Feature:
the polyphony is mono with the ability to layer two keyboard 'parts'. the keypad is allright. not velocity sensitive or pressure sensitive the arpeggiator slider/ribbon controller is a nice touch that i hope gets updated with new os versions, ie being able to use both on the drum parts. the effect are incredible. they aren't the greatest but they sure are powerful and handy. the grain freeze is pretty cool. the distortiond and bit reduction rock and the compression is very usable. they are really simple to use and assign to the samples. it has a smartmedia drive for importing/exporting samples saving or loading patterns and songs wich works without a hitch and is much faster than the es-1. it has midi in/out/thru with a syncable clock wich i have not tried yet. the sequencer is dead easy but it is basically 4/4 16ths with the ability to place the ending step of the pattern and 128 steps. much has improved over the other electribes. great for live use and improv.
Quality:
it has been reliable, no crashes or hiccups. no problems to speak of. the resampling feature has been improved with the new os. the body is all metal. seems like it could take some bumps.
Customer Support: 8
Desirability:
If you're familiar with x0x style sequencing or have used the original electribes, the interface will be second nature. It's probably the most intuitive piece of gear I've ever owned.
Sound:
It's a sampler. Drums sound full and punchy and the bass end is there. Sampling rate is now 44.1 khz. instead of 32. No down-sampling to save space unfortunately, but there's 245 seconds mono and that's probably enough. (And you can resample through effects for lo-fi sounds and to save polyphony). Effects are not classy- in your face is a better description- but work very well for electronic music. The delays are smooth and the distortion goes from subtle to not. There is also an extra pair of stereo outs.
Support:
Never called them
Overall:
I would buy it again if anything were to happen to it. Compared to the Roland SP-606 for example, it's a much more exciting machine to play with and (I feel) far more creative (okay, the 606 does have the advantage of USB, the D-Beam controller, a larger memory and graphic waveform editing too, but (to me), it feels a much less exciting machine to use and not quite as phat-sounding as the Korg when you start turning up the ESX's built-in tubes). I've been using kit like this since the late 80's, and it's by far one of the best of it's kind. It doesn't get in the way of what ideas you may have and it's just so hands on compared with similar products from other companies. If Korg ever made an "extreme" version (more polyphonic, built in synth from the EMX-1, USB, more outs and so on), I'd buy it without question. All in all, the ESX-1 is an excellent product from Korg.
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