Korg DSS-1

Don't know what OS it's on, if any. Never found any bugs or problems (imagine that!). Editing isn't the best, but it's not bad due to the parameter list on the right panel. Sliders and caps often go bad, they WILL require cleaning or replacement...how you do so, you can leave to your own imagination! ;)

8 voices with 2 oscillators per voice. Super, insanely FAT unison mode with all 16 oscillators stacked...it's almost too huge, ridiculously big sound. Unit features two highly programmable DDLs which can be used for your standard ho-hum delays, but since it's such a full featured effect can be used for chorusing, flange, primitive reverb, that pitch-delay Skinny Puppy vocal sound, etc. Midi is pretty good:: sysex, smdi...you can use Turtlevision's SampleVision for free to transfer samples to and fro, if (or when, rather) your diskdrive stops working...and even if it did work, SampleVision or the like would be way better than dealing with that clunky, antiquated floppy drive.

Really good keybed! It's kind of scary when you open it up to inspect....I never thought I would get it back together again, this sucker is Humpty Dumpty synth! The quality of the keys contributes to the serious weight of this machine. I have flirted with selling it or giving it away, but it's more worthwhile to just keep it around, if only as a Master Keyboard. Of course, that would be a waste because this thing sounds good. If you can pick one up cheap, go for it. The 12 bit ADACs color things in such a nice way...no Ching-Cheng CrapFu converters like today, the AD and DA paths are quality. It has an additive section that is alot of fun once you figure it out. Start w/ slider at bottom, slowly move up until waveform record done = ramp. Opposite = sawtooth. Go crazy with the slider for chaos noise waveforms. Combine these with a sample = heaven. The VCF doesn't reach self-oscillation, but it is so warm and lush...think Jupiter or later Roland hybrid machines like JX-10. The joystick is awesome, I'm glad Korg has kind of brought that back, the joystick is great for adding expression to samples that already sound very much alive due to the 12 bit nature and analog filters.

eh....heck no! I wouldn't gig with this thing, unless I wanted something to benchpress and wanted to be able to kick Chuck Norris' ass at tour's end. Not too reliable, these are getting a bit long in the tooth. The construction is solid, but I think the sheer stupid weight and non-trendyness leads to much disregard and abuse, so give it a good check through if you find one...most common problem is a dead diskdrive, which can be replaced for about $50 - $100. Select buttons are aging plastic, look for bad ones. Keybed needs to be cleaned thoroughly every once in awhile....which is not fun, let me tell you. Good news is there's a solid userbase and third party communities out there.

Never dealt w/ them. I think you can still get the manual from them....which is thorough, but incredibly confusing and stiff. I've cracked the manual maybe two or three times.

If lost or stolen....well, anyone that could get this down two flights of stairs probably earned it. I can't say I would replace it...it's stupid huge, a real space hog. But it is quite useful for everything from vintage poly pads to drum/drumloop destruction. If you find one for $200 or less, and if you like that crunchy 12-bit sound ala Skinny Puppy's MTPI and VivisectIV, Prodigy's TJG and Experience, 80's Peter Gabriel, NIN PHM, etc, you would like this unit, and it would probably be worth your time to pick one up locally. Don't ship it though...good lord.

Back in 2002 I bought the DSS-1 on a Norweagian internet auction mentioned in an earlier review here, and I strongly disagree with that reviewer. I've been very happy with this instrument.
As for ease of use, it would have benefitted from a larger and more informative display and some real time controllers, but it's not hard to find one's way round it.

8 voice polyphony is sufficient in most cases, especially in an instrument that isn't multitimbral. I like the keyboard action, one of the better synth-keyboards I've used with excellent aftertouch.
The built in effects are good, although not very intuitive in use.

The factory libraries emphasize this instrument's sampling capabilities, which are at best mediocre (not a problem to me, I have two Emulator 4s). However, used as a digital synthesizer with additive waveform generation or as a hybrid combining a sampled waveform with an additive, it can do some amazing things. The filter is great. Don't expect it to sound like any other instrument though, this instrument deserves to be judged by its own performance.

I've had this instrument for more than four years, it's never failed me.
And don't forget, this was built in the mid 80s.

I have never had any need for support on my DSS-1.

I like this instrument, it sounds very good for some very specific uses.
I'm not sure I would get another one if mine were lost, mainly because of its age. 20+ years old electronics tend to get unreliable, which is why I've sampled most of my sounds from it into a bank on one of my Emulators. But as long as I have it and it functions properly, it fits nicely in alongside the E-mu samplers, a Roland D-70, and an Oberheim OB-12.

Although the manual for this beast is around 300 pages, editing and creating sounds is fairly easy and standard for 1986- the dreaded data entry slider. I've had the machine for 3 days and already have made serious headway into understanding the dss-1. But considering this keyboard's versatility and power, editing is straightforward, and I'm not even using a software editor.

