The Chroma Polaris was the second synthesizer made by Fender/Rhodes after they took over ARP, following their classic Rhodes Chroma. It has a classic analog ARP-like sound, kind-of tinny but also fat. Sounds can be layered up to 6 voices. It has typical analog synth controls including a cool 'sweep' knob for sweeping through the LFO or analog filter cutoff parameters. It also has a simple real-time sequencer and 132 memory patches.

There's also a nice and colorful layout with sliders similar to Roland Juno synths, membrane push-buttons and a large velocity sensitive 61-note keyboard making the Chroma Polaris a very nice synth. Fully MIDI-equipped, the Polaris will transmit and receive all its edit controls through MIDI as well as the ability to play up to three patches at once. Unfortunately they are rare and usually hard to find. It has been used by Leftfield and Jimmy Edgar.

Jim

March 26, 2011 @ 9:36 am

The Polaris is a seriously under rated piece of gear! Even though it is CEM based, there is a unique voice and seriously good tone lurking under it's hood. Bonus points for slider control for the vast majority of performance options which makes this a hands on synth. It can do warm and mellow to brash and bright. The VCO's are not over controlled and allow the sound to evolve in the 'just right' category. More bonus points for great Midi implementation and stability. The Ribbon issue is an easy fix and most of the chips and 4051 multiplexers are easy to source. An analog lovers dream.

ZAIUSZ

October 28, 2010 @ 3:30 am

I was impressed with the sounds this thing could make once I brought mine back to life. Never heard one before until I got the membranes fixed (which is actually very easy if you know what you are doing). Very aggressive raw sound to it, ring mod and sync both sound great. Two things that I do not like about this synth: The resonance is way too harsh like some SCI synths, and the action and key velocity is crap when on the volume, when you play lightly some notes are way too quiet to hear even after messing with the calibrations you can't fix it. It would be nice if it had a adjustable starting volume instead of 0 for velocity. Otherwise, a pretty awesome sounding synth minus its hideously 80s appearance.

isynthesizer.com

February 12, 2010 @ 12:14 am

here is link for sounds from chroma polaris I love it
http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Chroma_Polaris_Synth_soun.aspx

AL6900

September 9, 2009 @ 4:34 am

This is a *very* underrated synth. The sound is *large*.

Jim Mooney

July 3, 2009 @ 2:06 pm

I still have the Polaris that I bought brand new from Sam Ash in the early 80's. The membrane switches are funky ( I was told by Bob Moog's tech at the time, Dale Ong, that the ribbon connectors were the culprit ), but I will NEVER part with it. The sounds are amazing, and the pitch bending option that lets you sustain certain notes and bend others against them ( like a pedal steel ) using the sustain pedal is the coolest ever. It breaks my heart to see it sitting idle, but ONE day I hope to have it working in its' full glory.

<4321>

 

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