Rhodes Chroma Polaris

Hi just wondering if anyone knows if it is easy to change the Polaris to operate on 240v for the UK/Europe.
Is it an easy thing to do, with jumpers etc.. I don't see any Polaris's here in the UK so just wondering.
Currently use my Ensoniq with a Stepdown transformer so its not a problem to keep it 120v

> From: conorstrachan@...
>
> Hi just wondering if anyone knows if it is easy to change the
> Polaris to operate on 240v for the UK/Europe.
> Is it an easy thing to do, with jumpers etc.. I don't see any
> Polaris's here in the UK so just wondering.
> Currently use my Ensoniq with a Stepdown transformer so its
> not a problem to keep it 120v

There's a slide switch for this purpose inside. You can't miss it.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Thanks Paul.
Looking forward to getting this going in the studio on some tracks!

Hi Paul

Worked a treat!

Just got my Polaris.
Keyboard springs dislodged in transit. That is fine. Strangely one of the keys has a missing weight, no where to be seen.
Output was desoldered in transit that was easy fix.

This one however has turned up with a missing 3372! Two of the voices are failing to calibrate. How would you proceed With two unworking voices, one of them missing VCF?

Sounds incredible though as a four voice!

> From: conorstrachan@...
>
> Worked a treat!
>
> Just got my Polaris.
> Keyboard springs dislodged in transit. That is fine.
> Strangely one of the keys has a missing weight, no where to be seen.
> Output was desoldered in transit that was easy fix.
>
> This one however has turned up with a missing 3372! Two of
> the voices are failing to calibrate. How would you proceed
> With two unworking voices, one of them missing VCF?
>
> Sounds incredible though as a four voice!

When diagnosing a bad voice, the first thing to do is to try swapping chips between it and a working voice. That's the benefit of having socketed chips. If the problem moves to the other voice, then you've found a bad chip that should be replaced. If none of the chips are bad, then you have to go to the next level and start using tools like a scope, and careful reasoning to figure out what's wrong.

The obvious fix for the missing 3372 is a 3372. Unfortunately, they're a bit pricey.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Great thanks for that Paul going to give it a go now.
Any legit sources of CEM3372's you know of to purchase?

> From: conorstrachan@...
>
> Great thanks for that Paul going to give it a go now.
> Any legit sources of CEM3372's you know of to purchase?

There are some on eBay right now.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Found someone in the UK with them
http://electricdruid.net/product/cem3372-synth-voicing-chip/

Hope they are legit

That is Tom Wiltshire, regular on the synth diy maillist. A very reliable person. But only his website is in the UK. He lives in Portugal.

On 16.06.17 02:06 , conorstrachan@... [chromapolaris] wrote:

 

Found someone in the UK with them
http://electricdruid.net/product/cem3372-synth-voicing-chip/

Hope they are legit

Hey thanks for help.

Turns out one of the 3372's is out. Swapped the chips around. Managed to get five voices working now and all it needs is a 3372 and a 3374 to be fully operational.

Hi, I think you just got the 3372 and 3374 from me. I made sure to send Rev B 3372. It's important to match the existing chips on those.

Hi Doug

Thanks for reaching out. That's right I need two chips to be fully functional. Thanks for finding the matching chips. Really enjoying the Polaris so far, looking forward to getting all oscillators fired up.

Will let you know when I've got them

Cheers

Conor

Hi Doug

Received the chips today and my Polaris is now 110% operational and all cleaned up nicely. Already started to build up my own patch banks and I am really enjoying the unique overall tone it has. Will be featuring on some tracks shortly!

Cheers

Conor

Great, glad to hear it.