Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS in-depth

The patch editor is where Korg DS-10 really shows it’s versatility. Each synth voice is patchable, with it’s own LFO (which again, can be synced to the BPM or run free) offering triangle, sawtooth, square wave and sample & hold (S&H) waveforms.

The LFO can be patched to modulate master pitch in, VCO 1&2, cutoff and VCA (voltage controlled amp) and each of these parameters has a knob to control modulation amount. The envelope generator and VCO 2 can be patched to any of the modules that the LFO can also be patched to… In short, if frequency modulated madness is something you like in your synths, Korg DS-10 delivers in spades.

While the synth and patch editor are very versatile, there’s no way to record any automation info (knob movement) from their respective edit screens. This is where the Kaoss Pad comes into effect.

Aside from the note/gate input screen mentioned earlier, you also have a second screen to input volume and panning info, and a third screen that is fully assignable to any of the editable parameters. Sadly the Kaoss Pad only allows you to record one set of automation parameters to X and Y. While this is limiting, at least you can still carefully edit any automation info in a snap thanks to the X and Y edit screens in the synths step sequencer.

The drums are truly analogue. No samples in sight. Each drum sound is driven by two oscillators and the edit screens for these are identical to the synth voices, including the patch screen. This allows you to generate unique drum and synth-like sounds from the drum voices with ease.

The drum sequencer window gives you all the same edit options that the step sequencer for the synths offer, with the exception of the Kaoss Pad X/Y edit screens as there is no Kaoss Pad control for the drums.

The main drum window (that you see before you access the edit screens) also gives you four drum pads, allowing you to improvise over the top of your sequenced patterns while they play, (and can even be recorded!)

The effects that Korg DS-10 offer are limited. There’s delay, flanger and chorus, but only one of these FX can be applied at a time! They can however be applied to either synth, both synths, the drums, or the whole mix. One nice touch is the fact that in the drum edit screen you can assign this one effect to just one drum sound, meaning you could for example put a little chorus on your hi-hat, without it affecting the punchyness of your kick drum.

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