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Discussion about the Korg PolySix synthesizer

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midi retrofit mystery

midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-11 by jcr5213

Hi all,
New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right direction.

I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences, any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?

Many thanks in advance!
Jake

Re: midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-11 by tonezone020

Hi Jake,

It's probably the CHD retrofit, which is only midi in. 

See here http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en

Regards,
Tony

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "jcr5213" <jcreif@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Hi all,
> New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right direction.
> 
> I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences, any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?
> 
> Many thanks in advance!
> Jake
>

Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-11 by Peter Mörck

I have a CHD Elektroservis kit and it only provides a MIDI IN jack.
http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en
If you open your Polysix up you can probably tell by whatever extra PCB is installed who made it as they usually print it on the board.

BR,
Peter
Show quoted textHide quoted text
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jcr5213 
  To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:38 PM
  Subject: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery


    
  Hi all,
  New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right direction.

  I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences, any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?

  Many thanks in advance!
  Jake 



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

RE: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-12 by QSS

Peter,

 

Would like to hear your views on this MIDI interface for Polysix.

What are the pluses and minuses (if any)?

I may be interested to get one for my Poly6. Did you DIY it yourself?

Thanks!

 

Khew

 

  _____
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: PolySix@yahoogroups.com [mailto:PolySix@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Peter Mörck
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:46 AM
To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

 

  

I have a CHD Elektroservis kit and it only provides a MIDI IN jack.
http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399
<http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en> &lngid=en
If you open your Polysix up you can probably tell by whatever extra PCB is
installed who made it as they usually print it on the board.

BR,
Peter

----- Original Message ----- 
From: jcr5213 
To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PolySix%40yahoogroups.com>  
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:38 PM
Subject: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

Hi all,
New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right
direction.

I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI
retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit
naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual
for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which
company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are
about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like
to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences,
any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?

Many thanks in advance!
Jake 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-12 by Peter Mörck

Hi,

Yes I installed it myself. Very simple procedure if you have a hole-punch, basic soldering skills and some common sense :)
http://synthpeter.blogspot.se/2012/06/polysix-finally-gets-midified.html

I honestly haven't used it much since then. My music interest comes and goes...
I think it has a default MIDI channel and you can change it by sending sysex messages to it.
There are also some other parameters you can change, but I think it's all described in the manual you can find on the CHD website from the link I posted earlier.
The steps for installing the kit are very well described in the instructions.

Obvious minus of course is that there's no MIDI-out or even THRU, but it's no big deal. I don't mind using a master keyboard for recording and I'm using an external MIDI-Thru box to split the MIDI chain anyway.

BR,
Peter
Show quoted textHide quoted text
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: QSS 
  To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 4:59 AM
  Subject: RE: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery


    
  Peter,

  Would like to hear your views on this MIDI interface for Polysix.

  What are the pluses and minuses (if any)?

  I may be interested to get one for my Poly6. Did you DIY it yourself?

  Thanks!

  Khew

  _____ 

  From: PolySix@yahoogroups.com [mailto:PolySix@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
  Peter Mörck
  Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:46 AM
  To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

  I have a CHD Elektroservis kit and it only provides a MIDI IN jack.
  http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399
  <http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en> &lngid=en
  If you open your Polysix up you can probably tell by whatever extra PCB is
  installed who made it as they usually print it on the board.

  BR,
  Peter

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jcr5213 
  To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PolySix%40yahoogroups.com> 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:38 PM
  Subject: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

  Hi all,
  New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right
  direction.

  I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI
  retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit
  naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual
  for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which
  company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are
  about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like
  to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences,
  any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?

