Korg Electribe ESX-1 (2003)
The Korg Electribe ESX-1 is a music production sampler and sequencer. People often write it as just "Electribe ESX." It came out in 2003. The Electribe line had started in 1999 with the A-1 analogue-modelling synth and the R-1 rhythm synth. Sampling arrived with the ES-1 in 2000 and the EM-1 in 2001. The ESX-1 built on those with a red chassis and 16 pads, and it has a strong reputation for hands-on, live-oriented work.
The ESX-1 has a 12-part architecture: nine one-shot parts, one time-slice part, one audio-in part, and an accent part. It gives you 16-voice polyphony, a 32kHz sampling rate, and up to 285 seconds of monaural sample time. One retailer's listing says 95 seconds mono / 47.5 seconds stereo to internal memory, with room for 100 mono and 50 stereo samples. Memory holds 20,000 events. There is a 1/4" stereo audio input with a LINE/MIC level switch and gain knob, full MIDI in/out/thru, and it saves to SmartMedia cards. The output circuit includes a "Valve Force" tube stage, which contributes to its warm, aggressive sound.
Documentation for the ESX-1 is reasonably good, but the technical spec sheets disagree across sources. Audiofanzine, for instance, says plainly that it has no technical specifications on file. The reception is consistent. Users praise the sequencer as intuitive and immediate, and the machine is often recommended for electronic hip-hop, house, and techno, as well as live performance. One forum user, asked to compare it to Roland's SP-606, put it simply: "Korg ESX, no question. The polyphony on the SPs are a freaking joke." Korg has since discontinued the ESX-1. It now trades on the secondhand market, with current listings around $799 and condition ranging from mint-in-box to well-used.
Known Specifications
- Released: 2003
- 12 parts (9 one-shot, 1 time-slice, 1 audio-in, 1 accent)
- 16-voice polyphony
- 32kHz sampling rate
- Sampling time: up to 285 seconds mono (or 95s mono / 47.5s stereo to internal memory)
- 100 mono + 50 stereo sample slots
- 20,000-event sequencer memory
- 16 trigger pads
- 1/4" stereo audio input with LINE/MIC switch and gain
- MIDI in/out/thru
- SmartMedia external storage
- Valve Force tube output stage
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