Korg Electribe ESX1

The Electribe ESX1 comes housed in a sleek, rugged metal chassis with a backlit LCD which provides a wealth of information during programming or performance.

The intuitive step-time/realtime interface has been enhanced with a new Ribbon and Slider control. Effects, Motion Sequencing, and Pattern length have all been expanded. A brand-new filter lets you chose Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass or Band Pass Plus.

Up to 256 patterns can be created and stored to the internal memory. You can combine patterns, add mute data and knob movements to create up to 64 songs. To get you started, a wide assortment of patterns covering house, hip-hop, R&B, electronica, drum’n’bass, techno, trance and more come preloaded – 128 in the ESX1 Using the last step function, you can easily adjust to any odd meter. Favorite patterns can be assigned to Pattern Sets for instant access. Data can be quickly saved and loaded via SmartMedia.

Audio inputs allow you to process external signals through the on-board filter and effects, and an extra pair of assignable outputs has been added as well. The front panel knobs and switches control all the most important sound parameters, allowing you to modify the sound in real-time as you perform, and giving you a hands-on feel like that of an analog synthesizer.

The Korg EX1 lets you use a variety of approaches to creating songs, elevating it beyond just a sampler and rhythm module into a comprehensive tool for music production.

Using sample based sound creation, the Korg ESX1 can generate a total of 16 parts that can be used for building patterns. Nine parts are set up to play as “one-shot” samples, or Drum Parts. Two additional Keyboard Parts allow samples to be played melodically at various pitches right from the step keys or a MIDI input. Sampled loops can be assigned to the Stretch Parts. As Stretch Parts, their tempos can be adjusted without affecting their pitch. This allows two sample Loops recorded at different tempos to be played back at the same in sync. Phrase samples can also be “Sliced,” or divided up at the rhythmic peaks of the sample. Once sliced, individual samples can be muted to generate new grooves. Pitch, filter and effect settings can be applied to the individual sliced samples (or Motion Sequenced) to transform the original phrase into something unique. Two Accent parts introduce added dynamics. Reverse and Roll commands can be used to quickly generate complex sounding patterns. Additional Sample edit commands include Normalize, Truncate and Start Point.

A generous 285 seconds of memory (at 44.1kHz) can be used to create up to 384 of your own samples. The Electribe ESX1 includes a wide variety of preloaded samples – 196 in all – so that you can start producing dance music immediately. Samples (.WAV/AIFF format) can be imported and exported via SmartMedia.
Twin vacuum tubes for analog warmth

Valve Force circuitry contains two vacuum tubes that add new power to your sound. The analog tube circuit adds a warmth and presence to your sound that cannot be duplicated digitally. The tube gain knob adjusts the level of the output signal passing through the vacuum tubes, creating dynamic sounds with the distinctive tonal quality that only tubes deliver.

The highly acclaimed Electribe effects have been enhanced to provide three multi-effect units available for simultaneous use. Each part can be independently routed to any of the three effects processors, and you can even use the Chain function to link multiple effects in series, opening up further sonic possibilities. Each processor offers 16 effect types ranging from traditional reverb, delay, flanger and chorus, as well as more modern offerings including tempo-based delay, talking modulator, grain shifter, decimator and more. The edits you make to each of the effects processors are saved with each pattern.