  Many thanks in advance!
  Jake 

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-13 by jcr5213

Thanks for the info Peter, when I get home I'm going to pop it open and see who the manufacturer of the kit is to confirm. Whether it's the CHD or something else, I'm sure I'll have a couple more questions on how to operate it :-)

Best,
Jake

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, Peter Mörck <peterm@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Hi,
> 
> Yes I installed it myself. Very simple procedure if you have a hole-punch, basic soldering skills and some common sense :)
> http://synthpeter.blogspot.se/2012/06/polysix-finally-gets-midified.html
> 
> I honestly haven't used it much since then. My music interest comes and goes...
> I think it has a default MIDI channel and you can change it by sending sysex messages to it.
> There are also some other parameters you can change, but I think it's all described in the manual you can find on the CHD website from the link I posted earlier.
> The steps for installing the kit are very well described in the instructions.
> 
> Obvious minus of course is that there's no MIDI-out or even THRU, but it's no big deal. I don't mind using a master keyboard for recording and I'm using an external MIDI-Thru box to split the MIDI chain anyway.
> 
> BR,
> Peter
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: QSS 
>   To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 4:59 AM
>   Subject: RE: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery
> 
> 
>     
>   Peter,
> 
>   Would like to hear your views on this MIDI interface for Polysix.
> 
>   What are the pluses and minuses (if any)?
> 
>   I may be interested to get one for my Poly6. Did you DIY it yourself?
> 
>   Thanks!
> 
>   Khew
> 
>   _____ 
> 
>   From: PolySix@yahoogroups.com [mailto:PolySix@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
>   Peter Mörck
>   Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:46 AM
>   To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery
> 
>   I have a CHD Elektroservis kit and it only provides a MIDI IN jack.
>   http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399
>   <http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en> &lngid=en
>   If you open your Polysix up you can probably tell by whatever extra PCB is
>   installed who made it as they usually print it on the board.
> 
>   BR,
>   Peter
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: jcr5213 
>   To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PolySix%40yahoogroups.com> 
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:38 PM
>   Subject: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery
> 
>   Hi all,
>   New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right
>   direction.
> 
>   I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI
>   retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit
>   naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual
>   for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which
>   company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are
>   about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like
>   to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences,
>   any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?
> 
>   Many thanks in advance!
>   Jake 
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Re: midi retrofit mystery

2012-09-13 by bigpeeet@rocketmail.com

Hi Khew,
I've got 2 Poly6's, one with a CHD retrofit, and the other with a P6M kit from johannes, a member of this group.

Plusses and minuses are:

CHD kit

+ Easy DIY install, takes 15 minutes
+ Works reliably
+ Arp clock syncs to midi
+ Midi channel selectable, but set by default at factory
+ Cheap

- Midi in only
- Very basic

P6M kit

+ Full midi control of every parameter in realtime through midi (awesome)
+ Sysex patch dumps
+ Patch select through midi
+ Other functionality, like more patch storage and unison voice select (i.e. you can use it as a monosynth in unison mode)
+ I'm pretty sure arpeggio notes are sent over midi too

- It's an advanced install. The kit needs to be built by someone off a blank pcb (I got andrew jury from this group to do this). It's probably worth sending your keyboard to him to do the lot. This took quite a while.
- It's a fair bit more expensive

While I haven't had my P6M operational for long, it's a far superior kit IMO. I can tweak anything in realtime recorded to midi along with a patch dump, so It's almost like having softsynth (if you like that sort of thing) type automation and recall, but with that amazing polysix sound. The CHD kit is pretty basic, better than nothing though.

Hope this helps

Pete

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "QSS" <q@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Peter,
> 
>  
> 
> Would like to hear your views on this MIDI interface for Polysix.
> 
> What are the pluses and minuses (if any)?
> 
> I may be interested to get one for my Poly6. Did you DIY it yourself?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
>  
> 
> Khew
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: PolySix@yahoogroups.com [mailto:PolySix@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> Peter Mörck
> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:46 AM
> To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> I have a CHD Elektroservis kit and it only provides a MIDI IN jack.
> http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399
> <http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en> &lngid=en
> If you open your Polysix up you can probably tell by whatever extra PCB is
> installed who made it as they usually print it on the board.
> 
> BR,
> Peter
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: jcr5213 
> To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PolySix%40yahoogroups.com>  
> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:38 PM
> Subject: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery
> 
> Hi all,
> New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right
> direction.
> 
> I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been MIDI
> retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm (albeit
> naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have a manual
> for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really of which
> company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see there are
> about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd really like
> to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes and sequences,
> any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?
> 
> Many thanks in advance!
> Jake 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

2012-10-24 by Jake Reif

OK, sorry for returning to this so late, but I didn't have the opportunity
to confirm the manufacturer of the MIDI retrofit until now. It was made by
Spider Room. The only information I have on the kit online is essentially a
parts list and schematic copied and pasted from this web page
http://www.angelfire.com/geek/srlabs/p6retro.html

There was a note on the paperwork stating the current MIDI channel is set
to 9, but even when set to that channel, it doesn't seem to be receiving
MIDI messages. Can anyone help with instructions for how to use this Spider
Room retrofit properly?

Thanks in advance!

On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 5:18 PM, Jake Reif <jcreif@gmail.com> wrote:

> OK, sorry for returning to this so late, but I didn't have the opportunity
> to confirm the manufacturer of the MIDI retrofit until now. It was made by
> Spider Room. The only information I have on the kit online is essentially a
> parts list and schematic copied and pasted from this web page
> http://www.angelfire.com/geek/srlabs/p6retro.html
>
> There was a note on the paperwork stating the current MIDI channel is set
> to 9, but even when set to that channel, it doesn't seem to be receiving
> MIDI messages. Can anyone help with instructions for how to use this Spider
> Room retrofit properly?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 6:45 PM, Peter M�rck <peterm@sunsetselection.com>wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>>
>> I have a CHD Elektroservis kit and it only provides a MIDI IN jack.
>> http://www.chd-el.cz/index.php?id=399&lngid=en
>> If you open your Polysix up you can probably tell by whatever extra PCB
>> is installed who made it as they usually print it on the board.
>>
>> BR,
>> Peter
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: jcr5213
>> To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:38 PM
>> Subject: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery
>>
>> Hi all,
>> New to the group here...I hope someone can help point me in the right
>> direction.
>>
>> I recently picked up a cheap/ used PolySix and noticed that it had been
>> MIDI retrofitted. There's only one MIDI female plug on the unit, so I'm
>> (albeit naively) assuming that it only has a MIDI-IN function. I don't have
>> a manual for this particular retrofit, nor is there any indication really
>> of which company supplied/ serviced it...or when for that matter. I see
>> there are about a million of these retrofit kits available on the web. I'd
>> really like to be able to use the MIDI-IN function just to control notes
>> and sequences, any suggestions on where to find the correct manual etc?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance!
>> Jake
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>  
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>



-- 
Jake


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [PolySix] midi retrofit mystery

2012-10-25 by Peter Ullrich

Hi Jake!

> OK, sorry for returning to this so late, but I didn't have the opportunity
> to confirm the manufacturer of the MIDI retrofit until now. It was made by
> Spider Room. The only information I have on the kit online is essentially a
> parts list and schematic copied and pasted from this web page
> http://www.angelfire.com/geek/srlabs/p6retro.html
> 
> There was a note on the paperwork stating the current MIDI channel is set
> to 9, but even when set to that channel, it doesn't seem to be receiving
> MIDI messages. Can anyone help with instructions for how to use this Spider
> Room retrofit properly?

This midi interface has been designed by Bojan Burkeljc as you can see on the
bottom of the page. In this first version of the MIDI channel without a midi
channel switch you have to set the midi channel via a sysex massage - described
on the webpage. This channel is stored in the microcontroller, so you don't have
to set the channel every time.

This midi interface only reacts to midi note on/off messages - no further
parameters are supported.

Check if your interface is correctly installed and wired! Otherwise it will not
work!

Info: There has also been a second version of this interface - I made the PCB
for it and Bojan made the necessary software changes for it. You can find
information on this second version of this interface here:
http://www.angelfire.com/geek/srlabs/p6retro2.html

I only have this (my) second version and can say that it works very fine!

Ciao
Peter

http://www.ullrich.at.tf
http://synpro.heimat.eu/datadial.htm  (Synth addon)

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