The only major drawback of this synth is its clunky keys. You will almost have to change and adapt your playing style to be able to finger songs on the dss-1. I feel sorry for you virtuosos out there.
Is too bad there is no sequencer on this synth, but it already has enough features that make up for this.
The twin digital delays are amazing and they really increase the variety of sounds you can get out of the dss-1.
I've heard complaints about the slowness of the disk drive, but I think its an advantage to have a library of disks, rather than an internal memory, which is limited in itself, and could be damaged by battery failure or leakage.

Wow. If you've heard this synth in person, complete with detuning, unison and digital delay, you'd forget about minimoogs, prophets etc. The dss-1 can belch out the roars of a tortured dinosaur.
This synth works best for noise/experimental, and industrial, but thats all relative, isnt it?
The joystick is handy for real-time tweaking, and is superior to the usual modwheel-pitchwheel duo.
Its also velocity and after touch sensitive, which is always a benefit.

I have yet to buy the DSDD disks for this, so I cant comment on how easy or reliable the disk memory feature is. A couple of the buttons on my dss-1 are dodgy at times, but considering its age, it works just fine. I want to use the dss-1 live BECAUSE of its size. It looks impressive.

Dont bother asking Korg for help. There are companies on the web where you can get replacment disk drives, DSDD disks, cases, sound programs etc.

Any musician/artist should be concerned with first and foremost the SOUND of an instrument. The dss-1 can produce sounds that have its own distinct character. Since its from 86', it does Everything that was popular 2 years before and 2 years after its production. Its a sampler, wavetable synth, analog synth, digital synth, and an external effects processor. You can get this synth for cheap, and considering what you get for your money, its a great deal.

learning curve a bit much but get the 16 page third party manual (use the factory manual for starting your next barbecue;it will be more useful) and you are in like flint.

there was nothing it couldn't do for the time now and back then.

For a 12 bit machine it sounded better than the Ensoniq Mirage itty-gritty-dirt band sound. even better than some 16 bit samplers if you want to really know. Mostly an analog-digital monster with sampling capabilities. Sounds were better than the original analogs.

the superman of synths.

had a minor repair done quick and easy by korg westbury ny.

For the price and intend on using it for trance or hip-hop, technical, stop searching. Forget all the new crap that is WAAAYYYY overpriced and built like a wet kleenex. if this thing even had 32 voices and 32 meg of ram with a portamento setting the m1 would have been forgotten.

I apologize for posting every other review on here, it's just that I feel I have to set the record straight for the DSS-1 when there's a negative review based on misguided info, especially since I run the DSS-1 Resource Site on the web. The two synths mentioned, K2000 and JD990 go for considerably more cash ($400-$500) on the used market than the DSS-1 which can be had for around $150 now. To put these in the same cash value bracket as the DSS-1, or even feature-wise, is ridiculous. With SampleVision software and tons of sample/waveform archives on the net, your source for new waveforms is unlimited; plus the waveform drawing feature to create your own, of course. You've got to be creative to bring out new and unusual timbres, and not limit yourself to the factory disks. Agree, the manual is not very helpful, but the 3rd party manual "DSS-1: Making It Happen" is an indispensable read. Only reliability problem is the disk drive which can go bad, but you can find replacements for them at the Route 66 Studios web site. No, this is not one of the great samplers from the 80s, but it is a great polysynth with a very warm, fat and expressive sound. An underrated monster IMO.

I have posted this addition to my previous over generous post. I must say in experiencing the presently equally priced synths of around three hundred dollars, one can do so much better. Kurzweil, (K2000 mods and synths), old Roland mods...JD990...EMU...that is the new Emulator X or most of their newer used items will blow away the Korg.

Again, the manual is a joke. Cartoonish. But thick cartoonish.

Reviewer below is a little psychotic to obsess for two paragraphs about aftertouch. I think the Kurzweil aftertouch will suffice for any gearhead nerd.

Eight note poly. Keyboard action is typical plastic eighties feel...like junk.

How realistic can you get with 256K of sampling? And where are you going to get waveforms for this dinosaur?

No. No twenty year old synth is going to be trustworthy. Sudden power shutdowns, etc.

Company is nice. Very helpful.

No. Would not waste my money when you can get a Kurzweil or a JD module for around three to four hundred.

A previous reviewer wrote:
"Not very expressive by today's standards for velocity, but a crude version of velocity and aftertouch was there."

Sorry, have to strongly disagree on that, espeically the aftertouch. This synth has the best aftertouch of any synth I've ever tried, and I've tried at least 5 dozen in my lifetime. It is one of the most expressive synths I've ever played. On most modern synths, including the Triton, Motif, Fantom, etc., the aftertouch acts as nothing more than an on/off switch. On the DSS-1 you can do complete filter sweeps with the aftertouch alone. You can "lean into" the keys and the sound seems to breathe. Especially when you assign the filter cutoff to aftertouch. There is a lot of resolution in the aftertouch control which no other synth (that I can think of) has. I can't say for sure whether it's the hardware (keybed) or the software that makes it that way. Perhaps it's a combination of both. The DSS-1 keybed controlling the DSS-1 itself works much better in tandem than controlling another synth with the DSS-1, or controlling the DSS-1 with another synth. There are multitudes of parameters for adjustment of velocity and aftertouch, and they are assignable to almost anything, so I can't understand how one can say it's primitive. This synth is worth the cost ALONE just for the aftertouch!

