Polyeight: Behringer teases an enhanced Korg Polysix clone
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Behringer Polyeight · Source: Behringer
Behringer Polyeight back · Source: Behringer
Behringer Polyeight internals · Source: Behringer
A little bit too close to April Fools day Behringer has revealed a prototype of the Polyeight based on the Korg Polysix with a couple of extra voices.
Polyeight
Behringer’s latest project appears to be a modern take on the Korg Polysix. They posted a few photos onto Facebook of their first working model. The Polysix was originally released in 1981 and, along with the Roland Juno-6 which appeared around the same time, gave mere mortals the opportunity to own a programmable polyphonic synthesizer for the first time as it was far more affordable than the Prophet-5 and Jupiter-8 kings of poly. The coolest thing it brought to the table was the inbuilt chorus, ensemble and phaser effects which were able to transform the sound to fuller, fatter and more interesting places.
Behringer says they’ve gone a bit further with this homage to the classic Polysix. First of all, they’ve added a further two voices which give it the name Polyeight. But they’ve also added further controls to the front panel. You can see new controls like Portamento, more waveforms for the LFO and they’ve reworked the patch system by adding a little screen. For the most part, it’s still the same analog synthesizer.
They’ve built it on their new ARM platform which, they say, will reduce development times and bring more synths to market faster than ever before. “Time to market” is a very elastic term in the world of Behringer.
Behringer Polyeight back · Source: Behringer
It looks great. Good to see Behringer adding a bit of their own development to the resurrection of an old synth. Although many have commented that it could really do with a stereo output. No news on price or delivery at this point as this is only an early prototype.
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14 responses to “Polyeight: Behringer teases an enhanced Korg Polysix clone”
This is what people want from Behringer, re-creations of sought-after gear, but with a bit more on top and the modern stuff that wasn’t available when the original was released. A PolyEight would be great if they make it. Put a reverb on it as well if you can fit it on Behringer!
I hope they offer a desktop version too. I would stack these beyoches. I still have my original two poly-six’s . Ha ha… yeah… both had the nicad acid leak fiasco.
I loved the Poly6 in the 80’s, and had a Monopoly as well. Great to see Behringer bringing these back a an affordable price.
I believe quality control is the number one issue this company faces still on synthesizers I have purchased seven of them in the last year and a half. Two out of the seven actually work 90% to specification at the time of when I purchased the units.
I think the DM 12, they really pushed a Synthesizer that everybody says it was inspired by Roland Juno however, They actually created their own thing that is a very very capable. However the T3 I think it’s a failure, the Poly D has so many issues… back in the box let’s take it to the store.
This is one company that I enforce the rule of cautious spending and two wait until my associates thoroughly review the unit to see if it is up to spec or… another hopeful but dead end.
The issues you mention are the result of poor design reviews, not quality control. QC is after it’s produced, intended to find poor workmanship., cosmetic faults, and marginal assembly. Design Review s are intended to get the designs right.
There are no quality issues with the Poly D. Only a few bugs – the worst of which was fixed – velocity.
The best would be to produce 100% clones. Otherwise these are not clones, it’s anomaly..
Ok, I’m into old synths, I wasn’t interested 8n 5his all B thing until now. Polyeight… I’m in, just please allow to use only six voices, seriously I need that don’t ask why.
If there is even a tiny possibility to bring back Jupiter 6 ( yes, Jupiter 6, not Jupiter 8.) then I’m go shopping without questions.
Nice … I’m very happy. Unfortunately, these plastic-coated side panels again. they are total junk. one comes up against it and the top layer of sheen breaks off. and you can see the ikea wood underneath. otherwise great.
And Behringer products open secret is. . “Made in China”.
Yes keep supporting that amazing country after all they’ve done for the world. Cough Cough.
I don’t think it’s a secret mate, it’s part of their marketing and pretty much all synths or the PCBs for synths by all manufacturers are made in China.
Agree with Robin. That’s the economic path the West has taken, low wages, cheaper imported goods. It’s not good for the West in the long term and it may change eventually, but right now you can get historically cheap synths and drum machines, so good advice would be to get the stuff you want before it changes.
Just about everything plastic is made there for corporations, the people who wanted the deal of moving production to China and elsewhere after the 80s. The only way you can make them now with such depressed wages in developed nations like the United States is that arrangement. If you make them in places like the UK and the United States and wanted to actually sell more than a few hundred, you would raise wages, period, just like Henry Ford did with his own labor force.
Weer fantastisch nieuws van behringer een stereo uitgang zou alles afmaken. een gouden tip een junu 106 de linn drum en een dmx drum moeten ze ook meenemen in hun programma. die horen zeker bij tussen al deze grootheden
Hope they don’t include the notorious leaky NiCD storage battery! 😉
@Wakeup Call: sure, let Behringer manufacture in the western world and you’ll have prices that are 50% higher than buying the original – i.e. non-existent market, ergo no product
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