Released in 1987 the DS-8 used the engine from Yamaha's 4 Operator FB-01 synth module and then adding their own twists. In essence the DS-8 is like a Yamaha DX-9, but Korg added dedicated Slider controllers to make tweaking the timbre & envelope length for EG1 EG2, Portamento, Multi-FX parameters and other parameters in a much more traditional and easy format that the DX series endless menu & adjust method. The DS-8 was 8 note poly and 8 part multi-timbrel, included a basic digital FX processor offering delay, chorus, flanging & doubling effects, and featured a joystick to modulate Pitch, Vibrato & Timbre and other parameters simultaneously by using different 'Job' numbers in the editor.
The 61 note keyboard offers Velocity & After-touch & the DS-8 had 3 programming modes: Layer Mode allows two programs to be played across the whole keyboard, Double Mode gives you an upper & lower keyboard, split between two programs, while Multi Mode access the aforementioned 8 part multi-timbrel feature, allowing the user to construct 8 part compositions using 8 different programs in combination with a sequencer.
Round at the back the DS-8 sports Stereo outputs (for mono out use output A only), an additional headphone output socket, MIDI In, Out & Thru, as well as sockets to add accessory pedals including Patch Up/Down change pedals, damper & Expression pedal etc.
The DS-8 could accept a range of ROM & RAM cards granting easy access to more library sounds and additional user storage for edited patches.
The main forte of the DS-8 is lush pads, ethereal atmospheres, 'worm-hole' style evolving digital filter sounds etc, while it's more percussive sounds are stray into the 'Axel-F' ballpark, with Tines, Bells, Tube-like sounds and more, while the built in delay effects yield repeating type sounds with a rhythmic pulse.
0 comments
Add review/comment