The original presets from the factory are thin...very little effects. These can be fattened up very nicely in Roland Jupiter style with a good manual. I bought mine new, so I have one... However...the manual is very cryptic...as if written by a fourteen year old. Simplistic, but not explanatory.

Editing patches is not a hard thing if you take your time to play with it and learn the machine. I never used any patch editors. In 1988 or thereabouts, I wrote my own disc for the beast, and like that one best. (I had offered it in Keyboard magazine.)

Sampling on it is fairly easy if you have the studio equipment...proper clean area with necessary electronics...and time and patience. Guitars sampled are interesting. I did a Rickenbacker and I also sampled an Oberheim to disc, which I cut and looped and added effects for a decent Oberheim sound. (way back when!)

Overall a five rating, because without the manual, you will go through a little learning curve hell. With the manual, be prepared to do a number of "what the ****" to yourself.

Eight note polyphony. Keyboard is typical synth action...higher resistance than some. I believe this thing is built like a Mack truck for the time...built as the flagship in 1986 to take a beating. The effects are not too difficult, nor too sophisticated for this day. If you have a cassette / computer with CD burner / able to download sounds and burn a CD...you can make new floppies for this machine. (256K at a time...single notes sampled across definite pitches.)

Midi implementation as full as possible for 1986. No sequencer.

Interesting note...this is NOT just a sampler. Factory sounds did come with it on floppies, and these must be reloaded under any power failures. However...there is a wave creation and drawing utility in this that should theoretically make it possible to emulate Jupiter series of Roland, or other simple wave ROM units.

The realism for the eighties was surprising. Emu systems was putting out the Emulator III and the Emax, and this unit was eating its lunch. Not bad for a 12 bit sampler. The Emu units were at the time I suppose around three grand or so...and higher. I seem to remember the EII was around ten grand. The Stones used the Emu stuff on stage. Yes, I wanted one, so I bought this Korg DSS-1.

Pretty much could do most types of music. I agree the unit is better in the studio. NOT live on stage. Long load times, occasional shutdowns from power...etc. Not very expressive by today's standards for velocity, but a crude version of velocity and aftertouch was there. Overall, for its day, still very useful, especially at current market prices. Unique, hence the rating.

Dependable as in built well, yes. Dependable as in will not shut down on you in mid performance, no. Due to its niche, I would definitely NOT use it alone, without backup. That is, the floppy is slow. (This was the eighties, folks.) An eight overall though, because this thing never electrically failed me in a need to get it repaired way, except for internal fuses going out one time. It still performs just like it did when it was brand new. (I have used it at home only. No gigging.)

Have to say, unlike Roland, this company gets behind the product. I had a question about some scratchiness in the one slider, they SENT me a shipping box which I used to send it back. In a couple weeks, back it came, checked out and perfect. They replaced the sliders for free under warranty. I think they even cleaned the case.

Probably would opt for something different today. A controller with a module such as the Roland JD's or the Jupiter Eight or MKS80. I realize we are talking a big price difference here. (Jupe eights are running one to two thousand dollars NOW...on a 20 year old keyboard.)

Would have to say at the time, worth at least as much as a Yamaha DX7, which always seemed fairly digital and limited in sounds to me. They were about 2000 dollars then. However...would love a DX1...Elton John had one.

I was a newbie to the keyboards back then. Broke in the red carpet way. I am strictly for fun, not profit, in my playing. I own a Roland MC500 which sits on the Korg...(5150 Van Halen tour was THAT Roland sequencer...) also sound card in computer...(Creative Labs makes and owns EMU systems...the Live Platinum has EMU parts in it...great sampled ROM card sounds on the puter!

It is a little heavy. Large and luggable. Don't really like to move it a lot.

At the time, I compared it to the Roland Jupiter Six new in the showroom in Tampa, FLA. I bought the Korg for under two grand because I could not afford the analog Roland...but the cosmetics on the Roland were and are still some of the best, period.

Of course, today, we want sample time. But 12 bit is quiet enough. At first, when I first brought it home, I think I stayed up two nights in a row just going through the manual and playing with it.

If you collect analog synths, and want one that was digital, get one of these for the museum. Not a Jupiter eight, but not a Yamaha DX7 either...kind of half way in between the two. VCO sounds by DCO, and extreme editing possible. If you wanted the Yamaha, they made a disc for the Korg from the DX7 series.

Rates an overall seven, just because its not an old average synth. But, its not the best either. For the field it plays in today, I would still give it a 7 just for its niche in the field. A studio analog wannabee and digital wannabee that did both...kind of. And for the money today, that ain't bad.

I appreciate the functions written on the cover. It's very convenient.
The user manual is very interesting to learn using the machine, but your don't need it to work with the DSS1

8 voices but monotimbral. The keyboard is ok but a little bit noisy.
I appreciate the DDL and VCF. Actually, I use the DSS1 as a sound effect processor !!
The MIDI implementation is well, but I never use sysex.

The samples are not so good : 12bits - 16-48kHZ.
However, the synthetic sounds are very warm and rich.
The DSS1 works good for Rock, Dance and... Electro Acoustic Music.
Due to the slowness of the disk drive and the limited memory (256kb), the DSS1 is designed for the studio, not for the stage.
The Keyboard is Ok but a little bit noisy.

Very reliable.
I own my DSS1 since 1988 and I have some problems with the disk drive only now (2004).
In 1989, water falled from the roof on the DSS1 !! I have just open it, dried it and... it restarted without any problem.

No deal with Korg...

DSS1 is very versatile but limited (disk drive, 256kb, 12bits)
It's a very good component for an electro-acoustic studio.
Sounds coming from DSS1 are not "signed" such as those with Fairlight, DX7 or S900.

A few corrections to some reviews here. The DSS-1 is 8-note poly, not 16 as some have said. One reviewer kept repeating that it's not polyphonic (what?!) I think he meant that it's not multitimbral.

Since the parameters can be edited via MIDI sysex, I recently created a profile for the DSS-1 on the Kentron Control Freak (a slider-based control surface). While it works great for quickly editing patches, it is not good for real-time control of the DSS-1, as you will hear digital distortion noise when you adjust a slider while holding a note down (unlike the DW-8000 which was very friendly to real-time tweaking from the Control Freak). Also, the cutoff will not update in real time while holding a note down, you have to retrigger to hear the difference. The best way to do filter sweeps on the DSS-1 is to assign Cutoff to the joystick and turn pitch bending off. Also, the only way to monitor what you're doing is to look at the Control Freak's own LCD; the DSS-1's menu based LCD screen will not update in real time while you're controlling parameters via MIDI (another big difference from the DW-8000 whose LED's update in real time, letting you monitor what you're doing).

Here is a great hidden feature I discovered while setting up the Control Freak for the DSS-1. On the DSS-1 you cannot separately control Oscillator 1 and 2 volumes; it only lets you adjust Osc balance, e.g. if you want equal volume between Osc's, you can only get 50%/50%. However, as I studied the MIDI sysex stream for this Osc Balance control, I found out that it's actually adjusting 2 different controls: Osc volume 1 (values 0-100) and Osc volume 2 (values in reverse order, 100-0). So, using the Control Freak, I was able to create 2 separate sliders for Osc volume 1 and 2 respectively. This way, I was able to get both Osc volumes up to 100%/100% which you definitely can't do using the DSS-1 control panel!! As a result, some patches that I have always wanted to boost the volume past the max VCA Level, I was now able to do!!

Using the Control Freak to quickly edit patches, I created some wicked phatt sounds on this thing using saw, pulse & square waveforms, unison mode, osc detuning, flanging from the twin digital delays, and sync mode on. I mean TRULY wicked phatt, we're talking Prophet 5 and OBXa dirty gritty analog warmth! What an awesome filter on this mutha. Don't underestimate the power of the beast!

Overal rating for ease of use: 10, using the Kentron Control Freak!

Oops, my mistake (below...), the DSS-1 manual DOES in fact have the MIDI spec published in the back pages (I just got an original copy of the manual). Apparently the person who made the spiral-bound Xerox'd copy I was using failed to copy those particluar pages. How nice.

On 10/12/2002 Sa?o Podobnik wrote:
...the DSS-1 doesn't receive sysex or MIDI controllers and a patch editor would therefore be of no use. The only external software that can be used with the DSS is Turtle Beach's Sample Vision which helps you import and export samples...

---> NOT TRUE <---

The DSS1 *does* support Midi parameter control and patch bank sysex, it's just that Korg completely failed to publish the machine's Midi specs in the back of the manual; hence there has been scant third-party support for this synth over the years.

However, MidiQuest supports the DSS1 and has quite a nice parameter editing and multisample editing interface. But this software also supports some 500 other synths and samplers, and you pay accordingly for it ($200). As a consolation, you can get UniQuest for half the price and it will only support one synth.

But here's good news: I just saved $149 by switching to Geico... just kidding... You can still use the demo version of MidiQuest to edit patches and then save them via the DSS1 control panel (the demo version won't let you save complete patch banks to hard disk). And multisample editing is disabled. That's not bad though, you still get to use a nice Windows interface to edit your DSS1 patches!

