Korg Ex-8000

is the rack DW8000, I've owned before. The rack version is much stronger: the keys are solid and frankly, the keyboard is not very comfortable, pretty basic and noisy (nothing horrible but as a master keyboard, blah).
The joystick keyboard did not packed either because the effect of VCF is not very musical to me.
That's why I opted for the rack and sold the keyboard, even if I lost arpégiatteur the way.
This is not COD at all, the DWGS is a kind of wave samplée very short, which sounds as good a priori because the generated wave is free and not retriggered automatically each note ...
Yes, it was a logical progression to the days when analog began to denigrate, and finally his sound is popular today because of its analog filter!
No, it is not a competitor of the DX7 or FM in general, do not know there to tell it in brief ... The DW8000 is an evolution of the analog and the subtractive synthesis, with envelopes among the most advanced (like the alpha junos). OK, it was the sounds of bells and electric piano sounds DW8000 but still analog him.
The multi effect is especially designed as part of the synthesis, it is a huge quality because it is not used that much to swell the sound, but most create the stamp.
One of the only regret is that it is not multitimbral but it is sometimes to be limited, if you get lost.

UTILIZATION

I used no external programmer for a while, and this is one of the best ergonomics in this type (I had a JX3P a matrix6 a JX10, a sixtrak I always juno 2 .. .) Everything is coherent but actually it's longer than the Patch Editor Kiwitechnics that I now use.
Moreover, as soon as I could get a controller for other synths mentioned, I did (and I'm having with the D50 and PG1000, which is essential, and I would have liked a programmer like this for my SY77 because these syntheses are among the most complex so when the user interface is cumbersome, it is very encouraging. Hence my dismay when told that the DW8000 is difficult to program ...)
Good polyphony (8voix) that has nothing to envy the bigger synths of the time: I do not own or Jupiter 8 or Prophet 5, but the value of the report is impressive DW8000 next.
Of course, the fact that you can synchronize the oscilloscope, or bitimbralité and split are limiting.
For the lack of arpégiatteur on the rack, do not miss it and at worst e'x8000 is controlled with a keyboard that has one or midipal used ...

SOUNDS

strong point: I call it a killer String Machine ... you can get very cheesy vintage for his age ... (string, organ, brass, clavicord, square ...)
Clavicord sound unique and very musical sound.
It is a sound generally very organic, everything I look for in a synth, and I do not know particularly VA (and I have more than one) that can come close.
The electric piano is typed but does not turn me, a bit like the DX7, I prefer the Rhodes and Wurlitzer ...
The unison mode actually a stack and thus a big sound, but then, for me, it gives too big and a little digital typed in the attack, I would not feel comfortable, I prefer to confine this synth in the roots.
The envelopes are more complex than the ADSR and therefore a strong feature, although useful for the SFZ brass or tablecloths scalable.
The delay sounds of the fire of God, and as much color the sound. As one friend is one of the few synths where the effect is part of the synthesis, a real plus.

OVERALL OPINION

Must have a: very good filter, very good delay, complex envelopes, analog sounding thoroughly but not that ...
For the period of manufacture, it sounds even older, rather than 70 end 80 end (compared to the juno 2 for example)
It certainly has limitations, but it just full of VA or other analos, it's not a workstation!

8-channel polyphonic said hybrid waveforms DWGS ranging far beyond the conventional sine pulse ramp triangle can build really low hereof, synthetic pianos and "strings" very synthetic organic, but also, and this is a feature for a hybrid of 80's sounds sounding more FM or Electronica, sounds of bells, chimes, all from here in an analog resonant filter muscular, then, if you want to complicate matters, the delay (with controls by lfo ....) will 5ms to 512, and can do flanging, chorus or delay. beautiful.
One can even make the Karplus Strong

UTILIZATION

config but just a little annoying to program without using an external controller or editor, like most of its competitors at the time

SOUNDS

The sounds range from the classic 80 (pads, basses tearing, strings and piano) to the most brilliant and experimental
(FM Sounds), all here thanks to the waveforms DWGS, and all that is between!
Obviously sounds are far from being realistic, in today's terms

OVERALL OPINION

polyphonic Module 8 ultra compelling and useful ways, or even where you least expect it, the unisons modes are to die for (especially in bass lines) and the delay is largely creative

This is the DW8000 rack, so the features are the same.

UTILIZATION

Like all post DX7 synths, there is no improgrammable dedicated editor, and finally I talk back to me who hates numbers instead of turning knobs. The French manual is very clear.

SOUNDS

Well it's the highlight of the machine. Although a hybrid synthesizer (DCO and with not VCO), it sounds hot, thanks to its particular filter which is analog (like the matrix 6 or 1000). Obviously Low are not his forte, cons by the strings, pads, brass are gorgeous. As such it mimics well the CS80 and lead to vangelis because it recognizes the aftertouch. It also has very beautiful synthetic sounds of bells (this may seem a detail, but when we hear them, you want to put across). Finally, the digital delay system is a marvel of imprecision and analog sounds to be mistaken!
Update 01/2010: On youtube, there's a guy who makes up the sequence of low-equinox 7 with a DW8000 and it sounds great, very close to the original ... Like what the korg can also make very good synth bass!

OVERALL OPINION

This rack is the direct competitor of MKS70 and another matrix, ie analog half digital half like that have flowered in the 80s in hopes of dethroning the DX7. It has nothing to be ashamed of his colleagues he takes more or less the same qualities and defects (a fine grain analog envelope but rather soft, because software-generated). As it is generally underestimated, it remains a very good choice for those who want a polyphonic analog. Although very ugly as rack (compared to TG77 is below in my studio), I would do it again this choice only for the strings!