The much-hyped tube section is not really that amazing. The results are highly dependent on what samples/patterns you are using--some sound good with a little tube saturation, others just sound yucky. Anyway overall, 85% of the sounds are really kickin' and by the time you tweak them up with the effects, filters, modulation, etc. you can get a serious wall of hi-fi soundscapes going. I would be surprised if there were any samplers/groove boxes/production stations with better sounds than this has.

There aren't as many different samples that come with it as you might expect for 680, but there are definitely enough to do a lot with, and the point of this box rather than the blue one is that you can sample ANYTHING into it and go from there. It doesn't take too long to learn how to record and edit your own new samples, especially if you have any experience with digital editing of any sort (even word processing--cut and paste--will give you the right idea.) The number of ways you can tweak the samples is outstanding. You can bring out so many different aspects of the tone that at some point (if you really go over the top) it almost doesn't matter what the original sample was. Rather than only being able to apply one effect at a time you can stretch and chop the sound in 4 or 5 directions at once (just in terms of tone.) And of course the time stretch and sync stuff is very useful. I thought it might be pretty limiting having only two keyboard parts available (compared to 5 on the MX-1) but you can actually get a really full sound by assigning instrument tones (keyboard/melodic type sounds if you want) to some of the other "parts" which are not exclusively designated as keyboard parts. The arpeggiators (slider and ribbon) are a great great feature--they help make this box into a real instrument rather than just a stereo. Plenty of features to keep me busy for a couple years if I use it a lot! The only bummer is that it doesn't have the awesome synth-engine/wave-shaping that the MX-1 has...I wish they'd just put it all in one awesome machine but oh well...guess I'm saving up for another electribe to add to the studio! Oh one thing that might not be obvious from looking at it is that the ONLY input for sampling (other than feeding it smart media cards) is a 1/4" STEREO phone jack (one single plug) which usually means you are going to have to run through some adaptors some way or another if you are trying to sample keys, a mic thru a mixer, etc. I'm sure the sound quality of the samples would be better if they would just give you two 1/4" jacks like the rest of the world uses...but I've been using a nasty combo of adaptors and the samples still sound good.

The knobs and pads aren't as flimsy as I was worried they would be based on a couple other reviews, but obviously it's not something you can just through in a loose bag and dump it in your car. The unit is encased fairly solidly in metal, but of course the face needs care as well as the fragile tubes. I don't see how they could have made it too much more rugged given that there need to be a lot of knobs / buttons. As for the software/processor, it doesn't freeze up and crash like a PC running Windows, or my Roland keyboard.

Don't really know but they have an amazingly thorough website as far as describing their products and offering zoom-in pitures and an abundance of sound clips, so hopefully that level of detail carries through to their service as well.

I'm not super-precisely calibrated to what a good deal is in the general category of samplers/production stations but this definitely does a lot more than the products that are lower in price. I've never used one of the really expensive sampling stations but my sense is that this does quite a bit for the price, though not a jaw-dropping, run-and-get-your-money-and-buy-it-now kind of bargain.

It's red. I admit it, that was really the only reason I got it. I just turn the knobs and I don't have a clue what any of it does but it looks rad and I can pretend to be a mad-skills DJ. Just kidding. But I do like the color and all the hundreds of lights...a nice bonus, as it's always annoying when the product that has the best features is butt ugly. This definitely has the features AND the looks for anyone who is so shallow and retarded to base their decision even remotely on that. Like me. Why is this category even here? To make us all feel dumb? Well maybe that's a good thing...

I think this will last me a good long time due to its healthy array of tweakable parameters, but especially the due to the fact that you can sample anything new that comes out for sounds. Or get a mini-recorder and record someone taking your order at McDonalds if nobody puts out any good sound-modules for the next 10 years. Like I said it is definitely something that will leave you some room to grow into (learning how to maximize all the different capabilities it has, and then try to go beyond what it was originally designed for, as you can with most things.) There is a ton you can do with this thing and although it excells at dance/electronica/techno/drum'n'bass etc. there are a lot of possibilities for other kinds of music as well (it is not limited to sounding like a dance box all the time.) Overall I think that if you are going to get some brand/model of this type of product, this would definitely be one of the strongest choices. Just be aware of the difference between this and the MX-1 (also by Korg) --if you are not really interested in sampling as much as generating and tweaking your own weird, nasty, phatt analog tones, check out the MX-1.

This product sounds decent. The effects allow the user to tweak the sounds. The natural sound is a bit gritty, but its all good. Some of the effects are wack unless you are using it for, like, a video game soundtrack. If you hook this piece up to some type of external EQ you should be aight. The EQ within this piece is not very complex. The modulation the user uses can make a very noticable difference. Sometimes there are some inconsistencies when playing the same sound from bar to bar. Tweaks solve most problems I've encountered.

NO accessories. I'd like a messenger bag for it. The stretch and slice parts are dope if you are willing to spend some time with them. The sequencer plays up to eight bars, good. I'd like to carry more sounds over from the eighth to the first, second, etc..

Easy to use, if you know what you are doing.

I think the product is made well. I think it will last a while. I think the knobs are more dependable than a digital display with arrows only.

I have dealt with the company that made the product. They were easy to reach but gave me some bunk information. They did not answer my question. They did tell me facts about the product but not relevant facts.

This product is worth its price compared to other items.

I think this product looks too much like a flashy toy to be as wanted as others. Beyond its ugly red and white with gold there are all kinds of light-ups and scrolling lights. The thing looks like the Fourth of July when it is playing. The knobs feel good. The buttons make it decent to use. The screen is not impossible to read. Once you get over its appearance you might appreciate it better. Practical addition to my setup.

I am still satisfied with this product for what it is, not as a mother-piece of the set. The ESX is more of a strong addition to the set. I will most likely keep mine and add other larger components. The ESX helps me reach my musical goals but is not enough alone. The mic input is not the best, its a bit noisy for me. I like the sequencing. I do not like the inputs because they are noisy.

Some sounds are pretty neat but im not using this to use preset sounds im using it to create my own thats the whole point. instead of using 5 seperate keyboards using there drum and snares , here i can put all in one kit and make it my own

Wish it would come with a card cuz those things are expensive

the metal looking board is tight it looks slick

never had to call korg for anything i have a 1995 synth from korg and works brand new still except the sounds really sound out dated and are in 16 bit unlike today 24bit

its worth it if your into IDM (Industrial Dance Music)

this is not a bad toy its just people cant rely on the preset samples that they give you come up with original drum kits and set them in order and create original sounds and i wish people would stop *****in about dont want to give out there style afriad some one might steal there sound all i have to say is its 2004 everthing has been done and if you think your the only one out doing this "original" sound your dead wrong somebody else in a barn is doing the same thing