I've not even touched a M2 before, but it's to my understanding that:
AFTER the HAWK mod to a M2.. the only difference between the M1/M2 units is the FX board. The new ROM can control the settings on FX like before (it might be possible to program ROM to do more tricks to M2 FX via new code later on though.. )
DURING the mod (installation).. the M1 is much simpler to install. The M2 unit involves more jumpers and soldering.. extra steps vs. the M1.
BEFORE the mod.. the M2 is of course the better choice. The M2 has the delay FX, plus it has sysex support already in ROM. I think I've seen maps of the individual parameters for CC in the M2 manual.
M1 doesnt have that at all.. it mostly sends only notes and joystick data.
The HAWK removes the M2 sysex and places it's own code in.. a much MUCH better set of instructions.
I'd like to have a M2, but it was nice to avoid the extra installation steps involved in modding a HAWK into one... it was frustrating enough desoldering two chips off the main board.
I use a ART FXR Elite unit for digital delays/chorus/flanger, etc.
Onboard Delay FX would be nice to have though, I'd admit.
-Blaine
--- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, w.james.meagher@... wrote:
>
> Hello all, I recently decided to sell my Poly 800 because I'm going to invest in all the available mods, and want to do it on cleaner machine than the one I had (it was pretty beat-up, graphics rubbed off and buttons tricky to trigger).
>
> I'm wondering what the group recommendation is as to whether I should get another Poly 800 or get a 800mkII? I've never actually played a MkII so I'm not 100% sure that (chorus vs. d.delay notwithstanding), they sound absolutely alike...
>
> All suggestions and opinions welcome!
>
> Cheers,
> James
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>