Discussion about the Korg PolySix synthesizer

This seems to be a popular topic, but once again: I Can't get the
F***R to "tune". Ive done and redone the procedures in the Service
manual, but it still only is in tune about one and a half octave in
the middle. I would like to know if anyone has any hints on how to
make this LOOONG episode shorter. As it is now all it does is lay
there beautiful and entizing, but all I can use it for is Noice
basically...

I've Changed the opto and the battery and all is well, no pots are
defunkt. What to do, it to cool to just be a coffey-table...

/ Monke

The tuning procedure in the service manual is written from a technical
point of view, which is OK because it was made by engineers for a piece
of electronics equipment. The user however views devices most often
different than the engineers had thought. So, if you want to "tune"
the Polysix as an musical instrument you should not rely on the
"adjustment" procedure but on your ears ;-
This was the prolog, now to the matter:
1.) Make sure you dont attempt to tune while in strechted tuning mode:
SW1 on KLM-366 in "back" position (=away from CN12) is normal tuning.
2.) Set tuning control knob on control panel to middle position
3.) Set common pitch potis (VR1 ADJ CENTER, VR2 TUNE HIGH, VR3 TUNE LOW,
VR14 D#4-E4 ADJ, VR15 TUNE MID) on KLM-366 to a center position.
4.) Set tuning potis (VR10 TUNE LOW, VR11 TUNE HIGH) of one voice (e.g.
UNIT0) to center position.
5.) Now start to tune UNIT0. Take the adjustment procedure as a hint
of what will happen when you turn certain potis. Use a standard
chromatic tuner.
6.) If UNIT0 is tuned to your satisfaction, TUNE THE OTHER VOICES
(UNIT1 .. UNIT5) TO UNIT0. Use the effect of beating, which is best
heard with a square wave tone.
Note that it never will be perfect in all octaves! There is 6
independent VCOs in the Polysix; they never will be 100% in tune
over the whole range! After all, nowadays this is a main feature
of a truly analog instrument; thats what we are after ...
7.) When all six voices are tuned satisfactory switch SW1 to strechted
tuning position (i.e. towards CN12) crank up the volume of your
amp or P.A., play spread, six-voice chord and get lost in the beating
moving sound!

If you cannot get one single voice in tune there is a fault on the
KLM-366 board. Sometimes the opto-coupler labeled "PC-1" is the reason.
Search the archives of this mailing list for how to get a replacement.

Good luck!

Johannes

BTW. search the archives for "SW1" to see other posts to this topic,
and, of course, "tuning" ...


bildfantomen wrote:

> This seems to be a popular topic, but once again: I Can't get the
> F***R to "tune". Ive done and redone the procedures in the Service
> manual, but it still only is in tune about one and a half octave in
> the middle. I would like to know if anyone has any hints on how to
> make this LOOONG episode shorter. As it is now all it does is lay
> there beautiful and entizing, but all I can use it for is Noice
> basically...
>
> I've Changed the opto and the battery and all is well, no pots are
> defunkt. What to do, it to cool to just be a coffey-table...
>
> / Monke
>
>
>
> PolySix "Digiest" Page: http://www.acc.umu.se/~amber/Poly6
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Thanks Johannes. I have changed the PC-1 unit, as well as looked at
all the outputs from it and all the other pots as well, and they seem
to be within acceptance. I shall give it one more try, but this time
borrow a proper tuner (i used a VST plug before). But it looks as if
I have done excactly what you described. I was very careful about the
Stretch tuning switch, so I know I at least flicked that.
I know it's not supposed to be perfect, but as I've said earlier the
pitch was off quite a lot. If I played C3 and C4, it sounded ok, but
if I plyed C3 and C5 (for instance) the upper C would be a Flat E. So
it does work if your only playing a single chord i the mid range, but
if you wnna play some bass as well (or hi notes) they are off the
chart so to speak.
But like I said, I'll give it one more try.
Thanks again for your patience and time...
/ Monke


--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, Johannes Hausensteiner <johau@...>
wrote:

>
>
> The tuning procedure in the service manual is written from a

technical

> point of view, which is OK because it was made by engineers for a

piece

> of electronics equipment. The user however views devices most often
> different than the engineers had thought. So, if you want to "tune"
> the Polysix as an musical instrument you should not rely on the
> "adjustment" procedure but on your ears ;-
> This was the prolog, now to the matter:
> 1.) Make sure you dont attempt to tune while in strechted tuning

mode:

> SW1 on KLM-366 in "back" position (=away from CN12) is normal

tuning.

> 2.) Set tuning control knob on control panel to middle position
> 3.) Set common pitch potis (VR1 ADJ CENTER, VR2 TUNE HIGH, VR3 TUNE

LOW,

> VR14 D#4-E4 ADJ, VR15 TUNE MID) on KLM-366 to a center position.
> 4.) Set tuning potis (VR10 TUNE LOW, VR11 TUNE HIGH) of one voice

(e.g.

> UNIT0) to center position.
> 5.) Now start to tune UNIT0. Take the adjustment procedure as a hint
> of what will happen when you turn certain potis. Use a standard
> chromatic tuner.
> 6.) If UNIT0 is tuned to your satisfaction, TUNE THE OTHER VOICES
> (UNIT1 .. UNIT5) TO UNIT0. Use the effect of beating, which is

best

> heard with a square wave tone.
> Note that it never will be perfect in all octaves! There is 6
> independent VCOs in the Polysix; they never will be 100% in tune
> over the whole range! After all, nowadays this is a main feature
> of a truly analog instrument; thats what we are after ...
> 7.) When all six voices are tuned satisfactory switch SW1 to

strechted

> tuning position (i.e. towards CN12) crank up the volume of your
> amp or P.A., play spread, six-voice chord and get lost in the

beating

> moving sound!
>
> If you cannot get one single voice in tune there is a fault on the
> KLM-366 board. Sometimes the opto-coupler labeled "PC-1" is the

reason.

> Search the archives of this mailing list for how to get a

replacement.

>
> Good luck!
>
> Johannes
>
> BTW. search the archives for "SW1" to see other posts to this topic,
> and, of course, "tuning" ...
>
>
> bildfantomen wrote:
> > This seems to be a popular topic, but once again: I Can't get the
> > F***R to "tune". Ive done and redone the procedures in the

Service

> > manual, but it still only is in tune about one and a half octave

in

> > the middle. I would like to know if anyone has any hints on how

to

> > make this LOOONG episode shorter. As it is now all it does is lay
> > there beautiful and entizing, but all I can use it for is Noice
> > basically...
> >
> > I've Changed the opto and the battery and all is well, no pots

are

> > defunkt. What to do, it to cool to just be a coffey-table...
> >
> > / Monke
> >
> >
> >
> > PolySix "Digiest" Page: http://www.acc.umu.se/~amber/Poly6
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Hey folks, I see that this topic was created about 7 years ago, but was there any solution? I am too finding that my voices are at Eb at C5 in 4' and its damn near impossible to get it lower than C# and before the trim pots max out... I know this topic is constantly brought up, sorry to bring it up again. But its quite frustrating when you know how good it sounds properly tuned up and you cant get it there. And once this problem is solved we can get to why Unit 4's voice cuts out every once and awhile.