Trend price : 150-250€
A huge digital/analog hybrid sampler with some basic synthesis functions. It looks like a bit like the synthesizer Korg DW-8000 but on steroids, in fact the DSS-1 is one of the most underrated sampler ever boasting 16 digital oscillators with analog filters. The rackmount version is the DSM-1 with some updates but alo many drawbacks.
Company: Korg
Model: DSS-1
Class: keyboard sampler
Country: JAPAN
Weight: 18,5 Kg
Dimensions: 1171 (w) x 436 (h) x 123 (d) mm
keyboard: 61 keys
Display: 2 x 20 LCD
Dates: 1986
Resolution: 12 bits
S. rate: 16->48 kHz
Polyphony: 8 voices
Multitimbric: 1 part
Filter: lowpass analog
Envelope: 2 EGs
LFO: 2 modulators
Effect: digital delay
Memory: 256 kb
Storage: DD disk
CPU: I 8085
Demo: 1
Video: 1
Review: 1
DOWNLOAD: user manual -service manual -
Overview
KEYBOARD 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch.
The main panel features a 2 x2 0 LCD backlit display with contrast trimmer, 4 sliders, 25 buttons, a disk drive and a joystick lever for both modulation and bending functions.
Rear panel terminal connectors:
-
main signal output
- sampling signal in MONO
- Midi interface
- headphones
-
pedalswitch damper input
- pedalswitch "program up" input
Voice
main core based on 8 bits CPU Intel 8085 manages 8 voices polyphony, 2 syncable oscillators per voice (for a total of 16 oscillators) + a white noise generator with variable gain mix.
Each OSC has the following parameter:
- mix balancing between osc1 and osc2
- octave set at 4' / 8' / 16'
- pitch detune amount
-
adjustable semitones interval
- amount of unison detune
(must be set in mono mode)
Syntheses
DSS1 features 3 kind of syntheses:
- sampling
- digital creation of cycled waves
- additive harmonic synthesis
Sampling
engine samples at 12 bits, it can record from 16 to 48 kHz.
Once sampled there are a couple of standard functions such as : reverse, merge, chain samples (LINK) truncate, loop, crossfade, copy and zone assign (up to 30 samples can be mapped).
Wavedrawing and Additive
it is possible to "draw" a waveform moving the the slider during a time of 4096 step or defines y additive process 128 sinewave harmonics with adjustable level.
Performance
system is monotimbric with some special features:
- mono unison : 2/4/6/8 voice can be stacked with detune option. Quite fat, but sadly there is no portamento and even if you stack only 4 voices it will result monophonic in any cases
- 2 polymodes: like old analog, voice rotate or restart from first
- aftertouch can be assigned to LFO, cutoff and VCA
- adjustable pitch bend range
- treble and bass EQ
- key transpose
- velocity switch threshold (plays osc1 or osc2 according to velocity)
Envelope
2 EGs based on VCA each with 4 segments + 2 times:
- EG1 amplitude
- EG2 filter cutoff
(bipolar)
Filter
resonant lowpass analog filter based on 8 chips NJM-2069 (same found on Korg Poly 800 ) at -12 or -24 d/B slopes.
LFO
2 triangle-shaped delayed modulators called "MG" (modulation generator) and 3 destinations:
- pitch (OSC1 / OSC2 / both)
-
filter cutoff
- modulation for delay effect
Effect
2 internal digital delays (up to 500ms) that can be routed in parallel (stereo) or serial mode
Memory
- 256 Kb internal sample memory
-
32 slots for sound patch programs
-
16 multi-sounds.
Review
OK: sound / filter / cheap
NOT : bulky / limited / storage / edit
"THAT's a sampler! now you can buy it for peanuts and lot less than an Emulator II! The Dss1 is great for synth sounds mainly for the resonant filter and 12 bits combinations. Of course it is bulky, tedious to edit, and obsolete as "standard" sampler". Totally underrated, a true beast !"
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci
