TECH main core based on 8 bits CPU HD64180 manages 16 voices polyphony, each voice is composed by 1 digital oscillators with an assigned sampled or digitally generated sound.
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DSM1 features 2 kind of syntheses:
- sampling at 12 bits resolution
- additive harmonic synthesis |
SAMPLING the DSM engine samples at 12 bits and 4 fixed frequencies (check table below), once sampled there are some standard sample edit functions such as : reverse, merge, chain samples (LINK) truncate, loop, crossfade, copy and zone assign (up to 30 samples can be mapped).
Frequency |
Transpose limit |
Sampling time (seconds) |
16 kHz |
24 semitones up |
16 |
24 kHz |
17 semitones up |
11 |
32 kHz |
12 semitones up |
8 |
48 kHz |
05 semitones up |
5.5 |
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ADDITIVE is a non real-time process based on 128 sinewave harmonics with adjustable level. This process also includes 17 preset shapes: square, sawtooth (x3) , organ, metal, sax, synthesizer, bass, sinewave, EP (x2). TIP: Created waves can be saved as normal samples.
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HEAR generated cycled wave |
MEMORY the internal sample non-expandable memory is 1 megabyte + 32 slots for sound patch programs and 32 multi-sounds. Sounds and samples can be stored to primitive 1,44 Mb floppy drive but it is possible to install a more modern USB emulator disk (like HxC).
PERFORMANCE unit manages up to 4 parts some special features
- Midi channel assign
- semitones shift
- keyboard zone
- allocated voices
- poly or mono mode
- part volume
- part tuning
- up to 16 split points
- multimode layer: 2 x layer / split 2 / split 4 / single / multi
- trigger input: sets a threshold to playback a sample.
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FILTER resonant lowpass analog filter based on 8 X chips NJM-2069 (same found on Korg Poly 800 but not paraphonic of course) at -12 or -24 d/B slopes. Proportional Keyboard tracking function is implement into the VCF section.
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HEAR filter resonance |
LFO 2 triangle-shaped delayed modulators "MG" (Modulation Generator).
The modulators are retriggered at each note press, relative frequency is quantized into 32 values with variable depth amount. LFo Destinations are:
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- pitch (OSC1 / OSC2 / both)
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filter cutoff
- modulation for delay effect
HEAR LFO |
ENVELOPE 2 EGs based on VCA each with 4 segments + 2 times:
- EG1 amplitude
- EG2 filter cutoff (bipolar)
DSS1 features also a bipolar AUTOBEND function for the pitch on a range of time + 2 slimmed-down EGs for the VCF/VCA touch sensibility.
DSM1 MAINTENANCE & MODIFICATION
Common issues are:
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- backlight LCD
- faulty Shugart fromat - Personally I always managed to clean the drive head with success, or it is possible to install a more modern USB emulator disk (like HxC).
- other common upgrades : for a short period, a third-part company by Tom Virostek released an upgrade kit with new board, faster CPU, more memory and SCSI option.
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EDITORS there are some free and commercial computer-based editors:
- SpazTech for Korg DSM-1 (old MAC, FREE) PIC
- Digidesign Turbosynth (Atari ST) PIC
- Turtle Beach samplevision (for old PC ->no more available) PIC
- Midiquest (PC/MAC, commercial) PIC
- Clyphx (Ableton script)
- Edit DSS (Atari ST, no more available) PIC
- Softynth Digidesign (Atari ST, no more available) PIC
- VSTizer DSS-1 (plugin, commercial)
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RELATED FAMILY:KORG DSS-1 more or less the keyboard version with some differences:
DSM1 VS DSS1:
- DSM1 has HD disk1,6 mb VS DD 880kb
- DSM1 has more RAM (4 times more )
- DSM1 has more 15 analog outs
- DSM1 has no OSC sync (ouch!)
- DSM1 has only 4 poles filter VS. 2/4 mode
- DSM1 ha no resonance Q (big miss!)
- DSM1 has no delay engine
- DSM1 has no "DRAW waveform" function
- DSM1 has more additive presets
- DSM1 manages 4 parts vs 1 DSS1s
- DSM1 features 1 VCF per oscillator / DSS1 1 VCF per VOICE (2 oscillators)
- DSM1 D/A resolution is fixed to 12 bits, DSS1 can be changed also to lo-fi 8/10/7/6 bits
- DSM1 has no noise generator |
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VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there is no plugin VST / reliable DSM1 samples sounds available for the moment.
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NONE |
n/a |
GALLERY: