I chose the Electribe ES-1

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 4:46 pm

I had the rare opportunity not too long ago, to try out mint condition Electribe samplers - the ES-1 and the ESX (SD version). They were both for sale at reasonable prices. Since I don't buy much gear now, and have this idea that I should only own one instrument at a time (currently the Novation Circuit), I was reluctant to even approach this opportunity, seeing as I would most likely want to buy them both.

But anyway, I tried them both quite extensively, and did actually buy one of them. I figured, for that price and in that condition. I can pass it on without too much trouble if I decide to replace the Circuit with the one I chose.

To my own surprise, I went for the ES-1. It was not a financial choice, but one where I could have either or. It was entirely up to me.

Even though it was clear the ESX was superior in almost all aspects concerning features, the ES-1 had a few things going for it that eventually made me make this decision.

I found that the difference in features didn't matter all that much. Any idea I had, I could put together on both machines. What the ES-1 could do, was enough. A good idea for a track could be realised on that instrument, and it didn't necessarily become better just because I could use more tracks, effects and other cool stuff. It was more of the same, but the basic dish was already enough.

The absence of features also made the ES-1 a more focused experienced, including the limited amount of sample memory. Less options made me focus on those that were, which also meant less distractions. This is no romantic notion of making wine with water, but a simple truth when it comes to creative work - you need just a few tools, but make sure they're the right ones, or you'll get distracted. To find these tools, you need to try many and fail a lot. But once you're there, you should be good.

And then there's the sound. Anything that came out of the ES-1 just sounded rough and raw, whereas the ESX felt clean and to some extent, a bit sharp. It sounded better, but not as interesting. Really, a matter of taste, not an objective statement.

Lastly, there's the looks. An ES-1 in mint condition looks like a glass of champagne. The ESX looks like a bag of candy. I love both. But prefer bubbles before bubble gums.

I still go back to my list of features and think of all the cool stuff I could do with the ESX, had I went for it instead. But then I sit down and play with the ES-1, and remember the reasons for my choice.

In the meantime, the Novation Circuit's eye-balling me from the corner, wondering what the hell just happened. "Seriously, he's considering replacing me for that old fart?"

But yes. A piece of gear from the early 2000's, feels as relevant to me today as something that came out just a few months ago. And it looks like a glass of champagne.

PureSecksPirate · Post by **PureSecksPirate** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 5:09 pm

Good choice! The master delay is gnarly too! They don't make them like that any more. I've got one as my crunchy drum machine.

apapdop · Post by **apapdop** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 5:31 pm

Was it a mk2 ES-1? The one with the "champagne" metal faceplate? Agreed, a fine looking beast. I think my ER-1 mk2 looks gorgeous...

Yep, it's not always 100% features that win you over. My Volca Sample out-funs anything i have ever owned. That plasticky, wobbly-potted-pitiful-4mb-of-sample-RAM-cheap-as-chips-16-step..... thing... Cool stuff falls out of that like nothing else.

Enjoy your new toy!! I think it's a keeper.

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 6:21 pm

PureSecksPirate wrote:Good choice! The master delay is gnarly too! They don't make them like that any more. I've got one as my crunchy drum machine.

Thanks! Yes, the delay and the fx in general has plenty of character. Makes me consider an EM-1, actually. And there goed the one box at a time principle. Still. Makes me consider an EM-1, anyway. Or just because.

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 6:22 pm

apapdop wrote:Was it a mk2 ES-1? The one with the "champagne" metal faceplate? Agreed, a fine looking beast. I think my ER-1 mk2 looks gorgeous...

Yep, it's not always 100% features that win you over. My Volca Sample out-funs anything i have ever owned. That plasticky, wobbly-potted-pitiful-4mb-of-sample-RAM-cheap-as-chips-16-step..... thing... Cool stuff falls out of that like nothing else.

Enjoy your new toy!! I think it's a keeper.

Yep, that's the one. It's a beauty, on the inside and outside. It's sort of dirt with the right style.

Have you tried the EM-1? If so, what's that like, in terms of character specifically?

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 8:20 pm

Nice to hear you found a machine you like! But as someone who owns both, the ESX just stomps the old ES-1 in about every way other than--as you said--an interesting sonic character: "muffled" but in a full, pretty bass-y way.

Personally I find the added stretch parts, arpeggiator, MIDI CC, mod section, melodic parts and effects routings are all too useful to forego, but that's just me and what I want. The ES-1 can definitely be used to setup some sick beats, and makes a great drum machine. Enjoy!

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 8:24 pm

thehighesttree wrote:Nice to hear you found a machine you like! But as someone who owns both, the ESX just stomps the old ES-1 in about every way other than--as you said--an interesting sonic character: "muffled" but in a full, pretty bass-y way.

Personally I find the added stretch parts, arpeggiator, MIDI CC, mod section, melodic parts and effects routings are all too useful to forego, but that's just me and what I want. The ES-1 can definitely be used to setup some sick beats, and makes a great drum machine. Enjoy!

True, they're tough to disregard. Perhaps I need to get into vintage Electribe workflow more, before I can fully appreciate what the added options would bring.

apapdop · Post by **apapdop** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 10:15 pm

circuitghost wrote:
apapdop wrote:Was it a mk2 ES-1? The one with the "champagne" metal faceplate? Agreed, a fine looking beast. I think my ER-1 mk2 looks gorgeous...

Yep, it's not always 100% features that win you over. My Volca Sample out-funs anything i have ever owned. That plasticky, wobbly-potted-pitiful-4mb-of-sample-RAM-cheap-as-chips-16-step..... thing... Cool stuff falls out of that like nothing else.

Enjoy your new toy!! I think it's a keeper.
Yep, that's the one. It's a beauty, on the inside and outside. It's sort of dirt with the right style.

