good review except it's NOT "a digital keyboard" to me. the oscillators are digitally controlled analog ones, hence the name DCO. but that still does not make it a digital keyboard.
@mkreibohm Actually, if you watch video "Korg Poly-61 Oscillator Waveforms," it is shown to be a hybrid. DCO1 is analog but DCO2 is clearly digital. However, since DCO2 can be shut off and DCO1 cannot, it can be called an analog keyboard when DCO2 is off.
(I pasted the link for that video but apparently YT doesn't like people pasting URLs into comments. Just search for it.)
@mkreibohm it's a bit of a confusing synthesizer... Normally DCO's are indeed analog oscillators digitally controlled (for the tuning that is). Like the ROLAND JUNO 60. What I know is that the POLY61 has 2 osc, one analog and one digital. That's why it can sound so harsh and lo-fi as well.
Just nitpicking, I believe the "g" in arpeggiator is pronounced as in "gesture", not as in "go". Anyways, arpeggiators are very cool, sometimes they do all the hard work for you! :)
I screwed this up all the time back then... I pronounce arpeggio, Casio (not Cazio), and Roland (not Rawland) all correctly now thanks to my YouTube comments! I are smartiest now! :o)
Immediately bought one on craigslist after seeing this video. Best purchase ever for 185 bucks. The joystick on this thing is really fun and expressive.
Incredible keyboard for anyone jamming out to bladerunner theme intro music for hours on end.
I got one for free.Out the trash!! But its a good one i played and its really fun keyboard.But im trying to find a way to use the controller for other stuff like dj-ing.I know its not right but its an idea.
It's an analog keyboard... only the controller is digital, where the generators and the filters are analog. I had no idea I could freeze the chords though :D
I didn't know how lucky I was when I scored a Poly 61 at the local flea market for $10.00. I took the keyboard apart and LOVINGLY cleaned each contact and now she works absolutely perfectly! I couldn't be more pleased. Actually that's not true... I got a Yamaha FB-01 that works flawlessly with the Poly 61 for $5.00! The MIDI cable to connect them was $15.00 so that really brought things int perspective for me. Oh Yeah. Great demo, I think I'll keep them rather than Ebay!
Hey dave, That wonderful searing synth sound you liked in my production of the Charlie Brown Death March-- That poly 61, which I did not know you had one of those btw, should be able to perfectly replicate it. In fact, it probaly can do it much better. Give it a shot!
I have the DW-6000, which seems to be quite similar to this. I couldn't figure out why there were two 'poly' buttons that didn't change anything until I watched this, Thanks.
Great demo...only thing is that the Poly-61 is an analog synth...only the oscillators are digitally controlled, but the sound sorce is analog. Sounds awesome.
I love it!!!
javiceres 2 years ago
good review except it's NOT "a digital keyboard" to me. the oscillators are digitally controlled analog ones, hence the name DCO. but that still does not make it a digital keyboard.
mkreibohm 2 years ago 11
@mkreibohm Oscillator 2 is digital.
Desmaad 2 years ago
@mkreibohm Actually, if you watch video "Korg Poly-61 Oscillator Waveforms," it is shown to be a hybrid. DCO1 is analog but DCO2 is clearly digital. However, since DCO2 can be shut off and DCO1 cannot, it can be called an analog keyboard when DCO2 is off.
(I pasted the link for that video but apparently YT doesn't like people pasting URLs into comments. Just search for it.)
gridsleep 1 year ago
@mkreibohm it's a bit of a confusing synthesizer... Normally DCO's are indeed analog oscillators digitally controlled (for the tuning that is). Like the ROLAND JUNO 60. What I know is that the POLY61 has 2 osc, one analog and one digital. That's why it can sound so harsh and lo-fi as well.
A very underrated 'andilog' synthesizer!
BUY BEFORE THE PRICES GET TOO HIGH :-)
ONEOUTOFABILLION 3 months ago
Man a demo wouldn't be a demo without good ol "jump". Lol....
sanshuz 2 years ago
could you the arpeggiated bass of donna summers "I feel love" on this baby? Can it be done. I'm new to all this synth stuff.
sanshuz 2 years ago
This is beautiful
How much do they usually run?
poomiester666 2 years ago
It sold for around $150. Excellent value for a very fun, great-sounding keyboard.
hamsterdunce 2 years ago
you are nuts, do you realize what these are worth? you could have gotten upwards of $1000 for it. : (
angie4josh 2 years ago
@angie4josh - No...these usually only go for ~$100-300. The predecessor, the PolySix, goes for up to around $600 or so
xnonsuchx 1 year ago
It's pretty obvious considering the age and the sound that it's an analog synth with digital controls.
