From will Thu Aug 4 15:00:20 1994 Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 15:00:20 EDT Message-Id: <9408041900.AA15549@irish.sid> Postmark: Thu Aug 4 14:27:58 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: analogue-request@postbox.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox Reply-To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Cc: will:WBST311:Xerox From: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox Subject: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 1689 X-Lines: 40 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu ([128.146.214.20]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14574(10)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 11:53:37 PDT Received: by postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (8.6.9/5.901231) id OAA03716; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 14:29:13 -0400 Received: from alpha.xerox.com by postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (8.6.9/5.901231) id OAA03705; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 14:29:10 -0400 Received: from RFD.Wbst311.Xerox.xns by alpha.xerox.com via XNS id <14569(7)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 11:28:19 PDT -----RFC822 headers----> Received: by irish.sid (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA15425; Thu, 4 Aug 94 14:27:57 EDT Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris. My local music store has one for $300. It seems reasonable for the features. Here's what I gather about the machine: Pros ---- 6-voice 12 oscillator reasonable midi implementation (especially for the vintage) sequencer (simple) can split/layer AND play a third sound via the internal sequencer sliders for many of the sound controls Cons ---- poor implementation of velocity sensitivity no ablity to set oscillator mix levels membrane switches for some settings and patch selection not the fattest sound Anyone else want to add their $0.02. I didn't find anything about it in the archived info. I don't think that it was ever a very popular machine. +---------------------------------------+------------------------------+ | Will Weidman | My opinions are mine, not my | | Xerox Corporation; Rochester, NY | employer's | | will.wbst311@xerox.com | | +---------------------------------------+------------------------------+ From will Thu Aug 4 16:10:05 1994 Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:10:05 EDT Message-Id: <9408042010.AA15779@irish.sid> Postmark: Thu Aug 4 16:01:09 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: MCINTYRE@msupa.pa.msu:edu:Xerox From: MCINTYRE@msupa.pa.msu:edu:Xerox To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Subject: RE: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 341 X-Lines: 12 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from MSUPA.PA.MSU.EDU ([35.8.48.1]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14497(7)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 13:01:20 PDT -----RFC822 headers----> Will, I'd say go for it, especially if they have the manual. I have two Polarises in my set-up. John McIntyre Physics - Astronomy Domine Dept Michigan State University From will Thu Aug 4 16:20:05 1994 Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:20:05 EDT Message-Id: <9408042020.AA15820@irish.sid> Postmark: Thu Aug 4 16:19:24 1994 (RFD:Wbst311:Xerox) Sender: Will_Weidman:Wbst311:xerox Reply-To: Will_Weidman:Wbst311:xerox Cc: will:wbst311:xerox From: Will_Weidman:Wbst311:xerox To: MCINTYRE@msupa.pa.msu:edu:Xerox Subject: RE: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 1248 X-Lines: 34 Status: RO Received: by irish.sid (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA15802; Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:19:16 EDT > Will, > > I'd say go for it, especially if they have the manual. I have two Polarises > in my set-up. > > John McIntyre > Physics - Astronomy Domine Dept > Michigan State University > I know...I sold you one of them!! The reason for the query is that I never spent much time programming the Polaris when I first had it. My interest in analog synthesis has been renewed and I was wondering whether or not there might be a better machine for me to be on the lookout for. You don't hear folks talk about the polaris too much. I don't know why. I am glad to hear that my old one is still kicking. If I do buy this one I may ask you to make copies of the MIDI and Chroma Interface manuals that I had. How do you think the Polaris stacks up against similar machines? Thanks for your input. +---------------------------------------+------------------------------+ | Will Weidman | My opinions are