Korg DSS-1
Encyclopedia
The Korg
DSS-1 was a 12-bit polyphonic sampling synthesizer
released in September 1986. It came out at a time when many of the popular synthesizer companies were beginning to get into sampling, an area of sound design that had previously been left to a handful of fledgling companies such as Fairlight
, E-mu
, and Ensoniq
. Like Yamaha
, however, Korg did not stay long in the sampling arena. The DSS-1 (along with the rackmount DSM-1) turned out to be the company's only sampler until 1998 when Korg started including sampling options on their Triton
and Trinity series of workstations, and on their Electribe series of drum-and-phrase samplers.
Also onboard the DSS-1 is a simple, non-realtime additive synthesis engine. This allows you to create single-cycle waveforms by either drawing them with a data slider, or by setting the relative amplitude levels of 128 sine waves. The result is usually a rather static and buzzy waveform which only takes on life after being synthesized through the DSS-1's analog subtractive synthesis engine.
The DSS-1 is a 12-bit sampler
with analog sound shaping circuitry. Therefore, the internal structure of a DSS-1 sound is set up much in the same way as on a standard subtractive analog synthesizer
and will not cause confusion with people already familiar with subtractive synthesis. To phrase it another way, the DSS-1 is essentially an analog polysynth with the conventional VCO
or DCO oscillators ripped out, and replaced by the sampler. The subtractive analog engine on the DSS-1 allows for two oscillators to be combined and/or detuned just like on a conventional synth. But instead of choosing from between just 3 or 4 different waveforms, you can choose from up to 16 single-cycle waveform loops or full-blown samples as your oscillator sources. These digital oscillators are then fed through a fully resonant VCF and a VCA section. The DSS-1 has the same VCF as on the Korg DW series and the Poly-800
(Korg custom filter # NJM-2069). It is a very lush, aggressive filter, very close in sound to a Moog
filter or a classic SSM-2044 filter found on such synthesizers as the Korg Mono/Poly
and Polysix.
Modulation sources include two individual sine-wave LFOs (which Korg calls "MG" for "modulation generator). There is one LFO for pitch and one for filter. There are also two separate modulation sources for the built-in twin digital delays (more on that later). The DSS-1 has two 6-stage envelope generators (one for filter and one for amp). Other features on the DSS-1 are: auto-bend (which allows for a pitch glide up or down to a destination pitch), oscillator sync (very unusual on a sampling instrument), and bit-crushing from 12 down to 6 bits to introduce some grunge to the sound. Oscillator sync in combination with autobend (on the slaved oscillator) allows the DSS-1 to create some truly bizarre textural sweeps.
At the tail end of the DSS-1's audio path are two built-in digital delays. The audio signal from the VCA is converted back to digital, run through the twin DDLs (which can be run in parallel or in serial), and then converted back to analog for the final output. As mentioned earlier, both DDLs share two separate modulation sources (separate from the MG section) for modulation of the delayed signals. The DDLs are very flexible and only add to the DSS-1's sonic potential, with the ability to create dramatic chorused, flanged, or ping-pong effects. In parallel mode, the DDL section creates stereo sound by each DDL sending its sound through the unit's separate left and right outputs.
The DSS-1 has its operating system stored on ROM chips, so if you lose your floppy disks you can still boot the system up (unlike the E-mu Emulator
, Ensoniq Mirage
, and early Roland
samplers which required you always have a floppy disk containing the OS). However, each time you boot up the DSS-1 you will not have any sounds available at your fingertips until you load a system into memory from floppy disk. This can usually take anywhere from 20 to 40 seconds, depending on the size and number of multisamples contained in that system. The floppies that the DSS-1 understands are the older DSDD (double-sided
double-density) disks that were also used on the Ensoniq Mirage and on early Macintosh computers.
For performance control, Korg offers up their standard 4-way joystick (same one found on DW series and Poly-800), and excellent aftertouch and velocity control. One can also assign a parameter to one of the data sliders for tweaking in realtime. Unfortunately, there is no portamento, no arpeggiator, and no built-in sequencer.
