Korg DS-8
The DS-8 is Korg's contender among synths like the Roland D-50 and Yamaha DX7. It is a digital FM synthesizer with 4-operators per voice, 8 voices of polyphony and 8 parts multitimbrality. It's good for percussive, strange effect noises and such because its sound (similar to the DX7) is so unique. It has some digital effects such as chorus, flange, delay and analog-like controls for modulators, envelopes and the LFO. A joystick provides control of modulation and pitch bending. It also has a performance section for quick edits on the fly using (3) real-time sliders to control timbre, EG1 and EG2. A nice alternative to the common DX-7.
- Demos & Media
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Video 1 - Korg DS-8 4 Op FM Performance Synthesizer DemoAudio Clip 1 - Korg DS-8 Demo #1 from Korg DS-8 @ deep!sonic.
Audio Clip 2 - Korg DS-8 Demo #2 from Korg DS-8 @ deep!sonic.
Audio Clip 3 - Korg DS-8 Demo #3 from Korg DS-8 @ deep!sonic.
Manual - Original owner's manual available as free PDF downloads.
Factory Patches - Standard factory loaded patches in MIDEX format.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 8 voices (4 FM-operators per voice)
- Oscillators - 2 oscillators
- LFO - 1 LFO: saw / triangle / square / sample & hold
- Filter - None
- VCA - 4 DCA (1 per operator)
- Keyboard - 61 keys w/ velocity & aftertouch
- Memory - 100 user, 10 multi patches, external card slot
- Effects - 1 unit effect (delay, chorus, flanger, double)
- Arpeg/Seq - None
- Control - MIDI (8-parts)
- Date Produced - 1987
- Websites of Interest
DS8 Brochure (circa 1987)
- Resources & Credits
Images from Synth Site.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.
A strange little beast, methinks.
Oh, gee i see it now: the DS-8 doesn't have a filter.
That's funny, i've been drooling over either a Korg DS-8 (but i can't find one anywhere) or a Korg DSS-1 for a few months now. (Somebody snagged a DSS-1 for ~ $200 with Buy It Now on eBay just a day or two ago. Wow.)
And i have too many synths now -- 20+ not counting racks, kid you not! -- and was thinking "gee, a DS-8 or DSS-1 might even be able to replace my DW-8000". And that's saying a lot, 'cause nothing else in my rig(s) can really truly touch that DW-8000, all said and done...