Why the Korg DSS-1 matters @EspenKraft

Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

My sound patches: espenkraft.com • Korg DSS-1 sampling synthesizer from 1986. Not a very good sampler, because of it's incredibly cumbersome sampling process, but it excel if you use it as a synth. With its capability to manually draw your waveforms, or additive synthesis, you don't have to use the sampling engine at all.

These are a variety of my favourite sounds made up from drawn waveforms and samples.

If you're interested in a in-depth tutorial about sampling on the DSS-1 I have that for sale. Check out the demo video here: youtu.be/jY4lYFOwg4I

I overloaded my external effects on some of the sounds in this video hence a bit of distortion here and there. Lexicon PCM70 reverb and Zoom MS70CDR chorus and delay.

$My Yamaha TX802 Editor Librarian | Free to download! My sound patches: https://espenkraft.com Yamaha TX802 Editor & Librarian — browser-based, no install Get the editor for free in my web shop here: https://espenkraft.com/b/MnPYo A single HTML file that turns any Chrome or Edge browser into a full editor and librarian for the Yamaha TX802. Connect over MIDI and take control of the whole machine. Voice editing — Every FM parameter on screen: all six operators with knobs for envelopes, levels, scaling and frequency, the LFO, pitch envelope, and the full 32-algorithm chart drawn exactly as Yamahas. Plus the DX7II-era extras — poly mode, portamento, pitch-bend step and the complete controller matrix. Edit live and hear every change as you turn a knob. Performance editing — Set up all eight tone generators in one grid: voice, MIDI channel, output, detune, note limits, tuning and more. Factory Preset A and B voices show by name, and linked tone generators resolve just like the modules own display. Librarian — Read, save and reload all 64 voices and all 64 performances as standard .syx files. Double-click any voice or performance to load and play it instantly. Every write to the module is verified and read back, with a clear warning if memory protect blocks it. Also — Full SysEx monitor, drag-and-drop file loading, remembered MIDI ports, and built-in help on every control. *fractional scaling and micro tuning is not implemented in this editor. *this is NOT fully compatible with the DX7II except for some voice editing Made as a personal tool. Shared as is. I offer no support for this.$

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Buy this if youre looking for the cheapest and best short master keyboard