Poly 700

Digital/Analog synth based on the Korg Poly 800

 (238 Votes)
1.0 (Updated 19 years ago)
36.2kB
September 01, 2004
Reaktor 5 or lower
Additive

DESCRIPTION

My Korg Poly 800 sadly died back in 1989. This unofficial patch is based on some diagrams from the manual and also some recordings I had of the synth. Missing is the step sequencer - however, Logic is quite a bit better.
The numeric values more or less correspond to the original values. So if you have any program sheets, you can enter them in, as I have done for some of the snapshots and they should sound about 80% close.

For those who wish to read on:-
This polyphonic (8 voices), programmable synthesizer featured a 49-note (C-C) non-velocity keyboard, MIDI, one DCO per voice, a single VCF, three six-segment envelope generators (one for each group of 4 oscillators, and one for the VCF or noise generator), battery power, and two strap buttons, which, combined with its light weight, made it a truly strap-on synth. The batteries lasted approximately 6 hours. It allowed layering both banks of oscillators for much better (fatter) sounds, although it reduced the polyphony to 4 voices. The Poly 800 also featured a simple 256-event step-time sequencer and a simple chorus. The Poly 800 II featured improved MIDI, and a comprehensive digital delay instead of the chorus. It was also slightly darker brown in color.


[from The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers , by Peter Forrest, published by Susurreal Publishing, Devon, England, copyright 1994 Peter Forrest]

COMMENTS  (15)

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Magluss Música y Naturaleza
5 years ago
Thanks for you work! My first time in UL. I am a recent user of Reaktor. And precisely one of the things I wanted to achieve one day was to recreate my Poly 800 II. Mine(Poly 800II) is black and is still with me since 1987, today So I will test all your work with pleasure in this Poly 700. It will surely inspire me when I control Reaktor a little better. Thank you!
Daniel Hogan
9 years ago
Like \m/
Edu Couchez
11 years ago
months later I downloaded this instrument, I re-discovered this weekend. Incredible... I've been reliving old and forgotten feelings. I closed my eyes and felt the same emotion than when I first unpackaged the first synth of my live... these beautiful Poly-800. Truly, it sounds almost exactly... he, he... thanks, you make my day when I heard the "Who me?" patch. By the way!... it could be possible to build a similar sequencer as these venerable and simple included with Poly?. In fact I've never found a similar soft sequence; these "step by step" way to add notes was very creative and easy. I would love a soft emulation... even with these 250 note limitation.
Chris Melera
12 years ago
Love it! I still have a Poly 800 so I can compare the sounds of the "Poly 700 v1.0" and the actual unit side by side and they are pretty darn close! One problem though. I am not able to save snapshots. I was able to save snapshots for some other synths that I downloaded from the NI Community user library but not for the "Poly 700 v1.0". Is this a know issue for the "Poly 700 v1.0"? Are there any work-arounds? Anybody? Bueller? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! I’d really love to load in and save all my old favorite patches! Also, when trying to input my old sounds from old patch sheets I noticed that there was not a corresponding control in "Poly 700 v1.0" for these two parameters... 1. Parameter #18 - DCO (Mode): 1 = whole, 2 = double 2. Parameter #46 - Trigger (VCF): 1 = single, 2 = multi Does anyone know if there is a way I can input/control these parameters too? As well, I often used the chord function, mainly just for all octaves, for a fat monophonic lead sound. Any ideas how to emulate that? I've been looking for a virtual version of my Poly 800 for a while now and I'm really pleased with the sound of this. Thanks!
techno kinoko
15 years ago
Good simulator!!
Mark Mcdonald
16 years ago
I like the sound and have worked with it but can not save snaps.
simon carter
17 years ago
nice
Matt Carty
17 years ago
Truly captures the essence of the Poly-800. A fine addition, great work.
Robert Kuhn
18 years ago
very good work similar sound of the orginal poly 800 my first toy 1996.
Christopher Blake
19 years ago
Cool!!! Loved the Poly800
sean wright
19 years ago
nice character to the sound - i like it ! thankyou.
Chris Gunn
19 years ago
I really like it! How about making it compatible with the Poly 800 sysex ?! that would kick some booty.
Jose Morales
19 years ago
sounds very similar to original
Morgan Visconti
19 years ago
Hi Alex I'd appreciate any help. I think you'll find that the filter is Monophonic. However, I didn't quite get it to react to the highest key, rather than follow the most recent key. A scan of the original surface would be really cool. Also I don't have an actual synth for reference. It sure would be easier.
Alex Drinkwater
19 years ago
Hi Morgan, cool! This is a project I started myself a while back, but never finished (I eventually bought an EX-800 instead). Glad someone else has taken it on though. You got further than me too. One thing I did notice though- you've missed out the one thing that makes this synth unique, I think- the monophonic filter. That's probably something you wouldn't have found on the datasheets, as it was a cost-saving measure (and probably not something they're particularly proud of), but had a big effect on the sound. Would you mind if I tweaked your design a little to restore this? I also have an old Poly-800 Mk.1 kicking around under my bed, and was thinking of scanning the front-panel to use as a background for the instrument. I'll get on to that as soon as things quieten down here at work. Cheers again- good job, Alex ( toneburst ) http://www.toneburst.net/index.html
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