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20-551: The DW-8000 was released shortly after Korg's previous polysynth, the DW-6000 , and built upon its predecessor's sound engine by enhancing it with velocity sensitivity, a digital delay effect, and expanded eight-voice polyphony. It also introduced 16 digital waveforms, doubling the DW-6000's eight, along with an arpeggiator, an additional key assign mode, additional modulation waveforms, and an 'auto-bend' feature. The DW-8000 features

40-563: A triangle wave , featuring a variable delay, and can modulate both the DCOs and the VCF. A modulation joystick allows for pitch bending when moved from left to right and vibrato from an additional independent LFO when moved back and forth. The Poly-61 was among the first Korg products to feature a joystick. The Poly-61 also features an arpeggiator ; a chord memory function capable of capturing up to six notes, enabling them to be played back from

60-488: A Latch function for sustaining arpeggios after releasing the keys. It can also sync to external MIDI clock signals. The DW-8000 can store 64 patches, and the optional MEX8000 memory expander allows users to access four more banks, each holding 64 patches. The EX-8000 is the rack-mounted counterpart to the DW-8000, containing all the same features, including the digital delay effect. Korg DW-6000 The Korg DW-6000

80-494: A data slider with +/— buttons for more precise parameter editing, echoing the design used on the Korg Poly-61 , Korg's first synthesizer with digital controls. The DW-6000 uses Korg's Digital Waveform Generator System (DWGS), which has sampled waveforms stored in a pair of 256 Kbit ROM chips. Eight digital waveforms are available, whose harmonic spectra are graphically represented on the front panel. A single waveform sample

100-825: A five-octave keyboard with aftertouch capabilities affecting modulation, filter, and volume, alongside 64 preset slots, a joystick, an arpeggiator, and MIDI . The front panel features two buttons for program and parameter selection, numeric keys for choosing program and parameter numbers, and a data slider with +/— buttons for more precise parameter editing, echoing the design used on the Korg Poly-61 , Korg's first synthesizer with digital controls. The DW-8000 employs Korg's Digital Waveform Generator System (DWGS), which features sampled waveforms stored across four 256 Kbit ROM chips. These waveforms range from standard synth shapes like sawtooth , square , and sine , to more complex sounds including bells, clavinets, acoustic and electric pianos, organs, guitars, and saxophones. A unique sample

120-445: A fuller monophonic sound, however, it lacks the ability to detune voices in unison mode. The DW-8000's voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) and voltage-controlled filter (VCF) are analog, which contributes to its rich sound. The VCF's resonance produces a clear whistle at high settings and a warm sound at lower pitches. Keyboard velocity and aftertouch can control volume and filter cutoff, and vibrato can be added using aftertouch . Both

140-519: A single key with accurate transposition; and a hold switch to sustain notes after the keys have been released. It can be set to monophonic mode by using the poly and hold switches together, which allows for all 12 oscillators to play a single note. The Poly-61 was not as well received as the Polysix, with criticism levelled to its push-button programming interface, the perceived lack of warmth from its digitally-controlled oscillators (DCOs) compared to

160-542: A third, fourth, minor third, or fifth. The voltage-controlled filter (VCF) includes standard controls for cutoff frequency, resonance, keyboard tracking, and envelope modulation. The settings are limited, offering a simple on/off for keyboard tracking and just eight options for resonance and envelope intensity. The audio signal path passes through a voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA), which can controlled via an ADSR envelope generator or an external CV/gate pulse. The synthesizer's low-frequency oscillator (LFO) produces

180-590: Is a six-voice polyphonic hybrid digital - analog synthesizer released in 1985. It blends digital waveforms with analog filters and amplifiers, and has a chorus effect to create a richer sound. The DW-6000 was quickly succeeded by the DW-8000 . The DW-6000 is a six-voice hybrid digital-analog synthesizer with a five-octave keyboard, memory for 64 presets, a joystick and MIDI implementation. The front panel has two buttons for program and parameter selection, numeric keys for choosing program and parameter numbers, and

200-403: Is an analog synthesizer manufactured by Korg between 1982 and 1986. It was the first affordable synthesizer to feature two oscillators per voice, and was Korg's first synthesizer to feature digitally-controlled analog oscillators (DCOs). The Poly-61 marked a significant departure in design philosophy from previous Korg synthesizers by replacing the traditional array of dedicated control knobs on

