Korg's DSP know‑how has been applied to the ES1's various sound‑mangling effects which, in the company's understated words 'let you aggressively process the samples to create your own signature sound'. Billed as a rhythm production sampler, the ES1 marries its sampling facilities with the TR808/909‑style, grid‑based pattern sequencer that was such a strength of the other Electribe models. The tribe's third initiate is the Electribe S (or ES1 to give it its shortened name) which, under the continuing collective slogan 'The Cure for the Common Groove', aims to take the elbow grease out of mutating digital audio into beats to make your pulse race. Combining modern DSP technology with the high knob count of yesteryear's synths, they were judged worthy contenders in the burgeoning dance/DJ instrument market, being both very user‑friendly and capable of producing some highly original sounds (see SOS July 1999). Korg's first two Electribe models, the EA1 analogue modelling synth and ER1 rhythm machine raised their war cry just over a year ago. Nicholas Rowland meets the latest member, the ES1 desktop sampler. Korg's Electribe family of instruments aims to combine cutting‑edge dance sounds with an easy‑to‑use interface.

Korg electribe wave