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Although often cast as a contender amongst the multitudes "grooveboxes," the Korg EA-1 is certainly not one to disappoint. Unlike other gear in its price range, the EA-1 actually creates its own sounds through analog modeling, and, in fact, the EA-1 is the cheapest true VA available in today's market.
With its analog modeling, the EA-1's sound is consequently original and superb. With only a choice of sawtooth, square, triangle, and external audio waveforms plus no EG or LFO, the achievable sonic spectrum may seem slim, but the multitudes of oscillator modulation possibilities and other parameters such as portamento keep the sound fairly original. The powerful resonant, low-pass filter with a simple EG also helps differentiate tones, though the automatic amplitude cut entailed with resonance sweeps is quite troublesome, and again, no LFO is offered. The VCA is very simple, with only one adjustable level parameter and no EG or LFO. Still, a nasty distortion circuit can adequately stir the sounds up. A modest selection of effects is also present, with a powerful, self-oscillating flanger/chorus, and an extreme delay.
The user interface is also above par, even for a typical knob-infested VA. For instance, every major sound parameter can be adjusted from the front panel knobs and buttons instead of being hidden in numerous sub-menus. Therefore, although appearing laconic, the LCD display certainly is not, but rather, it serves its purpose well and is informative. An added bonus: everything is completely adjustable real-time without any hitches.
Overall, the EA-1 is an easy-to-use yet powerful piece of gear. Also, with its low price but high quality, its bound to become a favorite among all spans of the market.
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