What I'd like in a polysynth

Kenneth · Post by **Kenneth** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:37 am

Over the years I've spent playing with synthesizers, I have quested for many things, most of which I have found. One of the things I have not yet found is a polyphonic synthesizer that behaves the way I'd like it to.

What I would like: 6-8 voices. ANALOG. VCO, not DCO. Two oscillators per voice is preferred, and if it has only one per voice it must have a lush, quiet chorus available. I'd like it to not be huge (like the OB-8 or Jupe 8). More around the size of the Juno-106. I'd like it to not cost a fortune ($5k for a Prophet 5? $6k for a Jupe 8? $12k for a Memorymoog???). Around the $1k mark is appropriate. Now, the most important thing: NO ZIPPER EFFECT. When I tweak a parameter, I want to hear it smoothly and musically morph into a new sound. I don't want to hear any of that horrible, digital-sounding mess like on the Juno-106 and the Prophet 600. I want it to be MUSICAL.

My question: Does such a synthesizer exist? It seems like the Korg Polysix might be close to the mark, but I've never played one, or even seen one in real life.

Sir Ruff · Post by **Sir Ruff** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:03 am

Maybe check out a prophet-600 or chroma polaris.

(No one's paying $5k for prophet-5s or $12k for memorymoogs. Where did you get those numbers?)

Kenneth · Post by **Kenneth** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:13 am

Sir Ruff wrote:Maybe check out a prophet-600 or chroma polaris.

(No one's paying $5k for prophet-5s or $12k for memorymoogs. Where did you get those numbers?)

Believe it or not, I've seen both those prices on eBay "buy it now" auctions on a few occasions. No one may be buying them for those prices, but these sellers have serious disconnections with reality. The P600 seems like it has really noticeable stepping issues, which I want to avoid. The Chroma Polaris is one I've been interested in for a while, but they don't pop up very often. I'd like to learn more about that one. What do you think of the Polysix?

GuyaGuy · Post by **GuyaGuy** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:17 am

Kenneth wrote:Over the years I've spent playing with synthesizers, I have quested for many things, most of which I have found. One of the things I have not yet found is a polyphonic synthesizer that behaves the way I'd like it to.

What I would like: 6-8 voices. ANALOG. VCO, not DCO. Two oscillators per voice is preferred, and if it has only one per voice it must have a lush, quiet chorus available. I'd like it to not be huge (like the OB-8 or Jupe 8). More around the size of the Juno-106. I'd like it to not cost a fortune ($5k for a Prophet 5? $6k for a Jupe 8? $12k for a Memorymoog???). Around the $1k mark is appropriate. Now, the most important thing: NO ZIPPER EFFECT. When I tweak a parameter, I want to hear it smoothly and musically morph into a new sound. I don't want to hear any of that horrible, digital-sounding mess like on the Juno-106 and the Prophet 600. I want it to be MUSICAL.

My question: Does such a synthesizer exist? It seems like the Korg Polysix might be close to the mark, but I've never played one, or even seen one in real life.

Polysix has 1 VCO/voice, albeit with sub osc.

Zipper effect can be musical if you know how to rock it.

Sir Ruff wrote:Maybe check out a prophet-600 or chroma polaris.

(No one's paying $5k for prophet-5s or $12k for memorymoogs. Where did you get those numbers?)

The P600 has some audible zippering, depending on the setting and no chorus. AFAIK the Polaris doesn't have chorus either. But I wouldn't worry too much about chorus. Cheap stereo chorus pedals are readily available.

tekkentool · Post by **tekkentool** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:48 am

Stereo chorus VST's are even cheaper.

Big features command big price. Something like an A6 could cover more bases than you imagined you had though.

Bitexion · Post by **Bitexion** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:37 am

Drag your a*s out of the 80s and you'll find several modern pure analogue polysynths that fit the bill, that DON'T have countless battery leaking issues and broken capasitors.

