[sdiy] Hacking the DSS-1 WAS: what's going on on eBay

[J. Larry Hendry]

I recently bought a working DSS-1 for $125 just as a parts machine since I
have 2 working units.  One has the 8 bank memory expansion and SCSI drive.
Of course, one of the neat things about a DSS-1 is that you have a 8 voice
analog synth (signal patch) except the oscillators are digital (actually
wave RAM / ROM). Just call up one of the internal ROM waves and program
away.  The VCF and VCA are in one of those custom Korg chips (check recent
archives for discussion on that one).  The EGs are digitally generated in a
CPU.  You can also use the very nice twin digital delays to process external
signals. And, you can load single samples into the DSS-1 easily via the MIDI
port.  You can use the WAV format and import directly.  See here:
http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/dss-1/sv.htm

So, even without the disk drive, this is a great little 8 voice synth.

I can offer you two suggestions:

You can replace the disc drive.  You can hack away until you find one that
works or go here:
http://www.route66studios.com/

Another option (which is going to happen to my parts machine) is to salvage
the analog voice board.  You have 8 VCAs and 8 VCFs (12 or 24 db) which can
be disconnected from the CPU control and connected for voltage control.  The
CPU control just goes to DACs and S&H to produce the actual voltage for the
control.  I have a back burner project to do that,  I have already hacked
out most of the voltage control ranges.

Unfortunately, the DDLs, are controlled directly by the CPU.  No hacking
them to voltage control without a CPU.  Now, you have stepped past my
ability.

Larry


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of nN AAt e e
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 3:22 AM
To: tomg; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: [sdiy] OT: Do you guys know what's going on on eBay?


> Scott, you should trade up if you like the 6000.
> The 8000 will sear your ears right off. It's got
> some of the best organs, basses and leads on
> the planet.... Very underrated....

yeah... the DW8000's fraternal twin, the sampling DSS-1, is a nice one
too... some GREAT sounds... the delays are amazing and it's a very warm
synth, but the disk drive is pretty slow and it weighs a TON; it's no CS-80,
but when i first got it i was 16 and couldn't get it up the stairs into my
room!

i recently had to pay someone back $200 after i drove an hour to meet him,
he brought the DSS-1 home, and when he tried it out it didn't recognize ANY
disks. some how within about 48 hours of me testing it, the disk drive
managed to burn out a cap by it's power connector :\   i doubt it was on my
end and i know his apartment's electricity is all wonky [i also heard his
guitarist talking about dropping something after taking it out of the car...
i wonder what he could have been talking about]... i even replaced the cap
and it still wouldn't work... but i didn't find anything else wrong with it.
synth works fine, drive won't spin up.

so now i've got to replace the drive, and then find someone to unload this
thing onto :(    [any takers?]

- nate... if i don't go for a Bass Station i'm looking at pretty cheap,
maybe i'll take a look at a DW-8000 :)