As a result, DLS can also be considered primarily a synthesizer specification and only secondarily a file format.
The current DLS standards were developed first by the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IASIG), and then by the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA).
The DLS specifications are published in English by the MMA and in Japanese by Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI).
The DLS family is closely related to the proprietary SoundFonts format from Creative Labs.
Numerous software music synthesizer products support DLS either natively or as an import format.