Alesis Andromeda A6 (16 analogue voices, 2 vco pr voice, each with a sub oscilator, 2 filters (24db lowpass and 12db mulitmode, all the usual reverb and delay effects, analog distortion etc etc, 3 cv inputs on each main module, and all other kinds of bits and bobs you might want). The A6 is the dream synth project of people who took inspirations from every well-known vintage synth and thought to throw them all inside one. And managed to do it without going bankrupt in the planning stages. They even put a keyboard-length ribbon controller in there for good measure that can be assigned to any parameter.

Prophet'08, this one I don't own but have heard little but praise about it.

Carey M · Post by **Carey M** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:25 am

Kenneth wrote:Now, the most important thing: NO ZIPPER EFFECT. When I tweak a parameter, I want to hear it smoothly and musically morph into a new sound. I don't want to hear any of that horrible, digital-sounding mess like on the Juno-106 and the Prophet 600. I want it to be MUSICAL.

My question: Does such a synthesizer exist? It seems like the Korg Polysix might be close to the mark, but I've never played one, or even seen one in real life.

I just checked and the Chroma Polaris filter slider is definitely quantized. IIRC, It's not as bad as the P-600, but yes, you can hear it at high resonance sounds. And no, it doesn't have chorus. I used to own a Polysix and honestly can't remember if it zippers or not. I was never annoyed by it, but I'm not a big live tweaker. But most programmable vintage polysynths do zipper.

In your price range, by your description, I'd recommend the Polysix above others. But like many vintage synths, it has it's share of potential tech hazards (leaking battery, key contacts, etc.), as Bitexion pointed out. My Polaris needs some capacitors replaced and a few keys repaired, my JP-4 is being repaired right now, but I don't really mind as I really like the sound and I'm willing to deal with the extra hassle, if needed, to get it. I can appreciate that many do not.

I'm still intrigued by The A6, even if our first encounter left me cold. They're getting pricier though..

- CM

Bitexion · Post by **Bitexion** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:00 am

The A6 is such a big and complex beast, you need to spend at least three weeks just prodding it to get underneath its skin. THEN you will find out there is nothing like it out there.

GuyaGuy · Post by **GuyaGuy** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:41 pm

Bitexion wrote:Drag your a*s out of the 80s and you'll find several modern pure analogue polysynths that fit the bill, that DON'T have countless battery leaking issues and broken capasitors.

Alesis Andromeda A6 (16 analogue voices, 2 vco pr voice, each with a sub oscilator, 2 filters (24db lowpass and 12db mulitmode, all the usual reverb and delay effects, analog distortion etc etc, 3 cv inputs on each main module, and all other kinds of bits and bobs you might want). The A6 is the dream synth project of people who took inspirations from every well-known vintage synth and thought to throw them all inside one. And managed to do it without going bankrupt in the planning stages. They even put a keyboard-length ribbon controller in there for good measure that can be assigned to any parameter.

Prophet'08, this one I don't own but have heard little but praise about it.

The A6 is way out of the OP's $1K price range and the P08 has DCOs and no chorus.

The Polysix might be the only unit to meet all the OP's demands. VCO synths ain't cheap these days.

Synthetech · Post by **Synthetech** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:51 pm

like the other d00d said, get your butt out of the 80's

There's a good reason synth mfr's dont use VCO's anymore.. they drift out of synch eventually.

Have you thought about building your own poly synth?

Check out Mutable Instrument's Ambika

http://mutable-instruments.net/ambika

You can mix and match up the filters if you wish to do so.. I think MI's stuff is really good stuff for a very fair price. A six voice Ambika will run you around $665 USD plus perhaps some S&H.

I have not messed with one myself, but I bet the zippering effect is minimal to zero on these units, check out the sounds from the Demo's on their site.

Here's one to get you started...

Carey M · Post by **Carey M** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:03 am

Synthetech wrote: There's a good reason synth mfr's dont use VCO's anymore.. they drift out of synch eventually.

