Electribe Explained

Electribe is a group of electronic musical instruments by Korg. From its beginnings with the Electribe R to the ESX-1, this series includes both analogue modeling synthesizers and sampling drum machines that can be programmed the same as a drum machine. The analogue modeling synth and sampling drum machine both share a drum-pattern section and a synth-pattern section, whereby the user can not only program drum patterns, but also synth and basslines. These hybrid machines could be considered 'grooveboxes'.

The launch party for the product in 1999 was announced with a recorded CD invitation that was featured in Entertainment Weekly magazine as one of the best party invitations of the year.^[1]

Models

1st generation - Released 1999-2000

• EA-1: Analog Modeling Synthesizer ^[2]

^[3]

• ER-1: Rhythm Synthesizer^{[2] [3]}
• ES-1: Rhythm Production Sampler^[4]
• EM-1: Music Production Station

2nd generation - Released 2003-4

• EA-1 mkII: Analog Modeling Synthesizer
• ER-1 mkII: Rhythm Synthesizer
• ES-1 mkII: Rhythm Production Sampler (using SmartMedia storage. Maximum size card recognized is 64MB)
• ESX-1: Music Production Sampler (using SmartMedia storage)^[5]
• EMX-1: Music Production Station (using SmartMedia storage)^{[6] [7]}

3rd generation - Released 2010

• ESX-1SD: Music Production Sampler (Identical to the ESX-1, but using Secure Digital (SD) storage)
• EMX-1SD: Music Production Station (Identical to the EMX-1, but using Secure Digital (SD) storage)

iPad application

• iElectribe: an app for the iPad
• iElectribe: an app for the iPhone
• Electribe Wave: an app for the iPad and iPhone

4th generation - Announced Sept 2014

• electribe: Music Production Station (using SD Card storage) http://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/electribe/
• electribe sampler: Music Production Sampler (using SD Card storage) http://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/electribe_sampler/
• Electribe ER1 VST, as part of the Korg Collection released in November 2022.^[8]

Further reading

• Korg Electribes. 72. Future Music. 83. June 1999. Future Publishing. 0967-0378. 1032779031.
• Korg ElectribeS. 8. Future Music. 96. June 2000. Future Publishing. 0967-0378. 1032779031.
• Korg Electribe EMX1. Future Music. 137. Future Publishing. 0967-0378. 1032779031.

External links

• Korg home page
• Korg Electribe forum
• Electribe ESX/EMX forum
• Electribrary files community database

Notes and References

1. Web site: Expansion Union - Untitled. Discogs. en. 2018-04-12.
2. Web site: Electribe·A/R. Korg. Korg Museum. ja. 2024-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20160706003332/http://www.korg.co.jp/SoundMakeup/Museum/ELECTRIBE/. 2016-07-06 .
3. Web site: Korg Electribe EA1 & ER1. Sound on Sound. Chris Carter. en. July 1999. 2024-07-21.
4. Web site: Korg Electribe ES1. Sound on Sound. August 2000. 2024-07-21.
5. Web site: Korg ESX1. Sound On Sound. March 2004. 21 June 2018.
6. Web site: Korg ESX1. Sound On Sound. November 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20150609080837/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov03/articles/korgemx1.htm. 9 June 2015.
7. Web site: Korg ElecTribe MX (EMX-1). Vintage Synth. 21 June 2018.
8. Web site: ELECTRIBE-R for Mac/Win. Korg. 2024-07-21.