Investigating the Korg Electribe EM-1

[@mack_solo]

The black EM-1 electribe came out in 2000 and was the 4th in the original series. It was the most versatile box of the lot by having drums AND synths in the same unit (unlike EA-1 duo synth, ER-1 drum synth, and ES-1 sampler), which made it excellent to quickly whip up ideas in minutes. What's also great about the "plastic" series one electribes is that they all have three MIDI ports, so you can daisy chain them whichever way you like. Yes Roland grooveboxes of the time could do more each, but in terms of immediacy of results IMHO it's hard to beat EM-1. Also, I think in terms of the size - it is a sweet spot - the A4 footprint is just right, anything bigger starts to be awkward and anything smaller too cramped to operate. Quality wise, despite people's dislike for grey plastic, the enclosure was fine. It's the pots that were giving up first (in fact Korg did a semi-fix by inserting sleeves so the knobs would not deviate too much) and the paint would come off the rubber buttons (which was really an issue on later EMX/ESX models where rubber buttons had function names and not just numbers). I'm an Electribe junkie - have 9 and won't let them go 😃

[@gwEmbassy]

Thanks for the great comment Mack! Yes, the EM-1 is really immediate and fun. It’s always a pleasure to use. I love the look of the plastic enclosure too :)

[@xisotopex]

didnt some, or all, of those roland groove boxes have bugs where switching patterns (like you would do if you were creating a song) ?

[@ramseydoon8277]

Hey, Mack, I'd love to see some videos of your electribe madness!

[@dishyangles]

if only the er-1 or es-1 could be played chromatically. 😒

[@fender1000100]

The beauty is running two of these together. THEN you have some serious power. 4 synth parts and 16 drun parts. And you can pick these units up for around 150 quid these days. So even two of them is cheaper than and EMX-1 or MC505. My friend runs two together. THEN plays a string pad from a yamaha CS reface over some of his tracks. Thats awesome sonic power for around 600 quid.

[@gwEmbassy]

That’s a great idea actually!

[@fender1000100]

@@gwEmbassy I know people never think of that often. I agree the EM1 has a fabulous sound. And is so hands on and smooth to get tracks layed. It's real old-school hands on. Which is my era. Its fantastic for electro pop and funk. And anything it can't do well like lush string pads. And big vangelesque pads. The CS reface fills in. Like you said Egyptian lover. Thats an electro classic the Em1 Can really do well. It's like having a Roland TR808/909 and SHO1 in one box. Plus more. Really fabulous and underrated. Just like the Yamaha CS reface is too. And like I said sync two of them together and you have SERIOUS sonic power. That sounds as good as anything I've ever heard.

[@jjlacey1970]

you get the max out of this machine when you sync it up to your daw and use the beats on the em to control your favourite beats on your daw/plug in's

[@gwEmbassy]

that’s also a good idea 👍

[@synchromesh]

I had an EM-1 for a while but I never managed to do much with it (which says more about me than the device). I still have an ES-1mk2, I'm hoping that as a sampler I'll be able to get a bit more joy out of it. Thanks for the nice video and the ES-1 one, that was nice too!

[@gwEmbassy]

They are both good units I think. Probably the sampler has a bit more longevity

[@FaraceChannel]

My favorite Electribe still, also loved the next EMX-1. This one has a place in my heart though. Fast and fun to use. That formant vocal wave is one of my favorites too, made many a tunes with that patch.

[@gwEmbassy]

It is fast to use. I think it’s my favourite as well.

[@reazallykhan]

My favourite is the er1 mk2 … good clip by the way…. Thank you ❤

[@gwEmbassy]

great drum machine :)

[@mCKENIC]

Thanks for the overview mate! Always loved my OG ER-1 and EA-1... must look out for the EM-1 now :-)

[@gwEmbassy]

It’s good gear mate!! :)

[@recycology5468]

Love the FM synth engine and if you add an EA-1 you have two more synth parts plus the EA-1 has an audio input and 2 midi channels simutainously. I have these trio'ed with an ES-1mkII. If I lost all my synths and drum machines and only had these three I'd be sad but still able to crank out some heavy or ambient broadcast quality tracks. I have a RMX1 and MC303 but they're put away in storage. I also like my Akai XR20 for low-fi grit. Thanks for your positive demo!

[@gwEmbassy]

That is a great trio indeed :) I think the EM-1 has to be my favourite groovebox!

[@dishyangles]

damn, if the ea-1 could control a couple volcas it could be a good setup then

[@recycology5468]

It can since the volcas have midi in. Except the wave folder one.@@dishyangles

[@Dimartean]

Learned so much! Thank you for sharing. What cable do you need to be able to play the synths part on an external machine?

[@gwEmbassy]

A 5pin DIN MIDI cable

[@jevogroni4829]

Thanks for this. Looks very intuitive for someone coming from the ES-1. I wonder if I should hold out for the EMX though.

[@gwEmbassy]

I’ve never tried an EMX. What I like about the original Electribes is their charming looks and ease of use. I have been wondering about an ESX-1 lately though.

[@i.q_music]

Loving this!

[@gwEmbassy]

🙏🙏

[@electroshox]

imo the best of the 2k groove boxes. rmx1 and the mc xxx's were/are harder to control and the etribe also sounds better. thx 4 exhuming this. partied hard those days...

[@gwEmbassy]

I fully agree with this! Less is more

[@jamalvinily575]

This is amazing thank you very much that was so helpfull but plezz can do a tutoriel like this one on electribe rmk2 and electrub S plz

[@gwEmbassy]

That is possible yes. I will make a note! There is an ES-1 video already on the channel actually.

[@roberth9948]

If anyone knows where I can find a new effect pot for an em-1, please let me know

[@gwEmbassy]

Hope you find one man

[@thebmxband1t]

Brilliant. Always wondered if these were user friendly. Shame realtime input over midi isn’t supported.

[@gwEmbassy]

Yes, that is a limitation. But generally it is user friendly and sounds good I think.

[@dfreeman120]

Got the ER-1 and like the features a lot

[@gwEmbassy]

The ER-1 has a cool sound to it, going up in price lately!

[@dfreeman120]

@@gwEmbassy there’s a guy called Dorosi ( wrong spelling ) but he’s doing some amazing stuff on the er1

[@johntammaro4666]

I forgot I owned one of these. Ha. Found it buried in a wardrobe

[@gwEmbassy]

Hope you have some fun with it again :)

[@jutubjestzlem]

Haha, Roland menu diving prevails even on their new boxes (I still like MC-101 though).

[@gwEmbassy]

Agreed!! :) :)

[@maxwarfield6699]

What is that device, directly to the right of the EM-1, is that a mixer?

[@gwEmbassy]

That is an Alesis Nanocompressor

[@i.q_music]

👍👍

[@gwEmbassy]

Nice one, pleased you like :)

[@BrancoArgenta]

I would get one just for the M1 organ and Piano

[@gwEmbassy]

Those are very well sampled!

[@BrancoArgenta]

@@gwEmbassy I totally didn't need it so obviously I got one

[@gwEmbassy]

🤣🤣 enjoy!

[@BrancoArgenta]

@@gwEmbassy I better!

[@mastercylinder1939]

Gabba is for the Klompen.

[@gwEmbassy]

🧡🇳🇱🧡

[@mastercylinder1939]

@@gwEmbassy kaaskop approved.

[@timswink7505]

Hey man, what midi controller are you using in this?

[@gwEmbassy]

It’s a Yamaha CBX-K1