Allthough the presets were very attractive when I first obtained this beast back in 1988, I later found that editing could be quite difficult which goes back to the manual - Whoever did the translation from Japanese to English did a terrible job. Back then we didn't have the luxury of the internet to exchange info with other users (sold mine in '92)

16 note polyphony if I remember correctly. Sampling rate was outstanding in its time. Could still pass by today's standards.

I felt the sampled instruments were very realistic. I played a lot of Rock and got a hold of some good sample disks of the older vintage synths. It responded very well to aftertouch

Dependibility would rank an 8. Mine went out on me on a summer gig while out in the sun. Found shade and restarted it and it fired right back up. Using it on a gig would rank a 6. The loading of disks was a pain in the ass.

Haven't bought a Korg since 1988 (DSS-1 was the last). Does that answer your question? This also makes me nervous because I'm considering picking up the CX-3 this weekend. Just started reading the manual on that unit. Hopefully Korg has made a turnaround in this respect in the last decade.

This unit had some good sounds on it and after figuring out the editing through some educated guesswork based on their shitty manual I did get the thing going good enough for my own performance. If I had to do it all over again I would have bought the M1 instead...mainly because I went through this stage of being a programmer and perfector of sampling. I got so far into that end of synthesizers that my playing began to take a back seat. However I would say that this was a good studio unit. It just wasn't very gig-friendly. On a final note I had a "reunion" with this unit not long ago - saw one for sale in a local music store. I had the manager plug it in for me for old time's sake.

Don't knock the DSS1, it's a monster. Just the VCF alone on this thing justifies its worth (Sound-On-Sound Magazine said "a resonant filter sweep from the DSS1 can put all but the mightiest analog synths to shame" - guess what, they're right!). Sure it's huge and heavy for what it does compared to modern synths, but go back in time to 1986 and try to combine analog & digital synthesis with sampling into one instrument, and you end up with this.

Some really wild sounds can be generated using the advanced detuning features, much better than on its little brother the DW8000. You can detune all 16 oscillators against each other in unison mode (instead of just 8 against 8 on the DW8000) for some really phat sounds. One of the custom-made disks I found on a web site included a patch called "Matrix-12" and my god it sounded just like one - the phattest strings I ever heard in my life, made possible by the pulse-width modulation samples on the Korg factory disks in place of actual analog PWM waveforms, but the detuning features and analog filter really bring them to life.

Very aggressive nasal sounding leads, plush strings, warm brassy pads, ability to self-oscillate: all of the great sounds you can get from a classic analog synth, it's all possible here. Plus the ability to sound like a DX7 with the inclusion of additive harmonic synthesis, ability to draw your own waveform with the data slider (technique introduced on the Synclavier, though it's a rather crude representation here, but it works), and ability play back raw samples with light envelope treatments, like on the Mirage! This I already say that this synth is a Monster? This synth is a Monster!

Mine hasn't given me a problem since buying it 2nd-hand on eBay. I heard the disk drives can go, so I'll give it a lower rating in this section. Also it can be annoying that all memory is volatile and must be stored to disk before you shut the unit off, or all your changes will be lost. At least the operating system doesn't have to load from disk (like on the Mirage). So when you power it up, you can at least do something with it if you have no factory disks, like make your own samples or draw your own waveforms and apply filtering and treatments to them. But you better at least have a blank unformatted 720K floppy to save your work.

Never dealt with Korg and never needed customer support. They are going for a tenth of their original asking price (or less!); if you see one for $250 or less, grab it!

7 only because of the sample mapping and loading procedure. It's easier to book a floght on the space shuttle than it is to get a final good sample from scratch.

For the time it was very good. 12 bit sampling,16 voices, very decent filters(no reverb had 2 DDLs) You could use the Harmonic synthesis feature to emulate the drawbars on a hammond b-3! See keyboard mag. from the late 80's. 1234810 14 16 stops in that mode or somehting like that gave you a decent organ sound. This thing could make almost any sound known to man. Onlt thing that stopped was the limited memory. You could get 1,2 or 4 meg ram scsi but paid a heavenly price. extra $400 for 4 meg. if you love to tweak and save space than it won't bother you. 1 long sample and many smmall ones are the only way to fly. no sequencer!!! Took about 30 seconds to load a disk. Noisy little sucker. Motorola drive. (excuse me)

keyboard responds to aftertouch and had a decent synth feel. Sounds made by third partys were often depended upon but were scarce. Factory sounds ok. RAW when you need it. GRRRRRRR!!!!! and round when you need it.

Built like an M1...Tank. You could launch this thing at Iraq and it would still play after it landed. very heavy.

korg fixed a small problem under warranty and got it back working perfectly.

