Introduction; Main Features - Korg ESX-1 Owner's Manual

1. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the ELECTRIBE SX (sub-
sequently referred to as the "ESX-1").
The ESX-1 Music Production Station can be used
by anyone - from beginner to professional - to cre-
ate stunningly original music.
The panel knobs and keys allow you to edit sounds
intuitively and easily, and to create rhythms and
phrase patterns without the need to use any other
equipment. The ESX-1 is the ideal tool for the mu-
sician, DJ, sound creator, or desktop-music user
who wants an easy way to add originality to their
music. It's also an ideal compliment to any of the
other models in the ELECTRIBE series.

Main features

Ideally structured as a tool for creating dance music
The ESX-1 has nine drum parts, one slice part, two
stretch parts, and two keyboard parts for inputting
melodies and phrases, giving you a total of four-
teen sample parts to which you can assign your
own samples and process the sound of each part.
The ESX-1 goes beyond the boundaries of conven-
tional samplers and rhythm modules; it's a com-
prehensive tool for dance music production.
Gigantic user sampling area
Internal memory can hold up to 384 user-sampled
sounds (256 monaural, 128 stereo). (Maximum to-
tal capacity is 285 seconds of monaural samples.)
Analog synthesizer-style ease of editing
The front panel provides knobs and switches for
important sound parameters, allowing you to edit
sounds in realtime while you perform, and letting
you create sounds in the same way as on an analog
synthesizer.
Three simultaneous stereo effect processors
The ESX-1 provides three stereo effect processors,
each featuring 16 cutting-edge effect types. You can
use the Chain function to modify the way in which
the effects are connected to each other.
1. Introduction
192 internal patterns programmed for many genres of
dance music
The ESX-1 can hold 256 patterns in memory. Each
one lets you store a sound and sequence (of up to
128 steps) for each part. When shipped, 192 of the
internal patterns are pre-programmed specifically
for dance music and other modern music styles.
64 songs
A sequence of patterns, mute data, and knob move-
ments can be saved as a "song" in each of the 64
song memories.
Intuitive pattern programming
The sixteen step keys on the front panel allow you
to enter data into pattern quickly, easily and intu-
itively. Of course, you can also use realtime record-
ing or step recording.
Motion sequencing
The ESX-1's Motion Sequence feature lets you
record and loop both knob movements and switch
operations, letting you create time-varying changes
in the tone during playback.
Newly-developed VALVE FORCE vacuum tube circuit
The ESX-1 features Korg's newly-developed
VALVE FORCE technology, a completely analog
circuit that contains two actual vacuum tubes and
can be used as a mastering effect to enhance the
overall sound level. It delivers a rich, warm, and
clearly-defined sound that cannot be replicated by
digital technology alone. Use the TUBE GAIN knob
to adjust the level of the ESX-1's output signal be-
ing sent through the vacuum tubes, controlling the
smooth distortion and rich overtone structure that
vacuum tubes add to the sound. Even at lower vol-
ume levels, you can adjust the TUBE GAIN to en-
joy great tube-quality sound in any situation.
Process external audio sources
You can connect an audio source to the audio in
jack, and process that sound using the internal fil-
ter and on-board effects.
Two-channel individual output jacks
In addition to the L/MONO and R main stereo
audio outputs, you can route any combination of
parts to the two independent audio outputs.
Auto BPM detection
The ESX-1 can automatically detect the tempo of
an audio source connected to the audio in jack, and
apply that tempo to the current pattern. Of course,
you can also use tap tempo to input the tempo, or
synchronize to an external MIDI clock.
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