The Siel DK-80 is an odd synth that could be said to bridge the gap between low end mid-eighties Roland and Sequential type synthesizers. It is an analog synth with digital control. It is also bi-timbral with a split keyboard mode giving you 2 polysynths in one keyboard! The sounds are OK, and the DK-80 makes a great backup synth. It has an on-board two-track sequencer, chord memory and hold, programmable stereo panning and sweeping. Parameters are edited one at a time and via membrane push buttons. For a fair price the DK-80 is certainly an exotic addition to any synth set up but may be too limited to use as your main or only analog synth. It is used by Eat Static

Gerry

June 21, 2012 @ 10:31 pm

SEIL stands for " [beep] ty Italian ELectronics". I had 2 of these. (& a Siel MDP 40 Drum Machine aka Suzuki RMP-40) The 1st DK80 did not work at all. I took it back & got the 2nd DK80 which worked for all of 3 days before I returned that 1 too. My mom even called SEIL HQ in Italy. Anyway, I couldn't get my money back & ended up with a store credit which I used to buy an overpriced Casio HT-3000 ($900) It's my own fault for buying a keyboard at a small, unknown music store, from a guy named "Diamond Dave". (although to my credit, I was only 14yo) He was worse than any used car salesman.

dennis matana

January 20, 2012 @ 4:07 am

Besides the DK80 there is also the EX80 or Siel Expander 80 or rebadged as Suzuki SX500. These are expander modules with half the voices of the DK. In the guts of these machines there are a SSM 2045 for VCF/VCA and a SSM 2031 for the HF VCO. In the DK there are 2 of both and in the expander module just 1 of both. A cheap way to get your hands on that famous SSM sound.

michael

November 27, 2011 @ 10:17 pm

hey thor i did that and still nothing but its all good it still functions great even with that problem and it was my first synth so it holds a special place in my heart

Thor

November 19, 2011 @ 1:20 am

Got one, love it. It's my main workhorse. Got it linked to the MIDI boxes and to the recorder.
By the way michael, ever considered opening the thing up and cleaning the contacts? I did that. Takes a few hours to do, you need cotton swabs and cleaning alcohol. Hope that may help!
Now, go make music!! :)

Justin

October 21, 2011 @ 10:22 pm

Beware that just like the Poly 800 this synth has only one filter circuit to cover all the voices. Unless you're using it in mono or unison then the sound quality will suffer....

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