Discussion about the Korg PolySix synthesizer

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@...> wrote:
>
> After many years faithful service, my polysix seems to have
developed
> a tuning problem :-(
>
> Usually when I first switch it on, and initially hit the keys, the
> VCOs swirl around in pitch for about a second? (I presume that's
some
> kind of autotune routine or sthg.)
>
> However, recently, when I turn it on, this doesn't happen, and the
> oscillators stay at some kind of wierd tuning (all the notes seem
> stretched out, the octaves are about a third or more off pitch!)
>
> One time, I left it for about 20 minutes and when I tried again, it
> was back to normal.
> But yesterday it just remained in this wierd state.
>
> Any suggestions to make it behave?
> I made sure that the pitch bend wheel was centred at power up.
> The VCOs are switched to "stretch tuning" inside, but that's never
> been a problem before, and this is orders of magnitude more
stretched
> than that.
>
> It's not a NiCd battery calamity, as my Polysix was upgraded a few
> years ago to a "PolysixM" (with lithium battery) (Johannes
> Hausensteiner's mod)
>
> DAVID
>

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@...> wrote:
>
> Check the Files section as for how to replace the optocoupler.
>
> Do not touch ANY of the trimpots, as once you replace the bad part it
> should stay in its normal tunning.
>
>
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> >
> > After many years faithful service, my polysix seems to have
> developed
> > a tuning problem :-(
> >
> > Usually when I first switch it on, and initially hit the keys, the
> > VCOs swirl around in pitch for about a second? (I presume that's
> some
> > kind of autotune routine or sthg.)
> >
> > However, recently, when I turn it on, this doesn't happen, and the
> > oscillators stay at some kind of wierd tuning (all the notes seem
> > stretched out, the octaves are about a third or more off pitch!)
> >
> > One time, I left it for about 20 minutes and when I tried again, it
> > was back to normal.
> > But yesterday it just remained in this wierd state.
> >
> > Any suggestions to make it behave?
> > I made sure that the pitch bend wheel was centred at power up.
> > The VCOs are switched to "stretch tuning" inside, but that's never
> > been a problem before, and this is orders of magnitude more
> stretched
> > than that.
> >
> > It's not a NiCd battery calamity, as my Polysix was upgraded a few
> > years ago to a "PolysixM" (with lithium battery) (Johannes
> > Hausensteiner's mod)
> >
> > DAVID
> >
>

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks very much for the advice -
> since that only involves replaceing two components on the boards,
> even my wretched soldering skills oughta be able to handle it -
> and it won't cost more than a few pounds...
> Will definately give it a try!
> DAVID
>
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> >
> > Check the Files section as for how to replace the optocoupler.
> >
> > Do not touch ANY of the trimpots, as once you replace the bad
part it
> > should stay in its normal tunning.
> >
> >
> > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> > >
> > > After many years faithful service, my polysix seems to have
> > developed
> > > a tuning problem :-(
> > >
> > > Usually when I first switch it on, and initially hit the keys,
the
> > > VCOs swirl around in pitch for about a second? (I presume
that's
> > some
> > > kind of autotune routine or sthg.)
> > >
> > > However, recently, when I turn it on, this doesn't happen, and
the
> > > oscillators stay at some kind of wierd tuning (all the notes
seem
> > > stretched out, the octaves are about a third or more off pitch!)
> > >
> > > One time, I left it for about 20 minutes and when I tried
again, it
> > > was back to normal.
> > > But yesterday it just remained in this wierd state.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions to make it behave?
> > > I made sure that the pitch bend wheel was centred at power up.
> > > The VCOs are switched to "stretch tuning" inside, but that's
never
> > > been a problem before, and this is orders of magnitude more
> > stretched
> > > than that.
> > >
> > > It's not a NiCd battery calamity, as my Polysix was upgraded a
few
> > > years ago to a "PolysixM" (with lithium battery) (Johannes
> > > Hausensteiner's mod)
> > >
> > > DAVID
> > >
> >
>

