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.

Cyclone

April 24, 2010 @ 3:48 pm

I agree with Leonardus. The sound of the DW8000 is
dark and menacing, strange to say but I'm realizing that...

Leonardus

April 20, 2010 @ 6:02 am

1987 Keyboard Magazine Keyboard of the Year.

Cue up 2 saws, explore it's rich dark wall of sound. For yours is a world filled with endless luscious overtones.

The DW8000's sound is massive. The DW is always massive. Even high pitched bells possess an ominous presence. Because it's sound is so massive, the DW8000 excels at large dark brooding explorations. Imagine a huge powerful dark orchestra at your command. Imagine being seduced by it's power. This is exactly what you get. The DW8000 is perfect for progressive rock composition.

The DW800 needs no outboard effects. Set it on your coffee table, plug in your headphones, dim the lights, take a long dark journey..
The DW is both elegant and powerful; she's the perfect companion for an evening. You'll want to go with red wine.

It does Hammond organ brilliantly. Perhaps better than the original -it is so muscular.

Christopher Winkels

April 1, 2010 @ 5:57 am

I finally picked one of these up this week, partially as a replacement for my now long-gone DW-6000. It sounds so much better than I remember the '6000 though!

There seem to be so many harmonics floating around in the sound. Just a little bit of detuning gives it a wide and sonically rich character. For digital oscillators there is surprisingly little aliasing. It's there, but it's subtle and non-intrusive. Same powerful envelopes, great polyphonic glides, and the delay gives a lot of flexibility since it will do chorusing and flanging as well.

I do wish there was some actual waveshaping and/or audio-rate FM, but I can't complain for $300.

mik303

February 19, 2010 @ 9:50 pm

I bought EX-8000 for 200 euros because they guy who sold it told me that he can do the same sounds with his vst plugins. I beg to differ. It's a very simple synth but it can do excellent basses and really beautiful dark pads. The filter is excellent. I only wish it had more waveforms.

Danish Electro

February 17, 2010 @ 2:27 am

The EX8000 is Just a phenominal synthesizer, the second hand prices are climbing quickly now, and justifiably. I agree with the poster who said that its as fat as a JP8, because it is. Beautiful beautiful beautiful sounds come from this thing, very well built.
the lead sounds of this synthesizer and bass sounds are like a brickwall of sound, slick, warm, fat and just down right enjoyable. The filter is one of thebest analog filters ive ever heard on a poly, and ive had an OBXa, JP8, Pro 5, Rhodes Chroma, so ive had first hand experience of those and this much warmer than a pro 5. Cant do poly mod like a pro 5, but i would take the Ex8000's warmth and power over and above the pro5 anyday. Think of those massive Vangelis tones and thats what this synth is all about, plus a hell of a lot more.
Its more relevant now than it was in 1984 soundwise in my opinion.

<11109876543>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

Posting Rules:
Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

I have read and understand the posting rules.