Vintage Synth Explorer

Korg • MaxiKorg 800dv

A popular duophonic/monophonic classic from Korg. It's got 2 analog oscillators that can be used for one fat monophonic sound or 2 VCO's per voice for a fat duophonic sound. Flexible design with 2 VCF filters and even a ring modulator. The MaxiKorg is a great source of early Korg sound that rivals competitors like the OSCar and Roland SH-synths. No MIDI, no memory, but good bass and screechin' leads! It has no CV input either, though it can be modified to accept externnal control from the less standard Hz/V protocol (also used by Yamaha).

Most people usually understand it best as two separate Minikorgs inside one keyboard with all the controls to both. Most people will stack both voices as the triggering can be tricky as duophonic. It has the very effective ability to delay one voice before it triggers when played mono. It has been used by Kitaro, Vangelis and Soft Cell.

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Micke

Posted 139 days ago

Also used by Wally Badarou (his first synth), David Ferguson/Random Hold, Dave Brock/Hawkwind and Osamu Shoji.

Peter-Jan

Posted 193 days ago

My first, my very first synth ! I bought it in 1977 and still own it. In those days it was called the "poor man's MiniMoog". And it was ! The incredible fat sound of the 2 oscillators in unison or tuned a fith apart together with the extra suboctave per VCO ánd the pulse-width modulation.... wow ! Nowadays I use it very rarely because of hte tuning problems. It takes about 1 hour to stabelize. But it is worth it. No midi, no help from quantizing sequencer programs... ;-) This baby was made in an era when musicians realy could play.......

jesparza

Posted 420 days ago

An AWESOME Synth! I presently own TWO and would own TWO more if I could find them! They are NOTHING like the Minikorg 700S of which I also own one and which is VERY cool too! But the Maxikorgs? I have made provisions in my will to be buried with mine (btw one is an 800DV and the other a maxikorg) The gurgling, regurgitating out of this dimension sounds/noises are unbelievable! When I got my first one I sat down to try it out for a few minutes and almost 4 hours later STILL did NOT want to leave it! PHENOMENAL synth! My FAVORITE!

Mikael Lindgren

Posted 422 days ago

The Korg 800DV has also been used by The Cure, Gino Vanelli and the swedish prog-group Kaipa.

knobexploit

Posted 436 days ago

Can fully agree with Pepe, super nice instrument.
Has been named "Korg's MiniMoog" Does some very solid analog synthesis with a sound character next to none.
Beware it has that Resin covered VCO module.
Replacing the VCO means hard work finding a donor synth or replacement part.
Sounds a lot like the 700s but having 2 identical synths next to each other (a bit weird if i may say) opens up a whole range of sounds impossible with only the 700s.
Must have for any serious sound mangler, rare to find and a bit heavy but worth the investment.

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