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Excellent digital sampling keyboard from 1986. This was Roland’s version of the “Fairlight”, with the ability to hook up video monitor, control tablet and various other functions to the machine.
Here is the Korg DSS-1, an 8-voice, 16-oscillator sampler/synthesizer from the mid-1980s. This is an extremely deep machine – the editing capabilities are endless!
This was a very respectable sampler for the time, and utilized 3.5″ double side/double density floppy disks – like many of its counterparts. The internal memory of the DSS-1 can contain up to 32 patches at once, but there are four “Systems” named A, B, C and D (blocks of 32 patches each) on a disk, so one can save up to 128 patches on one diskette.
The DSS-1 features the typical Korg joystick, perfect for controlling pitch-bend, vibrato, filter modulation and other effects. Keyboard controls include velocity, aftertouch, and key transpose – all programmable. These features add a great level of expressivity to this instrument.
Like for the majority of samplers, it’s possible to assign (and split, layer etc) several individual samples to the keyboard (multi-sampling). The DSS-1 allows a maximum of 16 individual samples (although you can stretch it to 30 splitting the oscillators), and it’s possible to use any sample, at any of the available frequencies, and/or mix and match with the created ones via additive/hand drawn. Korg refers to this as a “multisound”. The DSS-1 can sample at four frequencies: 16kHz, 24kHz, 36kHz, and 48kHz.
Additionally, the DSS-1 can create new waveforms (one full cycle only – turning on the loop on/off parameter is needed to hear anything), in two ways: Additive Synthesis, and “Hand Drawn” (moving slider A to shape the waveform). There are many parameters to shape the newly created waveforms. I am including a few audio examples from both the Additive and Hand-Drawn methods below in the review.
Once a sample/multisound is created, it’s possible to edit many parameters, including very good-sounding VCF and VCA. The effects include equalizer, and two DDLs (Digital Delay Lines). These can be used in a variety of ways, often contributing greatly to the general sound of the DSS-1.
Korg DSS-1 audio demos
Additive Synthesis audio demos:
Hand Drawn audio demos:
Check out the original Korg DSS-1 Sound Library page for more audio demos from this wonderful machine.
This was my very first drum machine. It is a cute little noisemaker. Its sounds are somewhat reminiscent of the Roland TR-707, and are the typical “produced” 80s kinds of sounds.
The “A” is for “acoustic” – there’s also a DR-220E, “Electric”, with electronic, Simmons-like sounds.
Boss DR-220A audio demos
Let’s listen to the on-board demonstration song:
This demonstration song is a cleverly put together series of factory patterns. In fact, like in many other drum machines, songs are composed of series of patterns linked to each other.
And here below you can listen to the factory patterns – I recorded four measures for each pattern. I cut the .mp3 samples accurately in Sound Forge so they loop perfectly, in case you want to use them with your sequencer 🙂
The manual offers 32 more variations of these patterns, and it’s very easy to program them (and new ones) using Roland’s trademark “x0x-grid” layout. Some of these patterns are very good, and with a little compression, eq and effects will be perfect for those ’80s-inspired songs.
The “Electric Pop” is a great example of early eighties beat. The “Cuban” is downright ingenious in its programming. “Fill-in 8 Beat (2)” recalls “Rockit” by Herbie Hancock 🙂 and is a typical ’80s break.
And now for your sampling pleasures, here are the original drum samples sampled at 44.1kHz, normalized and trimmed in Sound Forge, in glorious mono directly from the drum machine. Assign them to your favorite hardware or software sampler, and you’ll have a virtual DR-220A at your disposal.
