FB-7999

Name: FB-7999
Author: Full Bucket Music

by Full Bucket Music · Synth · KORG DW-6000/DW-8000 emulation

Not rated yet

FB-7999 is a free emulation of the KORG DW-6000 and DW-8000, the 1980s hybrid synths that paired digital waveforms with analog filters.

It has two digital oscillators with 16 + 16 waveforms, up to 64 voices, a pseudo-stereo delay and SysEx/tape dump import; it is free.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Pop, Ambient & Cinematic.

Keywords: free, 80s, hardware emulation, hybrid, polyphonic, analog, lo-fi, warm, basses, CPU-light, digital classic, monophonic, pads, resizable UI, sound design, subtractive.

What it does

FB-7999 combines the KORG DW-6000 and DW-8000 in one plugin. Both were mid-80s hybrid synths with digital waveform oscillators feeding analog-style filters, and an 8000/6000 switch sets which machine's behaviour you get.

Oscillators: two digital oscillators at 16', 8' or 4', with 16 DW-8000 waves and the DW-6000's 8 waves plus 8 extra "analog" ones; oscillator 2 has interval (thirds, fourths, fifths) and detune settings.
Noise and Auto Bend: a white noise source, and a pitch envelope at note start that the hardware never had.
Filter: a 24 dB/octave self-resonating lowpass with keyboard tracking, EG polarity and velocity-sensitive EG amount.
Envelopes: two six-stage ADBSSR envelopes (attack, decay, break point, slope, sustain, release) for filter and amp.
MG and performance: an LFO with four waveforms and delay, routable to pitch and cutoff; aftertouch, mod wheel, breath control and polyphonic portamento.
Voice modes: Poly 1, Poly 2, Unison 1 and Unison 2, with polyphony extended up to 64 voices.
Effects: the DW-8000's pseudo-stereo digital delay (2–600 ms, with its own modulation), plus an emulated DW-6000 chorus.
Data and presets: DW-6000 and DW-8000 SysEx import/export, DW-8000 tape dump loading from WAV, both machines' factory banks, program naming and MTS-ESP micro-tuning.

The current version is 1.1.7 (17 Jan 2025). It is a free download with no price listed; the developer accepts donations. MIDI Learn covers every parameter, and the UI is resizable.

Source: Full Bucket Music product page

When to use it

FB-7999 is the pick for the hybrid digital-analog KORG sound: glassy, slightly lo-fi waveforms through a warm filter, with real DW patch import. Compared with Diva and CS-80 V, which model fully analog designs, it sounds thinner but more distinctive, and it costs nothing. Compared with Vital and Serum 2, it has a fixed set of single-cycle waves and no wavetable morphing, but it gets an authentic 80s character with far fewer controls. Its built-in delay and chorus also give finished-sounding patches without extra plugins.

Best for: 80s digital pads, bells, basses and DW-6000/DW-8000 patch libraries.
Genres: synth-pop, synthwave, electronic, ambient and 80s soundtrack styles.
Look elsewhere if: you want wavetable morphing or a modern modulation matrix; Vital or Serum 2 do that.
Tip: keep the delay in stereo; the manual notes the pseudo-stereo effect cancels out when summed to mono.

What producers say

Users and reviewers agree that FB-7999 captures the DW synths well, with only small gripes.

KVR users rate it 5 out of 5 from 2 reviews, praising the faithful DW-8000 sound, the one-page layout and the low CPU use.
Bedroom Producers Blog said it "sounds just as good as its hardware counterparts" and praised its warm, lo-fi hybrid tone.
Criticisms: one KVR user found the tape dump import unreliable and its manual coverage thin; another found drum sounds took extra effort.

Where to buy

Full Bucket Music: Free

Tutorials and reviews

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