This one is a cracker, no doubt! Like with many other japanese synth companies the first Korg instruments were interesting, unusual concepts. Whether you look at the Korg 900 PS, Kitaro's all-time favourite Korg 700 or even the 800DV - all these synths have a very individual layout and some strange features.

Layout
If you wonder where the pitch-wheel is - forget it. To the left and right of the keyboard there's wood, that's it! Nice to look at, but a pitch-bend or global filter-poti (like on the Oberheim Four-Voice) would have been great for livesessions on the 800DV.

The knobs in general are of high quality. They have an ergonomic and unusual design, but are pleasant to use.

Pic: Ringmodulator

Some strange things
Terminology on the Maxikorg/800DV won't be familiar for those used to Roland/Arp/Moog. Traveler stands for cutoff frequency. The envelope allows adjustment from Percussion (short) to Singing (long). And by the way - all faders work in the opposite direction as usual. It's "0" on the top, "8" at the bottom... a little confusing...

Many plusses

• First: you have two separate synths in one!!! (Dual Voice = DV). Both parts have their own audio-out and own filter-in... so what you end up is a true stereo dual-analogsynth with the option to modulate both filters seperately via an external source...!!! Not many vintage synths offer such a powerful design... Musical results of this nice dual-synth are mostly very vivid, always sound powerful and wide.
• Each synth not only has one VCO but also an additional SUB-OSC. This sub-osc is not an "ordinary" roland-like one. It has its own scale-poti (32', 16', 8', 4' and even 2'!). So you have definitely 4 OSC on the Maxikorg/800DV. Not bad, really! Last but not least you're allowed to mix each VCO signal with the equivalent Sub-VCO-signal. And if you don't need the Sub-VCO just turn in to its first position and let it function as ringmodulator..! RM in true stereo, as mentioned...
• Modulation possibilities are vast. Each synth offers an LFO, auto-bend, portamento. Let both synth-parts being modulated just slightly different - sonic results are brilliant. Usually it needs a modular synth for such animal-like weird sounds... or the 800DV...
• Both filters have their own filter-cv-in port...

Some minuses

• No pitch-bend or other controls
• The filter(s) allow no self-resonance. What a shame! But still the sound is full of character...

Sound
Brilliant. I often use the Maxikorg with the SQ-10 Sequencer. That's one way to control the synth's filter with two cv-sources. The vast modulation possibilities, two ringmodulators and true stereo produce extremely nice analog modular-like sounds. Fx-stuff is maybe the best on this Korg, bass-sounds are quite powerful too (four osc!), strings and lead-sounds are not that easy to create.

Difference Maxikorg - 800DV
In general the synth-design is the same. Still there is one main advantage of the Maxikorg: the rear connections. It's quite sure that the 800 DV features NO CV/Gate-IN! Shouldn't be a problem modifying a 800DV. However it's interesting that Kenton offers socket-retrofits for Korg 770 and others, but not for the 800DV...

Pic: Rear side of the Maxikorg

So, if you have the choice - take the Maxikorg...

Conclusion
Maxikorg/800DV are PERFECT instruments for musicians who love to experiment and create new sounds (if you have an analog sequencer it might even increase fun with these synths). No ARP-2600 or other analog beast is able to produce such lovely modulation-fx-sounds with such meaty character (although the 2600 is an unique instrument on its own).

These Korgs are sold every now and then. Not too expensive (quite interesting), but worth every Cent! A friend just asked me about a 800DV he could get for a mere 280 Euro. Well, take it immediately..!