Korg Poly800/EX800 Users

I'm glad i'm not the only person who thinks this is a good idea. 
I could do without the LCD even just for an arpeggiator (maybe tied in
with the sequencer like the roland SH32 does?)

I'll see if i can find a EEPROM reader/writer for cheap. I'm not too
scared to take a soldering iron to my gear :)
I've got a poly800MkII and i don't know how much different this is
going to be from the ex800.

--- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, "patrioticduo" <patrioticduo@...>
wrote:
>
> Well, this might take a few years but here are my plans.
> 
> I see all these great modifications being done but wouldn't it be nice
> if they were fully supported within the programming of the instrument
> itself? Why drill all of those nasty holes in your Poly when you could
> program them right from the front panel? Ok, since we're thinking
> about that, why not replace the display and keys with a more up to
> date method. Maybe LCD with some real descriptions on the screen? And
> those switches aren't going to last forever.
> 
> So at this point, I've found an 8085 disassembler. Over the next few
> weeks I'm going to make a copy of the EX800 ROM and also a copy of the
> Poly-800 ROM. Dad - I promise I'll be REALLY careful!
> 
> DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN MDK ROM IN THEIR POLY-800? I would really, really
> like a copy of it.
> 
> And then, I am going to start disassembling the code (read: big job).
> 
> I bought the Korg PS-800/EX-800 Rescue Kit and it is well worth the
> money but I was bitterly disappointed to find that the MDK ROM
> contents were not on the CD. I sort of feel a little bit misled by the
> promo on eBay because it sort of implies that the MDK ROM was on the
> CD but in fact, it's just the MIDI implementation document which is
> useful ony if you have the ROM. Anyway...
> 
> If I can disassemble the code then I am going to be in a position to
> work out what all of the code does. I may be able to determine how
> much ROM space is used for such features as scanning the keyboard, the
> sequencer, the chord programming, etc. Since the entire keyboard and
> all switches are based around an X Y matrix it is possible we would
> save a lot of code space just by reengineering the keyboard system. We
> could reclaim a lot of memory by removing the sequencer entirely too!
> 
> Then, we'll be in a position to integrate digital potentiometers where
> you currently put your mod slayer modifications etc and program those
> as parameters direct on the Poly memory!
> 
> And hopefully, we'll have enough space left in ROM to add some of the
> other features I wanted such as an arpeggiator.
> 
> I am also thinking that we may be able to just double the ROM space by
>  finding a safe place in the code where we can make a ROM bank switch.
> If we can do that then the skies the limit.
> 
> But before I do all this, what does everyone think about spending a
> little money on their Poly 800? If I go this route, then I would end
> up developing a retrofit card for the Poly and with parts and labor it
> would end up being about $100 - $200. Who thinks they might shell out
> that much for a Poly upgrade?
> 
> Mostly, I am just doing this to keep the 1980's alive!
> 
> Mike H.
>