Korg DSS-1

Korg DSS-1 Image
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A wonderful early digital synthesizer. With eight notes of polyphony, two oscillators per voice, a noise source, two multi-stage envelopes, a resonant filter and auto-bend, the DSS-1 has much in common with Korg's previous flagship DW-8000. But it went much further, boasting twin digital delays, oscillator sync, an improved unison mode, a lush analog VCF switchable between 12 and 24dB, and more. Whereas the DW-8000 got its raw material from 16 stored digital waves, the DSS1's oscillators take their source from sampling, additive synthesis, or even hand-drawn waveforms!

It actually had a warm sound and was great for creating pads and textures, as well as deep basses and drones. The synthesis method is based on altering various waveform samples via 2 data sliders. It can sample and then treat the samples as its waveforms - that includes all filtering and envelopes.

Korg DSM-1 Image

The DSM-1 (1987) was the expanded rackmount version.

It was used by Jean Michel Jarre, Joe Zawinul, Michael Cretu of Enigma, Mark Jenkins, Hiro Kawahara, Paul Nagle, Shriekback, and Steve Winwood.

Lookup Prices for DSS-1

Demos & Media

Korg DSS1 Synth Sampler Demo Part 1 by S4K ( DREAM THEATER KEVIN MOORE I&W )
by
Space4Keys
Audio Clip 1 A nice set of loops that show how awesome this synth can be!
ManualDownload the original owner's manual from SoundProgramming.net.

Specifications

Polyphony - 8 Voices
Oscillators - 16 - 2 oscillators per voice
Sampler - 256k
Memory - 5 sec sampling
Synthesis - 128 Sine waveforms you re-shape using 2 sliders
Keyboard - 61 keys w/ velocity and aftertouch
Filter - Lowpass 2 or 4 pole + envelope
Control - MIDI
Date Produced - DSS-1: 1986, DSM-1: 1987

Resources

Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.

Thanks to Glen Stegner for providing info.