Many manufacturers use VCOs nowadays. The abundance of stable VCOs in the modular world is almost overwhelming. Minibrute, Vermona synths, Studio Electronics gear and all the Moog synths are VCOs. And if I'm not mistaken, the Mutable instruments Anushri is a VCO synth...

In fact, DSI synths are the only modern DCO synths I can think of. MI Ambika has digital oscs (like Shruthi).

Synthetech · Post by **Synthetech** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:18 am

Carey M wrote: Many manufacturers use VCOs nowadays. The abundance of stable VCOs in the modular world is almost overwhelming. Minibrute, Vermona synths, Studio Electronics gear and all the Moog synths are VCOs. And if I'm not mistaken, the Mutable instruments Anushri is a VCO synth...

How many and which one's of those you listed are Polyphonic synths?

polyjuno · Post by **polyjuno** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:03 am

Kenneth wrote:Over the years I've spent playing with synthesizers, I have quested for many things, most of which I have found. One of the things I have not yet found is a polyphonic synthesizer that behaves the way I'd like it to.

What I would like: 6-8 voices. ANALOG. VCO, not DCO. Two oscillators per voice is preferred, and if it has only one per voice it must have a lush, quiet chorus available. I'd like it to not be huge (like the OB-8 or Jupe 8). More around the size of the Juno-106. I'd like it to not cost a fortune ($5k for a Prophet 5? $6k for a Jupe 8? $12k for a Memorymoog???). Around the $1k mark is appropriate. Now, the most important thing: NO ZIPPER EFFECT. When I tweak a parameter, I want to hear it smoothly and musically morph into a new sound. I don't want to hear any of that horrible, digital-sounding mess like on the Juno-106 and the Prophet 600. I want it to be MUSICAL.

My question: Does such a synthesizer exist? It seems like the Korg Polysix might be close to the mark, but I've never played one, or even seen one in real life.

Yeah, the Polysix is probably the one closest to fulfilling all your requirements. I haven't tried one myself, so I can't speak for its 'musicality' (which is a rather subjective matter anyway?).

If it wasn't for restricting to VCOs only, I would recommend the Juno-6. Unlike the 106, it has no zippering whatsoever, and I find it to be very musical. Something about the envelopes (again, different from the 106) is just "right". To me, it has a very natural kind of response. I've had other synths where the envelopes behaved in a way where I didn't feel such a musical connection to the instrument (for instance, the Akai AX-60 I had a while ago had linear envelopes, so the sound would suddenly get loud a little while after I pressed the key. It was a huge irritation to me). Also, the filter on the Juno-6 is very good (same as on Jupiter 8).

Automatic Gainsay · Post by **Automatic Gainsay** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:09 am

Kenneth, get a CS-50 or CS-60 and be done with it.
Roland polysynths are bullshit in regard to what you what.
If you want a warm, interesting, functionally diverse, musically expressive analog synth, you want a CS-50.

P.S. Chorus is the destruction of tone. Put a chorus on something which LACKS tone.

Post by **silikon** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:38 am

Kenneth wrote:polyphonic synthesizer that behaves the way I'd like it to.

In your ideal world, how would this behave?

Kenneth wrote:What I would like: 6-8 voices. ANALOG. VCO, not DCO.

Why leave out DCO and everything else in between?

Kenneth wrote:Around the $1k mark is appropriate.

I wish you luck on your quest. Limiting yourself in the manner you have, and also being inflexible in price will eventually be the downfall in said quest. I believe that beyond the Polysix and the Chroma Polaris, you're at full stop on this train ride. And even at that, I believe the last couple Chroma Polaris' that sold were a touch north of your price point.

I would still be interested in why you're limiting yourself to a VCO machine -- if the end result is musical (a subjective viewpoint by most definitions), then who cares what the basis begins as? There are heaps of great DCO machines as well as VA, PM, and Wavetable synths that you're effectively missing out on.

...or are you trying to troll?

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