Synths ⇝ Korg ⇝ Korg DS-8

The Korg DS-8 is a 4-operator digital FM synthesizer with a 61-key keyboard. It was released in 1987 and sounds similar to many of Yamaha's FM synthesizers because it is based on the YM2164 (OPP) chip, which is found in the Yamaha DX21, DX27, and DX100. It has 8 notes of polyphony and is 8-part multitimbral. It has 100 patch memories and 10 performance memories and basic built-in digital effects (delay, flange, chorus, and double). It has a joystick control for pitch bend and modulation and its low-frequency oscillator waveforms are saw, triangle, square, and sample & hold. It lacks an arpeggiator or sequencer.

The DSCU-400 library card adds another 100 patches to the Korg DS-8.

A little-known secret of this synthesizer is that you can put it into "glitch mode" by overloading the MIDI buffer when sending sysex data. This will result in a garbled display, strange behavior, and some incredibly strange glitch sounds, which may or may not be desirable depending upon your genre of music. However, we do not know whether it is easy or even possible to recover from this mode.

The 707 was another 4-operator FM synthesizer released by Korg.

Factory Reset: Hold up and down, then power on.

Specifications

Year Released: 1987

Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch

Polyphony: 8 notes

Multitimbral: 8 parts

User Patches: 100

User Performances: 10

Screen: 40 x 2 character backlit LCD

Power Consumption: 16 watts

Dimensions: 1024 mm x 317 mm x 94 mm

Weight: 10 kg

User Demo Videos

Rating

Sound Samples

WAV samples are available on freewavesamples.com.

File Downloads

Korg DS-8 Manual

Korg DS-8 Service Manual

Items for Sale on Reverb

Korg KORG DS 8 Digital Keyboard 1980S - Black ($499)

KORG DS8 OS Version 14 Synthesizer FM Update Firmware Eprom DS-8 ($17.94)

Korg - DS-8 , SG1/1D , DP-2000 / 3000C - New Power cord ($18.51)

Korg - DS-8 , DSS-1, DSM-1 , C15, C36 - Slide potentiometer ($14.90)

Korg DS-8 OS v14 EPROM Firmware Update KIT ($20)

Korg DSCU-400 Library Card for DS-8 and FM-7 ($65)

Korg - DS-8 - New Signal Relay 5VDC ($7.90)

Korg DS8 OS Version 14 Synthesizer FM Update Firmware Eprom DS-8 Rom ($17.94)

Korg - DS-8 , DSS-1, DSM-1 , C15, C36 - Slide potentiometer ($7.82)

Korg - DSS-1 , Poly-800 , DS-8 , DW-6000 , DW-8000 - Replacement joystick knob ($3.99)

for repairs: Korg DS-8 Digital FM Polyphonic Multitimbral Synthesizer 1985 ($195.58)

Korg DS-8 DS8 Digital FM 4OP Synthesizer with "New Battery" ($506.26)

Korg - DS-8 , SG1/1D , DP-2000/3000C - New Power cord ($16.99)

Korg - DS-8, N264, DW-6000/8000 , Trinity, DVP-1, DDD-1 - Battery ($9.90)

Korg - T Series , DS-8 , M1 , Triton Series , C3200 - New Slide potentiometer ($7.82)

Korg - Ci8600/9600 , DS-8 , M50 - Rotary Potentiometer 10KB ($9.90)

KORG DS8 Full Set of 33 Pushbutton Panel Tact Switches NEW DS8 ($14.57)

KORG DS-8 - Digital FM-Synthesizer + RAM Cartridge ($448.89)

DUST COVER for KORG DS-8 ($27)

Korg - T Series , DS-8 , M1 , Triton Series , C3200 - New Slide potentiometer ($14.90)

Korg Trinity DW8000 DW6000 N264 N364 EX8000 DS8 - Battery 3V Replacement Repair Fix ($11.19)

Korg Trinity DW8000 DW6000 N264 N364 EX8000 DS8 - Replacement Battery 3v ($6.69)