Poly-800 Poly-800 Hybrid analog/digital synthesizer Aaahh. The Poly-800.

• Korg Poly 800 Review

This is the synthesizer that made me upgrade to my first 'real' synthesizer (a Casio CZ-1000) in 1987. Back then I had a Gem DSK-8 accompaniment keyboard, but a schoolmate of mine had a Poly-800, and I often got to play it. I fell in love with it.

It was capable of those gorgeous analog strings and pads that my Gem really couldn't do. The Poly-800 has a very recognizable sound - typically '80s Korg.

The joystick is great and allows the player to add nice touches to performances (and the odd 'helicopter/Martian/atomic bomb' effects in between if you bend it down instead of up). Other cool features include Chord Memory and Hold. There is also a simple sequencer that is very easy to use and a welcome plus at gigs. The programming is typical -style, mid-80s early digital: an edit button, a keypad, and a myriad of parameters that can be changed - rigorously - one by one.

It's easy, but time consuming. I find this synth to be similar in concept and function to my first synth, the Casio CZ-1000.

The sound, however, is what counts, and the Poly-800 doesn't disappoint. If you can live with the limitations (low polyphony, only one filter, no velocity etc.), this synthesizer will reward you with great sounds.

Korg Poly-800 audio demos Factory sequence: - a short demo showcasing the built-in sequencer. Factory patches: Preset name with audio demo My comments Beautiful, delicate string pad Typical analog piano. Totally '80s! This is one of the Poly-800's signature sounds.

Well programmed to include the noisy attack portion. An outstanding synthesizer sound with a great acid, slow resonant filter sweep effect. Better used as analog pad. Electric organ sound, pretty cool. Another signature sound. Meaty, big-sounding synth, great for chords.

Obligatory comp synth a 'la '70s early polyphonic. Another 'Lucky Man' lead synth.

Unfortunately there's no portamento on the Poly-800. Useful nonetheless. This sound is probably inspired by the Oberheim OB- riff in Prince's '1999'.

Warm, analog-sounding string pad. The Poly-800 excels at these kinds of sounds. This is probably a typographical error, but in the manual sound 26 is named like sound 21. I renamed it '2':-) And this is just a great sound! Rubbery, warm and just the right glue for your mix! OK Hammond impersonation.

Reminds me a bit of the synth bass in 'Smalltown Boy' by Bronski Beat. A classic 1980s synth bass sound. The Lambda was Korg's own string-synth.

This excellent preset is composed of gentle bells fading into low strings. Excellent for atmospheres, pads, and haunting ambient pieces.

Again a reference to the Oberheim OB series (OB Cross, = OB-X), very popular during those years. Cool ana-pad. Small string ensemble playing in the high register. Says it's a bass but sounds better as brass. The Synthe also was a dedicated bass-synth from Korg A cool reso-synth. As usual, the jazz guitar preset is good.

An easy instrument to emulate. One of the Poly-800's best tricks is modulation.

Plenty of fun to be had with special effects, like this. Again showing off those envelopes.

Typically '80s, good for Madonna, Talk Talk, etc. Funny reso-synth. I'm playing a bit with the joystick - opening the VCF modulation. Haunting, mysterious. Variation on a theme. Realistic brass ensemble.

Ok, but with the polyphony down to 4, a bit though to play without dropping notes. Or sci-fi noises. Now, what did the programmer mean by 'Synthenelli'?

Just what it says. Synthesized Harpsichord.

Classical quality. 'Synthi'er' variation of the above. Great fusion lead sound! Think Pat Metheny band. A nice, gentle, calming sound!

Korg Poly 800 Review

Great for New Age. Excellent sound!

The programming of the 'hitting' part is just great, almost FM'ish in character - but all done rigorously in digi-analog subtractive. Another Poly-800 signature sound. A bit synthetic - otherwise, ok string sound. Great trombone sound!

