I love the "middle ground" synth angle. I've been collecting and playing synths since 1989. I've always looked for odd, unloved or obscure instruments in the back of music shops, pawn shops, and flea markets. Even today in 2022 with a JUNO-6 fetching $3000, you can still find interesting sounding synthesizers for reasonable prices if you can look beyond the more prestigious Roland and Moog instruments. Companies like Technics, JVC, Suzuki, Lowery and Hohner all put out analogue keyboards in the 80's. For instance, the JVC KB-700 and Technics SX-K300 both have very nice sounding analogue string ensemble sounds. Often, these obscure instruments are more interesting precisly because they don't sound like an OB-8 or Minimoog

The best thing about these is they're super bullet proof. You can even rebuild the tact switches without removing them.

It has a truly unique parameter structure, and everything from the oscillator to the envelope to the filter is different from a typical synthesizer, and all of them work well to create unique sounds, which is why I've been using it for many years.

lol the behringer swing

Quirky synths like Poly 800 / EX800 are fun, and in the last 20 years of using synths I've used the quirky ones more than the "perfect" ones. The expensive polysynths sound great, but for me they are often boring and the same goes for the done-to-death Moog sound. Sure, the quirky synths are not for your vanilla 70s/80's synth music, but for more avantgarde, alter stuff they work extremely well. While the Poly 800 / EX800 sounds a bit cheesy and doesn't have the punch of say Prophet 5, I find it's sound signature very pleasing, because it's soft, kind of hollow and diffused, yet, very much at the front and big. It's been used in early Detroit techno a lot.

constant nervous laughter and a cough-laff every two seconds.

This video absolutely makes me smile. The sounds are so cool and your stoke is infectious. Whenever you get excited in the video, I giggle. Thank you.

Hi. I'm a poly/EX 800 fanboy. Thank you so much for posting ressources in the description, I've been looking for more infos on the chip for years, so glad to finally have the documentation and the list of arcade game it was into !!! Thank you a thousand time !

Here's a comment to help promote you in the youtube algorithm

I keep seeing this video pop up on KZfaq, so I had to comment on it. I bought mine used back in the late 1980s for about $100.00 ? The corner of it was dented as like some one dropped it. I used it live playing in clubs in the 1990s constantly. I still have it. The major things to remember about this happy module is it has a solid all metal enclosure. Also almost after inception of MIDI (via 5-pin din) this one on of the first mas produced ones with one board MIDI ports. But the MOST important thing about this synth is the onboard Chorus effect that Roland was famous for (some people say it's the same as on a Juno-60). Back in the day, if you had an inexpensive keyboard, buying a chorus pedal or a effects rack that had chorus was 100% needed for that classic 1980s New Wave sound. You are really lucky to have that one, looks like it is in great shape! - Mr.Tom - Writer/Composer - Performance Rights Organization: BMI Inc. - CAE/IPI #: 833986399

The paraphony and the microwave input is all in the appeal. Especially like the tune knob for slightly detouring patches against others. Great first synthesizer.

Fun and informative video. Brought back many memories. I started with Unicord (pre-KORG-USA) in 1982 when the PolySix and MonoPoly reigned. Both were killer, best-selling synths in the $1,200 to $2,000 price range. Then the Poly800 made programmable synthesis affordable (less than $1,000) and it was a home run in terms of sales - the NAMM Show demonstrations were legendary. As you mentioned, MIDI was brand new and the Poly800 rode the wave with subsequent revisions that got better and better. They were fun times. Nice work, Jorb.

This was a great in depth review. I came for the sounds and learned about an oscillator chip i didn't know about. Im really liking your channel.

Dude, great job on this! I think it's wonderful to explain the architecture of a synth in the demo, especially an odd configuration like this one. The Poly-800 definitely has its limitations, but they are also what give it its interesting character. They can sound a little buzzy, but also very unique and usable. Incredible value for money. For those who are curious, the cutoff and resonance mods for this are very easy to do, even for a beginner. There are a ton of instructions and videos online. All you need is $10 in parts and a drill . Essentially what you are doing is bringing a couple tiny circuit board mounted calibration pots to the front panel and connecting it to a full sized potentiometer. Keep up the solid work Jorb, I'll keep watching.

You persuaded me to keep my Poly 800mk2, by reciting my own arguments back to me! 👍

Thanks to my encounters with the Poly 800 as a kid in music stores here in Sydney and subsequently playing a DX7 - which made me think of the Korg as cheap and nasty - I have always had a bias against them. But this? I'd gladly have this in my studio. Nice work, Jorb!

Great video! I love the EX-800!

I’ve the Korg Poly 800 and you make the patches sound awesome 🎹🤟

If I remember rightly I was looking for something to add to my Juno 106 & this was my first midi expander. I still have both.

Great video! Just picked up a mk2 for free on craigslist and this was the sort of overview I was looking for. In particular, the sorta-not-really bitimbral aspect I feel is very overlooked on this machine. Im sure there are others that I've never messed with, but separate envelopes on the oscillators is such a bizarre and beautiful feature. Personally, I love the digital delay as opposed to the mk1's analog chorus. A dedicated lfo for delay modulation -- basically opening it up to being used as a chorus or a mellow flanger -- is just icing on the cake for weird features on a synth that can only be described as a collection of weird features!

