Polysix or RS-505 in a rack

[harness]

Looking for something that sounds like a Polysix or Roland RS 505 Paraphonic, but in a rack format, hopefully not more than 2u. Something that sounds like the soundtrack of old B-movie horror flicks from the 70s and early 80s.

[Alex E]

My best bet would be a Roland MKS-30.

[Hybrid88]

Not a rack but you can usually pick these up for a fair price;

[space6oy]

guy even does jump.

[garranimal]

I've been looking at the Roland MSE-1 'String Ensemble' rompler but haven't been convinced by demos or reviews that it can do anything besides orchestral instruments. Another rompler is E-Mu Vintage Keys.

You probably already know about the JH Triple Chorus and Elkorus effects boxes, that allow you to patch any sterile sawtooth waves in and get that great ensemble out. What I've realized after having my JH Triple Chorus for some time now: it does favor the PolySix sound much more than the Solina. And JH admits that in his design he was studying the Polysix circuit in addition to the Crumar Performer.

[harness]

wow that Elkorus sounds the closest to what I'm looking for. Didn't know about either of those, thanks for the heads up. Tad pricey for just a chorus box, but its got the sound and rack format I'm looking for.

The JH triple Chorus sounds nice too, but the Elkorus is closer, plus I'm not sure I have the time or the balls to attempt to build.

Thanks all for the other suggestions as well.

[plikestechno]

Not a rack but you can usually pick these up for a fair price;

I got one of these for $40 on Ebay a few months ago. They're obviously limited but great and I keep mine MIDI'd to my Juno 60 to thicken up its strings and basses.

[Pro5]

Korg EX-8000! Closer than an MKS-30 by far (to polysix and 'eerie' John Carpenter 80s style).

[harness]

totally forgot about the ex 8000. I was going to look into one, but got a mks70 and didn't give it a second thought. So, does your DW 8000 deliver that haunting quality in the pad department, and how is the 8 voice stacked mono mode?

[Pro5]

totally forgot about the ex 8000. I was going to look into one, but got a mks70 and didn't give it a second thought. So, does your DW 8000 deliver that haunting quality in the pad department, and how is the 8 voice stacked mono mode?

I prefer it over my (sold) JX-8P which does pretty much the same sounds as an MKS70. the MKS will give you silkier/gorgeous pads/strings but you said you wanted something similar to a polysix/early 80s horror film and the DW-8000 is far closer to that description than the Latter JX/MKS-70. There's nothing much spooky about a JX. If I was trying to sound like "B-movie horror flicks" of the late 70s/early 80s - I think the JX-8P/10/MKS-70 would have been the last one I'd turn to out of the analog synths I've owned.

If you like the sound of the MKS-70 though then you've found what you were looking for and perhaps your original description (Polysix - which sounds NOTHING like a JX-10/MKS-70) was what you thought you wanted before you heard the silky smooth pads of the MKS?

DW/EX-8000 is far darker and creepy sounding - in some ways moreso than a polysix, a bit like an AX-80 but with better implementation and a bit less harsh filter. For pads though, I wouldn't call the EX 'Haunting' like a polysix, maybe with a load of effects on it, but then I think the MKS-70 is more epic/glorious than haunting.

I was thinking more for leads, sequence lines, bass lines the EX was gonna sound more 'scary' than a JX (which it does and is better at for those things).

Unison - well it's digital oscilators so it's never gonna sound as good as VCO imo, polysix is a monster in unison mode. However, it is suprisingly effective in thickening up bassy or lead (with portamento) sounds and sounds far more punchy/aggressive than any JX/MKS-70. It can also sound fairly smooth considering it's oscs, if you are enjoying the pads on the MKS then you'll gain little from ADDING the EX, but for everything else the EX has more of an edge and sounds less digital imo.

[harness]

I got the MKS to replace my 106 and use it layered with a PC361. My intent was not to gain that spooky sound with the MKS, I just forgot about the EX 8000 once I had an analog pad machine, and now decided I want that sound. Looked up a vid and the Korg sounds NICE. I'm gonna have to find one and give it a go.

Thanks for all the info.

[garranimal]

Has anyone tried the TC Electronics new Corona stereo-in/stereo-out chorus pedal? It boasts what is being called a "tri-chorus" or three pitch phased modulations for lush chorus sounds. Does this sound familiar? It is the technology that many vintage stringers have been using since the 70s to turn simple sawtooth synth into lush swirling string ensemble sounds. The pedal has controls for everything, speed, depth, level, and even tone (is it a filter or an EQ?) I haven't tried this pedal yet, but I'm dying.

EDIT: Argh, I got really excited about nothing there for a moment. Just got back from playing the Corona Pedal and while it sounded nice as a guitar chorus it is just that. I put the pedal through a Juno-G and tried some different programs, Electric Pianos sounded nice and Organs too but simple synth pad sounds never approached the 'shimmering' string machine sound for me.