With percussion. Jazzy Do you think the Poly-800 programmer liked Oberheim synths?:-) Soft, child memories. Another good reso-synth. Like the jazz guitar, accordion is easy to emulate in analog. Great job, in this case too.

Typical '80s poly. A nice honky-tonk piano, but again, with 4-voice polyphony, hard to play without note-stealing. Very cool sound. However notice how the single filter opens when adding the right hand.

Great, warm, huge analog reso-pad! Variant of the above. Disappearing in the hole. One-finger melody.

The multi-stage envelopes. Great sound!!! Just like in King Arthur's castle.

Clean, crispy and cutting organ sound. Hypnotic, haunting. Variation again.

More 'Moog' this time. Gentle and unobtrusive. The noise breath attack is too hard. Interesting envelope programming. The Martians are coming. Features.

small and portable;. great '80s look;. warm analog sound;. can be strapped-on for a total '80s experience! Features at a glance Year of release: 1984 Polyphony: 8-voice Presets: 64 Keyboard: 49-keys (four octaves) Responds to velocity: no Sound generation method: analog MIDI: yes, in-out Sound expansion capabilities: No Misc: on board step-sequencer; pedal input to step through presets Effects: basic Chorus (delay was added on Mark II) Controls: joystick controls Pitch Bend, DCO, and VCF modulation Outputs: stereo L+R Weight: 10 pounds.

The Korg Poly-800 Series, produced between 1983 and 1987 was the first fully programmable synthesizer that sold for under a thousand bucks. The original price of $795.

Was within reach of the average keyboard player. It was an affordable addition for the studio or live gig and had easy access to excellent analog sounds. Korg sold a lot of them. The Original Poly-800 was one of the first synths with midi, but it did not include MIDI system exclusive parameters and all sounds that were programmed had to be backed up to a data cassette. However, there was a not so well known ROM chip update that you could purchase that once installed gave you sysex capabilities. There are probably several original Poly's still around with the chip installed so check yours out to see if you happen to have the update. The Poly 800 was also one of the first synths with Digitally Controlled Oscillators, which are known for a stable pitch and without the usual tuning problems of the Voltage Controlled Oscillators that were on most analog synths produced during the time.

The Poly is velocity sensitive, has aftertouch and holds 64 patches in memory. It has eight voice polyphony with one Digitally Controlled Oscillators per voice and can be switched into double mode which stacks two DCOs for a fatter sound, but reduces the polyphony to only four notes.

It featured one analog lowpass Voltage Controlled filter for all voices. It has three digital envelope generators, a noise generator, a Low Frequency Oscillator and a Chorus FX. It also included a 'very basic' built in sequencer. Korg EX-800 Rack The Poly-800 could be run off batteries and had guitar strap pegs, letting us keyboard players wear it like a guitar. A new idea way back in the early 80's!

In 1984 the rack mount version 'EX-800' was released and added MIDI sysex parameters. 1985 saw the release of the Poly-800 MkII, which featured a digital delay instead chorus fx and included MIDI sysex functions. It was produced until 1987. The Kid Nepro Poly 800 patches are available in the following formats: WAV files - connect your computer audio output to your Poly-800 cassette interface input and you can load in the sounds the same way you would from the data cassette tape. The files will open in any program that plays WAV files. The advantage to getting this format over the data cassette is that you can download it, saving yourself time and shipping charges. System exclusive files (.syx) - for those of you with a EX-800, Poly-800-MK2 or an original Poly 800 with the ROM chip upgrade.

Sounds can be loaded through the Korg's midi port. You need a midi interface or sound card to connect to the synths midi input.

We provide the software that lets you load in the new sounds. The sounds are available in both Mac and PC formats. This format is also available via our FREE download delivery. There are two banks of sounds included in the collection. Each sound bank contains 64 new programs for a total of 128 new sounds. Just click on the links above to view the patch name lists.

Our sounds will also get you back in business if your Poly 800 battery has died and you lost all the sounds in the memory. Please contact us via phone or e-mail if you need any more info.