220-581: Is used for each octave, which were then stored on ROM chips. The DW-6000 has two oscillators per voice, with controls to modify their relative volumes and detune the second oscillator, creating a rich chorus-like effect. The key assign modes allow standard polyphonic playing as well as and polyphonic portamento . In Unison mode, all six dual-oscillator voices of the synth converge on a single note and are automatically detuned. The DW-6000's voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) and voltage-controlled filter (VCF) are analog, which contributes to its rich sound. Both

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240-469: Is utilized for each octave, and the waveforms were created using additive synthesis, which were then encoded onto the ROM chips. The DW-8000 features two oscillators, offering controls to modify their relative volumes and detune the second oscillator, creating a rich chorus-like effect. There are various key assign modes, including polyphonic and polyphonic portamento . Unison modes combine all eight voices for

260-773: The Juno-6, which had no memory storage. It also featured two banks of oscillators, allowing for interval and detuning effects, an enhancement over the Juno’s single oscillator bank. Despite Roland’s subsequent release of the Juno-60, which included 56 memory locations, it still only featured a single oscillator bank. The Poly-61 features two digitally controlled analog oscillators (DCOs) per voice. DCO1 delivers sawtooth , square , and pulse-width modulation (PWM) waveforms. DCO2 generates sawtooth and square waveforms and can be slightly detuned from DCO1, or by specific musical intervals such as

280-423: The Polysix's voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), and the coarsely quantised resolution of the digital programming system. The Poly-61 also lacked the on-board effects of the Polysix. The Poly-61 was released just before the introduction of MIDI , and still used old style analog voltage trigger outputs to interface it with sequencers and drum machines (although this was addressed by the later addition of MIDI in

300-544: The VCA and VCF envelopes feature six-stage envelopes featuring Attack, Decay, Break Point, Slope, Sustain and Release stages, allowing for complex envelope shapes to be created. The DW-8000 features a digital delay effect with adjustable delay times up to 500 milliseconds, and controls for delay time, feedback, effect level, and modulation. These settings allow for a range of effects including flanging , double tracking and long echo effects. These delay settings can be saved with

320-418: The VCA and VCF envelopes feature six-stage ''ADBSSR' envelopes featuring Attack, Decay, Break Point, Slope, Sustain and Release stages, allowing for complex envelope shapes to be created.The DW-6000 includes a programmable stereo chorus, providing two outputs, which helps create a more analog sound. Criticism of the DW-6000 focused on its lack of a touch-sensitive keyboard, a feature becoming standard by

340-411: The end of 1985, the single parameter control which slowed down editing, and the absence of RAM cartridge storage. However, it received praise for its sound quality, especially its piano sounds, brass effects, and metallic and bell-like digital sounds, which were reminiscent of the pricier PPG Wave . The DW-6000 initially faced challenges due to its high recommended retail price of around £1,200, which

360-651: The front panel with a digital interface that required users to select parameters individually for adjustment. In 1984, an updated version, the Poly-61M , was released to incorporate support for the newly established Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standard. The Poly-61 was launched as a successor to the Polysix and was developed in response to the competitive market of affordable polysynths dominated by Roland with its Juno-6 . The Poly-61 distinguished itself by offering 64 programmable memories , surpassing

380-413: The synth patch for easy recall. It also features an 'auto-bend' option for initial note slides. It allows subtle or pronounced note adjustments, akin to a trumpet's entry or portamento. Settings include time, intensity, and the ability to choose whether it affects oscillator one, two, or both. The built-in arpeggiator includes controls for tempo control, octave range, pattern modes for up/down and assign, and

400-497: Was quickly adjusted to £999 to stay competitive. The announcement of the upcoming DW-8000 , which featured a velocity-sensitive keyboard, impacted its sales negatively. The subsequent release of the DW-8000 eclipsed the DW-6000, as the new model introduced velocity and pressure sensitivity, 16 waveshapes, a sophisticated arpeggiator, and a programmable digital delay line for each sound, all at a similar price point of approximately £1200. Korg Poly-61 The Korg Poly-61 (PS-61)

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