1 to be completely useless to me. If you use the ES-1 for acoustic samples that always play from beginning to end, then it's not a problem. If you want to stutter a single vocal sample, forget it. You have to create two samples, one for the full vocal, one for the staccato stutter-step. I'll continue to use my sequencer and my S2000 with 'mute groups', thank you...

Even though the sample rate is not quite as high as most other samplers, and is at an odd 33mhz, I think, the sounds are quite good and can be tweaked nicely.

I really hoped this box would work for me, seeing how it could actually replace two very large, expensive pieces of outboard gear (computer sequencer and sampler). The gating (lack of mute groups...see above) problem was just too much to live with and I returned the ES-1.

With 16 key pads and near single function per knob simplicity this unit is a breeze. The manual will leave you asking for more info and here it is... When it comes to using your computer to edit waves and import them to the unit via smart media I've found the 16meg or larger to be the way to go. I keep the factory presets and a user banks on one card. It is 4meg/bank. To import waves from the CPU to the ES-1 you need to save the wave at 32k sample rate. Samples must be imported one at a time to the ES-1 using the import function with the card option. This is where the manual falls apart unless they've changed it since I purchased this unit. You need to name your samples on the computer as numbers 00.wav - 99.wav This is the only way the ES-1 recognizes them.

The sequencer works well but unless you like step mode the quantization is non-existant. When using the Motion sequence feature you can quantize with two modes. Smooth rounds the notes and the trigger hold flattens the notes to a more staccato sound.

The effects are amazing and smart. The delay synchs to the beat. Limitation: Only one effect can be engaged at a time. You can select effect on/off for each sound.

Has never given me a problem. I went from a computer based system becasue the hype was beyond my self-control. So after flailing around in VST with LM4 and all of the other clever little plug-ins I sold it all and went to the ES1 and a J-Station for the guitar/bass. Couldn't be happier. I added the Ea-1 but found it too limted to use as a multitimbral module so I'm still looking for that element. But you can't go wrong with the ES1. Even if you're not into techno/electronica sounds you can re-write the patters for rock, etc.

Bury me with the ES1 and the J-Station! Much easier to deal with than the Yamaha equivalent and if you like the ER-1 or the EA-1 your life will be filled with bliss. As for how it affects my music making process... hey I'm a guitar playing singer/songwriter, the beauty of playiong with humans is that they can take you in new and interesting ways. Same here. I never would have written these rhythms so they have helped me stretch out. I have found that I work best when I use the presets by muting the bass lines and sfx.

- Pretty damn easy.
- I wiped the machine 5 minutes after I got it. Never looked back.
- Great for making full pieces or just drum/samples sections
- interface is just like mom, X0X type. If you know these, look out its pretty quick learn.
- Manual is OK, I have had some questions about it and other uses but as it goes the manual gets you going pretty fast. Too bad there is no real support/forums on Korgs site

- Effects are nice, if I had my ultimate wish the effects could be multiple channels as opposed to one setting and every sample uses it.
- Delay is global, which would nice if it wasn't
- Control of effects is nice, I would almost wish they had set the step keys for pitch as well -- this would make it alot faster to do some melodies on it.
- Its nice to finally have a thru port on some korg gear.
- I really like the effects choices, decimator.. sexy.
- Midi is great, try hooking up an ER-1 nice combo.
- Its damn small! U really hated lugging around other stuff then you need this. Replaced my mamoth synth/sampler. I can play a gig with a laptop and an ES-1 and its a pretty nice clean up.
- Size makes it easy to work with. Up your samples, go sit on a couch and jam away. Try sitting with a full size keyboard or rack unit on your lap.
- mem card. nice. smartmedia. havent tried the PC stuff yet, a previous reviewer mentioned it and I thought.. "shit, no way.." Read the card on PC and direct upload. Thats the shit. Gotta try that. If thats the case then I'd rate this thing higher than a ten.

- Effects sound good. But need more ability to have them select/individual samples
- Base sounds. Bah wipe 5 mins after purchase
- Very expressive. Great live tool.

- Used in on Gig without backup. Everything else dies except for this thing.
- No probs, worked like it should.
- sounded amazing.

- I want another one to sync up with. If I went on tour again I'd just get two fo these and a good bass/synth. Love doing breakbeat on this machine.
- I chose it after seeing a friend use it and flipped out when I picked it up so fast.
- I come up with so many variations on what I orginally thought up. Its a really great instrument. Yes its an instrument. So much you can do with it.. everyone who've I seen use it.. does their thing so differently. But they all sound amazing.
- Buy this thing. Its great. Cheap and worth double what it is.
- I have a bear trap around it in my apartment.
- Has anyone tried a SYSX dump with it?

comes with presets that are nice and give you a good idea of what this thing is capable of.
it is very easy to use. had no problem with it out of the box or transfering samples from my computer, of course i've already used the zoom sampletrak wich has the same feature.
really set up for simplicity but doesn't lack intuitiveness.

