DS, Korg DS-10's formant synthesis used to create Daft Punk vocals, general awesomeness

You know, sometimes at Engadget, we feel compelled to cover a story not because it's particularly new, or newsy, or relevant to the topics of the day. Sometimes, you just have to cover something because it's amazingly cool. Enter this completely awesome video from the musician Denkitribe, wherein the DS, Korg DS-10 software, the software's formant synthesis, and the natural talents of said musician are used to replicate the vocals from Daft Punk's hit "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." There's not much we can put in text which this doesn't lay out in song. Check the whole thing after the break... you'll thank us later.

[Via Technabob]

[prevenge Posted Sep 27th 2009 3:55AM]

You haven't actually used the iPod's synthesizers, have you? Because they exist, and, uh, they actually don't suck.
Case in point: iSyn, which you can read about on their website here: http://www.isynapp.com/
I mean, much love to the DS-10 and whatnot [though I really like my Micron and, tbh, can't stand the portable synths - something I learned with experience], but to say that the iPod just has garbage is plain wrong.

[grandmainger Posted Sep 27th 2009 3:25AM]

???

Have you even tried the iDaft iPhone app? "the ds korg is a fully functional drum machine and sequencer", sure, but in terms of reproducing the original DaftPunk track, the iPhone app is brilliant as it includes both original sound effects, and original melody, provided by Daft Punk themselves. It's not a matter of one is better than other, they don't do the same things. Stop bitching.

But that's beside the point, this is not about the iPhone app.

For those here who have not seen it/them yet, make sure you search youtube for 'daft hands', and then 'daft bodies'. Very impressive too, especially when the tempo picks up :)

GM

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 27th 2009 4:34PM]

Germain, the iPhone app (although I've never used it) sounds from your description to be sample-based. You obviously don't know much about electronic music. Anybody could make an app that plays little embedded audio clips. This guy reproduced the tones using (limited) synthesis...you know, real talent!

[grandmainger Posted Sep 27th 2009 10:06AM]

I see. I fail to get as excited by this as I do by the sampling app, but, fair enough.

[whormongr Posted Sep 27th 2009 2:29PM]

I want to criticize the iphone apps but seriously, apps like 8bitone makes me want to get one- well at least an ipod touch I don't want to switch my phone

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 3rd 2009 7:07AM]

This is so win! :P

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 27th 2009 2:23AM]

Stanley:
Get and iPhone open the app store, go to search, type synth and educate yourself

[Wwhat Posted Sep 27th 2009 12:19PM]

Or, if you already have an iphone, get your iphone throw it in the nearest river and free yourself.

[XIYL Posted Sep 27th 2009 2:54AM]

I'm so confused. These comments make no sense without Google. I know they c&d'd cyanogen but that's not what this article is about.

[Murkurie Posted Sep 27th 2009 9:19AM]

he was a troll promoting his website

[yoko1324 Posted Sep 27th 2009 3:35AM]

This is really cool! Thanks for posting this Engadget!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 27th 2009 7:32AM]

Really cool :)

[dwallin33 Posted Sep 27th 2009 9:16AM]

If you're looking for something like the DS-10 on the iPhone, check out bleep!BOX

[Michael Leung Posted Sep 27th 2009 9:35AM]

Sheer genius.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 27th 2009 10:09AM]

Nice to have some dialogue. First off, Iphone synthesizers..."You haven't actually used the iPod's synthesizers, have you?"-Sam. Dude, I have isyn on my ipod touch, player (and i'll concede, the drum pad is pretty usable but). Unlike most, i buy the product and use it and then talk about its flaws in the hopes that people stop settling for so little (play madden on a iphone then a ds)...That and daft punk's app (apples and oranges indeed, Germain... next to the korg ds-10, they're a joke (see 'themovielife's' very educated and insightful comment on embedded audio clips)...Germain is right, this is not about iphones which was my main complaint (and not even about the stupid daft punk song. and yes, isyn is decent but the post isn't about some kid making something on an iphone, its a ds post) this is on the brilliance of some kid making that song (ON A DS), and voice tones from scratch (for those of you who dont' know, when you turn on a ds-10 it gives you NOTHING. no embedded clips, no voice samples, the dude tweaked it himself so huuuuge props. if more people would start learning how to do real DIY instead of buying programs which do all the dirty work for you (see daft punk app) then tech would grow exponentially. Germain, get that four dollar starbucks coffee you buy and unbutton one of those buttons of your collared tucked in shirt and chill out, boo. And give us the url to your youtube video where youre dancing around to that idiotic song in your ikea living room. We'd all like to see it...

[KrazyCalvin Posted Sep 27th 2009 9:27PM]

My tmobile G1 had a Daft punk soundboard that only had the stuff from this song... i was wanting

Around the world, Around the world!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2009 9:40AM]

Except there's no such thing as "formant synthesis" on the DS-10. This guy has merely been damn clever programming and automating individual analog synth patches. You're not giving him nearly enough credit.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2009 2:53PM]

woooooooooooo!!!!!! freaking amazing... I'll buy a DS just to play HBFS over and over....