Korg Mono/Poly
The Korg Mono / Poly is a four-voice monophonic analog synthesizer that was produced between 1981 and 1984 by Korg and was widespread in the 1980s.
The synthesizer can be switched into a polyphonic mode if necessary. In this case, all four oscillators share the same filter and amplifier stage. Korg tried so both mono soloists as well as for area players to build a musical instrument, which enabled more consistent play, but a price range not burst.
Technology
Like the Korg Polysix is the Mono / Poly is not touch sensitive. The four oscillators of type SSM2033 work with triangle, sawtooth and square wave with pulse width modulation.
The KORG 24 dB filter ( SSM2044 ) works less brutal than the known for its roughness Moog ladder filter. For the achievement of the filter character and for the ADRS envelope very complex Integrated Circuits are for that time, been installed.
The envelope generators work with very short access times. This can be very percussive, hard sounds are produced. What this instrument is characterized in particular, is a series of modulation interference, which can be switched in hardware on the user interface. This makes its sound alive and pulsating against former simple structured synthesizers very distinctive. On the pulse width switched Hülkurven, the extensive LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) or its very sound-shaping SYNC and cross modulation options make his sound is unmistakable. Worth mentioning is the fact that just is assigned to the sync and cross- functions, a special area called " Effects". Korg thus laid the foundation stone for the subsequent combination of sound generation and signal processing in a single device.
Thus, a sound called " GROK " was introduced, which was heard from an intumescent SYNC / CROSS - sound at this time only in expensive and time-consuming modular synthesis systems. As an innovation, the integrated arpeggiator can be considered.
The feel of the Mono / Poly is shown in dark blue sheet steel case, framed by wood veneered sides and a wooden support. Its keyboard has 37 keys in standard size. Each parameter is controlled by a separate switch, wheel or rotary potentiometer. This sound changes happen pretty fast and very intuitive.
Due to lack of sound memory blank, print layouts have been supplied by Korg in which the parameter values could be written by hand. Be able to give each of the four oscillators different waveforms, footages, pulse width and level, showing its potential. Particularly noteworthy are the CV (controlled voltage) inputs and outputs on the rear panel for connecting analog rocker pedals or analog sequencer. The pace it arpeggiator can through a private entrance, for example, with drum machines are synchronized.
Importance
The Mono / Poly was in 1982 with about 2400 DM an affordable synthesizer. Polyphonic playable synthesizer like the Roland Jupiter 8, Oberheim OB -8 or even the Moog Memorymoog were due to the very expensive electronics much more expensive and also very prone to failure. He appeared in time before important models such as the Yamaha DX7, Roland JUNO -60 and KORG M1 and therefore came soon behind. Also, it was the Mono / Poly very hard from the shadow of his " brother ", the Korg Polysix, step out. Its affordable price, six voice polyphony and storability were obese in the early 1980s highs in the purchasing decision.
In the shadow of the Korg Polysix, with 64 memory locations for sounds but few options for sound generation, the memoryless Mono / Poly experienced until some time later, at the beginning of the 1990s, a new discovery.