Korg DS-8 Family

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Korg DS-8 Synopsis

Korg's attempt to make Yamaha's 4 operator FM technology (see Yamaha FB-01) more user accessible by providing a subtractive synth interface.

DS-8: FM synth.
707: Strap-on DS-8.

Voice architecture is similar to a dual oscillator subtractive synth (i.e. {DCO1->DCF1->DCA1}+{DCO2>DCF2>DCA). Ring modulation and two voice modes (poly and unison) are also provided

Key Features

Aftertouch: routed to DCO LFO, timbre, amplitude
Architecture Class: fm
Audio IO: headphones and 2 (stereo) analog outputs
Audio Source: DCO1 waveforms are saw, square, bright saw, and bright square. DCO2 waveforms are saw, square, and xmod (DCO1 crossmodulates DCO2).
Communication Interface: MIDI In, Out, Thru
Effects: delay (manual, long, short, doubling, flanger, chorus)
EG: DCO EGs are 6 element (3 levels, 3 rates) with polarity (each level), timbre and ampitude EGs are 5 element (2 level, 3 rate)
Expansion: Patch memory card (MCR-02 = 2 banks, MCR-03 = 4 banks) (see Models)
Filter: "Spectrum" controls "resonance" (possibly a digital filter)
Form Factor: (see Sibling Comparison)
Key Scaling: routed to OSC, timbre, amplitude
LFO: routed to oscillator, timbre, amplitude (with delay). waveforms are triangle, saw, square, S/H
Memory:

Multi Memory: 10
Patch Memory: 100
PCM Memory: N/A
Sample Memory: N/A
Sequencer Memory: N/A

Multitimbral: 8
Pedal Inputs: (see Models)
Performance Control: portamento (see Models)
Polyphony: 8
Power: (see Sibling Comparison)
Released: 1987 (see Sibling Comparison)
Sequencer: no
Signal Class: digital
Velocity: routed to timbre and amplitude EG levels

Sibling Comparison

Model	Form Factor	MSRP	Power	Released
DS-8	61 keys	$1295US?	AC (IEC C9 to NEMA 1-15P)	1987
707	49 keys	$1295US?	700mA 9VDC (- tip)	1987

DS-8

ds8

Additional Features:

Expansion: patch memory card MCR-01 (1 bank)
Pedal Inputs: patch increment, damper, footswitch (osc, velocity, aftertouch, portamento, or effect), expression (volume, timbre, vibrato, or wah)
Performance Control: joystick (pitch/timbre bend and Osc/DCA/DCF modulation)

707

Additional Features:

Pedal Inputs: 2 footswitch pedal inputs (portamento, damper, or patch change)
Performance Control: pitch/timbre bend and volume/mod (Osc/DCA/DCF) wheels