Korg Electribe ER-1 review

When looking back at my latest year producing experimental music, I realized I always had trouble getting drums to work in my songs. This is due to my ineptitude at writing a decent drum loop and the lack of control you get when sequencing drums live with software, which greatly impairs the pace of one’s experimentation. When I laid hands on my band mate’s drum machine, a Korg ER-1, I was reminded how great an external sequencer can be. The ER-1 is a must have by itself, and in the age of computer driven production can be a terrific asset.

The Korg Electribe R, or ER-1, is a square device which is about one square foot by one inch thick and has plenty of buttons to press and knobs to turn. The device is made up of a metal top and bottom and a hard plastic body. It feels rugged and has a decent weight for its size. It is powered by a wall wart 9vDC adapter. The keys are semi transparent and back lit by LEDs, which is a great visual cue, both in bright daylight and in the dark. When playing, the LEDs flash to the beat as the sequencer runs through the loop you programmed in and this provides a very fashionable light show.

The user operates the device using four sections: the settings and play control section, the sequencer section, the ‘keyboard’, and the sound editing section. The controls are pretty self explanatory. Pressing a button on the ‘keyboard’ plays a sound, which can then be modified from the editing section. Pressing a button in the sequencer line places the sound. Then you repeat the process until the beat fits your preference. I won’t go any deeper than this as the device is very hands-on and is a gadget to explore. It will instantly relieve any computer musician from the absence of immediacy, a problem we have all suffered through. (Editor’s note: it took me about 5 minutes to figure out this device, it’s very easy)

Under the hood, this is a DSP driven analog modeling drum sequencer. It provides simple but efficient sounds reminiscent of ’90s techno emanating from an oscillator coupled to a modulation LFO. Except for a basic delay, it is devoid of effects. The device features two inputs that can be gated through the sequencer, which is a really great feature. In the end, I find the sounds are just not versatile enough to use for production. I personally only use its synth capacity for training.

Where I believe this machine shines in the age of computer music production is how it gives the electronic musician the controls they need to experiment with drums. Connected to a computer via midi, the device provides a dynamic platform for drum track writing. While this device can sometimes be clunky to deal with in some software packages (especially if you want to throw midi clock into the mix), you will most likely find the negative aspects offset by the hands-on feeling the ER-1 provides.

It is interesting and sad to note that while the ER-1 has many knobs, they are recognized as only one unique controller via midi. Finally, the most important feature this device has to offer is its great price. It can commonly be found used for between 50 and 100 CAD. Otherwise, the Korg ER1mkII can be found brand new for about 150 CAD.

What’s good: It’s the ultimate surface for controlling drums, great for experimenting, small but rugged. A must for live performance.
What’s not: No USB connectivity. The keys are not velocity sensitive. Sound will not accommodate every kind of music.
Who needs it: Anybody that can lay hands on one.