Polysix Original Sounds for PolysixEX

dongfang · Post by **dongfang** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 12:29 pm

Hi Polysix(EX) and Kronos enthusiasts,

While creating the PolysixEX Reference Cards, I came across the KORG Polysix Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer - Settings Charts.
These Settings Charts have the sound settings of original Polysix sounds.
I thought that it would be a useful exercise to program these sounds.

And...here they are!
These 64 original sounds are 'Kronosified' to make them more attractive. But still, back to the 80-ies.
Feel free to modify these sounds to fit your needs.

What's in the pack?
- PolysixEX Original.PCG: 64 Kronosified original sounds. The PCG file which goes standard to Bank User-EE (be careful if you want to load it into another bank).
- KORG PolysixEX Sound Set.pdf: document with a list of the sounds of the PolysixEX Original.PCG, and which controls to use to modify the sound while playing.

Download at:
http://www.dfsxpertsys.com/kronos/Polys ... ackDFS.zip

For links to the original Polysix documents, please see:
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=79463

For the PolysixEX Tone Adjust Tool - handy when modifying these sounds - please see:
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=79355

Enjoy

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:36 pm

Another excellent contribution, thank you!!

dongfang · Post by **dongfang** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:00 pm

Thanks BillW, you're welcome.
These sounds are a good starting point to create your own.
Using the PolysixEX, that is.
They range from organ, synth, strings, bass, to sound effects.

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:14 pm

I've already found a perfect use for one of them. I blended it with some RMI samples for a Genesis song. I can't remember which patch it was, but it was harpsichord-like. I loaded almost all of them into my Kronos.

dongfang · Post by **dongfang** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:23 pm

Cool!
Probably 12, 31 or 44.
You can make them 'fatter/wider' by going to the Basic/Vector -> Program Basic tab.
You can try:
- Number of Voices: 3 (or 5)
- Detune: 012 (or 024)
- Thickness: 03 (or 05)

For program 12 and 31 you also have to select Unison (red square) first to make it work.

By the way I have a tutorial explaining these settings.
I think end next week it's finished.

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:45 am

Awesome. I have a Polysix that I bought when they first came out. I had the original sounds saved on a cassette tape but that's long lost as well as the tape machine. This will bring back some very fond memories.

dongfang · Post by **dongfang** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 9:57 pm

Thanks jeremykeys, I'm happy to hear that

I'm very curious to know if they sound close to the 'real thing' when played on the Kronos.

Francois · Post by **Francois** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 11:01 pm

Thanks for this.

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:06 pm

dongfang wrote:Thanks jeremykeys, I'm happy to hear that

I'm very curious to know if they sound close to the 'real thing' when played on the Kronos.

I'd love to be able to tell you but my P6 hasn't worked properly in 15 years. I was actually getting around to getting it fixed when the Kronos came out but as far as I can tell from porgramming it myself it sounds the same. To test it properly though I would have to run it in mono with no IFX.

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:45 pm

Thanks for the effort!

I had a Polysix as well, and when I bought the Kronos, I could get one again for some hours, to compare original and Kronos engine. They are not identical, but even two original Polysix did not sound completely identical (porting cassette tape sounds from one to another did not result in exactly the same sound).
I still have an orignal tape plus a tape with my own sounds. Those will probably stay buried there, and I lost the charts for them.

Generally, the Kronos Polysix engine sounds a bit more bright and harsh with the same filter settings as in the original charts. So you have to make it a bit more smooth in comparison by manual adjustment.

If you do this kind of fine tuning, the results are not too much apart any longer, and the Kronos Polysix is really a very nice engine coming quite close to the original.

The original settings were just meant as a kind of starting point for buyers anyway, by the way, most of them trying to remind of some natural instruments. The presets were never used much by keyboarders, and did not become famous like some Prophet 5 presets. Most Polysix synths in use were and are programmed by keyboarders in a way not trying to mimic natural instruments, but trying to deliver original synth sounds fitting in a musical context.

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:28 am

That's very true. As soon as I had mine I was changing sounds like crazy. Memory on a synth. What a concept that was way back when!

Art Rokz · Post by **Art Rokz** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:53 am

Thanks for this!

miljantoto · Post by **miljantoto** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:34 am

Thanks Jeremy

dongfang · Post by **dongfang** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:28 pm

@jeremykeys
@jimknopf
Thanks for your input!
I'm happy to hear that the Kronos PolysixEX is close to the real thing.

Indeed, the original settings are a good starting point to understand the sounds. At least, the were for me.
But, not all great sounds however.

To make the PolysixEX come alive again, you might want to look at these tutorials

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... 892#530892

Chrutil · Post by **Chrutil** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:08 pm

This is great!! Thanks a bunch!

C