Synth: Chroma Polaris
Review by: Matt Haines

Summary: analogue, multitimbral, polyphonic MIDI synth with real VCOs and
	a full set of sliders, programmable, extremely flexible. A cut-down
	version of the Chroma.

Years Made:
Polyphony: 6
Multitimbrality: yes
MIDI: yes
    Note on/off:yes
    MIDI controllers (aftertouch, CC, etc): all sliders send and receive
                non-standard CC's
    Sysex patch dumping:
    Sysex parameter control: (CC control)
Other inputs/external control:
    CV/Gate:
    Clock: sequencer clock in and out
    Other CV:pedal, two footswitches
    Audio:
    Proprietary (DCB, etc): 5-pin DIN cassette port for saving patches,
                             "chroma interface"
    Programmer:
Outputs: mono (low or high)
Patch storage: yes
    Patch dumping (tape, MIDI, etc): tape
Voice architecture:
        2 VCOs (square/pulse/pwm or saw)
        ring modulator
        LFO (called "sweep") w/ square or sine waveforms
        resonant LPF (mod by: kbd tracking, LFO, +/-EG, velocity)
        VCA (mod by: ASR, velocity)
        oscillator sync
        noise

Interface: sliders, membrane switches for programs and other functions
Sequencer/Arpeggiator: sequencer
Keyboard/rack: 5-oct keyboard
Known problems: membrane switches fail, irreplaceable
Accessories: pedal, footswitch
Related synths/gear: Chroma, Chroma Expander are predecessors, have more
                features than the Polaris (but not the sliders)
Price range: medium low (around the price of a Korg Mono/Poly or Roland MC202)
Availability: medium common
Comments:
    Strengths: multitimbrality is unique, even has "virtual" channels so that
                more than 6 MIDI channels can be assigned patches, and voices
                are allocated dynamically. Slider moves can be recorded to a
                sequencer in real time. Keyboard split, layer. Wood end-pieces.
    Weaknesses: Sounds is a bit "thin" yet "grungy". Resonance, pitch bend,
                some other sliders have very coarse control. Heavy. Wood
                end-pieces.
    Overall:   Not bad if it can be found for cheap.
    Other:




Matt Haines  haines@cloverleaf.com

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