Korg Poly 800 - What's wrong with it!?

FIXED.
READ BELOW:

This is a Korg Poly 800 I.
Just got this thing really cheap. It doesn't work, as the video shows, but I'm hoping someone can help me figure it out.

The synth is bone-stock, no modifications at all. I didn't jack around with settings on everything, this is how it is when you turn it on.

I had it plugged direct into my computer for an accurate recording of the output. There's no sound for the first couple seconds.

It's like part of it works, I assume maybe just an IC is out? Probably something vital and impossible to find? I know these things sound awesome, and I'd love to hear it someday.

Maybe I'm just ignorant of it's operation? I hope so. The buttons all work and you can still edit at least all the parameters I tested.

HOW TO FIX IT:
matrixsynth ( http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/ ) pointed me to analog.no's site where I downloaded a recording of the tape-backup of all the patches (in wav format, there's also a sysex for the EX). Opened it in foobar, ran a line from my computer to the synth, followed the load procedure in the manual (page 38, part 7.4). Only problems were getting the volume correct. If it was too loud, it would error. Too soft, it wouldn't do anything.

Factory patch backups
http://analog.no/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&...

Owner's manual (download all parts, extract into the same folder)
http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/poly800/ownersmanual/om.html

Vintage Synth page http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/poly800.shtml

Category:

Music

Tags:

• korg
• poly
• ex
• 800
• broken
• synth
• synthesizer
• 1982
• vintage

[dools93]

Trying to get my Poly 800 working again. I`ve spent at least 3 hours trying to get the volume right. Is this thing really that sensative, does the jack from computer to keyboard matter. I`ve tried mono and stereo.Maybe it's just broke. I just keep getting error messages, turn it down slightly and nothing happens. Any suggestions? Thanks

[alecjahn]

@dools93 Definitely turn off any equalizer settings or effects on the program that is playing the backup file. I spent a long time trying to get it right, but never three hours. When I get the volume wrong, I rarely get an error - instead it just doesn't say anything (as if I hadn't played it in the first place).

[timswarren]

Thank you so much for the links you added after your Poly 800 was fixed. It got my "broken" ebay find up and running perfectly. 

[alecjahn]

@timswarren Cheers!

[solocfp]

Thanx, dude, you are the man! :D

[TheJakobWallace]

my started doing this in the middle of a recording what is going on? any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[xIAmTheWindx]

Brilliant! fixed mine right up! I set the tape setting to "LOW" and used the headphone out on my Cakewalk speakers at about 50% volume and it finally worked! Thanks a lot!

[drlindh]

Where can i find this link for installing programs and sounds. Just changed battery but i need to "fill" my poly800 with sounds.

[Jezro]

I have the same problem, but I fixed it by going inside and detaching and reattaching all power to the main board. Needless to say, the problem came back about 10 hours later. What the hell? Does anyone know what this could mean?

[black5ent]

Does anyone have the preset backup for tn ploy 800mkii?

[dools93]

@alecjahn yes, i figured i spent too much time and it probably needs repair. i dropped it off today to see if its worth fixing. thanks for your help.

[adamtheskunk]

HAHAHA!!! I literally found one of these things in a trashcan. I guess they thought it was broken, but this fixed it right up, thanks a LOT!!! i've always wanted a korg and i almost thought it was broken myself.