KORG DS-8
Overview
FM Synthesis
KORG DS-8 uses YAMAHA FB-01's FM synthesis engine.
It has 4 sine wave oscillators (called Operator), and it generates sounds by inter-modulating between them.
Editing FM synths is like patching a modular synthesizer, and it often takes much time.
KORG made a new interface to make editing more intuitive.
VA interface
DS-8's user interface makes FM engine look like a virtual analog synthesizer.
Below is the new architecture made by KORG's interface.
KORG DS-8 block diagram
FM synths can emulate analog synthesizers by using 2 operators.
The modulated operator works as an amplifier and the modulating one as a filter.
Their frequencies determine the harmonic series - the basic waveform.
As DS-8 has 4 operators, it can be treated as 2 sets of Oscillator-Filter-Amplifer.
To emulate this architecture, DS-8 uses only the 2 algorithm (operator routing pattern) out of FB-01's 8:
No. 1 and 5.
Inspired by DS-8's VA interface,
I made a new editor for YAMAHA DX7
(see DX7 and DX7II page).
It can be seen as a 6-operator version of DS-8.
Effects and utilities
DS-8 has one effector - modulation delay that can be used as Chorus and Flanger.
It's 8-part multi-timbral.
The pitch envelope works faster and easier than the complex PEG of YAMAHA's FM synths.
There is a unison detune parameter within a single voice.
All 8 voices are layered to make a monophonic sound.
When the aftertouch affects the cutoff frequency, it works in the positive direction.
It does not decrease the cutoff when the key-pressure is not added -
a better implementation than YAMAHA's FM synths.
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DS-8
Deep Synthesis: Home
5. 4. 2004