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Average Price: $421
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$249
$700+
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Description
Step into the groove with the Korg Electribe EM-1, a marvel in the world of tabletop synthesizers that seamlessly blends analog synthesizer vibes with drum machine dynamism. Designed for the intuitive artist, the Electribe EM-1 invites you to sculpt your sound landscapes without the hassle, making it a go-to for live music production. Its streamlined interface ensures that every tweak, every pattern, and every bassline is at your fingertips, offering an experience that’s as engaging as it is effortless. Whether you're crafting beats in your studio or performing live, the Electribe EM-1 stands as a testament to Korg's legacy in pushing the boundaries of what music gear can do.
Key Features:
- Combines the functionality of an analog synthesizer and a drum machine
- Features a streamlined interface for easy control and tweaking
- Includes a two-part synthesizer and sequencer for comprehensive music production
- Designed for both studio use and live performances
- Part of the esteemed Electribe series known for all-in-one live music production
Product specs
| Brand | Korg |
| Model | Electribe-M EM-1 Music Production Station |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2000s |
| Categories | Grooveboxes, Samplers |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Polyphony | 10 Voices |
FAQs
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What type of synthesis does the Korg Electribe EM-1 use?
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The Korg Electribe EM-1 is a digital synthesizer that combines drum and synth sounds, utilizing PCM samples for sound generation.
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How many voices of polyphony does the Korg Electribe EM-1 offer?
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The Korg Electribe EM-1 provides 10 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex layering and sequencing of sounds.
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Does the Korg Electribe EM-1 have MIDI connectivity?
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Yes, the Korg Electribe EM-1 features MIDI Input, Output, and Through, making it easy to integrate with other MIDI-compatible gear.
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Is the Korg Electribe EM-1 suitable for live performances?
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The Korg Electribe EM-1 is well-suited for live performances, thanks to its intuitive interface and real-time control capabilities, allowing for dynamic sound manipulation.
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Can the Korg Electribe EM-1 be used as a standalone music production station?
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Yes, the Korg Electribe EM-1 can function as a standalone music production station, offering sequencing, synthesis, and drum machine capabilities in one unit.
Videos
JAde Wii
Korg EM-1 - Let's See What's On This Thing // Prolly My Favorite Electribe 👀
Reviews
PROS
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Versatile, capable of fleshing out an entire song in one sitting
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Unique, punchy bassy sound reminiscent of the 1980s
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Well-curated sound set with a vintage feel
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Surprisingly easy to circuit bend for added creativity
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Lightweight and easy to start playing
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Distinctive Korg effects for real-time sound tweaking
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Includes a combination of drum and synth banks
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Intuitive programming for drum patterns
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Synths offer control despite being sample-based, ideal for EDM
CONS
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Limited sound set compared to other Electribes
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Filters and synth controls may feel limited to some users
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Does not allow loading of additional samples, limiting selectivity
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Korg Electribe EM-1.
Features and functionality
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The EM-1 excels as a sequencer and drum machine but offers limited synth editing, focusing on preset sounds for quick music creation.
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The EM-1 is considered a "jambox" with limited synth functionality, ideal for creating simple 4/4 house or techno loops quickly.
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The EM-1's digital filter is noted for its quality, adding value to its sequencing and drum programming capabilities.
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The motion sequence knob allows for dynamic effects recording, significantly enhancing depth in sound creation beyond initial impressions.
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The EM-1 has two monophonic synth tracks and a 9-part drum track, sending out MIDI notes across three dedicated channels.
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Comparisons
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Compared to the Korg EMX-1, the EM-1 lacks features like 8 bar sequencing and vacuum tube sound, making the EMX-1 a more powerful option for advanced users.
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For advanced sequencing needs, consider alternatives like the Roland MC-808 or EMU Command Station, which offer more robust sequencing capabilities.
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Use cases and applications
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The EM-1 is a good entry point for those new to hardware and electronic music, especially useful for drum sequencing.
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Value and pricing
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Priced around $150, the EM-1 is seen as a cost-effective introduction to electronic music hardware despite its limitations in sound editing.
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User experience
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New users find the EM-1 intuitive, quickly grasping pattern creation and sound layering with minimal guidance.
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Setup and maintenance
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Users report effectively using standard headphones with a 3.5mm adapter, useful for those without full audio setups.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 18 Ratings
244
My 1st
Wow, what can I say....my first pc of hardware, and i still use it to this day. I use it alot in my productions because i love how i can tweak with those tried and tested korg fx in real time while recording. Nostalgic, too...the first production station from korg that combined drum and synth banks! :)
370
Easy to use drum machine + two synths.
Easy to use drum machine + two synths. Easy to program the drums. The synths are samples and you have some control. IMHO the synths are great for EDM.
Artist usage
Add artist
Korg: "You've recently been using a KM2 mixer, an Electribe ER-1, ES-1 and EM-1. What are your impressions of this kit?"
Liam: "I haven't checked the mixer yet, but the ER-1 resembles 70s and 80s analogue drum sounds, which is what i like."
About:
The Electribe EM-1 Music Production System is another great Electribe series instrument with two analog emulated synth-parts and eight drum-parts. Sort of combining the elements of the original Electribe EA-1 and ER-1, the new EM-1 is an all-in-one groove and dance music machine for DJs and musicians alike!
The EM-1 has loads of drum sounds, all of which are excellent for dance music. There are 144 different sounds, and patterns can have up to eight drum parts. Parts can be muted and individually processed, live and in realtime. The synth sounds consist of 50 waveforms and a pattern can hold up to two synth parts. Waveform editing includes volume, panning, envelope, filtering, roll-effect, internal effects processing, pitch, and glide (portamento). The filter is only a 12 dB/oct low-pass with cutoff and resonance controls which is a little thin, but it still gets the point across.
Naturally, the EM-1 features an advanced built-in sequencer with multi-effects for complete Music Production features. The sequencer holds up to 256 patterns and 16 songs. It ships with 192 of them full of cool dance programs to get you going. Sequencing is done in step or real time using the 16 pads which represent 16th notes of a 1-bar pattern. Patterns can be up to 64-steps (4-bars) long. Built-in effects consist of two processors, a Master (global) Delay and one of 11 Insert Effects. The insert effects include Reverb, Flanger/Chorus, Phaser, Ring modulator, Pitch shifter, Compressor, Distortion, Decimator, Resonator, and Modulation Delay. The Motion Sequencer functions can record movements of the EM-1's knobs in realtime and store them with your Patterns to add rhythmic effects, filter sweeps, and evolving synth or effect changes.
The EM-1 is certainly a cool dance music production system! On the Professional level, its two-voices of synth parts is very slim pickings. On the other hand, it can offer Pro-DJ's incredible performance potential! For example, you can store up to 64 patterns to the step keys for realtime pattern recall. Combine that with realtime part muting/soloing, and realtime filtering, tweaking and effecting, tap-tempo or MIDI clock sync for an excellent groove machine! Although there are far fewer hands-on knobs than on the Yamaha AN-200 and DX-200, the EM-1 is less expensive and offers a great nag for its buck! Used:
Before Always Outnumbered was finished Liam told in several interviews that he has been using Electribes and the new album is going to be sounding quite electronic. Anyway all tracks were binned before the actual new album was released.
Album Usage
The Korg Electribe EM-1 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Korg Electribe EM-1, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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