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Korg ESX1 Electribe SX Production Sampler

The ELECTRIBESX represents a new generation of Electribes - powerful dance music products that cover everything from laying down stunning tracks to creating exhilarating live performances. Both come housed in a sleek, rugged metal chassis. The new backlit LCD provides a wealth of information during programming or performance. Learn More...

    • New $499.00
  • Installment Plan:4 payments of $124.75
    • free ground shipping
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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
User friendly is an understatement. Fair enough I used to have an ES-1 which gave me a head start but beginners would have no problems picking up how to use it. Hands on and no need to navigate through endless menus. Everything is at your fingertips and you're not restricted to having to only perform one "tweak" at a time. The selection of effects is a nice mixture and all have great results. Some people may say the effect editing is limiting but the parameters that are covered ar more than enough for what I need it to do. The extra mono outputs are a welcome touch too.

Quality:
Built tough. The sleek metal finish is much better than the shiny plastic finish on its little brother. I managed to burn a littl hole below the 3rd step key on my ES-1 (don't smoke kids- bad for you) but I dont need to worry about that with this machine for 2 reasons: 1) its metal and 2) I packed in smoking.

Value:
Yeah you get a pretty decent deal for the money I think.

Desirability:
Both new generation Electribes have got major appeal. Very sexy machines. Blue EMX and red ESX. I even started to fantasize about a green Electribe sampling vocoder but I dont think we'll see one of those with the Microkorg already about.

Sound:
44.1KHz sampling. Sorted. Nice change from the 33Khz found in the younger brother (ES-1) which I owned prior to buying this. The sound is clear and the tubes deliver wether you want a warm subtle overtone or total burned chicken distortion. The effects deliver too but the reverb is a bit ringy when applied to cetain percussion sounds but all in all I rate the sound.

Ease of Use:
Like I said, user friendly is an understatement.

Support:
Havent had a single problem so havent had to contact korg.

Overall:
It probably sounds biased but it's gonna get 100%. It does everything i require and I've had no problems with it. It completes my setup and I dont think after using this that I could get used to anything different to Korg due to how easy it is to use. Infact after buying my first bit if studio kit (ER-1), I wont use anything but Korg now (apart from for my mixer, monitors, compressors etc). Kiss me Korg

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
It could use more input options for sampling, but thats nothing an adapter can't cure

Quality:
built like an ox

Value:
for the production capabilities it's a steal

Desirability:
the metal chasis keeps the groupies wet

Sound:
at first I thought that the vacuum tubes were a gimick untill I plugged the mothersucka into a double stack marshall.

Support:
can't really say at this point

Overall:
more effects, more, more, more!!!!

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Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
this machine is very versitile

Quality:
I was disappointed here: just bee real careful with the knobs, and you will be ok. I live the design though, the metallic red finish rocks.

Value:
Not a bad deal, I will say that. It is in real handy at gigs.

Desirability:
It is attractive, and I would buy it again.

Sound:
some effects are a little grainy in parts

Support:
I was having trouble with one of my knobs, and I had a hard time getting a response from Korg.....then I was without it for more than a month because I had to send it back to the factory.

Overall:
get one, just be careful with it.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
I like it.

Sound:
I just got it 2 months ago. Ilike it a lot.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

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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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
I really wish it would have come with a smart card but, even without it has alot of room for samples and songs. alot of other features are mentioned above. I do wish it had a driver knob in the filter section like the korg emx1 but it can be lived with. This is incredibly easy to start using. especially since I have never used anything like this before. I do keep the instruction manual close but it is incredibly easy to read and is definetly written for the beginner in mind. I didnt start playing it right out of the box but the more I read and tried stuff the more intruged I was to learn other things. I think the sampler is going to be great I am just waiting on my KP2 to arrive so that I can sample stuff into it using that. I think I will make a song out of kaoss pad enhanced light saber sounds.

Quality:
I am a bit worried about this. I just got it and I am going to take real good care of it. it doesnt seem like it could take such a beating. I am mostly worried about wearing out knobs and wearing off the paint on the buttons. it seems like something you need to take care of but, no different than how you would take care of a guitar. get a case if you are going to gig.

Value:
Its great it does more than I thought it would. it is the first of this kinda thing I have owned. I have been doing music for over 10 years but I am originally a bass player.

Desirability:
Got it.

Sound:
I havent actually been able to sample anything yet but the sounds that are on board are alot of fun to tweak and there is plenty of knobs and buttons to turn and push to do that. I think I could make a bass drum sound like a chain saw if I had enough time. also the arpegiator and ribbon slider are great for making on the fly weird keyboard parts. after I think I have a sound just where I want it adding an effect to it takes it to another level. the possibilities are endless. The tubes really add a nice warm sound to the output and when I hooked up a bose microphone the sound was really clear. it makes me want to pee in its butt if it had a butt.

Overall:
Proud owner. I love korg stuff. I think the sounds are great. especially if you are looking to do some really bizaree stuff. love it.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
I liked all of the features and new effects that were upgraded to this machine. The only thing that I would have liked to see different is I wish it had more atleast one more keyboard and more sampling time. Overall the features are great.

Quality:
The esx1 is built sturdy and will last a long time as long as it is not mishandled or mistreated.

Value:
I traded in my es1 and my em1 for this machine. I was worried at first for trading in both of my machines but I found that the esx1 does what the em1 and es1 combined plus more. It is well worth the money.

Desirability:
The product is built nice and is a nice color. The glowing moving lights helps to perform in the dark.

Sound:
The sound quality is much improved from the other electribes (es1, em1). One thing that I like is the that the sound is not as choppy as the es1. The esx1 provides a rich smoth warm sound because of the tubes that are built inside the machine. My only concern is that I wonder if the tubes will one day need replacing. It does not specify this in the insttruction manual or how to get the tubes replaced if they do need to be replaced.

Support:
I had to never deal with Korg, but as far as ease of use I find it much easier to use than the es1. If you already know how to use the es1 you are in good shape. When I first I got the machine I felt overwhelmed with all the new features but once you get use to it you'll find that it is not that hard to use.

Overall:
Overall I think this prodcut is well worth the money and I would reccommend it to nayone who wants to buy the new electribe.

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