mine, not my | | Xerox Corporation; Rochester, NY | employer's | | will.wbst311@xerox.com | | +---------------------------------------+------------------------------+ From will Thu Aug 4 16:30:20 1994 Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:30:20 EDT Message-Id: <9408042030.AA15867@irish.sid> Postmark: Thu Aug 4 16:27:41 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: nathan@laplace.csb.yale:edu:Xerox From: nathan@laplace.csb.yale:edu:Xerox To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 2204 X-Lines: 72 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from laplace.csb.yale.edu ([130.132.17.11]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14553(10)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 13:27:46 PDT Received: by laplace.csb.yale.edu (NX5.67d/NX3.0M) id AA20897; Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:27:41 -0400 From: "Nathan F. Janette" Received: by NeXT.Mailer (1.100) Received: by NeXT Mailer (1.100) -----RFC822 headers----> > Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris. My > local music store has one for $300. It seems reasonable for the features. I have had one for years, so I'll throw in a few comments... > Here's what I gather about the machine: > > Pros > ---- > 6-voice 12 oscillator > reasonable midi implementation (especially for the vintage) > sequencer (simple) > can split/layer AND play a third sound via the internal sequencer It's also fully multi-timberal over MIDI. You can allocate eight different "instruments" over MIDI by sending a program change over the base MIDI channel+n, and it will dynamically allocate the six voices. You can turn off voice channels for some *killer* monophonic leads. There is a cute bend feature that only bends some voices being held with a hold pedal or something like that, I never use it. > sliders for many of the sound controls > > Cons > ---- > poor implementation of velocity sensitivity Strange, but true. I've never heard anyone else complain about this, though. There are two different versions of the final ROMS, and they have different velocity curves. You can also adjust each key with the onboard diags, but not set the curve for the whole keyboard, sadly. > no ablity to set oscillator mix levels > membrane switches for some settings and patch selection > not the fattest sound A subjective option, of course. I find it has a "sound" of it's own. Some patches can be quite thick, but mostly I think of it as more "cutting". It's a heavy synth, too, weights more than you might guess from the looks. Cheers, -Nathan --- Nathan Janette Voice: 203 432 5065 Systems Manager Fax: 203 432 3923 Brunger Lab Internet: nathan@laplace.csb.yale.edu Yale Univ Dept MB&B/HHMI "I'm a NeXTstep Man, I'm a NeXTcube Guy" From will Thu Aug 4 16:40:04 1994 Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:40:04 EDT Message-Id: <9408042040.AA15902@irish.sid> Postmark: Thu Aug 4 16:31:15 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: MCINTYRE@msupa.pa.msu:edu:Xerox From: MCINTYRE@msupa.pa.msu:edu:Xerox To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Subject: RE: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 697 X-Lines: 20 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from MSUPA.PA.MSU.EDU ([35.8.48.1]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14435(6)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 13:31:20 PDT -----RFC822 headers----> Will, >I am glad to hear that my old one is still kicking. If I do buy this one I >may ask you to make copies of the MIDI and Chroma Interface manuals that I >had. Ah, so it is you I have to thank for my second Polaris. I had forgotten you were the source. Certainly I can make copies of the manuals for you. >How do you think the Polaris stacks up against similar machines? Hmm, I really don't know what machines would be considered similar. John McIntyre Physics - Astronomy Domine Dept Michigan State University From will Thu Aug 4 20:50:16 1994 Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 20:50:16 EDT Message-Id: <9408050050.AA16768@irish.sid> Postmark: Thu Aug 4 20:16:09 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: analogue-request@postbox.