Dave Smith Instruments • Poly Evolver

Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver Image

In 2005 Dave Smith Instruments released their third Evolver - The Poly Evolver. Their flagship instrument, it's a four-voice synthesizer (essentially four complete Evolvers) with a 5-octave keyboard, pitch and mod wheels, and a ton of knobs and switches in a clean, clear, easy-to-navigate layout. It can be a four-voice poly synth, four mono synths (each with its own sequencer), or any combination in between. The Evolver series resurrects some of the oscillator, filter and other component technologies from the classic Sequential Circuits Prophet-VS and Pro-One synths. The Evolver was a huge hit the moment it appeared and this is the super-hands-on-real-time-programmable-polyphonic version of the little beast.

Each voice is a complete Evolver with four oscillators per voice: two analog and two digital - it's a true analog/digital hybrid synth. The analog oscillators feature multiple classic waveforms plus pulse-width modulation and hard sync, and they sound really nice and big. The digital oscillators feature FM synthesis, Ring Modulation and 96 Prophet VS wavetables plus 32 user wavetables (loaded via MIDI only). Each voice also features two Curtis voltage-controlled analog low-pass filters which are fully resonant and switchable for two- or four-pole operation, two digital highpass filters and real analog VCAs. Modulation capabilities are handled by four LFOs and three ADSR envelope generators (for the filter, the amp, and one is user assignable). There are dedicated onboard effects (feedback, delay, distortion, glide, etc.). One of its best features is the MIDI-syncable 16-step 4-parameter analog-style sequencer (with each patch having its own sequence) which really brings things to life with evolving sounds. The LFOs, step sequencer, and three separate delays can all be synced for massive, rhythmic, time-based effects in stereo. A major unique feature of the Evolver is its true stereo signal path. For each Evolver voice, the left and right channels get their own independent analog oscillator, lowpass filter, highpass filter, VCA and effects. This allows for pretty nice stereo imaging effects.

The Poly Evolver essentially quadruples all those Evolver specs! In Program mode, all four voices play the same sound. In Combo mode, voices can be allocated however desired: stack all 4 for a huge unison sound, split or layer the keyboard in any configuration, and/or play one or all sequences at the same time. Each voice can also respond to a different MIDI channel. Each voice has its own stereo output jacks in addition to the mix output. Stereo audio input can be routed to any or all of the voices, enabling parallel audio processing of external stereo or mono signals. The output of one voice can be routed to the input of another for interesting double-processing effects. And multiple Poly Evolvers can be daisy-chained for increased polyphony!

Full of hundreds of jaw-dropping preset patches, the Poly Evolver offers four times the punch of the original Evolver. The Poly Evolver finally answered prayers for a truly hands-on, programmable synthesizer version of the Evolver, and Dave Smith went all out on this one. The keyboard is semi-weighted with velocity and aftertouch, the wood end caps and overall design make for a great, classic look. The Pitch/Mod wheels are back-lit. With 77 endless-turn knobs and 59 switches, pretty much all parameters are within easy reach. There is a Poly Evolver Rack version of this keyboard, but where is the fun in that? Unless, of course, you "Poly Chain" one or more Poly Evolver Rack models to a master Poly Evolver keyboard for tons more polyphony and Evolver madness! The Poly Evolver would soon be followed up by the much less expensive Mono Evolver, a monophonic keyboard version of the original Evolver.


VISITOR COMMENTS (13)

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Tim
Posted 62 days ago
The Poly Evolver Keyboard is one of the best kept secrets in the synthesizer world. It is an immensely versatile instrument and very powerful - having the virtues both of analog and digital. But what I most like about the PEK is its FOUR oscillators. This is an extremely rare feature in analog synthesizers. In either polyphonic or monophonic settings, four independent oscillators offer tremendous depth. To a degree, it approaches additive synthesis.

I use the PEK as a super solo synthesizer that allows for harmonization. In this capacity, the internal delay is fabulous; it really adds depth to the sound. It's also good as a left hand chordal instrument, and can do double-duty as an organ if you pitch the triangle wavesforms in imitation of a drawbar setting.

Last but not least, if you have a PEK you don't need a light show, because you've already got one in this instrument. The many blue and red blinking lights are beautiful, and sometimes almost blinding!
antinet
Posted 66 days ago
I've been looking around at various synths, thinking that the old analogs are sweet and all, and I own a juno106, which is ballpark Roland, and quite capable minus its bugs and no arp. I liked the MS2000, but didnt buy one. This thing sounds ORIGINAL, and I dont hear that much. I dont think this youtube demo does it justice. I need to demo one in person before I get a bank loan...but this one seems worthy, and I like its sound better than what I've heard from the other pricy new synths.
Can this thing get near a yamaha cs-10 or 303 on the bass end of things?
dave
Posted 111 days ago
Todrkpark on utube, to hear a track made with this synth...

This is a great symts.... one of the best ever... its comb of dig and analog osc and great filter with unlimited modulation ablitiys make it one of my all time top 3 favorites... the onboard 4 diffrent step sequancers can mod anything on the board and more.. and can make you come up with some of the most crazy sequances and sounds and the on board efects and 2 diffrent forms of overdrives 2 to 4 pole filter all sound great.. take 1 step seq for your cutoff of filter.. another to the decay. another the delay time and another to say volume of say osc 3 all in sync or out if you want it and you cant fail to make something you havent herd before...i think this synth blows prophet o8 away although the prophet o8 is a fat symth as well.. this is a synth that i would say to anyone who has money for new synth in there setup look at this because some day this synth will be a legend.
Peterkeys88
Posted 172 days ago
This is the synth of a new generation. It takes the old structure we all know and love and adds incredible features, not just midi and stable oscs, but the feedback, and wavetable oscs mixed with the analog oscs make for some really fresh sounds. Everyones heard the minis and the prophets, etc, but the combination of analog and digital here really makes this synth unique. A lot punchier than my other gear. Takes a bit to tame the interface and ridiculous "dance" presets (DSI needs to sell right?:) ), but you will sound fresh.
Morgan
Posted 327 days ago
The Poly Evolver has 4 voices, 4 oscillators per voice (2 analog, 2 wave table) for a total of 16 oscillators. The Prophet 08 has 8 voices, 2 oscillators each for a total of 16 oscillators. 16 oscillators at full bore is more than necessary for most uses. But just because the Poly doesn't have as many simultaneous filter stages, I wouldn't call it deficient. It just has it's own unique capabilities. Wave table synthesis in concert with analog, allows for punchier attacks and courser wave distortions than in an analog only synth. It is very musically capable. It's analog portion is identical to the Prophet in structure. IMO simpler synth sounds lend better to melodic intelligibility and the Poly can be used in this capacity too, by winnowing down extravagant presets to one or two oscillators.
 

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