Have you tried the EM-1? If so, what's that like, in terms of character specifically?

No, i've never tried the EM-1, i understand they are pretty hard to come by. I had an EA-1 for a short while though. I thought it was s**t. Others think differently!!

thehighesttree · Post by **thehighesttree** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 10:35 pm

I'm totally biased, it was my first sequencer and I learned it inside-out.

It was mentioned above, but the delay is great fun on the ES-1: set the Time parameter to whatever works in tempo with your beat and it'll be stored with the patch so you only need to CRANK the depth knob to glitch it out!

Mine also has this weird quirk that seems to be an issue with the LED circuits, try it out on yours too: if you hold "Part Mute" (I think) as it's playing, almost all the LEDs light up, and if you continue to hold it, a horrible building feedback slowly envelopes the sound! This isn't a complaint at all, it's really more like a grungy bonus effect!

Also, if yours didn't come with a smartmedia card, try searching for a crappy old smartmedia digital camera on your local classified ads...as a bonus many of them work as card interfaces for loading/dumping with your computer!

Also, I wouldn't replace the Circuit unless you need the funds: these things apparently go great with an electribe, and you're probably gonna want something for sequencing synthlines as well, since the ES-1 is mainly a "rhythm sampler" AKA sample-based drum machine. GET YOUR MIDI CABLE READY! Once you've got them tempo-synched, try feeding the circuit into the Audio-In part and gating/filtering/effecting it! Prepare to neglect friends, hygiene and other commitments for a few days...

sl23 · Post by **sl23** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 8:55 am

.....

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:35 am

thehighesttree wrote:I'm totally biased, it was my first sequencer and I learned it inside-out.

It was mentioned above, but the delay is great fun on the ES-1: set the Time parameter to whatever works in tempo with your beat and it'll be stored with the patch so you only need to CRANK the depth knob to glitch it out!

Mine also has this weird quirk that seems to be an issue with the LED circuits, try it out on yours too: if you hold "Part Mute" (I think) as it's playing, almost all the LEDs light up, and if you continue to hold it, a horrible building feedback slowly envelopes the sound! This isn't a complaint at all, it's really more like a grungy bonus effect!

Also, if yours didn't come with a smartmedia card, try searching for a crappy old smartmedia digital camera on your local classified ads...as a bonus many of them work as card interfaces for loading/dumping with your computer!

Also, I wouldn't replace the Circuit unless you need the funds: these things apparently go great with an electribe, and you're probably gonna want something for sequencing synthlines as well, since the ES-1 is mainly a "rhythm sampler" AKA sample-based drum machine. GET YOUR MIDI CABLE READY! Once you've got them tempo-synched, try feeding the circuit into the Audio-In part and gating/filtering/effecting it! Prepare to neglect friends, hygiene and other commitments for a few days...

Fortunately, there was a pretty meaty card included. The instrument really was in pristine condition. I've played with it extensively over the weekend and it keeps pulling me in. Good s**t just pours out of it.

I'm sticking to my one instrument principle. I used to jam with multiple boxes at a time, and that's great fun. But it's also distracting, for me. But I won't do anything hasty. They'll live side by side for awhile, at least.

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:38 am

sl23 wrote:I bought both around a year ago, the esx is brilliant but you can't beat the sound of the original units. I've previously owned the ER~1 and EA~1 and they were fantastic units in terms of sound. I always wanted an EM~1 but never got round to buying one. Ended up with the emx, which is great but, again, can't beat that old sound from the originals... At least that's my opinion!

Yes. It even has me considering an SP303, though I think I'd be frustrated by the too limited options in that machine. There are limits to when romancing vintage gear just becomes silly. But the sound of those two ... building the track on the ES-1, recording it and messing with it in the SP303, then just record the final mix and you're done.

Tempting.

sl23 · Post by **sl23** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 9:51 am

.....

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:45 am

sl23 wrote:Yeah that's why I bought an sp505, but as you say it's more the romantic notions of vintage gear that appeals. The sound and FX of the 505 are great but I've gotten too used to the ease of use of newer hardware, I just couldn't be bothered with it in the end! Shame as it was bloody good!

I think part of the reason for my disappointment was that I had an sp808 years ago and that was far superior in every way. But the problem with that was the whole zip disk thing. If it was updated to use SD cards instead, or even a hard drive, I'd buy one in a heartbeat! Computers are far superior in every way but that also includes distractions! Which is a big problem.

Thanks for the answer and insight. I'm getting ideas that I'd like to expand upon, where recording the tracks from the ES-1 and then layering stuff and warping them with chops and resampling, will get me where I want. I really don't need all that many features, but I used to own an Octatrack (for two years), and there just might be convenience in modern technology that's so mandatory these days, I'd just discover the hard way that old gear don't do.

For example, just having an entire set within the box, despite tracks and loops taking up lots of memory (like the Octatrack, streaming from CF cards), exporting and importing files between a computer and the hardware, a proper sequencer, stuff like that.

I think in the end, the SP303 would let me down in areas that are just plain better and superior today. The ES-1 fits the bill because it really is focused on being creative with one shots and sequencing them, whereas the SP:s really are for longer takes.

I tried the 404SX for awhile, but just didn't gel with it. There's something awkward about the entire experience that just put me off.

Eventually, if nothing interesting shows up, I will go back to the Octatrack for my recording, mastering and performance purposes, and pair it with my current instrument of choice. But for now, it's actually quite relieving to not even have that around, even if it was a beast (or perhaps just because it was a beast).

circuitghost · Post by **circuitghost** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 12:04 pm

It just occurred to me, maybe the OP-1 is an option for this.

I have no experience with that instrument.

Is it any good at recording loops like this? Anyone who knows?