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox Reply-To: ac151@freenet.carleton:ca:Xerox From: ac151@freenet.carleton:ca:Xerox To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 3901 X-Lines: 108 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu ([128.146.214.20]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14452(8)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 17:41:45 PDT Received: by postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (8.6.9/5.901231) id UAA10709; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 20:16:03 -0400 Received: from freenet3.carleton.ca by postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (8.6.9/5.901231) id UAA10705; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 20:16:01 -0400 Received: from localhost (ac151@localhost) by freenet3.carleton.ca (8.6.4/8.6.4) id UAA18376; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 20:16:09 -0400 From: ac151@freenet.carleton.ca (David Clarke) -----RFC822 headers----> >Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris. My >local music store has one for $300. It seems reasonable for the features. I picked one up for $300US a while back, and I'd have to say that I'm _very_ happy with it... >Pros >---- >6-voice 12 oscillator YUP >reasonable midi implementation (especially for the vintage) I'd actually say that the midi implementation was/is very good. Everything that you can twiddle and tweak from the front panel (glide, sweep rate, sweep sine/square, envelope & osc. params, etc) are sent out via midi, and can also be received via midi. >sequencer (simple) Well, it may not allow too much editing, but one nice thing is that it records _everything_. That is to say, it keeps track of patch changes, tweaks of all of the sliders and button pushes in addition to all of the note on/note off data. >can split/layer AND play a third sound via the internal sequencer And if you want to muck around with the midi sysex data (or get inside via the Chroma interface) you can actually get all 8 voices playing different sounds (i.e., 8 logical instruments). >sliders for many of the sound controls For almost all, actually (although, in light of the recent "knob or slider" conversation, some people might put this in the Cons list! ;-> ) >Cons >---- >poor implementation of velocity sensitivity I don't know why you said this, but I don't know that I would necessarily agree. Both envelope and volume control can be made touch/velocity sensitive. I will admit that the synth has to be adjusted correctly to ensure that the velocity threshholds are not set to high (or low), but once that is done I have found things to be pretty good. If things still aren't ok, the Polaris will allow you to adjust the velocity sensitivity of individual keys. >no ablity to set oscillator mix levels YUP >membrane switches for some settings and patch selection YUP (although the settings controlled by membrane switches are usually of the toggle variety of parameters anyway...) >not the fattest sound Agreed, but the range of possible sounds is quite impressive. Other pros & cons? pro: the 6 voices are dynamically assigned, even during keyboard splits (unlike the 2/4 4/2 split mode of something like a Jupiter 6). pro: the on-board memory is easily upgraded (with very easily obtainable parts) to hold oodles more sequencer data pro: in addition to the 132 programs that it will hold, it can also handle 12 sequences. pro: you can plug in another Polaris and have a 12 voice polyphony. pro: that wacko selective bend feature. pro: a owners/service manual that was originally written in english (not rolandese). con (or pro, depending on how you look at it) It weighs a ton! Don't even think about putting a neck strap around this one!!! con: Depending when you call, Fender denies having any information on this beast ...hey, buy it and if you don't like it give it to me for Christmas! -- ------------------------------- /''' -------------------------------- David Clarke c-00 davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca > clarkec@sfu.ca dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca ------------------------------- - -------------------------------- From will Fri Aug 5 00:40:15 1994 Date: Fri, 5 Aug 94 00:40:14 EDT Message-Id: <9408050440.AA17468@irish.sid> Postmark: Fri Aug 5 00:28:34 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: dwills@server.uwindsor:ca:Xerox From: dwills@server.uwindsor:ca:Xerox To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Inreplyto: Will Weidman:WBST311:Xerox's message < 4-Aug-94 14:27:58 EDT> Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 611 X-Lines: 17 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from server.uwindsor.ca ([137.207.32.2]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14583(6)>; Thu, 4 Aug 1994 21:29:22 PDT Received: by server.uwindsor.ca (931110.SGI.ANONFTP/931108.SGI.AUTO.ANONFTP) for Will_Weidman.Wbst311@xerox.com id AA28148; Fri, 5 Aug 94 00:28:37 -0400 From: Michael Dunn Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII -----RFC822 headers----> I've had loads of fun with my Polaris. It's enjoyable to