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MGR/anon « Korg DS-8 »
Published on 11/24/03 at 15:00I paid 240$ for this and a drum-machine.
It is an FM synth with analogue-like envelope parameters making it by far the easiest FM synth to program,IMO.
I have tried various Yamaha's like the DX7 and TX81z, and both for sound and userfriendlyness, I prefer this one.
It has stereo out and a less noisy output than the DX7, yet sounds in many ways similar. The main differences being that the DX7 has 6 operators, while the DS-8 has 4. However, the korg has 6 effects: 3 delay types, doubling, chorus and flanger. The delays and the flanger are very good. There are also 3 sliders + a joystick for real-time modulation, and also aftertouch and, of course, velocity. It's FM, so all kinds of synth sounds, also analogue lead sounds mind you, are possible. Also, there are 100 memory patches for saving new sounds which is good for unit from 1987. If you want piano and guitar, though, look elsewhere as this is not a sample playback unit.
Only 8 voices although it's 8 part multitimbral, and the fact that you cannot use the timbre, EG 1 and EG 2 sliders and then save the changes. This however, forces you to learn to program it properly and find the true potential of this FM gem.
I personally wouldn't swap it for any of the Yamaha's.
It is well built, so takes a beating. Weight is about 10 kilos. Mine is in mint condition, no problems yet.
If you want an FM synth that is fairly easy to program, you should consider this one, especially if you're a hardware enthusiast.
If not, Native Instruments FM 7, that, for features and sound is very good, might be the thing for you.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
It is an FM synth with analogue-like envelope parameters making it by far the easiest FM synth to program,IMO.
I have tried various Yamaha's like the DX7 and TX81z, and both for sound and userfriendlyness, I prefer this one.
It has stereo out and a less noisy output than the DX7, yet sounds in many ways similar. The main differences being that the DX7 has 6 operators, while the DS-8 has 4. However, the korg has 6 effects: 3 delay types, doubling, chorus and flanger. The delays and the flanger are very good. There are also 3 sliders + a joystick for real-time modulation, and also aftertouch and, of course, velocity. It's FM, so all kinds of synth sounds, also analogue lead sounds mind you, are possible. Also, there are 100 memory patches for saving new sounds which is good for unit from 1987. If you want piano and guitar, though, look elsewhere as this is not a sample playback unit.
Only 8 voices although it's 8 part multitimbral, and the fact that you cannot use the timbre, EG 1 and EG 2 sliders and then save the changes. This however, forces you to learn to program it properly and find the true potential of this FM gem.
I personally wouldn't swap it for any of the Yamaha's.
It is well built, so takes a beating. Weight is about 10 kilos. Mine is in mint condition, no problems yet.
If you want an FM synth that is fairly easy to program, you should consider this one, especially if you're a hardware enthusiast.
If not, Native Instruments FM 7, that, for features and sound is very good, might be the thing for you.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com