KORG DS-10 synthesizer up for pre-order in America
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 28th 2009 6:22AM
posted Jan 28th 2009 6:22AM
[Via Joystiq]
posted Jan 28th 2009 6:22AM
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As someone who was really into the Amiga Demo scene, I can't help but want this. This and nitrotracker ftw!
You can't be serious. This is crapgadgetry.
How could you possibly expect to play songs on this piece of poo?
You realize this has been available at Amazon for a long while now right? Gamestop just decided not to pick it up at launch because of it's niche audience.
I bought it about 4 weeks ago from Amazon.
Welp, guess I have to finally get a DS now. I've held out for a long damn time but this thing here is basically leaving me no choice.
This reminds me, what ever happed to Pocket Griff for Windows Mobile?
This has most definitely been available for quite a while. I picked it up at a local GameCrazy for 39.99 back at the end of November.
Like someone else has mentioned, Gamestop just didn't carry it at launch.
well, ich have it for a few month now and i can say:
its pure awesomeness! seriously! :O
Its nice to just play around with it and you can get pretty fast pretty good results if you have some rythm. ;)
I tested this program and i own a real yamaha and let's me say this program is so damn useless.
I agree... I've had this for about 6 months now, and was very unimpressed. Was hoping to have some portable fun when on the road, as I work with Audition, FL Studio and Reason at home... but I haven't touched it again since the first 2 weeks.
Reminds me of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkp9bDGDd1w
@ Magallanes
Wow, I just wanted the demo vidoes on Amazon and am impressed. Magellanes, so you own a "real yamaha"? WTF does that mean? That's like saying you hate a skateboard because you own a real car. I have been collecting Rolands, Yamahas, Korgs, and other keyboards since I start playing in the 80s (not to mention software on my computer), but that has nothing to do with the coolness of a $30 program that allows you to sculpt sounds and sequence notes, all on a device that fits in your pocket. Wow, you own a "real yamaha."
@ smckendrick
Can you explain why you haven't used it after 2 weeks? Did you just burn out on it? Sounds like you saw the portable value of this software when you purchased it, why did you turn sour on it? $30 doesn't seem like that much money. I'd like to hear more details of why you are "unimpressed."
Is the only audio out for this going to be the speakers and headphone socket or am I missing something? Would love to get this but if it has no practical application...
Does anyone know if this will contain any improvements over the Japanese version? Seeing as the jap version was already in English, what should make me buy this over the import i already have?
As mentioned by others, this has been out for a while. In fact, my copy is in my DS right now.
Ditto, I got it off Amazon a few weeks ago. It hasn't left my DS since, it's pretty awesome.
i've had this since xmas..... my local fry's has had it on retail shelves for almost a few months....
the piano simulation software is free on meizu m8, youtube yourself about meizu piano, it is quite cool one~ (with the gorgeous screen and speaker!)
I believe the North American release date was October 15th.
it's also available at J+R in NYC. I bought it like... 3 months ago... it's not new to the states. get your facts right.
Not trying to be overly critical but this looks like it should be freeware unless this is some kind of Piano Hero type game or something but that's definitely not the impression I got from reading the blurb.
Now if only they would release the Performance Guide in English so I could actually read the damn thing.
We've had this in Canada since well before X-mas...
wowwww, i had this game for like a year to, funny thing is, even if its in japan, its also written in english, its a wonder what the fabulous world of homebrew does!!!
Those of you who think is a toy have no idea what they're talking about. I've been programming and collecting synthesizers since the mid 80s and have a collection that includes some of the greats, like my precious Arp 2600. This thing is deep. The programming method is true to a vintage Korg MS-10 but with even more possibilities. 4 drum sounds, each one created by the full synth method with all it's modulation routings and everything. The KAOS pad where you can assign the X/Y axis to almost any feature, Pulse-Width modulation, filter resonance, etc. Input via step-sequencer style grid, piano controller or KAOS pad, with the KAOS pad allowing you to select one of over a dozen scales. Gamelan anyone? No, it's not a high-end analog emulation like some piece of software that costs several hundred dollars, but I've never been sold on virtual analog competing with the real thing. You can use this on the plane though!
