Update 9/23/2016!
I had recently acquired a second DS-202. While all the rhythms and sounds work, the presets are rather generic and the speakers still rattle when the volume is increased, especially when accompaniment is added to the rhythm.
Also, looking at the serial numbers, some of the keys have a slightly different color stripe, where instead of being greenish they are bluish in color and some of the yellow stripes are white.
The 1980s were an interesting time for synthesizers. Not only did you have the rise of things like MIDI and digital processing, but new manufacturers entered the fold too, like electronic watch makers Casio and Seiko.
Seiko?
That's right. The Seiko Corporation got into the synthesizer game back in 1983 and released several
odd digital synthesizers. They were the DS-101, DS-202, and DS-250. They also sold three add-on modules - the DS-310, which was an additive synthesis attachment, the DS-320 which was a sequencer, and the DS-1000 MIDI Digital Sequencer, and the SIB-1, with capabilities unknown at this time. All of the add-ons attached via a very short ribbon cable into two ports on the back of the synthesizer. There were also several cartridges that plugged into the DS-320 that added various sounds. They were the SRC-10, DMC-2, and perhaps some others that may be floating out there.
There really isn't much information on this synthesizer but from what little there is known, it appears that the sound generation technology for this line was originally developed by Gray Laboratories, the additive synthesis engine was eventually sold to Seiko. What makes this interesting is that at the time additive synthesis, a method in which timbre is created by adding sine waves together, was used by highly expensive synthesizers like the NED Synclavier, which retailed for five figures. The Seiko DS synths were released for a fraction of the cost and had some very interesting features.
Let's start with the DS-202 -
The DS-202 has several sections labeled on the top panel of the keyboard - EFFECT, INSTRUMENTS, AUTO BASS CHORD, RHYTHM, and FUNCTION.
EFFECT
This EFFECT section features 3 sliders that can alter chorus, vibrato, and sustain, with a button to add delay to the vibrato. One peculiar thing, in my opinion, is that on all the sliders of this synthesizer, the minimum is located at the top and the maximum is located on the bottom. The same goes for rhythm tempo, with one pushing up to decrease the speed.
Anyway, these features seem to offer very little to the tone. The chorus effects are nice and provide a little variation to the various voices but the vibrato seems almost negligible. Same goes for the sustain, but than again that may be because my DS-202 appears to have some malfunctioning buttons, which leads me to the next section.
INSTRUMENTS
The INSTRUMENTS section features ten voices: piano, organ, harpsichord, flute, strings, electric piano, jazz organ, vibraphone, clarinet, and brass. Pretty standard fare for a synthesizer of this time. The sounds generated aren't spectacular and are reminiscent of a Casio from this era. Sadly I can only seem to get sound out of half of my buttons and what comes out is clean. Having the ability to add the effects mentioned above is a nice feature but the quality isn't anything to write home about and would probably have been disappointing had this keyboard been purchased at its full original retail, which I have read floated around one thousand dollars.
AUTO BASS CHORD
Like its fellow Casio keyboards, this featured a little accompaniment section that gave the four different modes: normal, simple finger chord, key split, and sound mix. There is also a slider called "ABC VOLUME BALANCE," which would seem to work with the sound mix option, where one could mix two of the instruments together, although that feature does not appear to be working on my synth, or if it is, works very poorly. Then there are four buttons - hold, variation, chord off, and tone set.
Personally, I found this section to be pretty much useless. The chords are lackluster and dull sounding, and when played in conjunction with the rhythm feature no variation whatsoever. Press a key and a chord is just repeatedly played with the beat. The hold feature would hold a note below the key split but that is it and I can't quite figure out the other buttons. Again, I do not know if this is because my synthesizer appears to be broken, but from what is coming out of the speakers I am not that impressed.
RHYTHM
This is the only section of the keyboard that I actually enjoyed. The beats have that analog drum machine sound, and who knows - the drums may be analog. I peaked inside the synth and saw a bunch of resistors and such on a board so it is quite possible that Seiko utilized some analog features in this keyboard. I personally enjoy analog drums and found the rhythms to be nice. The accompaniment doesn't really add much and I would probably recommend sampling the rhythms for use with a more capable synth, like the DS-202's big brother, the DS-250.
If you were curious, here are the various rhythms: 8 beat, 16 beat, waltz, Latin, Latin 2, swing, 2 beat, and slow rock.
FUNCTION
The final section features just one button and one slider: a key transpose button and the total volume.
Another feature of this synthesizer are the speakers. I would probably rate these higher than a standard Casio synth. When played to the fullest, the sound came out clear but some notes seemed to rattle the case. While some people have complained about the construction of these keyboards, I have found them to be pretty decent (except for mine, which features a giant hole on the bottom where someone may have dropped it on the edge of a table, and perhaps causing the issue surrounding my non-functioning buttons.
Another odd feature of this synthesizer is that the outputs and power are located on the side. I like having these to the side of a keyboard for the sake of accessibility. I'm sure they are on this one because the back is occupied by the add-on modules but I wouldn't complain if this became standard on other synths. On the side there is a pitch adjustment, RCA audio out (for stereo) or a 1/4" jack for mono output, as well as 1/4" jacks for sustain and expression and perhaps the most hated thing about this synthesizer - the proprietary power supply jack. Not only does this synthesizer use a 4-pin DIN male plug, it also requires a 13.8v 1a supply. I was able to find parts to manufacture my own but many people seem to cannibalize auctions and sell the power supply piecemeal for a profit.
