The Korg Poly-61 was released in 1982 as the successor to the Polysix. It was somewhat of a step up from the Polysix, as it has 2 DCOs for better reliability. It also retained the arpeggiator of the Polysix. It has a very dirty sharp sound much like the Yamaha DX7. This is good if you are into the lo-fi sound of electronica. The Poly-61 can provide cool gritty basses or trippy analog sounds and fx.

Also added is the familiar Korg joystick, which can be used to modulate the VCO or the VCF. However, its filter only has 7 steps of resonance and is not as fat as the Polysix's filter. It also uses the same method of programming the Poly-800 and Yamaha DX-7 use, so it's not a very useful synth for real-time-tweaking junkies. The first Poly-61s didn't have MIDI, but the Poly-61M released in 1984 corrects this. Overall, the Poly-61 is still a decent synth, and it can be acquired for practically nothing! It has been used by FM Static and The Faint.

D Djordjevic=Deian Mountbatten

January 19, 2013 @ 10:11 am

I haven't used my Poly-61 much in my music recording home studio anymore since 1988,it just couldn't compete against my Prophet,my OB-8 etc,and in 2002 when I still used to live in my former matrimonial house in Welling,I decided to give it away to an Elvis Presley impersonator who also lived in Welling. He thought it was better than being knocked dead with a golden microphone ... The Hammers! ;o)
www.myspace.com/sirdejandjordjevic www.myspace.com/ultravoxii
Regards,Sir Dejan Djordjevic,Basement Flat Rear,
189 Sandgate Road,Folkestone,Kent,CT20 2HJ,UK

BeN-HuR

January 17, 2013 @ 3:10 am

Takes some time the get inside this great sounding keyboard but once you have it sounds great and not in such a high price. Original sounds fits nicely for Techno and Jungle and the Chorus keeps it in the right way. Very good mostly for studio work.

Dejan Djordjevic

December 24, 2012 @ 3:27 pm

Got my early Poly-61,a prototype,no MIDI,in 1981 to replace the Poly Six I found too thin,and immediately used the Poly-61 in my home studio+live on stage,especially the bass synth on my song "Elizabeth's Empire",Chord/memory and all 12 DCO's for one bass note:FAT!! Shame the ULTRAVOX!! iNTiMATE COLLECTiON album wasn't signed/officially released by a major record company.Visit www.myspace.com/ultravoxii Sir Dejan Djordjevic,Basement Flat Rear,189 Sandgate Rd,Folkestone,Kent,CT202HJ,UK.

Hydorah

November 27, 2012 @ 11:56 am

I got mine super cheap as a project, it sufered battery leak brain damage. I have got it fully playable... And haven't been able to keep my hand off it. It sounds awesome

Had a Juno 60 a few year before this really does suit me better. This sounds NOTHING LIKE A DX7 the sounds are big, it can certainly do sharp and gritty it can also do complex creamy and evolving

Second oscilator doesn't have many options... but you what? There's a second oscillator!

On the fly tweakage is an exercise in button bashing three double digit displays Buy with care though... Battery damage can be SEVERE

Barry Norgaard

June 12, 2012 @ 3:59 pm

I have a Poly 61 and the battery leaked and destroyed the main board. KLM 475B. Anyone have one? If not, I'll be selling for parts which really makes me sick. 515-953-8086

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