Korg Electribe

Korg Electribe ESX-1
image - Annie Roi - lic. under CC 2.0

Overview:

The Korg Electribe is a group of "desktop" electronic musical instruments that have achieved their own cult status since their debut in 1999. The range includes synth, drum machine and sampler-based models . Designed to "bridge" between being fun to use and yet with professional sounds and features, the Electribe range have been aimed squarely at contemprary electronic music styles such as electro, techno, house, trance, dubstep, drum 'n' bass, R&B and hip-hop.

The Electribe are famed for being approachable, and for enabling "instant results". You really can press a button and a track will start playing, which you can "edit' by twiddling knobs and buttons. Korg has a knack for creating presets and textures that will be instantly appealing to the hip youth and urban crowd. But getting instant results can be.. a double edged sword: There are ways to get "in deep" into the sounds, but some users will be lazy and not get the best out of the instrument. Kind of like instant coffee... is has its appeal but the fresh ground stuff is better quality.

List of all Korg Electribe Models (with pics):

Korg Electribe EA-1
Korg Electribe EA1 - Analog Modeling Synthesizer
(image - Gerald Moore under CCA2.0Generic license)

Korg Electribe ER-1
Korg Electribe ER1 - Rhythm Synthesizer
(image - hajime yoneya under CCA2.0ShareAlikeGeneric license)

ES1 - Rhythm Production Sampler

EM1 - Music Production Station

EA-1 mkII - Analog Modeling Synthesizer

ER-1 mkII - Rhythm Synthesizer

ES-1 mkII - Rhythm Production Sampler

ESX-1 - Music Production Sampler

Korg Electribe EMX-1 - Music Production Station
(image - Ben and Kaz Askins under CCA3.0ShareAlikeUnported license)

ESX SD - ESX1 Music Production Sampler with added SD card storage and new patterns

EMX SD - EMX1 Music Production Station with added SD card storage and new patterns

iElectribe - The Electribe R is now available as a software app for the iPad!

Another quality the more recent Korg Electribes are famous for is the build in vacuum tubes... adding analog warmth and an adjustable level of tube saturation to the sound. As far as I know, Korg were one of the first "modern" synth manufacturers to add this feature, Metasonix being another.