Korg EMX-1 Opinions

The Lounge Other Gear
164

I remember the first time I touched a EMX-1: it was 2007, omg? For that time it was just great machine (however, not as deep and rich on sounds like Roland’s huge boxes or Ensoniq stuff).

As for the sound, I think even with the better tubes, it sounds exactly like what it is: a 16-bit PCM aliasing engine, warmed-up or softened with analog tube circuit (and Korg’s famous compressed one-shot sounds just sum up to overall picture). It’s especially noticeable on a big system and it has for me some bits of nostalgia.
I liked more the sampler version, some of the effects were surprisingly powerful, like absolutely brutal ringmod on kick.

2 Likes
165

The stock ones are drive tubes, such as are found in guitar amps.

I put some pre amp tubes in mine. Much cleaner sounding, no low end distortion, no muddiness until the knob is about 12 o’clock.

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166

I’d always thought that valves require a higher voltage to work properly.

167

Yep. If you check the service manual you’ll see its a starved circuit. Which is why they sound the way they do.

To be honest, the EMX doesnt need them at all. I dont always use them, when I do, the knob is at 9 o clock maximum, if that.

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168

IMG_1655
IMG_16553024×4032 2.43 MB

EMX and it’s siblings :alien::heart:

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169

The whole Elec tribe on a picture

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170

Groovebox heaven!

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171

A custom flight case and guns like Arnie is what you need so that I can catch you in the Dance Tent at some summer festival.

172

That is beautiful!

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173

Gorgeous. I really miss my old EA-1 in particular.

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174

where are newer ones?! I liked the original dark colored (sampler)

175

It’s been really hard than I leave this room lately :joy: but I will keep in mind your offer :black_heart::fire:

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176

I have a seperate bandcamp page for side projects that I often forget about.

I made this small EP a couple of years ago on the EMX.

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177

Anybody use their emx just for the synth voices and not the drums?

178

I do really like the synth voices. Lots of early VA digital character. And a pretty tight UI (when looking at only the synth part) that’s limited enough to invite experimentation while not kneecapping sound design too much.

But so much of the EMX’s structure and real estate is dedicated to making beats (and using the synths in very beat-like ways) that, if I were looking to get that sound and didn’t already have an one, I don’t know the EMX would be first on my shopping list. I’d probably look into a microKORG or even an MS-2000, instead.

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179

I have not used my EMX in quite awhile. But I do remember dedicating one synth voice for Bass Drum duty. Then focusing on the “Percussions” section of the Drum PCM list (congas, tabla, shakers, tambourine - all tuned in different ways) as well as the 6 different Rim Shots.

You can also use one of those rim shots routed through one of the channels on the 3/4 output bus to send sync pulses to some other gear.

Ok, I have a question for the EMX Crew:

What is the slowest BPM one can use and still get a full 1/1 “BPM Sync Delay”?
So, a full bar’s worth of delay at what BPM?

I really like on the EMX routing sounds through the “Short Delay” > into > the “BPM Sync Delay”.
The short delay can make all sorts of fun squiggly noises, and then they get repeated in BPM sync.
(one can also route: grainshifter > short delay > BPM delay )

Thanks!

180

MS2000 is one of my bucket list devices.

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181

I think the EMX synths are similar or based on the MS2000. You could get an MS2000R for $450. Hard to find a working EMX for a good price these days.

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182

Korg released in the 21st century the MS-20FS.

Poll - what will Korg do first:

Release a Korg MS-10FS
(or)
Release the Anniversary Editions of the EMX-1 & ESX-1 ??
(just imagine the EMX & ESX with USB-C connectivity!)

183

I’ve been contemplating getting an EMX-1 (mainly because of the videos I’ve seen from Phara). How good is the EMX for writing on the fly or is it more of a program a sequence and then tweak knobs type of thing?