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@...> wrote:
>
> Let us know if it helps...
>
> Had the same exact problem on my Trident and it indeed was the expo
> coverter.
>
> Thanks ;)
>
>
>
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks very much for the advice -
> > since that only involves replaceing two components on the boards,
> > even my wretched soldering skills oughta be able to handle it -
> > and it won't cost more than a few pounds...
> > Will definately give it a try!
> > DAVID
> >
> > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Check the Files section as for how to replace the optocoupler.
> > >
> > > Do not touch ANY of the trimpots, as once you replace the bad
> part it
> > > should stay in its normal tunning.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > After many years faithful service, my polysix seems to have
> > > developed
> > > > a tuning problem :-(
> > > >
> > > > Usually when I first switch it on, and initially hit the keys,
> the
> > > > VCOs swirl around in pitch for about a second? (I presume
> that's
> > > some
> > > > kind of autotune routine or sthg.)
> > > >
> > > > However, recently, when I turn it on, this doesn't happen, and
> the
> > > > oscillators stay at some kind of wierd tuning (all the notes
> seem
> > > > stretched out, the octaves are about a third or more off pitch!)
> > > >
> > > > One time, I left it for about 20 minutes and when I tried
> again, it
> > > > was back to normal.
> > > > But yesterday it just remained in this wierd state.
> > > >
> > > > Any suggestions to make it behave?
> > > > I made sure that the pitch bend wheel was centred at power up.
> > > > The VCOs are switched to "stretch tuning" inside, but that's
> never
> > > > been a problem before, and this is orders of magnitude more
> > > stretched
> > > > than that.
> > > >
> > > > It's not a NiCd battery calamity, as my Polysix was upgraded a
> few
> > > > years ago to a "PolysixM" (with lithium battery) (Johannes
> > > > Hausensteiner's mod)
> > > >
> > > > DAVID
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@...> wrote:
>
> Are all VR's functional on that board ?
>
>
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> >
> > Well, it took a little while to get hold of a replacement
> > opto-resistor, but I fitted it last night...
> > pretty confident I got it soldered in right,
> > but no joy :-(
> > The power-up autotune routine completed much quicker,
> > but the semitones were still all stretched to hell.
> > Looks like my Polysix is gonna have to make a trip to
> > www.synthrepairservices.com ...
> >
> > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Let us know if it helps...
> > >
> > > Had the same exact problem on my Trident and it indeed was the
> expo
> > > coverter.
> > >
> > > Thanks ;)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Thanks very much for the advice -
> > > > since that only involves replaceing two components on the
> boards,
> > > > even my wretched soldering skills oughta be able to handle it -
> > > > and it won't cost more than a few pounds...
> > > > Will definately give it a try!
> > > > DAVID
> > > >
> > > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Check the Files section as for how to replace the optocoupler.
> > > > >
> > > > > Do not touch ANY of the trimpots, as once you replace the bad
> > > part it
> > > > > should stay in its normal tunning.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@>
> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > After many years faithful service, my polysix seems to have
> > > > > developed
> > > > > > a tuning problem :-(
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Usually when I first switch it on, and initially hit the
> keys,
> > > the
> > > > > > VCOs swirl around in pitch for about a second? (I presume
> > > that's
> > > > > some
> > > > > > kind of autotune routine or sthg.)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > However, recently, when I turn it on, this doesn't happen,
> and
> > > the
> > > > > > oscillators stay at some kind of wierd tuning (all the
> notes
> > > seem
> > > > > > stretched out, the octaves are about a third or more off
> pitch!)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > One time, I left it for about 20 minutes and when I tried
> > > again, it
> > > > > > was back to normal.
> > > > > > But yesterday it just remained in this wierd state.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any suggestions to make it behave?
> > > > > > I made sure that the pitch bend wheel was centred at power
> up.
> > > > > > The VCOs are switched to "stretch tuning" inside, but
> that's
> > > never
> > > > > > been a problem before, and this is orders of magnitude more
> > > > > stretched
> > > > > > than that.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It's not a NiCd battery calamity, as my Polysix was
> upgraded a
> > > few
> > > > > > years ago to a "PolysixM" (with lithium battery) (Johannes
> > > > > > Hausensteiner's mod)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > DAVID
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@...> wrote:
>
> I haven't tested anything further yet,
> do you think maybe I should open it up again and make
> some more adjustments?
> Perhaps even just flick the "stretch tuning"/"equal temperament"
> switch and see what difference that makes?
>
> Is it possible I just didn't solder the new vactrol in well?
> (it was quite fiddly to get at some of the pins, since
> it's a bigger component than the original dual-inline IC)
> Or would it not work at all in that case?
>
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> >
> > Are all VR's functional on that board ?
> >
> >
> > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Well, it took a little while to get hold of a replacement
> > > opto-resistor, but I fitted it last night...
> > > pretty confident I got it soldered in right,
> > > but no joy :-(
> > > The power-up autotune routine completed much quicker,
> > > but the semitones were still all stretched to hell.
> > > Looks like my Polysix is gonna have to make a trip to
> > > www.synthrepairservices.com ...
> > >
> > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Let us know if it helps...
> > > >
> > > > Had the same exact problem on my Trident and it indeed was
the
> > expo
> > > > coverter.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks ;)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@>
wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks very much for the advice -
> > > > > since that only involves replaceing two components on the
> > boards,
> > > > > even my wretched soldering skills oughta be able to handle
it -
> > > > > and it won't cost more than a few pounds...
> > > > > Will definately give it a try!
> > > > > DAVID
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Check the Files section as for how to replace the
optocoupler.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Do not touch ANY of the trimpots, as once you replace the
bad
> > > > part it
> > > > > > should stay in its normal tunning.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "David Davis" <feline1@>
> > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > After many years faithful service, my polysix seems to
have
> > > > > > developed
> > > > > > > a tuning problem :-(
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Usually when I first switch it on, and initially hit
the
> > keys,
> > > > the
> > > > > > > VCOs swirl around in pitch for about a second? (I
presume
> > > > that's
> > > > > > some
> > > > > > > kind of autotune routine or sthg.)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > However, recently, when I turn it on, this doesn't
happen,
> > and
> > > > the
> > > > > > > oscillators stay at some kind of wierd tuning (all the
> > notes
> > > > seem
> > > > > > > stretched out, the octaves are about a third or more
off
> > pitch!)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > One time, I left it for about 20 minutes and when I
tried
> > > > again, it
> > > > > > > was back to normal.
> > > > > > > But yesterday it just remained in this wierd state.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Any suggestions to make it behave?
> > > > > > > I made sure that the pitch bend wheel was centred at
power
> > up.
> > > > > > > The VCOs are switched to "stretch tuning" inside, but
> > that's
> > > > never
> > > > > > > been a problem before, and this is orders of magnitude
more
> > > > > > stretched
> > > > > > > than that.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It's not a NiCd battery calamity, as my Polysix was
> > upgraded a
> > > > few
> > > > > > > years ago to a "PolysixM" (with lithium battery)
(Johannes
> > > > > > > Hausensteiner's mod)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > DAVID
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>