Released at a retail price of $3,000 (approx. $8,500 today), the Korg DSS-1 targeted professional keyboardists who desired sampling capabilities without abandoning traditional synthesis. Unlike the Mirage, which emphasized low-bit grit, the DSS-1 featured an analog resonant filter (Curtis CEM3379) and a unique “Draw” waveform editor. The sound library, originally distributed on double-density 2.8 MB Quick Disks (a failed format shared with the Korg DSM-1), contained 200 internal sounds and a growing third-party ecosystem.
The DSS-1 sound library is experiencing a niche revival in:
Notable users: Vince Clarke (Erasure), Richard D. James (Aphex Twin, early works), and current artists like Caterina Barbieri (used for harmonic draw mode). korg dss1 sound library
The library featured pianos, strings, brass, and woodwinds.
Kid Nepro is still active today (releasing patches for modern synths), but in 1987, they made a killing sampling their analog synths into the DSS-1. Their library contains the best "Jupiter 8" and "Oberheim Xa" samples available for the unit. Unlike Korg’s sterile samples, Kid Nepro’s are fat. Released at a retail price of $3,000 (approx
The Korg DSS-1 sound library was distributed and stored via several proprietary mechanisms:
Korg’s internal sound designers, led by Junichi Ikeuchi, prioritized clarity over grit. Key factory presets included: Notable users: Vince Clarke (Erasure), Richard D
Critical weakness: The library lacked velocity-switching (the keyboard transmitted velocity but could not switch samples). Many “realistic” sounds aged poorly compared to Roland S-550 or Akai S900 libraries.