Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
AlphaTheta Chordcat
Drum Machines "Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Sonicware Liven Evoke
Digital Synths “It’s acoustic, it’s electronic, it’s in flux and it’s great”: Sonicware Liven Evoke review
polypulse
Tech It might be a little ugly, but Lambda Synthetics' PolyPulse could be the instrument that finally breaks you out of the 16-step grid
Teenage Engineering EP-1320 Medieval
Samplers “A bubbling cauldron full of ancient sounds, but confusing to learn and lacking in space”: Teenage Engineering EP-1320 Medieval review
Donner Essential L1
Tech "Evolves the SH-101 template while still capturing the sound of the original": Donner Essential L1 review
Wunderkammer WoO.1
Tech WoO.1 is a pocket-sized sampler designed for endless on-the-go looping
  1. Tech
  2. Beatmaking
  3. Samplers

Hands on: Korg Electribe Sampler music production station

News
By Bruce Aisher published 9 July 2015

Our first impressions of Korg's latest desktop sampling module

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Rebooted

Rebooted

Korg's second Electribe reboot is here and we're taking a look at what the desktop module has to offer.

Check out the video below, and click through the gallery for our thoughts on some of the key elements to this sampler.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Chassis

Chassis

The unit itself feels pretty substantial in terms of weight, though the matt-black top panel is scuffed pretty easily. Most importantly, it won’t bounce around when you start bashing those pads, courtesy of some very grippy rubber feet.

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Pads

Pads

The pads themselves have a nice feel, and allow for subtle velocity changes as well as fast rolls and flams. The pads are backlit with different colours depending on function, and act as shortcut keys when combined with the SHIFT button (though you’ll need to learn these as they’re only shown in the downloadable Parameter Guide).

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Quick access

Quick access

The knobs provide quick access to samples and sound editing parameters, many of which can be automated with Korg’s ‘Motion Sequencing’ system.


Unlike previous Electribe Samplers, this box comes with hard-wired factory content supplied by some of the biggest names in sample pack creation. Korg has even thrown-in some virtual analogue synthesis capabilities.

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Lights alive

Lights alive

Hidden under the Electribe are multi-colour LEDs that provide a miniature low-rider style light show when patterns are playing. This brings some much needed colour to an otherwise uninspiring looking user interface.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Kaoss pad

Kaoss pad

The touchpad - a Korg favourite - is used for tweaking master effects, playing notes (if you don’t fancy using the pads) and engaging the Gate Arp. Master effects include conventional processors such as reverb alongside performance effects for instantaneous glitches and stutters.

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Connectivity

Connectivity

As well as audio ins and outs, the Electribe has Volca-compatible analogue pulse sync connectivity. Adaptors are also provided to turn the MIDI mini-jack sockets into conventional 5-pin DIN ports.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Quantise templates

Quantise templates

Sadly for such a knob-encrusted interface, there’s no avoiding the LCD screen for further editing, though navigating the menus is pretty painless. Here we’re dialling-in a ‘Groove’ - these are custom quantise templates that can be assigned to each part. They really help the programmed beats come alive.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Bruce Aisher
Read more
AlphaTheta Chordcat
"Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look
plugins
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Sonicware Liven Evoke
“It’s acoustic, it’s electronic, it’s in flux and it’s great”: Sonicware Liven Evoke review
polypulse
It might be a little ugly, but Lambda Synthetics' PolyPulse could be the instrument that finally breaks you out of the 16-step grid
Teenage Engineering EP-1320 Medieval
“A bubbling cauldron full of ancient sounds, but confusing to learn and lacking in space”: Teenage Engineering EP-1320 Medieval review
Donner Essential L1
"Evolves the SH-101 template while still capturing the sound of the original": Donner Essential L1 review
Latest in Samplers
Wunderkammer WoO.1
WoO.1 is a pocket-sized sampler designed for endless on-the-go looping
Roger Linn MPC Live II
“Kudos to Akai’s software team”: Roger Linn uploads video that praises the MPC as “the ultimate looper”
Elektron Digitakt II
Digitakt II’s new firmware adds a major user-requested feature that sets it apart from the original
David Lynch E-MU Emulator III
David Lynch’s collection of studio gear is up for auction, and it includes a classic ‘80s sampler
1010music Bento
“Designed to become the brain of your setup”: 1010music Bento is an all-in-one DAW in a box
Polyend Synth
One of our favourite instruments of 2024 gets even better as Polyend adds a sample engine to Synth
Latest in News
Bruce Springsteen
“There’s a lot of good music left”: Springsteen releases Born To Run out-take onto streaming platforms
Beatie Wolfe and Brian Eno
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Josh Homme
What’s on Josh Homme’s to-do list when Queens Of The Stone Age play Sheffield next week?
Pino Palladino and Miley Cyrus
How Pino Palladino turned the demo bassline in Miley Cyrus’s End of the World into something "so much better"
Paul Mccartney Smoking A Cigarette At London In England On June 19Th 1967
“We decided that our audiences would come along with us”: Paul McCartney on how the avant garde influenced the Beatles
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who perform at Parco Della Musica on July 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy
The Who are forced to postpone Philly date on final US tour due to “illness”

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...