KORG DS-10 Synthesizer is an application for the Nintendo DS that
allows the user to design and mix up to 16 musical patterns in order to
create electronic, loop-based songs.
At first the software seems severely limited. Each "pattern" is made up
of only two synthesized tracks, the maximum duration of which is about
4 beats (not measures... beats.) Add in a stunted instrument selection
and you have something that, on the surface, appears capable of making
only basic tunes.
The reality is so much more.
Once you listen to the impressive demo song, you realize that the
strength of KORG DS-10 lies in its expansive ability to alter the sound
of each track. The user has the option to fiddle with Flange, Cutoff,
Delay, etc. - (you slowly figure out what these terms mean) and
fine-tune every category to the nth degree. Two track music (Three if
you count the drums) suddenly becomes very deep and very complex, and
if you're willing to invest the time and effort you will be rewarded.
A caveat, though - this game is not for anyone looking to compose long
melodies. With only 4 beats to create music in per pattern... well,
John Hammond wouldn't be satisfied with this title. Its main
flexibility comes from mixing and matching the 16 patterns and blending
them together in various ways. You can get some pretty complicated
sounds out, and if you wanted to, you could painstakingly force the
game into creating a *brief* melody. But that wouldn't be the purpose
of KORG DS-10. KORG is made for dance music, and in this matter it
shines.
There are other issues to consider -The title isn't friendly to
absolute novices (that's the price you pay for versatility) and one
wishes one *could* expand the track length to at least 16 beats. But if
one is willing to pass over these drawbacks, you'll truly come to enjoy
the product.
I recommend KORG DS-10 to anyone who likes dance/electronica style music and/or enjoys rocking out on the commuter rail.
