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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

1826.0. "KORG DS8 ???" by BPOV04::M_CLEMENT () Wed Dec 21 1988 16:43

    Anyone have any comments on the Korg DS8.
    
    I have played this and like it very much.  Found it very
    comparable to Yamahas DX7(?).
    
    I am looking for good keys sound with variations of piano,
    organ, and clavinette.  Don't care much about other sounds
    for now anyways.
    
    Will probably want future ability to tie into a PC which 
    this unit will do.
    
    And I like the idea of cartridges vs. cassettes.
    
    Looking for a good used one, if anyone has one...
    
    Would also like comments on used prices please.
    
    thanks, Mark.
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1826.1DS8, no. DX11, yes!NRPUR::DEATONThu Dec 22 1988 13:279
RE < Note 1826.0 by BPOV04::M_CLEMENT >

	I'd say if you're going to go with FM synthesis, buy from the people
that do it best.  Get a Yamaha DX11 and you'll get all the sounds of the DS8
plus a lot more functionality.  The only thing you'll miss is the internal
digital delay.

	Dan

1826.2BPOV04::M_CLEMENTThu Dec 22 1988 16:478
    re. 1
    
    thanks for responding...
    
    What are the alternatives to FM synthesis, and what does it mean
    in regards to sound and price?
    
    Mark
1826.3Yowzuh!NRPUR::DEATONThu Dec 22 1988 18:1632
RE < Note 1826.2 by BPOV04::M_CLEMENT >

>    What are the alternatives to FM synthesis, and what does it mean
>    in regards to sound and price?

	Now, that's a loaded question (of the magnitude of asking "What other
cars are there?" after having viewed only one manufacturer's)!

	Let's see if I can put together a decent list (other's help me out...)

	FM Synthesis (4 Operator/8 algorythm)
	FM Synthesis (6 Operator/32 algorythm)
	Analog Synthesis (subtractive)
	Analog Synthesis (additive)
	Wave-table synthesis
	Phase distortion Synthesis
	Sampling
	Linear Addaptive Synthesis
	Structured Adaptive Synthesis
	
	Gosh, I can't think of any more...

	But you get the idea.  You can get something in almost any of these
styles of synthesis in a wide range of prices.  You really have to hear them to 
know if they are close to what you want out of a synth.

	Another approach you could make would be to give a general price range 
and we could let you know what was available in the varying types of synthesis
in that range.

	Dan
    
1826.4The "Big 3"CTHULU::YERAZUNISIconoclasm as a way of life...Thu Dec 22 1988 20:3645
    Don't forget
    
    	Granular Synthesis
    	Fourier Synthesis (kind of like additive crossed with sampling)
    	.
    	.                          
    	.
                                          
    
    The BIG families are:
    
    FM/Phase synthesis - using the instantaneous amplitude of one wave to
    	change the instantaneous frequency or phase of another wave.
        Usually both waves are sine waves.
    		
    		o Makes good percussive sounds (bells)
    		o Makes OK strings
    		o Makes lousy winds
    		o Programming can be difficult unless you like
    		  Bessel functions (which I do like).
                         
    Analog synthesis - An oscillator generates a wave.  Filters are
        then used to shape the wave. Often there are more than 1 oscillator;
    	sometimes there are 3 or 4.
    
    		o Makes good winds
    		o Makes great strings
    		o Makes lousy percussive sounds
    		o Programming can be simple or complex depending on
    		  the instrument (compare a Micro-Moog versus a Matrix-12).
    
    Sampling - a digital representation of a wave is "read out" by the
    	keyboard rapidly.  The readout may be (optionally) filtered
    	by analog filters.  The digital representation may (optionally)
    	be "spliced" or "looped" as if it were a snippet of magnetic
    	tape in a studio cutting room.
    
    		o Can duplicate any sound you can tape-record
    		  (dogs barking, birds singing, trash cans clanging,
    		   Stradivarius violins playing, etc ), and at different
    		   pitches.
    		o Doesn't really let you create a lot of new sounds
    		  from scratch, just modify sounds you already have
    		  (sometimes beyond human recognizability !)
    
1826.5Synth-Tech 101BPOV04::M_CLEMENTWed Dec 28 1988 18:4127
    Oh man,,,
    
    I think I need an engineering degree to understand all this stuff.
    
    Well I bought a Korg DW-8000 last Friday.  It is a Digital Wave
    Form Synth.
    
    I really like the pre-set sounds available off of the tape.
    
    Great Hammond Organ & Cathedral Organ sound.
    Great Piano options.
    Great Clavinette.
    Great Slap Bass.
    
    Anyhow I have only yet touched the surface of what can be done with
    this synth.  You can variate all of the pre-set sounds, and create/
    program your own sounds.  Load & save to/from tape.
    
    I am having some fun with the effects sounds.
    
    I should learn more about the technology.  But my main concerns
    are the ability to have a versatile keyboard for jamming with
    other musicians.  So the basic keyboard sounds I am very happy with.
    
    Thanks for the info.
    
    Mark.