KORG DS-10 synth turns Nintendo DS into instrument of awesomeness
There's already been quite a few musicians (and would-be ones) brought into the Nintendo DS fold thanks to apps like Jam Sessions, but it looks like there could soon be another wave flocking to the popular handheld, with the official, Korg-approved DS-10 synthesizer from AQ Interactive now headed for the DS in Japan. As you can see for yourself in the video after the break, like Jam Sessions, the synthesizer is anything but a game, with it boasting two patchable virtual synths with two oscillators each, a drum machine, a sequencer, and a full range of effects, to name but a few features. You'll also apparently be able to wirelessly link up several systems to play together or simply exchange sounds and songs, although you'll apparently have to make do without MIDI support. Needless to say, we'll keep you posted on any word of a release 'round these parts, but in the meantime, you can look forward to this one hitting Japan in July for ¥4,800, or just under $50.[Via Create Digital Music, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ReggieXuk @ Mar 12th 2008 4:41PM
Image-Line need to make FL Studio for the DS.
aMac @ Mar 12th 2008 4:57PM
It'll be interesting to see what an officially released synth is like, but for now, NitroTracker (http://nitrotracker.tobw.net/) is probably the best homebrew out there.
It even has MIDI support and you can make your own instruments with .wav files or the DS's own mic.
jasmine landau @ Mar 12th 2008 11:21PM
i back this statement 100% - nitrotracker was actually one of the reasons i bought a ds. i just wish the developer would release another update!
Axton @ Mar 12th 2008 6:00PM
It looks more complicated than it should be. I mean, its on a DS and only supports midi, so i doubt people are going to be doing anything too serious with it, mainly just messing around. It should be more like the kaossilator.
Ryan Beesley @ Mar 12th 2008 6:19PM
I agree, given that this was a demonstration, even the guy running it in the video seemed to get lost going between screens on occasion. Everything seemed like it was done through the stylis. Seems like some of those other things on the DS, called buttons, could have been used to easy all the paging.
Graham @ Mar 12th 2008 6:06PM
a few of these, plus a few Electro plankton.... Might be really sick.
NG @ Mar 12th 2008 6:11PM
Good thing about touch screen...
Mike S. @ Mar 12th 2008 6:26PM
If they could get the WiFi to create a virtual network midi cable to have my desktop capture it.. I'll go buy a DS.
e @ Mar 12th 2008 7:06PM
Now that is cool. Thank you Korg and Nintendo. You are gonna sell a ton of systems. I hope Apple is taking notes.
Peter R. @ Mar 12th 2008 8:05PM
"Although you'll apparently have to make do without MIDI support," it doesn't support midi. A synthesizer without midi support, is just plain distasteful.
gilbo303 @ Aug 17th 2008 11:41AM
"A synthesizer without midi support, is just plain distasteful."
Remember, all the best 'Classisc' Synths which the industry tries to desperately emulate today were built without MIDI!
Allthough yes, it would be AMAZING to have the freedom of some kind of MIDI implentation!!!!
Nando @ Mar 12th 2008 8:18PM
It should be enough to make your beats on the go when you don't have your laptop.
[a] @ May 15th 2008 5:31PM
'When I don't have my laptop?' The only time I don't have my laptop is when I'm on my desktop or taking a dump and emailing people on my Blackberry. And that's just because my laptop is too much of a hassle to lug into the bathroom.
'Don't have my laptop', lol, what'll they think of next ...
Kralos @ Mar 12th 2008 9:26PM
Using this along with nanoloop and nitrotracker could lead to some awesome results, I can't wait to see chiptune artists and DJs using it.
Wormbolt @ Mar 12th 2008 10:48PM
It's onlyyyy teeeenage wasteland!
Dynamite Jack @ Mar 13th 2008 5:33AM
This looks like the coolest DS non-game ever. I will spend hours with this just screwing around. Also, I'll give NitroTracker a try. Thanks guys.
http://www.hugegamer.com
http://www.musicgearblog.com
Timerider @ Mar 13th 2008 1:33PM
Sweet. I know a bunch of people wanted Korg to make something for the DS. I hope it's like the Kaossilator.
yosef shuman @ Mar 14th 2008 6:14PM
i can imagine this would cause a steep rise in the number of cases of parents "accidentally" pushing their children out of 3rd story windows.
A_Synth_Fan_From_BC @ Mar 21st 2008 4:54PM
I own a Korg MS20, the big brother of the MS10 which this DS "game" is based on. Let me tell you as an avid user of synths EVERYTHING this guy does in that video is demonstrating aspects of the synthesizer. From a musician's point of view that was a pretty good demonstration showing how closely the DS10 emulates an actual MS10, both in sound and inteface. He isn't getting lost at all. It's a shame there is no MIDI support since their are wireless MIDI devices popping up now, but regardless, this thing looks like it would be a lot of fun to play. Though I suspect any musician who wanted to use the DS as a platform for creating music on a regular basis would have to look toward something like NitroTracker.
adam @ Apr 8th 2008 1:06PM
This could be extremely usefull.If you just use it to make loops and send them out through audio port to pc into wavelab and import waves etc.Im on the go so this would be great to work on leads beats etc.
Stephen @ Jun 20th 2008 7:36AM
If you want to mix some sick sounds check out www.discoverysound.com/dl/en
Stephen @ Jun 20th 2008 7:41AM
DS-10 rocks
Stephen @ Jun 20th 2008 7:49AM
The password in engadget is not logging me in. Sorry to post three times and here.
ML1986 @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:24AM
Here's a reason why hardcore PSP fanboys should leave us DS owners alone. Is there a synthesizer program available for PSP? Didn't think so.
Even though I don't have it (yet), this would be my next choice in Nintendo DS software.
nntb @ Aug 7th 2008 5:27AM
http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?t=8980
text to speach for psp
http://www.psprhythm.com/
a sequencer for teh psp