12 sequence parts 9 of wich are samples but only has a polyphony of 8.
built in effects that are great and easy, and an overall delay wich i had hoped would be more like the effects section in that you could single out individual samples or hits, but you can resample so its not that restricting.
midi in out thru. no pressure sensitivity but there is an accent section wich can be sequenced and the volume can be sequenced.
very nice old school xox style sequencer, eeeeeaaaassy.

32 khz sample rate wich i dig alot but some may find annoying. the preset sound are ok to start out with very easy to manipulate the sounds with effects but you should sample sample sample.
i use it for dubby triphop and drum n bass but i could see house and breakbeat/bigbeat no problem.
the effects are very good! korg did not skimp on the tweakability here. the delay rocks but i wish it could have had an individual sample basis but again this is not really a limitation due to resampling.

had it for a month and a half and no crashes no problems. i also have the es-1 and it has never had a problem, very dependable.
would and have giged with it. very fun live.

n/a

if i had it lost or stolen i would replace it in an instant. it is now the center of my setup, definitely worth the price.
been playing for 7 years the whole time i was waiting for a sampler like this.
i like the fact that it is all there. you can jump tracks, mute, record/sequence live easily. it is meant to be a live instrument and thats where it shines.
i don't like how the delay effects everything and i don't like how you have to copy patterns by copying each track individually, hey korg can you swap these 2 functions?
compared to the other phrase samplers out there it whips butt. i've had the sampletrack the su10 and the akai remix16 and s20. this sampler is better than having all of those at once.
it has helped me write tracks i only had ideas for before. very intuitive. every time i turn it on i do something new and am amazed.
if you are thinking about it don't just get it. its cheap and its fresh. a perfect first piece of gear.

It comes with a little over half the memory already occupied by preset samples and patterns, and a few songs too. Good for instant gratification right out of the box. but of course the beauty of the Electribe Sampler is that it is.... well... a Sampler!

The Manual is descriptive enough to get started, a few things were omitted but are now popping up on korg's download site.

As far as general ease of use goes, well there are no menu's really and the front panel is loaded with knobs and buttons so as you can imagine it is very easy to navigate around.

there are 12 parts (9 samples, 1 time slice sample, Audio-In, Accent)
11 built in effects... Wah, Res. Filter, Isolator, Decimator, Distortion, Compressor, Pitch Shifter, Ring Modulator, Phaser, Flanger/Chorus, and Reverb. Not to mention the Master Delay section that is BPM syncable. The beauty of this large FX pallette is that you can resample through these fx until your heart's content.
Even resample while changing parameters. Uses SmartMedia 3.3V cards to store data in blocks of 4MB. each 4MB holds 95 seconds of mono sampling time that is shared by 100 mono as well as 50 stereo samples (plenty of time really even if you are sampling whole loops and not just single shot sounds), 128 patterns of up to 64 steps each, and 16 songs. It uses any SmartMedia 3.3V card from 4MB to 64MB.

The sequencer is great, classic X0X style, and the rubber keys allow you to run your finger from side to side over every key and it will depress each key on the way... fun for erasing a whole line of steps, my 909 can't do that :(

as far as sounds go, well it IS a sampler. They are, however, sampled at 32khz rather than the standard 44.1khz sample rate. To me, really this is fine. The only thing i can forsee the 32khz sample rate grossly effecting would be the overtones of a pitched up crash cymbal. The onboard fx are most definitely useful, the reverb could use some work... too platey for me. But with the use of SmartMedia cards and your PC, you could export/import your samples as .wav's and edit in soundforge if you like.

Well it is korg. who is all about the mass production. This thing only ways like 2 LB's. Haven't had any problems so far, nor do i anticipate any.

Well Korg has service centers all over the place so if something went haywire it'd only take a 15 minute drive to get it checked out.

This sampler is now a very important part of my setup. The ability to record knob movements and resample makes it very versatile and expressive for a sampler. I got so used to rack mount samplers being constraining and dull. It's really perfect for me. coupled with my 909 it's perfect for techno/house. Other styles that it would suit well are Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop, and possibly Drum&Bass (any sampler is useful for d&b IMHO) but more serious junglists should check out an emu or akai rack sampler. Also i could not think of any other sampler that would be as useful in a Live performance set-up, especially if you are into re-programming patterns on the fly or like to tweak out the fx.

I think anyone from beginner to pro should at least demo the unit for at least an hour, you'd be surprised with how responsive it is.
Don't be mistaken by the flashing lights and what some would consider a "toyish" look. There are no gimmicks here, every aspect of the design of this sampler is useful and will be used time and time again.