Korg DS-8

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DS-8 by KORG
Synthesis type: FM Synthesizer
Polyphony: 8
Oscillators: 2
Filter: 1 per voice
Attenuator: ADSR Envelope
LFO: Triangle, Square, Sawtooth, Sine
Keyboard: 61-key
Left hand control: Joystick
Velocity sensitive: Yes
Aftertouch: Yes
External control: MIDI
Memory: 100 Programs and 10 Combinations
Onboard effects: Manual Delay, Long Delay, Short Delay, Doubling, Phaser, Chorus, Portamento
Produced: 1986
Original price: $ 1400

The DS-8 is an expandable FM synthesizer released by KORG in 1986 which used the Yamaha FB-01 FM synthesis engine with 4 sine wave oscillators. 61 Keys in length with both initial and aftertouch capabilities it stores up to 100 programs and 10 combinations. At $1400 RRP the DS-8 was a revolutionary, cheap and affordable product for its time.

The DS-8 features one joystick controller for bending pitch, timbre and modulation speed, 1 card slot for the MCR-01, MCR-02 and MCR-03 KORG RAM Cards, MIDI IN/OUT/THRU jacks, a damper pedal, assignable pedal, assignable switch, program up pedal, 1 balance slider, four keyboard modes (Single, Layer, Double and Multi) and two slider controls which indicate the ability to edit the 2 oscillators from fast to slow. The three editable banks shown on the right side of the board (Function, Voice Parameter and Combi Parameter) provide multiple ways in which the user can edit the programs, banks and patches.