Take a closer look at Korg's DS-10

by David Hinkle { Apr 7th 2008 at 1:30PM }

To say we're interested in the upcoming DS-10 from Korg would be an incredible understatement. We're dying from a disease that only the DS-10 can cure! So imagine how pleased we were to receive this dose of video goodness above, where some of the features of the DS-10 are shown.

Are you all as psyched for this as we are? Will you be picking it up when it releases?

[Thanks, Frastoglegnia!]

Tags: aq-interactive, ds-10, korg, music, synthesizer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Waffala @ Apr 7th 2008 3:17PM

This is going to be awesome, and incredibly confusing to learn, but well worth it.

LordFu @ Apr 7th 2008 3:43PM

That looks even cooler than I expected. Wow.

asuma08 @ Apr 7th 2008 4:08PM

This is awesome. A definite must-buy for me.

therpham @ Apr 7th 2008 4:40PM

Two words: DO WANT.

Chris.- @ Apr 7th 2008 5:38PM

I think its a pretty good idea, but i'd rather stick to my other sequencing apps : ) i do sequencing and arranging with synths like that, but if you really wanna get into that stuff, bu y reason or fl studio ; )
anyway, i'll buy it if it sounds uber good (which i doubt).

aliquis @ Apr 7th 2008 6:34PM

The bad thing about this is that it got me looking into real synths, and later into keyboards, and later stuff like the Novation SL 37/61, SL 25/49 compact, Akai MPK49 instead of cheaper stuff like the M-Audio Axiom 49.

I will get poor, and I can't even play ;D

Wambam @ Apr 7th 2008 10:45PM

Too funny aliquis! That's exactly what happened to me. First I started with the DS-10 announcement, the next thing I suddenly own a Kaossilator, and now I've got an order on an Akai MPK49. This shit has basically stopped me from gaming! lol

foosnark @ Apr 8th 2008 3:41PM

You fell into Korg's trap!

I already have a bunch of electronic music gear, so this will just be one more thing, cheaper than most... :)

aliquis @ Apr 7th 2008 6:34PM

Thought stuff like this make you want to learn how to play, but I probably never will, atleast nowhere near this extent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6w7_bxWNM

xaos @ Apr 7th 2008 8:08PM

What was that cable he had linked from the DS to the laptop beside it? Will that be included so we can export any files we create? I sure hope so.

Thomas @ Apr 8th 2008 12:25AM

No, that's just an audio adapter. He says in the video that it can't export music. You have to playback on the DS and record from the headphone jack.

Frastoglegnia @ Apr 8th 2008 10:10AM

I believe that was a stereo-miniplug-to-L-R-quarter-inch Y adapter; if not, then the L-R outs were RCAs.

Both the Korg/AQI DS-10 blog and the guy demoing the DS-10 at Frankfurt were careful to say it doesn't have MIDI. That guy was implying we should record the stereo signal of the DS-10, snap it to a grid with a good sequencer and play to it. The downside is that you won't be able to revise or change the sequences in the recording, which will probably lead to tedious compromises, such as running the same sequence six times with each instrument solo'd and then reassembling and re-syncing the tracks in your sequencer (usually Ableton Live, Performer, Logic, Cubase or Pro Tools). Unless you want to go on destroying the total output with more processing, in which case, the Native Instruments suite will be useful, and you needn't worry about independent voices.

xaos @ Apr 8th 2008 9:09PM

Sweet, good info thanks. And yeah guess I'll have to dig through and see if I have any adapters like that or buy one and export through the headphone jack in through my computers soundcard and then I can do more complex layering and export with another program. Im not an audio/sound pro but I love to mess around with FL Studio and Adobe Soundbooth and things of that nature so Im sure it will be awesome, cant wait!

Frastoglegnia @ Apr 8th 2008 6:21AM

I've written to the DS Blogger and warned that people are going to be upset about the lack of MIDI -- particularly since MIDI wifi is already a reality for homebrew users. I can only imagine that limitation was the work of the people who adapted Korg's work for the DS-10, as Korg themselves wouldn't leave that out.

On the shiny side, did you notice how much more full and complex the DS-10 sounds in this vid than it did in the last? Did you notice it's set up almost exactly like Korg's high-end workstations down to the filter sections, patch bay and virtual mini-keyb for sequencing? And did you notice -- Wambam, I'm talking to you! -- there's a mode that makes the touch screen a Kaoss pad?!

If multiplayers can sync via wifi, then perhaps there will be a hack for transfering data later. If that happens, I'll buy the retail DS-10 but use a hacked homebrew copy with my rig.

Also: I expect Korg/AQI to sell the bejasus out of the DS-10 and then, a year later, release a special MIDI edition. Few of us will be able to wait that long.

I also want to know if all of the effects we're hearing in that vid come from the DS-10 dry or whether it was going through external effects. If the DS-10 was processed, it might be time for me to buy a mini-KP.