Now, with its comparatively tiny 256k of RAM
, the DSS-1 is most useful as a powerful hybrid polysynth with a sampling option, rather than as a regular sampler.
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
DSS-1 was a 12-bit polyphonic sampling synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
released in September 1986. It came out at a time when many of the popular synthesizer companies were beginning to get into sampling, an area of sound design that had previously been left to a handful of fledgling companies such as Fairlight
Fairlight
Fairlight is a digital audio company based in Sydney, Australia. In 1979 they created the Fairlight CMI, the first digital audio sampler, quickly used by artists such as Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Jean Michel Jarre. They are now a manufacturer of media solutions tools such as digital audio...
, E-mu
E-mu Systems
E-mu Systems, Inc. is a synthesizer maker and pioneer in samplers and low-cost digital sampling music workstations.-History:Founded in 1971 by Scott Wedge and Dave Rossum, E-mu began making modular synthesizers...
, and Ensoniq
Ensoniq
Ensoniq Corp. was an American electronics manufacturer, best known throughout the mid 1980s and 1990s for its musical instruments, principally samplers and synthesizers.- Company history :...
. Like Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
, however, Korg did not stay long in the sampling arena. The DSS-1 (along with the rackmount DSM-1) turned out to be the company's only sampler until 1998 when Korg started including sampling options on their Triton
Korg Triton
Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer featuring digital sampling and sequencing created by Korg. All Tritons use Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator. They are available in several models and various upgrade configurations. The Triton is world famous among many musicians for being a...
and Trinity series of workstations, and on their Electribe series of drum-and-phrase samplers.
Concept and features
The DSS-1 can sample at 12 bit resolution, with a maximum sampling frequency of 48 kHz. The usual sample editing features are included, such as truncate, loop, crossfade, keymapping, and so on. Multisamples can contain up to 16 individual samples. A single floppy disk can hold 4 "systems", each of which stores 32 patches including all subtractive synthesis parameters and the multisamples used in those patches. The maximum internal sample memory is 256k on a factory standard unit, with some (now rare and hard-to-find) hardware upgrades that increased the memory up to 2MB. A single DSS-1 floppy disk can hold up to 512k worth of multisamples, but only a max of 256k can be loaded into the machine's internal memory.Also onboard the DSS-1 is a simple, non-realtime additive synthesis engine. This allows you to create single-cycle waveforms by either drawing them with a data slider, or by setting the relative amplitude levels of 128 sine waves. The result is usually a rather static and buzzy waveform which only takes on life after being synthesized through the DSS-1's analog subtractive synthesis engine.
The DSS-1 is a 12-bit sampler
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
with analog sound shaping circuitry. Therefore, the internal structure of a DSS-1 sound is set up much in the same way as on a standard subtractive analog synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and will not cause confusion with people already familiar with subtractive synthesis. To phrase it another way, the DSS-1 is essentially an analog polysynth with the conventional VCO
Voltage-controlled oscillator
A voltage-controlled oscillator or VCO is an electronic oscillator designed to be controlled in oscillation frequency by a voltage input. The frequency of oscillation is varied by the applied DC voltage, while modulating signals may also be fed into the VCO to cause frequency modulation or phase...
or DCO oscillators ripped out, and replaced by the sampler. The subtractive analog engine on the DSS-1 allows for two oscillators to be combined and/or detuned just like on a conventional synth. But instead of choosing from between just 3 or 4 different waveforms, you can choose from up to 16 single-cycle waveform loops or full-blown samples as your oscillator sources. These digital oscillators are then fed through a fully resonant VCF and a VCA section. The DSS-1 has the same VCF as on the Korg DW series and the Poly-800
Korg Poly-800
The Korg Poly-800 is a synthesizer released by Korg in 1983. Its initial list price of $795 made it the first fully programmable synthesizer that sold for less than $1000. It featured a 49 key non-velocity sensitive keyboard, two buttons for data entry, and a joystick controller, which could...
