First of all, can I say that I hate the term “virtual analog?” It’s digital. I get it, you’re modeling an analog instrument, but come on guys. You’re better than that. You put a keyboard in a video game system, which is an awesome thing to do.
By “you” I meant “Korg,” and by “video game system” I’m specifically referring to the Nintendo 3DS. This is a download-only title on what is obviously not the most blisteringly hot CPU on the market, but if you’re looking to mess around and create some music on the go, and don’t want to eat up your phone’s precious battery life, and you don’t own a tablet, then maybe you can hire the A-Team the Korg DSN-12 might the musical travel timesink you’ve been waiting for. Here’s what it offers, according to Korg’s product page:
- Contains 12 virtual analog monophonic synthesizers
- Up to 64 sequence steps
- Freely place sequences in up to 64 patterns
- Pattern Program mode lets you chain patterns in up to 99 scenes; muting can also be programmed for each track
- Three effects are provided; choose from delay, chorus, flanger, compressor, kick, and reverb
- Local communication allows users to exchange song data and sound data
- The world’s first* 3D display oscilloscope screen; Wave and Lissajous modes are provided
* For Nintendo 3DS software as of June 2014
There’s no word on a price as of yet, but you can expect to see the NDS-12 appearing in the American and European eShop by September.
p.s. I have to point out this out. Claiming to be the “world’s first 3D display oscilloscope screen,” and then immediately notating that you meant it solely in regards to a video game platform not at all intended for audio tools of that ilk, is semantically bizarre.
