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The Korg Poly-800 is a synthesizer released by Korg in 1983. Its initial list price of $795 made it the first fully programmable synthesizer that sold for less than $1000. It featured a 49 key non-velocity sensitive keyboard, buttons for data entry, and a joystick controller. Though the Poly-800 had MIDI implemented it did not feature MIDI sysex functionality, and programs had to be backed up to cassette tape. It had 8 voice polyphony with two DCOs per voice, one analog lowpass VCF, three envelope generators, a noise generator, an LFO, and a chorus effect. It also sported a built in sequencer. The Poly-800 could be run off of batteries and had strap pegs, allowing a performer to wear it like a guitar.
Two years after the Poly-800 was introduced, a keyboardless, rackmount version, called the EX-800, was released, adding MIDI sysex capability. After production of the original keyboard ended in 1986, the enhanced Poly-800 MkII was released. It featured a digital delay instead of chorus, and included MIDI sysex functionality. It was produced through 1987.
Modifications
The low price for a used unit (in the 90s it fell to under $200) and partial analog design of the Poly-800 made it perfect for modification by hobbyists. To add MIDI sysex functionality to the original keyboard, an EX-800 ROM can be piggybacked on the Poly-800 ROM. Knobs to control the frequency and resonance of the VCF can be added.
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