Time machine: KORG POLYSIX Analog Synthesizer 1981
This video shows what someone can do with a Polysix who knows it very well. The audio signal was recorded straight from the Polysix’ output, without any additional effects or dynamics. The Korg Polysix is a classic analogue polyphonic synth. It was the best sold analog synthesizer. Roland answered one year later with the Juno-60.
The Korg Polysix has per voice:
1 VCO + suboscillator (PWM possible), 24 dB lowpass filter, 1 ADSR envelope, 1 LFO (sine waveform only). It also has an very useful FX section, which lets you forget that you have 1 VCO per voice. ENSEMBLE, CHORUS and PHASE effects are possible. The Polysix has the same useful ARPEGGIATOR like the Mono/Poly. It is synchronisable with drum machines, sequencers,…
The Polysix has 32 RAM memories for your patches. With the tape interface, the whole RAM memory can be stored on tape/cassette. Of course you can save the memory data as WAV files as well. The Korg Polysix was inspired by the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 – in fact, the Polysix has SSM chips like the early Prophets. For this reason, it has a warm, “american” analog sound…
The Polysix can produce fat pads with the “ensemble” effect, which reminds me on old string machines. It also can produce great bass and lead sounds in unisono mode. Weird sounds are possible with the arpeggiator in combination with filter resonance.
The hardware is solid, well made – except the original internal battery, which tends to leak. Especially when the Polysix is not turned on for a long time.
THE SOUND PROGRAMS IN THIS MOVIE:
Do you have a Polysix and want to play with the powerful sounds heard in the video? You can buy the “ANALOGAUDIO1 PATCH BANK” with 64 patches (2 banks with 32 patches) for 12,99 Euros. After payment through PayPal you will get a WAV file with sound data for the tape interface of your Polysix via email. You will also get a patch list with names of the patches (PDF), to find the right sounds quickly. The details about the functionality of the tape interface are described in the manual of the Polysix, which you can download for free.
The bank contains all the sounds you are hearing in this video and some more. The included patch list (PDF) is very useful to find the needed sounds quickly. As an experienced synth player / programmer I programmed these special sounds carefully to get the most out of the Polysix – these sounds are not available anywhere else!
If you want to buy the “ANALOGAUDIO1 PATCHBANK” for your Polysix, please drop me a mail:
ceramic-man@gmx.de
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