Sold it along with my kurzweil EX-1000 to buy a korg 01/w pro-x. still wish to this day that i should have kept it around. With my DX-7 sample and Kurz strings layer that i tweaked (all internal memory samples) people could not believe the sound quality and ambience. I plan on getting another one some day. I miss it tremendously. This keyboard was THE MOST undersupported keyboard of the 80's. Everything back then was either the D-50, M1 or DX-7. Very little 3rd party support. The ones that did make it, made this thing shine but this board was a sleeper and Korg dropped the ball BIG TIME by not implementing affordable upgrades. If they would have, it would be right next to any of the 'monster vintage' synths of the 80's.

The DSS-1 looks more intimidating than it actually is - everything you can do with it is neatly silkscreened on the chassis with additional instructions on the backlit LCD. This is very fortunate because the DSS-1 doesn't receive sysex or MIDI controllers and a patch editor would therefore be of no use. The only external software that can be used with the DSS is Turtle Beach's Sample Vision which helps you import and export samples.

The factory manual is a waste of paper, in my opinion. It does a great job of DESCRIBING various features of the DSS-1 but it doesn't explain a single thing. Apparently, Korg assumed that people who bought a machine that cost $2600 in 1986 didn't know what a disk drive is, and preferred to read printouts of the LCD in the manual instead of the LCD itself when working with the machine. I heard that third party manuals are excellent, but I managed rather well even without them.

The DSS-1 is 16-note polyphonic, but isn't multitimbral in the true sense of the word. What I mean is that you can assign different samples to different parts of keyboard and they can be played together, but this doesn't count as multitimbrality. Sampling rate is 48 kHz (which doesn't help you much with 12 bit converter resolution) and I never got satisfactory results. Samples may be imported and exported via MIDI sample dump, which enables you to bypass the noisy converter and simply load converted professionally sampled sounds into the DSS.

One of my biggest complaints about the DSS-1 is that the contents of the internal memory cannot be retained after the power has been shut down. You have to save and load everything every time, and it may take rather a long time for all 374 kB - this is how much data the internal memory can hold. There is no sequencer, which makes the DSS-1 even more useless on stage - the major obstacle are, of course, its size and weight, which are understandable for a 1986 machine of such capabilities, but extremely inconvenient nonetheless. The thing is EXTREMELY big, don't let the pictures fool you. For instance, the DSS was bigger and heavier than my Yamaha DX7 IN ITS ROADCASE!

The keyboard action is solid, perhaps even a bit too solid and "clunky" for fast solos. Velocity and aftertouch reponse is nice, much better than Roland gear of the same period, and while you can control how much sound parameters are affected by velocity and aftertouch, the two features themselves are not scaleable.

The DSS-1 is an instrument of many characters, depending on how you use it. If you never progress beyond the decent factory sample disks containing your staple pianos, brasses and strings (including a few fantastic orchestra hits which I used most often by far - e-mail me at sartre@siol.net to hear the results), you'd be better of using a ROMpler as the inconvenience of having to load the sounds every thime anew outweighs their quality. On the other hand, if you're a sampling head, you may be disappointed by DSS-1's capabilities in this field. Sampling times are short, and text-only LCD isn't very helpful when samples need to be edited and/or processed.

You're likely to get most satisfaction out of the DSS-1 by using it as a synth with unique synthesis capabilities. The fact that the DSS-1 treats any sound as an oscillator allows you to make very original sounds - not effortlessly, but worth the bother if you're into that sort of thing. The analogue filters are reminiscent of Korg's classic synths of the early 1980's and can, when used on waveforms, augment the sound really nicely (filtering samples of real instruments won't get you far as they're not nearly as rich in harmonics).

Contrary to some DSS-1 users' experiences, mine performed flawlessly over the six months that I had it, including the disk drive. The construction feels solid and I'd even go as far as to say that the DSS-1 marks a new period in build quality of Korg instruments (just compare the Poly-800 and the DSS-1, and they're only two years apart). I even heard a story of a guy in Croatia whose DSS-1 was rained on. Apparently, the guy just opened the synth up, took everything apart, dried the components up with a hair dryer and everything still worked when he re-assembled it, which, if true, is pretty fascinating.

I sought no customer support, and I wouldn't count on it, either.

I sold my DSS-1 this morning and the first thing I noticed was just how much space I freed up this way. I wasn't particularly sorry to see it go, even though it wasn't a bad keyboard. Apart from the orchestra hits, I was using it as a master keyboard and now that Yamaha DX7 took over, I really didn't need it anymore. I have enough analogue gear (Roland MKS-30, Oberheim Matrix-1000, Waldorf Pulse) not to miss DSS-1's filters and whenever I feel a craving for something raw and metallic, I'll reach for the DX7...and this whole setup is probably still lighter and more convenient to lug around than just the DSS-1.

I had this synthersizer for half a year, and I don't want it back !!!

It's old fashion, uses 60 secconds to read a floppy disk, and has NO internal memory! All the futures of this instrument is better at other instruments... And it's size HUGE !!! You need a LOT of space!

For sure this was number 1 when it came, but that is 17 years ago (my synth. was a -85 model...)

