Eightysix is here to bring you the sound of the KORG PolySix for free
Developer ldaysynths released a freeware emulation of what appears to be the KORG PolySix synthesizer. Titled Eightysix, the instrument is available in VST format for Windows systems only.
Anyone familiar with Eightysix’s originator would feel right at home. The architecture and visual layout bear more than a passing resemblance to the original hardware.
Feature-wise, the synth offers six-voice polyphony and comprises 2 oscillators, 1 sub-oscillator, 1 tuning oscillator, a pair of LFOs, two envelopes (Volume and Filter), a resonant HP/LP filter, and an effects section with chorus, pingpong delay, overdrive and arpeggiator.
With its knob-per-function layout, the synth delivers plenty of control over parameters and sound shaping. It may be a bit overwhelming at first, but the interface is very well organized and getting around it won’t be a problem once you get comfortable.
It’s worth noting that KORG itself offers a dead-on emulation of the PolySix as part of its Legacy Collection pack. Although it is paid for, you might find it more authentic-sounding. It’s available for macOS as well.