Korg Poly800/EX800 Users

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.

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.
>

Note: that's if mine even HAS that rom...
Is there any way to tell from the way the device behaves (without
opening it?)

--- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, "Alexander" <arf_hotdogdeity@...>
wrote:

>
> 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.
> >
>

The MDK ROM was for the Poly 800 MK1 only. It made the original Poly 
800 sysex capable.

The MKII and EX both had built in sysex.

Mind you, the sysex implementation was very basic.

So I was hoping I could find someone with the MDK ROM but it doesn't 
matter a great deal. In the end, doing the full disassembly of the 
EX800 and Poly 800 should be enough.

I don't have a MKII so won't be "coding" to that.

My inclination is to focus on the EX because it is going to be far 
more simple to work on a module with no keyboard and no joystick.

Plus, it is going to be easier to drop in a retro fit kit in the EX.

But hey, this is going to take a couple of years anyway.

I'll check in again in a week or so after I get copies of the ROM's.

Mike H.

--- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, "Alexander" <arf_hotdogdeity@...> 
wrote:
>
> Note: that's if mine even HAS that rom...
> Is there any way to tell from the way the device behaves (without
> opening it?)
> 
> --- In korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com, "Alexander" <arf_hotdogdeity@>
> wrote:
> >
> > 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.
> > >
> >
>