Hello! Although it´s an odd question as those gears are radically different, I bought a MicroKorg (from that sexy “all black” special edition) and the dude wrongly sent me an Electribe ESX-1 (red one). My relationship with both hardwares are the same: don´t really NEED both of them but they have a history that I respect, an interesting sound and the price is cheap (200 USD), so even if I sell later it´s a good deal.
Sounds good.Not used an ESX but my ER-1 still rocks.Dead easy to record with.Great sequencer.I think as a ruff an ready live replacement for OT then sounds about right.
I have a Micro Korg .Good synth but the Tribe sounds suited to your live set.
It may be a happy accident you were sent it.I have my MK in the cupboard but the ER-1 is still earning its space.
Well, the guy sent me the MicroKorg too - it feels really plastic huh? Will test it tonight.

I do have a MiniAk that I use instead of MicroKorg (prefering it right now).So just what struck me,it does seem more useful for your current live thing (ESX).
If you do decide to keep it I’d love to hear how it competes with an OT for usage.
I guess you may be worried about doubling up on samplers.
Tell you what, the MicroKorg has done pretty well seeing as it was released in 2002 and is still on sale and is still a popular synth.
Probably my happiest eBay sale ever!

Yes agreed,I like the original MK.I love the arp -but I’m not sure the XL works so well in that department and it seems the all black addition is the XL.
It’s CCs on most controls is good,that another post pointed out recently.Simple(-ish) synth with great sounds.
@Spheric_El a ex-girlfriend got a MiniAk when it was released, I remember that I liked the sound. Yeah, as you said, I´m worried about doubling the samplers. Indeed, I´m a sort of sampler colector (I´m waiting right now for an old Casio SK-100 rare sampler keyboard!), but the ESX-1 and the OT really shares the same ground.



Ok yes,original MK.(Reverse keys?Limited ed is nice).
Easy to program.Just make sure its not a vocoder voice ,but synth ,to get started.A small light over left columns -red I think ,not green over rights side columns (in matrix label).
Also check if you have dual voices layered or single voice.This halfs polyphony ,to two.Also is more complicated to edit.There is a Timbre button left of edit knobs.This will switch A/B if layered voices(or just stay on A for single).You can change between single and layered in Voice(i think) with first large edit catorgry knob set to first row(-full anticlockwise).Single voice is easier to get your head around.Its a really easy synth to edit and find voices quick.espcially once familiar.
Arp is edited with 2nd large edit catorgry knob towards the end,after Patch Matrix and effects/EQ.There is two rows to edit.Its all printed on the front.Turn on/off redights 1-8 for different patterns.
Patch matrix is small and useful and Osc 2 has some good sync/ring and cross mod.Osc 1 has most osc choices with dig waveforms.
Distortion on/off in Amp section,near Amp level.Amp level good if voice is distorting-turn it down.
-Oh I’ve just wrote that, thinking you were getting your hands on it to demo,then read your post and you are just reading up on it.Well I’ll post anyway.
About the Electribe,you summed up well.
A slightly unsophisticated sound,but very tactile,easy and fun recording experiance,leading to usable results.Good in a larger set up ,I found.
Another user here decided the MicroKorg was great with the OT due to parameter locks and many CCs of MK.I don’t own any Elektron.