(Korg custom filter # NJM-2069). It is a very lush, aggressive filter, very close in sound to a Moog
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
filter or a classic SSM-2044 filter found on such synthesizers as the Korg Mono/Poly
Korg mono/poly
The Korg Mono/Poly is a "mono-polyphonic" analog synthesizer manufactured by Korg from 1981 to 1984. This keyboard is the sister synth to the Korg Polysix....
and Polysix.
Modulation sources include two individual sine-wave LFOs (which Korg calls "MG" for "modulation generator). There is one LFO for pitch and one for filter. There are also two separate modulation sources for the built-in twin digital delays (more on that later). The DSS-1 has two 6-stage envelope generators (one for filter and one for amp). Other features on the DSS-1 are: auto-bend (which allows for a pitch glide up or down to a destination pitch), oscillator sync (very unusual on a sampling instrument), and bit-crushing from 12 down to 6 bits to introduce some grunge to the sound. Oscillator sync in combination with autobend (on the slaved oscillator) allows the DSS-1 to create some truly bizarre textural sweeps.
At the tail end of the DSS-1's audio path are two built-in digital delays. The audio signal from the VCA is converted back to digital, run through the twin DDLs (which can be run in parallel or in serial), and then converted back to analog for the final output. As mentioned earlier, both DDLs share two separate modulation sources (separate from the MG section) for modulation of the delayed signals. The DDLs are very flexible and only add to the DSS-1's sonic potential, with the ability to create dramatic chorused, flanged, or ping-pong effects. In parallel mode, the DDL section creates stereo sound by each DDL sending its sound through the unit's separate left and right outputs.
The DSS-1 has its operating system stored on ROM chips, so if you lose your floppy disks you can still boot the system up (unlike the E-mu Emulator
E-mu Emulator
The Emulator is the name given to a series of disk-based digital sampling keyboards manufactured by E-mu Systems from 1982 until 1990. Though not the first commercial sampler, the Emulator was among the first to find wide use among ordinary musicians, due to its relatively low price and its size,...
, Ensoniq Mirage
Ensoniq Mirage
The Ensoniq Corporation's Mirage was an 8-bit sampler introduced in 1984. Priced below $2000 with features previously only found on more expensive samplers like the Fairlight CMI, it became a best seller....
, and early Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
samplers which required you always have a floppy disk containing the OS). However, each time you boot up the DSS-1 you will not have any sounds available at your fingertips until you load a system into memory from floppy disk. This can usually take anywhere from 20 to 40 seconds, depending on the size and number of multisamples contained in that system. The floppies that the DSS-1 understands are the older DSDD (double-sided
Double-sided disk
In computer science, a double-sided disk is a disk of which both sides are used to store data.Early floppy disks only used one surface for recording. The term "single sided disk" was not common until the introduction of double-sided disks, which offered double the capacity in the same physical size...
double-density) disks that were also used on the Ensoniq Mirage and on early Macintosh computers.
For performance control, Korg offers up their standard 4-way joystick (same one found on DW series and Poly-800), and excellent aftertouch and velocity control. One can also assign a parameter to one of the data sliders for tweaking in realtime. Unfortunately, there is no portamento, no arpeggiator, and no built-in sequencer.
Sound
Sonically, the DSS-1 has more diversity in sound than any Korg synthesizer released up to that date. The 12-bit resolution and the capability for full-blown samples gave it an edge over the 8-bit DW-6000/8000 digital waveform synthesizers. The DSS-1 can be used as a hybrid synthesizer as well as a sample-playback keyboard (i.e. "ROMpler").Now, with its comparatively tiny 256k of RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
, the DSS-1 is most useful as a powerful hybrid polysynth with a sampling option, rather than as a regular sampler.
Notable users
- Kevin MooreKevin MooreFor the blues singer, see Keb' Mo'.Kevin Moore is a keyboardist, vocalist and composer and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I. and has composed film soundtracks...
of Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
. - Phil LanzonPhil LanzonPhil Lanzon is the keyboardist for British progressive rock group Uriah Heep since 1986.Lanzon has worked with diverse performers of distinction in the rock and roll community...
of Uriah HeepUriah Heep (band)Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
. - Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
. - Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
(during Black Celebration production and tour). - Simian Sound Source