Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

just got my Poly 800...need some tips.

2012-10-22 by john durbin

I got my Poly 800 MK1 last week.

I put some batteries in it, and it had some great patches from the previous user.

I fell asleep messing with it, batteries died.

Tried a 9v plug, and it made all the patches sound almost identical, but really messed up.

I started to look online and found a wav. file to restore the default settings.

After doing that I started poking around and familiarizing myself with it.

Seems some of the parameters show no value when selected, and moving the value up and down causes no effect. I forget of the top of my head but it seems these parameters were part of the DCO2 set. I will double check this tonight for specifics.

Some of the buttons seem a little out of shape, hyper sensitive when selecting the numbers.

It's not in great shape but it's in decent shape.

My plan is to get the HAWK mod upgrade kit, and eventually add many more knobs and switches to hopefully do some fast editing etc.

It's difficult to decipher information about sending CC messages from a controller, OR from something like Max For Live using Ableton. I was hoping to build a controller of sorts, but just in the meantime until I get tactile editing.

So my first few questions:

1. What is recommended just to check things out and get it working properly as is. Should I install a memory battery or not? Suggestions on cleaning things up inside?

2. Can someone clarify what exactly erases patches? If I leave it on with batteries and they die, patches die?

3. Is it possible to use something like a Novation keyboards knobs to control parameters in the Poly800?

That should be enough to get started prior to modifying.

THANKS!

Re: [korgpolyex] just got my Poly 800...need some tips.

2012-10-22 by Paul Morison

Fell asleep while playing it-WOW-I remeber doin that with my first Jupiter 6 I bought-Happy days!!
Long live the 80'ss!!!!

From: john durbin <particle808@...>
To: "korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com" <korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, 22 October 2012, 21:53
Subject: [korgpolyex] just got my Poly 800...need some tips.

I got my Poly 800 MK1 last week.

I put some batteries in it, and it had some great patches from the previous user.

I fell asleep messing with it, batteries died.

Tried a 9v plug, and it made all the patches sound almost identical, but really messed up.

I started to look online and found a wav. file to restore the default settings.

After doing that I started poking around and familiarizing myself with it.

Seems some of the parameters show no value when selected, and moving the value up and down causes no effect. I forget of the top of my head but it seems these parameters were part of the DCO2 set. I will double check this tonight for specifics.

Some of the buttons seem a little out of shape, hyper sensitive when selecting the numbers.

It's not in great shape but it's in decent shape.

My plan is to get the HAWK mod upgrade kit, and eventually add many more knobs and switches to hopefully do some fast editing etc.

It's difficult to decipher information about sending CC messages from a controller, OR from something like Max For Live using Ableton. I was hoping to build a controller of sorts, but just in the meantime until I get tactile editing.

So my first few questions:

1. What is recommended just to check things out and get it working properly as is. Should I install a memory battery or not? Suggestions on cleaning things up inside?

2. Can someone clarify what exactly erases patches? If I leave it on with batteries and they die, patches die?

3. Is it possible to use something like a Novation keyboards knobs to control parameters in the Poly800?

That should be enough to get started prior to modifying.

THANKS!

Re: [korgpolyex] just got my Poly 800...need some tips.

2012-10-22 by Gordon JC Pearce

On 22/10/12 21:53, john durbin wrote:

> Seems some of the parameters show no value when selected, and moving the
> value up and down causes no effect. I forget of the top of my head but
> it seems these parameters were part of the DCO2 set. I will double check
> this tonight for specifics.

Check that DCO2 is actually turned on - there are eight oscillators, so
you can have eight-note poly single-oscillator, or four-note poly
dual-oscillator patches. If param 18 is set to 1, you can't fiddle with
the (nonexistent) DCO2.

> Some of the buttons seem a little out of shape, hyper sensitive when
> selecting the numbers.

Get thee to eBay and buy a huge bag of little clicky tact switches, some
solder braid, a pair of tweezers or forceps, and a really good pair of
snips. Remove the top panel PCB and *once you're sure* the
clickyswitches are the same (you get different heights of button) clip
off all the old ones with the snips, desolder and remove the legs with
the tweezers, and clean up the excess solder with the braid. Now solder
in all the new clickyswitches making sure you use leaded solder -
lead-free is useless stuff and will only cause you problems. Do them
all at once, because you don't want to be getting that stuff apart twice.

Have fun.

--
Gordon JC Pearce MM0YEQ