This is pretty damn cool:

Korg released a synthesizer cart for the DS awhile ago and I didn't even hear about it until last week. The cart uses the DS's sound hardware to emulate a sequencer, analog synthesizer, and drum machine.

You use virtual knobs and buttons on the touch screen to interact with the virtual synthesizer. It supports saving 16 16-beat patterns per song, and you can arrange up to 100 patterns to make a complete tune. And of course you can screw around with how it sounds while it's playing.

Here's a cool video of someone messing around on it:


BUT WAIT! You can even wirelessly connect multiple carts and use them all together. Here's a dude doing that:


One thing to make clear: it's not really a game. There's no goal. It's a little musical instrument.

I ordered this on Amazon because I couldn't find it nearby anywhere and have just started playing around with it. Check it out if you like this sort of thing.

EDIT: think I'll just edit in this other video here

Plain old DS cart and it cost around $35 on Amazon.

That is cool!!!! A lot cheaper than buying your own synthesizer as well.

I've been playing around with this for a few weeks, it's a really fun time waster on a bus/train when I don't really feel like playing a game on my DS. Just bust out the ole synthesizer and lay out some PHAT BEATS (oh god, did i really say that). But yeah, it's kind of fun to just piss around with in short bursts, even if I don't really know what I'm doing half the time!

This is probably really difficult to use and doesn't sound that great unless you play it through ultra-hi-fi Bose speakers and you'll never make anything as cool-sounding as the demos

Edit: It's pretty cool that it actually has patch cables and things like that though

Edit: There are seriously a lot of better things out there the portable thing is nice but there are so many programs that can do more even if you don't know what you're doing they just don't have lots of knobs and dials and touch interface

Edit: Then again I'm biased towards more simple/functional interfaces not ones where /everything/ looks important. Those VSTs that are made to look like a real synthesizer give me a headache

this sounds really dumb.

Are they just presets? Or can you actually lay notes down? Are they just arrpegio machines with like, chord progression choosers? I dont know. Looks pretty rad.

i messed around with it a little bit today but i didn't really dig too deep. it's a novel concept, but i can't imagine it's capable of a lot - the MS-10 was mad basic, though this has two VCOs so it might be a little more powerful. also controlling the keyboard with a stylus (i really don't like actually touching the touchscreen with my fingers i'm afraid of breaking it (rip nintendium)) feels awkward and i couldn't figure out any like HOLD NOTE stuff so idk. i like the patch cables though they're a nice touch.

edit i'm dumb there's a sequencer built in. also some of these presets are kindof impressive maybe this isn't too bad.