program, mostly. I've even written a simple ed/lib for it that runs on an ST. Michael Dunn dwills@uwindsor.ca From will Fri Aug 5 08:10:13 1994 Date: Fri, 5 Aug 94 08:10:13 EDT Message-Id: <9408051210.AA18895@irish.sid> Postmark: Fri Aug 5 08:05:17 1994 (RFD:Wbst311:Xerox) Sender: Will_Weidman:Wbst311:xerox Reply-To: Will_Weidman:Wbst311:xerox Cc: will:wbst311:xerox From: Will_Weidman:Wbst311:xerox To: ac151@freenet.carleton:ca:Xerox Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 2184 X-Lines: 50 Status: RO Received: by irish.sid (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA18866; Fri, 5 Aug 94 08:04:58 EDT Thanks for your input. A couple of comments: > And if you want to muck around with the midi sysex data (or get > inside via the Chroma interface) you can actually get all > 8 voices playing different sounds (i.e., 8 logical instruments). > Hmmm, this sounds very interesting (although you mean 6 voices, right?). Is it still bi-timbral (any 2 of the 6 at one time) or does it become 6-part multitimbral?! > >Cons > >---- > >poor implementation of velocity sensitivity > > I don't know why you said this, but I don't know that I would necessarily > agree. Both envelope and volume control can be made touch/velocity > sensitive. I will admit that the synth has to be adjusted correctly > to ensure that the velocity threshholds are not set to high (or low), > but once that is done I have found things to be pretty good. > > If things still aren't ok, the Polaris will allow you to adjust > the velocity sensitivity of individual keys. > Well, a while back I used one and it was connected to a Kurz 1000PX. Playing any pianoish kurz samples was frustrating because of the inconsistency of the velocity response from key to key. Even after trying to adjust that on a key by key basis didn't produce acceptable results. I would max out one the setting on one key (hit it very hard) and still not get a response similar to an adjacent key that was in the middle of the adjustment range. Very frustrating. > pro: the on-board memory is easily upgraded (with very easily > obtainable parts) to hold oodles more sequencer data > Wow. How many events can you get the memory to? Thanks for all of your input. It seems like the Polaris has some reasonably powerful features. Why is is that it's not more popular? +---------------------------------------+------------------------------+ | Will Weidman | My opinions are mine, not my | | Xerox Corporation; Rochester, NY | employer's | | will.wbst311@xerox.com | | +---------------------------------------+------------------------------+ From will Fri Aug 5 11:00:27 1994 Date: Fri, 5 Aug 94 11:00:26 EDT Message-Id: <9408051500.AA19478@irish.sid> Postmark: Fri Aug 5 10:57:47 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: ac151@freenet.carleton:ca:Xerox Reply-To: ac151@freenet.carleton:ca:Xerox From: ac151@freenet.carleton:ca:Xerox To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 4538 X-Lines: 102 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from freenet3.carleton.ca ([134.117.1.22]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14503(6)>; Fri, 5 Aug 1994 07:57:37 PDT Received: from localhost (ac151@localhost) by freenet3.carleton.ca (8.6.4/8.6.4) id KAA23963; Fri, 5 Aug 1994 10:57:47 -0400 From: ac151@freenet.carleton.ca (David Clarke) -----RFC822 headers----> >Received: by irish.sid (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA18866; Fri, 5 Aug 94 08:04:58 EDT > >Thanks for your input. A couple of comments: > > >> And if you want to muck around with the midi sysex data (or get >> inside via the Chroma interface) you can actually get all >> 8 voices playing different sounds (i.e., 8 logical instruments). >> >Hmmm, this sounds very interesting (although you mean 6 voices, right?). >Is it still bi-timbral (any 2 of the 6 at one time) or does it become >6-part multitimbral?! Ooops...yep, I mean 6 voices (but I do mean 8 logical instruments). This means that you can have 8 instruments defined at any one time (but you can only play 6 notes at any one time...) The nice implementation of Dynamic Voice Allowcation takes care of all of the particulars. Methinks 6-part multitimbral (6-timtral). > >> >Cons >> >---- >> >poor implementation of velocity sensitivity >> >> I don't know why you said this, but I don't know that I would necessarily >> agree. Both envelope and volume control can be made touch/velocity >> sensitive. I will admit that the synth has to be adjusted correctly >> to ensure that the velocity threshholds are not set to high (or low), >> but once that is done I have found things to be pretty good. >> >> If things still aren't ok, the Polaris