I did NEVER think i would see this crap again, but I saw it to day at some internet auction home in Norway with a link to this discussion fora...

I had this synthersizer for half a year, and I don't want it back !!!

It's old fashion, uses 60 secconds to read a floppy disk, and has NO internal memory! All the futures of this instrument is better at other instruments... And it's size HUGE !!! You need a LOT of space!

For sure this was number 1 when it came, but that is 17 years ago (my synth. was a -85 model...)

I did NEVER think i would see this crap again, but I saw it to day at some internet auction home in Norway with a link to this discussion fora...

I had this synthersizer for half a year, and I don't want it back !!!

It's old fashion, uses 60 secconds to read a floppy disk, and has NO internal memory! All the futures of this instrument is better at other instruments... And it's size HUGE !!! You need a LOT of space!

For sure this was number 1 when it came, but that is 17 years ago (my synth. was a -85 model...)

I did NEVER think i would see this crap again, but I saw it to day at some internet auction home in Norway with a link to this discussion fora...

I had this synthersizer for half a year, and I don't want it back !!!

It's old fashion, uses 60 secconds to read a floppy disk, and has NO internal memory! All the futures of this instrument is better at other instruments... And it's size HUGE !!! You need a LOT of space!

For sure this was number 1 when it came, but that is 17 years ago (my synth. was a -85 model...)

I did NEVER think i would see this crap again, but I saw it to day at some internet auction home in Norway with a link to this discussion fora...

I must agree with the previous reviewers. This machine is NOT very hard to use, if you bother to take the time. You have all the information you need printed on the chassi itself, easily accessible.

If you want a flexible sampler I would have to give the DSS-1 a clear 1. However if you want a digital/analogue hybrid with arbitrary waveforms, additive synthesis, a very nice 12/24dB analogue filter and an analogue VCA. On top of that you get two, very varm sounding digital delays. Polyphone is ok considering it is monotimbral.

It's evil... Raw electronic sounds is what it is made for :)

I have mine in a studio enviroment and I haven't had any problems with it... In a live situation? I don't know.. I doubt the that anyone would want to carry this beast around.

There are places online where you can get a replacement disk drive, but apart from that? I have no high hopes... It's old...

Get it if you have room for it..

People complain about ease of use ? this thing is so incredibly simple. Its like your basic synth. The multi sounds are a little anoying to get the hang of but the draw waveform/synth functions are easy

Its OK-- sampling is sampling. I made full hip hop beats off of this thing. oh yea --- I am Looking for a power cable for my DSS-1 !!!! please help me -- the other cords that fit dont work --like for the juno 106. my Email is drewcampbell79@hotmail.com 12/2/01

The DSS-1 only makes one sound. but the sound that it makes it is RAW. its one of those trance noises that is so detuned that it doesnt tune with any other instrument ya !!

Its pretty good I dunno ... Ive had it for 10 years and I havent had any problems except I lost the cord and it doesnt work with any other cord....... help me I need one --- my email is drewcampbell79@hotmail.com

Corporations. Cant live with them . Cant live without them.

I LOVE MY DSS - 1

I don't know why people keep complaining that this box is so hard to use. Even without the manual, I've managed to make this thing jump through flaming hoops in just the short amount of time I've onwed it (about a week). Like any synth, it will take time and experimentation to get the hang of, and with the right background knowledge, one can make true, productive use of it in a short amount of time.

It's not polyphonic, has no expansion capability, and has no form of sequencer. With that said, this synth is rather well put together. The digital delay lines are not only useful, but extremely versatile. Also, the options concerning keypressure and velocity are truly staggering...

One of the oft-noted shortcomings of this synth is its inability to emulate real instruments. To say such a thing does not give it due credit... very few synths can truly imitate/emulate a real instrument. This one is no exception. Beyond that, however, are vast, unexplored regions of synthetic sounds, veritable landscapes of unexplored and totally unrealistic audio. Harsh or subtle, dashing or eerie, this huge black box has a place among the demigods of its time, and all times before and after.

I haven't had mine for long, so I suppose commenting on its reliability would be quite presumptuous. One thing I can say is that the disk drive doesn't seem that bad. Sure, it could theoretically be faster, but the excruciating limits of my load times have still been under a minute. Perhaps I'm just lucky, or haven't come across the right sound bank yet. Would I use it in a gig without a backup? Hell yes. Its heavy body is comprised largely of metal, which is both a blessing as well as a curse. It'll make your back hurt when you're moving, but dropping it isn't so much of an issue.

Don't bother contacting Korg about -anything- concerning this machine. The familiar story of being transferred through endless legions of know-nothing morons applies here, too. Even after living through that, the best you'll get is the advice 'sell it and buy one of THESE-- they're new!' When questioned about a manual, they simply told me that no such thing existed, not even through third parties. Yeah, right. Thanks, Korg.

