KORG DS-8 voice polyphonic FM synthesizer

via this auction

"KORG DS-8 is an 8-voice polyphonic FM synthesizer. KORG used YAMAHA FB-01 / DX21's FM synthesis engine, and fashioned it with a unique interface that makes it look like a Virtual Analog synthesizer

The DS-8 is Korg's contender among synths like the Roland D-50 and Yamaha DX7. It is a digital FM synthesizer with 4-operators per voice, 8 voices of polyphony and 8 parts multitimbrality. It's good for percussive, strange effect noises and such because its sound (similar to the DX7) is so unique. It has some digital effects such as chorus, flange, delay and analog-like controls for modulators, envelopes and the LFO. A joystick provides control of modulation and pitch bending. It also has a performance section for quick edits on the fly using (3) real-time sliders to control timbre, EG1 and EG2. A nice alternative to the common DX-7

The Korg DS-8 is a 61-key FM synthesizer produced by Korg in 1987. It is a 4-operator 8-voice, 8-part-multitimbral synthesizer with a 61-note keyboard that has velocity and aftertouch sensitivity. It has no filter and only the basic delay, chorus, flanger, and double effects. It was released to compete against synthesizers such as the Yamaha DX7 and TX81Z. At the time, Yamaha probably didn’t care that they had a competitor in the FM synthesis arena – After all, Korg licensed the technology from them.

Korg released the DS-8 in 1986 to compete with the Yamaha DX7. The DS-8 is a FM synth which uses the same 4 operator synth engine as in the Yamaha 4 op synths like the DX21 and TX81Z. However, the DS-8 included a few digital effects such as chorus, flange, delay and also analog-like controls for modulators and envelopes. The DS-8 features 8 voices of polyphony and is 8 parts multi timbrel, a 5 octave 61 note velocity and aftertouch keyboard and it stores 100 programs and 10 combinations. The first time we heard the word "combis".

In 1987 Korg followed up the DS-8 with the release of the Korg 707. A four octave keyboard that also included strap on hooks so you could play it guitar style. Probably one of the first remote keyboard controllers that I can think of. The synth engine is similar to the DS-8 without the on-board effects. As in most FM synths, the DS-8 and Korg 707 are good at producing Basses, E-Pianos, Synths and Effects so we tried to focus on those types of sounds in putting together our collection

The Korg 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."