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circuitghost · Full Member Joined: 25 Feb 2015 Posts: 196

Friends at the forum,

I've just acquired an ES-1 MKII. On purpose, I'm scanning the market for vintage Electribes - vintage meaning anything before EMX and ESX and nothing after. I like the dirt they produce, the filth they make.

So this little guy needs a synth friend, and I wonder if the EM-1 isn't the best option to go. Looks great in black also. It seems the most versatile, with both drums and synth in one package.

What do you say? Am I missing one of the classics here or am I pursuing the right instrument?

sohatyi · Full Member Joined: 20 Oct 2011 Posts: 208

I own an ER1 and an EA1... The ER1 has a feature no other electribe has, proper analog drum modeling (you can kind of do it on the EMX I'd you're willing to sacrifice your synth parts but it isn't quite as good). It's just a shame they didn't release a beefed up version with 16+ voices and decent snare. The delay is mental on that thing, can turn things into a crazy time warp of noise. Oh, and it has two inputs you can modulate and gate, which is an entire other dimension to the beast.

The EA1 on the other hand, just two voices and limited oscillator options make it (for me) a real damp squib. You can make it get down and dirty though, so it's not all bad.
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Korg: M3M, EMX2, EMX1 (x2), ESX1, ER1, EA1, R3, MicroKorg, MicroSampler, Micro X, KP2, KP3, KPMini 1&2, KO1&2, KP Pro
Roland: SP808, MC505, Handsonic 10, Fantom X6, RC505, CG8
Emu: Command Station MP7 (x3!), Proteus 2000, Planet Earth, Virtuoso, Planet Phatt, XBoard49
Novation: UltraNova, Nova
Yamaha: RM1X, CS2X, DX11, DX Reface, YC Reface
Other: Zoom R24, Quasimidi 309, Beat Thang, Akai MPC1000 and a couple of Omnichords

Buska · Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Posts: 373

The em1 seems to have a pretty big following..

http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/etm.php

Check out the user reviews at the bottom of the page
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Korg gear : EMX1SD, Volca Sample, DS-10
iOS: Gadget, iM1, iElectribe, iMs20, iPolysix, iKaossilator
History : Korg E2, Mini KP, Kaossilator Mini, R3

thesigma · Senior Member Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 409

I owned ( and still do) an es1 and ea1, always wanted and still do, the er1, I electribe just made me want the hardware more. I was never too interested in the em1, though I had a friend who got some good sounds out of it.

The ea1 is rather limited, no LFO, very basic only lpf, but it's good for bass lines, though in no way will it ever sound like a 303 if that's what you're after. You can get some good effects sounds out of it too, and it's still useful for sequencing better sounding synths.

I'd rather have an EMX1 than an EM1 and the price difference isn't going to be much nowadays. Of course this is just my opinion.

Buska · Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Posts: 373

apapdop · Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 6:48 am Post subject:

circuitghost · Full Member Joined: 25 Feb 2015 Posts: 196

Actually, what I'm after is that broken digital sound. Not analogue, I got enough of that, and not pure, cause that to me isn't all that interesting, but rather the funky beats you can get out of something that sounds rough and imperfect, but all the more wild for it. I don't want the classic 303 sound, I don't want the ladder / curtis / steiner-parker-stuff.

Actually, the OP-1 is close to what I'm after in sound, but it's a pain to use and really just too bloody expensive.

To me, the older tribes sound kind of like digital abominations, in a good way. But I've never heard or tried one live, so that's why I'm wondering.

apapdop · Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 1:26 pm Post subject:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WLmk5YtLToQ
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If I'm not listening to music, or if I'm not making music, then I'm probably thinking about music.

Volca Sample, FM, Beats, Kick. OP-1, Monologue, Pocket Operators. And an ipad.

Hugo · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 809

So there's nothing to gain by adding the ER-1 if you already have the iElectribe?

apapdop · Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 2:42 pm Post subject:

brambos · Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 8:29 pm Post subject:

Choosing between the ER-1 and the EM-1 is tough choice to make. I love both. The ER-1 is awesome for tinkering, whilst the EM-1 has to be the groovebox with the fastest workflow on the planet. It's insane how fast you can hammer out something nice with that machine.

I'd say if you have the ES-1 already, prioritize the EM-1 and then get the ER-1 later. Mind you, EM-1 was pretty hard to find when I was looking for one. Much rarer than the ER-1.

Hugo · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 809

apapdop · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 6:06 am Post subject:

circuitghost · Full Member Joined: 25 Feb 2015 Posts: 196

circuitghost · Full Member Joined: 25 Feb 2015 Posts: 196