There are limitations. My two issues is that each pattern isn't long enough. If you want to write a melody that's longer then 4 bars you have to string two patters back to back. When I program with my MPC sequencer, I always use at least 2 measures. The other is it would be nice if there was some way, like a GBA cartridge, to sync this to MIDI. Some people criticize that it only allows 2 sounds (parts) at a time, but should respect the fact that it's emulating sequencing TWO monophonic synthesizers. And of course each synthesizer has two oscilators, so if you want some harmonies, detune the second like in the old days.
In any case, if you don't know what an LFO does, or what frequency modulation is, or what an envelope filter is, or the difference between a sine wave and a square wave, and you have no interest in learning, this program is not for you.
And it came out in late November, iirc.
I should mention that in Korg parlance, and LFO is an MG.
If you need more polyphony, you can also use the drum pads as they can be pitched - although it's very restricted since you can't change them between patterns, and (being pre-sampled in some way) they don't have the flexibility of the two 'real' voices.
So I guess technically the maximum polyphony you can get is 12 (detune the 2 oscillators to the required gap across all four drum sounds and both normal voices). And you could maybe do arpeggios as well. :)
I agree the sequencer is really where it's most limited. Not being able to make multi-bar patterns is definitely one thing, but also, it would be nice if there were a better Song feature where you could not only select patterns to play, but also record mixer moves and KAOSS on top (ie basically record what you can do live). As it is, there's that dubious trick where you can use the patch cables and a very slow oscillator in order to make your track fade up over (say) 4 repeats, but while clever, this is silly.
It would also be nice if there were some support for samples, though that would kind of take apart from the 'emulation' feel so maybe not appropriate. Data save/load via wifi or whatever would be good too...
I bought one when it came out in Japan, then I bought a second (as a gift for someone else) from the US in November or so. It's an interesting cross between a serious musical instrument (which it is) and a toy (which it is). People who are into low-fi and digital stuff should love it. (The output actually sounds pretty awesome when you put it into a system even though it's only through that crappy headphone socket - but I'm sure technically the noise level is way high, frequency range limited, etc.)
Your post says it all. A MIDI interface would make this incredible.
Agreed. You can also fool polyphony with delay, but that's only so useful.
For what it is, I think it's a great start and hope people take the idea further.
Even just using the built in mic, a real gritty sampler would be cool. A virtual SP-12, or what about a little Fairlight! My Nintendo's already a white box, and the Fairlight's one of the original light-pen driven systems.
I've never used a synthesizer, but always have loved the music from old school intros/demos from back in the day.
This seems like a great (accessible) opportunity for me to learn, does anyone have suggestions for someone like me, with a very light background in music.
I bought the American version on Amazon several months ago and have loved it. It's a nice sketch pad for when you don't have your laptop with you or don't want to take it out.
It sounds way better than I could have expected and is a complete bargain at $39.
Every instrument/sequencer etc. has limitations. I like working within the limitations of the DS-10, because you come up with ideas that wouldn't occur to you if you were at your main sequencer (like Logic).
release dates aside, this wasn't available at many stores in canada until late december 2008 due to shipping problems.
i voted up some of the technical assessments of this game because they're absolutely right. longer sequences is probably my biggest beef with it. i've found with a 1/8" headphone out you can easily record to PC if you feel like it, or use a 1/8" to 1/4" for live performance if you please, though it all depends on the other equipment you're using.
This post is - well yeah - a little bit late. I walked right into Micro Center last month and bought a DS-10 right off the shelf, in US packaging.
This came out in like, October in America. Yeah.
Gamecrazy has had this game for a while for about 34.99 new and 30 bucks used. Gamestop just sucks.
On a side note, I love how your news source is gamestop. well sourced.
Another gadget that can handle the keyboard.
This looks different from iPhone, though.
I bought this at my local game crazy months ago.
wtf?