Korg Electribe EM-1 (2000s)
A music production station combining rhythm and synth sequencing, released in the early 2000s
Overview
The Korg Electribe EM-1 is a music production station—also described as a groovebox—designed for hands-on sequencing and sound shaping. Released in the early 2000s, it fuses rhythm and synth sequencing into a compact, tactile unit aimed at dance music production. It features analog modeling synthesis with 50 waveforms, offering 2-voice polyphony for synth parts and 8-voice polyphony for drum sounds. The EM-1 earned a user rating of 3.8 from 557 votes and is noted as a fun, engaging tool used by professional artists in electronic music.
Specifications
| Polyphony | 2 voices (synth), 8 voices (drums) |
| Waveforms | 50 |
Design
The Electribe EM-1 features a hands-on user interface with dedicated controls for real-time sound manipulation and sequencing. Its circuit board includes an IC6 component, which has been identified in user reports as a potential failure point, with at least one instance of a fried IC6 reported.
Context
A forum thread titled "Korg Electribe EM-1 Nachfolger" was posted on October 21, 2005, on sequencer.de, indicating ongoing interest in a successor model.
Market
Used units have been listed for $464.71 CAD with shipping from Japan, while a replacement FX effect selector switch pot was listed for $26.37 CAD. Current market listings suggest used units start around $249.99, with 69 results found on eBay for "korg em-1", reflecting continued availability in the secondary market.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.