DW-8000

Take Korg's first digitally controlled analog synth hybrid (DW-6000) two steps higher and you get the more popular DW-8000. Sound is digitally generated from the DWGS (Digital Waveform Generator System) and has been doubled from 8 sampled digital waveforms to 16 simple analog to complex digital waveforms. The DW-8000 has 8 voice polyphony in two modes, or one monophonic mode with all eight voices stacked. The analog VCF resonant filter and VCA both have independent ADBSSR envelopes. Parameters can be altered in real time via a single programmable slider. There are 64 presets that can be reprogrammed by the user.

EX-8000

In comparison to the DW-6000, the DW-8000 expanded to 8 notes polyphony, 16 sampled waveforms, a velocity sensitive keyboard with programmable aftertouch, auto-bend, a simple arpeggiator and a digital delay unit. The Digital Delay was an astonishing goody for the time, offering up to 512ms delay, phasing, flanging, chorusing and other time effects. Both the Arpeggiator, Auto-Bend and Digital Delay make this synth an inspiring and great sounding machine to use for great 303 basslines, techno and house bass and synth sounds and more! The EX-8000 (pictured above) is a rackmount version of the DW-8000. Several 3rd-party developers offered expansion boards for the DW-8000 providing up to 1024 presets, layered sounds, keyboard splits and Sample+Hold for the LFO. Though later overshadowed by the M1, the DW-8000 has been used by Divine Masquerade, Juno Reactor, Depeche Mode, Dream Theater, Joe Zawinul, and Keith Emerson.

Luis

October 20, 2011 @ 5:48 pm

Could anyone confirm whether this synth has 64 or 128 presets? The reason I ask is that at synthmania.com, there are samples from two Banks, A and B, 64 in each... ( I am thinking about getting one and I particularly like the string sounds on Bank B)

Lorentz

October 16, 2011 @ 7:28 pm

There are only two design flaws/omissions that stop this synth being one of the greatest of all time: the lack of sync/cross mod, and the delay time parameter being factor/time, not time in ms. There's nothing you can do about the sync, but at least you can use your ears to tempo sync the delay. Other than that, it's awesome.
Two oscillators, three envelopes, real VCA and VCF per voice - what else do you need?

minijack

October 15, 2011 @ 1:14 am

The filter on this thing is a beast. Compared to Roland synths of the same era like the Alpha Juno, it has a much more raw and convincing analog sound. Too bad its ugly as hell.

Jazz Prophet

September 23, 2011 @ 10:00 am

When I bought this synth (used) FM synthesis (DX7, etc.) was all the rage! I thought FM sounded "dated" even then, and chose the DW8000 - It has been a staple in my aresenal ever synth - Still digging up new sounds in this baby! A true great!

Keith N

August 30, 2011 @ 4:23 pm

Wow! How under-rated is THIS synth? It does thing none of my other (fairly large analog/digital collection of) synths in one box. Keybed isn't that great but does have very welcome velocity and A/T unlike many other synths that SOUND this meaty.

It looks like a digital synth but it SOUNDS more analog that some of my fully analog synths thanks to a stunning filter and well thought out feature set. Very fun for the ARP (esp in assign mode) and hooks up easily to midi controllers for full hands on. This thing can do bass, leads, pads the lot. Get one!

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