The arcade chip is (I think) what makes this sound truly unique. For an analog, it sounds very chip-tune. The chorus (on the rev 1) takes the sound to a whole nother level. It doesn't sound like a Juno, that's for sure. It has a plastic sound that you either love or hate. Synth snobs will deride paraphony, just because-but I enjoy the aesthetic vibe of it as a player, probably because my first synth was a Korg Delta, which I still own. The EX-800 gets you in the same ballpark as the Juno series, but lacks its refinement and classy character, in favor of a more in-your-face cartoony sound that is to my ears very lo-fi, which renders and records extremely well to a cassette 4 track. My only major gripe is that the envelopes are pretty sluggish. Use it for pads and lead sounds and it's perfectly lovely as a basic bread and butter poly, that definitely has it's own unique (and IMO very desirable) character. Others have said they like it for bass, but for that I prefer my Moogs. I used to own a Juno 106, and had to sell it. I still miss it to this day, but I just can't justify 2k when I have this, a reasonably decent alternative that only cost 400 bucks.

Great video, very informative!

It has been a while since I've programmed one, but these envelopes remind me of the Casio CZ synths - I think those might've had something extra like an option to do something like setting multiple breakpoints. On there it was much more useful, because the envelopes could be routed to multiple parameters...I had some cool patches with one oscillator ascending in pitch and the other descending.

very cool video. I use the Midi In and sysex to upload patches to my EX 800.

Sounds great! I have a poly 800 MK2 but don't have the original patches

Hi! I Great video. Does the EX 800 has a hold function like the Poly 800 in order to hold the sound of notes that were last pressed ?

You know what else has ADBSSR envelopes? The Kronos and Nautilus!

Cool video! As someone's already mentioned, really appreciate the dive into the synth's architecture. Regarding the EG, I can confirm that at least one other synthesizer, the Korg X50 rompler from the 2000s, uses the same kind of envelope - break point, slope and all. It was my very first synth and I still got that diagram burned into my head (used to find it confusing as hell). I don't know, maybe it's something peculiar to Korg?

Hi Jorb, you were asking if other synths also had these ADBSSR envelope generators? I know some others had them as well: the Waldorf Blofeld, Korg DW8000, Korg 03R/W. Also Roland and the Yamaha (FM) synths used to have more elaborate EG models such as ADDSRL or ADDDSR variants.

These are great for the moodier depths of house and techno. I'm glad more and more people are spreading the word about the values of the quirks. The rhythms and sounds of these beloved genres are well defined for good reason. It's precisely these quirks and how they are mixed, matched and massaged that makes an interesting track. See: Vril. I picked up an EX800 with rack ears and a TR-707 with missing battery door about 5 years ago for $550. At the time it didn't feel like much of a deal considering they both had to go to my tech for some help. All these years on and of the 30+ synths I have the EX800 is one that I'd keep if I were going minimalist and slimming down to < 5 pieces. One question I have is if anyone has done the Hawk Mod which I believe adds updated midi features and then allows one to use a Stereoping midi controller. I'm curious if anyone is using it that way and if the value is there. So far mine is unmodified, but that sounds interesting!

The Verbos Multi-Envelope has an attack decay attack sustain release which has that same weird stutter step quality.

I still can't believe I bought the synth used in Gigi Masin's "Clouds" and I also now have the synth that made all the music from Bubble Bobble. I have acquired the Bubble Bobble synth. I know what I must do.

Such an overlooked synth, it has a sound of its own for sure :) The keyboard version, the poly 800, was used a ton by Gigi Masin for his earlier ambient work and it's really good.

Hi Jorb I had one of these back in the day. I got it to supplement my polysix and ensoniq mirage. I liked it a lot, but too many gigs killed it and I ended up selling it for parts. I still have the polysix but the mirage ended up in landfill :( Love your vids.keep 'em coming.

This is my dream desktop synth I've always wanted one but never had the Balls to get it. How cool would be a Volca version of this!

I recognize that mod. ;) Nice video!

Anyone got tips on rack mounting this classic? I just picked one up

I bought one of these just for preset 16 - a kind of spooky organ. It’s broken at the moment though as one of the filter mod pots failed. I opened it up to fix to find a mess of dried battery acid. I’ve cleaned the crud out but the mod is a complete mess (sellotape to insulate wires?) anyway I don’t have time to sort it so need to pay someone to fix up.

curious about the depth of the sequencer. Does it have the ability to sequence its own sounds along with sequencing external gear? If so, across how many channels?

For the algo. Nice work man.

Omg shes beautiful…..If you were to plug a standard usb midi cable out of that midi keyboard into a daw…..would it be able to transfer midi back n fourth?? If so im buying this tomorrow lol

I just subscribed and ordered a Korg EX-800. Take care, Sam from machiwoomiapoo channel. :)

Can I set my Deepmind in a paraphonic filter mode. I’ve been looking to get a string machine for that sound. But if I can use the Deepmind with its filter that way with some other workarounds I can get “close enough”. Especially for gigging.

Just purchased one myself today! However, I am only getting sound out of it. Every time i try to change it to the according number values, it only continues to give me one sound. Can anyone help?

I have a HAWK-800 mod, the reason it rules is because there's a max4live controller for it. Full midi control on v1 from mod, expensive, but worth it?

Do you know if there is a patch editor for the ex 800

i have an unhealthy love for old and weird gear

What do you think of this synth vs the roland alpha juno ?

I’m subbed!

I like the Ex-800 , but I dunno. Compared to what Korg had released previously (The Poly 61 and the DW/EW series) were better. But thats the thing with instruments I think and feel they all do have some form of uniqueness to them, well generally speaking. Also nice Behringer Swing!

My brain hurts just looking at that thing 🥴😂

My friend Zack designed your mod :)

After watching this I understand why everyone remembers the Juno 6/60/106 so fondly while it seems almost no one talks about the Poly 800/EX-800 :-) If they had just kept it simple and built on the Polysix instead it might have been more successful....

The dx7 has a similar envelope generator..kinda