To sum up this synthesizer, Mercury is to Ford as Seiko is to Casio*, but here is the sad part, where Seiko seems to have tried for the high-end home keyboard arranger market, the synthesizer (at least the DS-101 and DS-202) seem to be the equivalent of a cheap Casio manufactured a couple years later with some editable features but overall an interesting synthesizer. I am sure the DS-310 adds plenty to this synthesizer but I would much rather utilize those add-ons on the DS-250, which will be featured in a separate review.
Here is a preview of the sounds of the Seiko DS-202 in a song project I was working on:
I had recently acquired a second DS-202. While all the rhythms and sounds work, the presets are rather generic and the speakers still rattle when the volume is increased, especially when accompaniment is added to the rhythm.
Also, looking at the serial numbers, some of the keys have a slightly different color stripe, where instead of being greenish they are bluish in color and some of the yellow stripes are white.
The 1980s were an interesting time for synthesizers. Not only did you have the rise of things like MIDI and digital processing, but new manufacturers entered the fold too, like electronic watch makers Casio and Seiko.
Seiko?
That's right. The Seiko Corporation got into the synthesizer game back in 1983 and released severalodd digital synthesizers. They were the DS-101, DS-202, and DS-250. They also sold three add-on modules - the DS-310, which was an additive synthesis attachment, the DS-320 which was a sequencer, and the DS-1000 MIDI Digital Sequencer, and the SIB-1, with capabilities unknown at this time. All of the add-ons attached via a very short ribbon cable into two ports on the back of the synthesizer. There were also several cartridges that plugged into the DS-320 that added various sounds. They were the SRC-10, DMC-2, and perhaps some others that may be floating out there.
There really isn't much information on this synthesizer but from what little there is known, it appears that the sound generation technology for this line was originally developed by Gray Laboratories, the additive synthesis engine was eventually sold to Seiko. What makes this interesting is that at the time additive synthesis, a method in which timbre is created by adding sine waves together, was used by highly expensive synthesizers like the NED Synclavier, which retailed for five figures. The Seiko DS synths were released for a fraction of the cost and had some very interesting features.
Let's start with the DS-202 -
The DS-202 has several sections labeled on the top panel of the keyboard - EFFECT, INSTRUMENTS, AUTO BASS CHORD, RHYTHM, and FUNCTION.
EFFECT
This EFFECT section features 3 sliders that can alter chorus, vibrato, and sustain, with a button to add delay to the vibrato. One peculiar thing, in my opinion, is that on all the sliders of this synthesizer, the minimum is located at the top and the maximum is located on the bottom. The same goes for rhythm tempo, with one pushing up to decrease the speed.
Anyway, these features seem to offer very little to the tone. The chorus effects are nice and provide a little variation to the various voices but the vibrato seems almost negligible. Same goes for the sustain, but than again that may be because my DS-202 appears to have some malfunctioning buttons, which leads me to the next section.
INSTRUMENTS
The INSTRUMENTS section features ten voices: piano, organ, harpsichord, flute, strings, electric piano, jazz organ, vibraphone, clarinet, and brass. Pretty standard fare for a synthesizer of this time. The sounds generated aren't spectacular and are reminiscent of a Casio from this era. Sadly I can only seem to get sound out of half of my buttons and what comes out is clean. Having the ability to add the effects mentioned above is a nice feature but the quality isn't anything to write home about and would probably have been disappointing had this keyboard been purchased at its full original retail, which I have read floated around one thousand dollars.
AUTO BASS CHORD
Like its fellow Casio keyboards, this featured a little accompaniment section that gave the four different modes: normal, simple finger chord, key split, and sound mix. There is also a slider called "ABC VOLUME BALANCE," which would seem to work with the sound mix option, where one could mix two of the instruments together, although that feature does not appear to be working on my synth, or if it is, works very poorly. Then there are four buttons - hold, variation, chord off, and tone set.
Personally, I found this section to be pretty much useless. The chords are lackluster and dull sounding, and when played in conjunction with the rhythm feature no variation whatsoever. Press a key and a chord is just repeatedly played with the beat. The hold feature would hold a note below the key split but that is it and I can't quite figure out the other buttons. Again, I do not know if this is because my synthesizer appears to be broken, but from what is coming out of the speakers I am not that impressed.
RHYTHM
This is the only section of the keyboard that I actually enjoyed. The beats have that analog drum machine sound, and who knows - the drums may be analog. I peaked inside the synth and saw a bunch of resistors and such on a board so it is quite possible that Seiko utilized some analog features in this keyboard. I personally enjoy analog drums and found the rhythms to be nice. The accompaniment doesn't really add much and I would probably recommend sampling the rhythms for use with a more capable synth, like the DS-202's big brother, the DS-250.
If you were curious, here are the various rhythms: 8 beat, 16 beat, waltz, Latin, Latin 2, swing, 2 beat, and slow rock.
FUNCTION
The final section features just one button and one slider: a key transpose button and the total volume.
Another feature of this synthesizer are the speakers. I would probably rate these higher than a standard Casio synth. When played to the fullest, the sound came out clear but some notes seemed to rattle the case. While some people have complained about the construction of these keyboards, I have found them to be pretty decent (except for mine, which features a giant hole on the bottom where someone may have dropped it on the edge of a table, and perhaps causing the issue surrounding my non-functioning buttons.
To sum up this synthesizer, Mercury is to Ford as Seiko is to Casio*, but here is the sad part, where Seiko seems to have tried for the high-end home keyboard arranger market, the synthesizer (at least the DS-101 and DS-202) seem to be the equivalent of a cheap Casio manufactured a couple years later with some editable features but overall an interesting synthesizer. I am sure the DS-310 adds plenty to this synthesizer but I would much rather utilize those add-ons on the DS-250, which will be featured in a separate review.
Here is a preview of the sounds of the Seiko DS-202 in a song project I was working on:
