Discussion about the Korg PolySix synthesizer

Hi, I'm new around here and I'm a recent owner of a Polysix. (I don't
speak very good english, so sorry!!)

I just bought it three days ago and yes, it's a machine to fell in
love with. I prove the p6 and almost everything works but and I'm
going to send it to a "synth hospital", because I don't know anything
about electronics, so I want to ask you some things before a I speak
to the "doctor", that I'm sure you can answer:

1.- It seems like some keys are out of tune within other keys, is
that possible? Can it be tuned?

2.- All the keys work, but it seems that the sound goes "out and in",
like if the thing has a shortcut. Is it a common problem, can it be
solved?

3.- The arpegio, unison and one program buttons doesn't work
properly, does the doctor need some new parts to fix the problem, or
it can be solved with just a good cleanning?

4.- What kind of battery can I use to replace the one on my p6 (. . .
that its kind of easy to find?

5.- One of the knobs is missing, where can I Find a replacement?

Well, it's about that what I wanted to ask you. I hope the "doctor"
will make a good operation, because I really like what I heard and
done with my new synth.

Thank You,


Fritz.

I am in the same boat. The battery repair mod may help. Also you can
tune and calibrate the unit by adjusting the appropriate variable
resistors, but there may be other reasons for tuning drift. I too
notice the "out and in" problem and do not know what it is and I am
considering replacing all the capacitors and maybe the cheaper IC chips.
It does not seem to be the SSM chips but still checking.

>>> fgiesemann@hotmail.com 04/09/03 01:09PM >>>

Hi, I'm new around here and I'm a recent owner of a Polysix. (I don't
speak very good english, so sorry!!)

I just bought it three days ago and yes, it's a machine to fell in
love with. I prove the p6 and almost everything works but and I'm
going to send it to a "synth hospital", because I don't know anything
about electronics, so I want to ask you some things before a I speak
to the "doctor", that I'm sure you can answer:

1.- It seems like some keys are out of tune within other keys, is
that possible? Can it be tuned?

2.- All the keys work, but it seems that the sound goes "out and in",
like if the thing has a shortcut. Is it a common problem, can it be
solved?

3.- The arpegio, unison and one program buttons doesn't work
properly, does the doctor need some new parts to fix the problem, or
it can be solved with just a good cleanning?

4.- What kind of battery can I use to replace the one on my p6 (. . .
that its kind of easy to find?

5.- One of the knobs is missing, where can I Find a replacement?

Well, it's about that what I wanted to ask you. I hope the "doctor"
will make a good operation, because I really like what I heard and
done with my new synth.

Thank You,


Fritz.





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Hi Fritz,

I'm not an expert - and there ARE experts on the list...

What I would do is get a copy of Old Crow's Synth Shop: Korg Polysix Upgrade
& Repair Overview pages to your your Dr. Synth - there is a lot of
essential information (and pictures) there which will help resolve problems.
http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/synth/korg/polysix/

The battery - very easy and cheap to get a new battery, but it is an
electronics expert's job to change the battery over (it's not like changing
your travel alarm clock battery:)

If your Dr. Synth is anything like mine, you may find he tells you about
corroded conntections (should be easy for him to fix) and/or broken chips.
The chips aren't made any more but I have some spare SSM 2044 chips, and
Tony Allgood (also on the list) has SSM 2044 and SSM 2056 chips (I bought
one of his 2056 chips last week). They are in short supply, they aren't
cheap, but they are essential!!!!

I expect the experts will have something to say too...

Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: polymex2003 [mailto:fgiesemann@hotmail.com]
Sent: 09 April 2003 21:10
To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [PolySix] My new synth


Hi, I'm new around here and I'm a recent owner of a Polysix. (I don't
speak very good english, so sorry!!)

I just bought it three days ago and yes, it's a machine to fell in
love with. I prove the p6 and almost everything works but and I'm
going to send it to a "synth hospital", because I don't know anything
about electronics, so I want to ask you some things before a I speak
to the "doctor", that I'm sure you can answer:

1.- It seems like some keys are out of tune within other keys, is
that possible? Can it be tuned?

2.- All the keys work, but it seems that the sound goes "out and in",
like if the thing has a shortcut. Is it a common problem, can it be
solved?

3.- The arpegio, unison and one program buttons doesn't work
properly, does the doctor need some new parts to fix the problem, or
it can be solved with just a good cleanning?

4.- What kind of battery can I use to replace the one on my p6 (. . .
that its kind of easy to find?

5.- One of the knobs is missing, where can I Find a replacement?

Well, it's about that what I wanted to ask you. I hope the "doctor"
will make a good operation, because I really like what I heard and
done with my new synth.

Thank You,


Fritz.





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This information has arrived from my electronic expert Charles who has spent
the last week or so fiddling around inside my poly6. This checkis somethign
that isn't mentioned on Old Crow's pages, and I haven't seen mentioned
anywhere else... However, it does seem to have help charles quite a lot...

Quick Check for Polysix Synths

caveat: Not to be attempted by people unsure of working with live equipment
open!!!

1. Unscrew the panel holding the controls, 4 screws on top 2 at each edge, 4
underneath.

2 .Rotate the panel back exposing the print circuit boards inside.

3. On the main controller board (middle board) there is a switch marked
(Test/Normal), switch to test. This disables the front panel controls, just
makes testing easier.

4. Now power on the synth.

5 .With the synth set to poly, press a note. You will see a small light
(middle of the panel to the right, pretty much next to each of the 2056's as
I recall) illuminate on the voice board (righthand board) corresponding to
the channel in use.

6. With each successive note played the next channel is selected, so if the
voice selection is working correctly you should see the each light come on
in turn running from left to right. If a channel fails to play but the light
is illuminated then there is probably a failure in the circuitry around the
2044 IC. This is not definitive because the lights can start to burn out,
but good for a quick test.


I hope this is useful to folks.

Frank