Were it stolen, I would admire the strength of the theif who was able to run off with it. Then,I would go buy another off of eBay. It's a good synth, and with a bit of time and effort, it can be great. The sound is outstandingly unique, and is often best-suited towards generating very aggressive, gnashy sounds. Its ability to be gentle is also worth note, forming liquid pads and very unique soundscapes with ease, and it is for those reasons that I love it.
I wish it was polyphonic; I also wish its sampler was better, and an onboard sequencer would be lovely. -Then- it would be a very dangerous, very large black box. My music has grown by leaps and bounds since its arrival.
When combined with my Roland vs840-ex multitrack recording deck/fx box, it sounds like god incarnated.
As for me, I've been toying with music since I was fourteen years old, but only got serious with it two or three years later. I am nineteen years old now.
Anything else... oh, the net resources for this synth, such as the CopyQM program and libraries of sample disks, are a nice plus.

I have a large selection of disc's but pretty much use the piano/organ
selection sounds which work well. It takes a while to load and is not feasable to change from disc to disc in a live situation. I have the manual and the schematic's and have tried to understand but I'm too impatient.

I am used to organ type of action so all of the five keyboards that I own have that same type. I do not get into midi that much except for a rack mount eight channel midi control center that can change the patches on the three keyboards I use the most (DSS-1,older Korg digital piano and a Yamaha CSX-1)

I like the grand piano #1, organ #25, Piano/organ #11 and a few more but I think you would need many-many keyboards to satisfy all the realistic sounds you could want. Like I said Sounds work OK for me. I play variety of stuff; classic rock, blues, country and I use a
Korg G-4 rotary pedal so that helps on the organ sounds.

Like the other reviews i've read here my floppy went out also, I own two DSS-1's (one for parts) But the floppy in the second one would not work either. I thought I could go down to the local computer store and replace it WRONG! Korg said discontinued or way too much money I forget which. But not giving up easily I opened the drive up and cleaned every thing inside and the brass (heads?)put the drive back in and it has been working now for the past two years with and without a backup. If anyone has a drive replacement idea let me know.

Just trying to find a replacement drive I got a bit of a runaround from phone # to phone # to another company that was supposed to deal in the disc drive.

The DSS-1 is quite the antique now I would probably buy something else. Guitar and keys about hmm.. a long time. I own two Hammond's some Leslie things and the Yamaha and Korg piano I mentioned above. I'll be honest I work in a pawn shop and get most all of my equiptment from there. I was using a Poly 61 and this was a big step up. And I like to buy cheap!

Well I've got the manual, and really only use it for synthesis, so I find it's OS and layout excellent for general synth work. I used to use it to sample, but it really isn't worth it: editing by numbers, tiny screen. Not fun at all.

If you're talking about buying this as a sampler then forget it. But it's got this bizarre thin VCF (and it IS a VCF) that sounds really creepy and nasty (in a good way). It's also the biggest synth ever and weighs a tonne.
Effects: two delays.
Basic synth polyphony: 8
Expansion: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
MIDI: I suppose, but not too much
keyboard Action: Nuts

The Korg Samples: I never touch them.
Generally I use the "Draw Waveform" function to make a new wave shape and then use it like a normal synth. It's got a lot of bass, but not in a really analog way.......Pads are Good, strange noises are good, modulation is OK. If you like cheap Poly Synths and already have a Roland and some other stuff then try it out. It does sound great, but not as a sampler or somebody's only synth.

It's been broke for about a year. The Floppy went, and now it just doesn't know what to do when it starts up. And I know someone else in the same boat. Reliable my Fat Ass.......

Thanks Korg............

If you can get one cheap and already have a bunch of synths it's great!!!!!!!! Just don't sample with it or try and lift it up. And it'll probably break eventually. Beautiful synth though......I genuinely love it, and whilst it was working Ialways wanted to track down the rack version as well (no lifting and SCSI I think!!!!)

What else do I run?? :Minimoog, Micromoog, Juno 6, JX3P, Yamaha CS-5, AN1X, S3000XL, SC SixTrac, Vox Continental, Roland SC-50, Yamaha TX-81Z, Roland D-110, Alesis DM-5, G4, Pod, etc etc

You have to do a lot of experimentation to find out what the manual is trying to say.

The keys are pressure and velocity seneitive, but also very lightweight, making it awkward to play if you're used to a piano feel. I'm currently looking around for the best way to use it's MIDI capabilities. Any suggestions?

The piano sounds sound fake. If you know how to tweak the parameters, you can get some great organ and electronic sounds.

The disk drive in mine is dying. It can read but not record disks. Currently looking for a replacement drive.

I went to the Korg website and did a search for dss-1 but came up with nothing. They seem much more excited about promoting their new stuff than supporting their old products

It was definitely worth what I paid, and with the same $250 I probably would do it over again. I love the organ sounds, hate the piano ones, dislike that the disk drive is dying, and wish I knew the best way to use its MIDI functions.