ByteSmasher 3 years ago
Just nitpicking, I believe the "g" in arpeggiator is pronounced as in "gesture", not as in "go". Anyways, arpeggiators are very cool, sometimes they do all the hard work for you! :)
polysmart 3 years ago
I screwed this up all the time back then... I pronounce arpeggio, Casio (not Cazio), and Roland (not Rawland) all correctly now thanks to my YouTube comments! I are smartiest now! :o)
hamsterdunce 2 years ago
Immediately bought one on craigslist after seeing this video. Best purchase ever for 185 bucks. The joystick on this thing is really fun and expressive.
Incredible keyboard for anyone jamming out to bladerunner theme intro music for hours on end.
aloufin 3 years ago
Cool, glad I was able to inspire the purchase. It's a very neat synth.
hamsterdunce 2 years ago
looks like a triton of the 80!
marceldro 3 years ago
jesus crist i used to have one of these and fucking rats chewed through the pressed wood underside and fucked it up.
angie4josh 3 years ago
Where I can steal or possibly buy this korg?
NelSonOfABitch 3 years ago
surprisingly great sounding synth
LF0 3 years ago
My dad had one of those.
I hated that he got rid of it
ZoomBFX 3 years ago
so the poly 61 is a digital synth?
Adlibnote 3 years ago
I think it's a digital synth but with an analog filter.
Nukemoose1 3 years ago
Seems like an over-all better version of the poly-800
Nukemoose1 3 years ago
I got one for free.Out the trash!! But its a good one i played and its really fun keyboard.But im trying to find a way to use the controller for other stuff like dj-ing.I know its not right but its an idea.
hotrdenhell 4 years ago
LOL you gotta play jump on an 80's keyboard! The sounds are sweet and full. Ive got to get one. Thanks for sharing it.
coniston51 4 years ago
It's an analog keyboard... only the controller is digital, where the generators and the filters are analog. I had no idea I could freeze the chords though :D
ByteSmasher 4 years ago
I didn't know how lucky I was when I scored a Poly 61 at the local flea market for $10.00. I took the keyboard apart and LOVINGLY cleaned each contact and now she works absolutely perfectly! I couldn't be more pleased. Actually that's not true... I got a Yamaha FB-01 that works flawlessly with the Poly 61 for $5.00! The MIDI cable to connect them was $15.00 so that really brought things int perspective for me. Oh Yeah. Great demo, I think I'll keep them rather than Ebay!
JTLaser 4 years ago
R-PEGGY-ATOR
chrisn0va 4 years ago
that jump riff sounded even better than eddie on the OBX!!!
layzer80 4 years ago
Hey dave, That wonderful searing synth sound you liked in my production of the Charlie Brown Death March-- That poly 61, which I did not know you had one of those btw, should be able to perfectly replicate it. In fact, it probaly can do it much better. Give it a shot!
Gazdatronik 4 years ago
HEY!!! WHERES WALDO!!!! LOL!!!
Wyrehedd242 4 years ago
This sinte appears in the Jonzun Crew video "We Are The Jonzun Crew".
PD: Kill Nazis
funkberto 4 years ago
Sounds like the keyboard used in the Hitch Hickers guide to the galaxy radio show.
RustiSwordz 4 years ago
it IS an analog...and its a synthesizer...not a keyboard.
casiokorg 4 years ago
Damn right! It has digitaly controlled (not voltage controlled) oscilators but it's still an analog synth.
KRAFTWERK2K6 4 years ago
cool man I just to have a 'normal' one...
keep on synthesizing!
Tjoppy 4 years ago
The sound is so cool, and it's very worth for your money. But the outside is sooo ugly.
HammondB200 4 years ago
Korg was really trying to make it look like a juno so they could compete
Gazdatronik 4 years ago
I have the DW-6000, which seems to be quite similar to this. I couldn't figure out why there were two 'poly' buttons that didn't change anything until I watched this, Thanks.
Organgrinder010 5 years ago
How many voices have this keyboard ?
Ironmaiden3p 5 years ago
Six.
hamsterdunce 5 years ago
Great demo...only thing is that the Poly-61 is an analog synth...only the oscillators are digitally controlled, but the sound sorce is analog. Sounds awesome.
ElectricMantra 5 years ago
Cool, your demo makes me wonder if I should have kept the one I had. Well, at least I sold it to a close friend so I guess I could borrow it back!
LOL Jump! Got me there at the end.
prosoloist 5 years ago
awesome and I own this board now and jump got me too
synthezer 5 years ago