will allow you to adjust >> the velocity sensitivity of individual keys. >> >Well, a while back I used one and it was connected to a Kurz 1000PX. >Playing any pianoish kurz samples was frustrating because of the >inconsistency of the velocity response from key to key. Even after >trying to adjust that on a key by key basis didn't produce acceptable >results. I would max out one the setting on one key (hit it very hard) >and still not get a response similar to an adjacent key that was in the >middle of the adjustment range. Very frustrating. You can get the polaris to reset all of it's settings to a nominal value (which I find pretty good, anyway), then you can tweak things if you have to on a key-by-key basis. If this doesn't lead to satisfactory results, then the key-contacts may need service (or you may have to get inside and manually twiddle some sort of ADC coarse adjustment). >> pro: the on-board memory is easily upgraded (with very easily >> obtainable parts) to hold oodles more sequencer data >> >Wow. How many events can you get the memory to? > By default, the Polaris came with 16K of memory. It's quite easy to upgrade it to 64K (just swap out some memory chips, and toggle a few jumpers) That will take the sequencer from something like 650 notes to 3350 notes (with 132 programs in memory). The program memory and sequencer memory is shared, so the fewer programs you have, the more sequencer memory you have. >Thanks for all of your input. It seems like the Polaris has some >reasonably powerful features. Why is is that it's not more popular? To be honest, I don't know. I have heard some people complain that it is "buzzy" as opposed to "fat", but not knowing their frame of reference, I can't comment on that. One thing I can say, is that if those Polaris users who thought it sounded "buzzy" were using the headphone out, then they might have been right. I don't know why, but Fender/Rhodes indicates that there are two places you can hook up the return line from the headphones signal - one of which is the _digital_ ground of the system (so you hear all the processor buzz on the system). It's a quick and easy fix to more this line over to the _analogue_ ground of the system. Regards, Dave. P.S. Polaris' normally are sold with one (or two) pedals, and a special cable to connect the polaris to a cassette deck. These should be included in your price. If the fella wants to charge you more, try to talk him down. You can certainly survive without these, but life is much easier with them. -- ------------------------------- /''' -------------------------------- David Clarke c-00 davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca > clarkec@sfu.ca dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca ------------------------------- - -------------------------------- From will Sat Aug 6 15:01:05 1994 Date: Sat, 6 Aug 94 15:01:05 EDT Message-Id: <9408061901.AA23772@irish.sid> Postmark: Sat Aug 6 14:50:06 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: gt5616a@prism.gatech:edu:Xerox Cc: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox From: gt5616a@prism.gatech:edu:Xerox To: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox Inreplyto: <" 4-Aug-94 14:27:58 EDT".*.Will_Weidman.Wbst311@Xerox.com> from "Will_Weidman.Wbst311@xerox.com" at Aug 4, 94 11:27:58 am Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 748 X-Lines: 18 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from acmez.gatech.edu ([130.207.160.18]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14410(8)>; Sat, 6 Aug 1994 11:50:10 PDT Received: (from gt5616a@localhost) by acmez.gatech.edu (8.6.9/8.6.9) id OAA21978; Sat, 6 Aug 1994 14:50:06 -0400 Cc: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (analogue) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] Content-Type: text Content-Length: 338 -----RFC822 headers----> > Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris. My > local music store has one for $300. It seems reasonable for the features. I've had a bit of experience with that board, and I like it very much. Cool sounds, nifty features (esp. for a board of that age). $300's a steal. Wish I had one myself, actually. From will Mon Aug 8 14:10:13 1994 Date: Mon, 8 Aug 94 14:10:13 EDT Message-Id: <9408081810.AA00698@irish.sid> Postmark: Mon Aug 8 14:07:23 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: atomic@netcom:com:Xerox Cc: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox, analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox From: atomic@netcom:com:Xerox To: gt5616a@prism.gatech:edu:Xerox Inreplyto: <199408061850.OAA21978@acmez.gatech.edu> from "gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu" at Aug 6, 94 02:50:06 pm Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 1769 X-Lines: 38 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from netcom5.netcom.com ([192.100.81.113]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14484(3)>; Mon, 8 Aug 1994 11:07:07 PDT Received: by netcom5.netcom.com (8.6.8.1/Netcom) id LAA14267; Mon, 8 Aug 1994 11:07:23 -0700 From: atomic@netcom.com (atomic city) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 1313 -----RFC822 headers----> gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu jotteth.... > >> Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris. My >> local music store has one for $300. It seems reasonable for the features. > >I've had a bit of experience with that board, and I like it very much. >Cool sounds, nifty features (esp. for a board of that age). $300's a >steal. Wish I had one myself, actually. YAAAAH!!! Caveat Emptor!!! Use EXTREME caution when buying a used Polaris. The membrane switches on the front panel and the multipin connectors wiring the panel to the guts of the machine are of limited MTBF, and WILL grow old and fail eventually. I owned one and loved it (and sold it for other reasons than reliability ones) ,but you must be careful when buying! Test each and every button for positive, reliable action. If that's okay and it passes the other usual tests, then $300 is a very nice price for a very nice synth. The multipin cables can be kludged, I think (AGCampbell mentioned this in EM sometime inthe last n years), but the panels themselves are not replaceable, I don't think. -- mike metlay * atomic city * box 81175 pgh pa 15217-0675 * atomic@netcom.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Obviously had a wonderful time. You can tell by the way I hobble." (ziggy) From will Mon Aug 8 14:40:19 1994 Date: Mon, 8 Aug 94 14:40:18 EDT Message-Id: <9408081840.AA00801@irish.sid> Postmark: Mon Aug 8 14:07:23 1994 (XNS-SMTP-Gateway:Parc:Xerox) Sender: analogue-request@postbox.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox Cc: Will_Weidman:WBST311:Xerox, analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state:edu:Xerox From: atomic@netcom:com:Xerox To: gt5616a@prism.gatech:edu:Xerox Inreplyto: <199408061850.OAA21978@acmez.gatech.edu> from "gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu" at Aug 6, 94 02:50:06 pm Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris Content-Length: 2005 X-Lines: 42 Status: RO <----RFC822 headers----- Received: from postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu ([128.146.214.20]) by alpha.xerox.com with SMTP id <14494(3)>; Mon, 8 Aug 1994 11:31:27 PDT Received: by postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (8.6.9/5.901231) id OAA24402; Mon, 8 Aug 1994 14:07:15 -0400 Received: from netcom5.netcom.com by postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (8.6.9/5.901231) id OAA24381; Mon, 8 Aug 1994 14:07:12 -0400 Received: by netcom5.netcom.com (8.6.8.1/Netcom) id LAA14267; Mon, 8 Aug 1994 11:07:23 -0700 From: atomic@netcom.com (atomic city) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 1313 -----RFC822 headers----> gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu jotteth.... > >> Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris. My >> local music store has one for $300. It seems reasonable for the features. > >I've had a bit of experience with that board, and I like it very much. >Cool sounds, nifty features (esp. for a board of that age). $300's a >steal. Wish I had one myself, actually. YAAAAH!!! Caveat Emptor!!! Use EXTREME caution when buying a used Polaris. The membrane switches on the front panel and the multipin connectors wiring the panel to the guts of the machine are of limited MTBF, and WILL grow old and fail eventually. I owned one and loved it (and sold it for other reasons than reliability ones) ,but you must be careful when buying! Test each and every button for positive, reliable action. If that's okay and it passes the other usual tests, then $300 is a very nice price for a very nice synth. The multipin cables can be kludged, I think (AGCampbell mentioned this in EM sometime inthe last n years), but the panels themselves are not replaceable, I don't think. -- mike metlay * atomic city * box 81175 pgh pa 15217-0675 * atomic@netcom.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Obviously had a wonderful time. You can tell by the way I hobble." (ziggy) From ac151@freenet.carleton.ca Thu Sep 1 13:01:16 1994 Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 07:43:07 -0400 From: David Clarke To: map@cs.washington.edu Subject: Re: JX3P, chroma polaris >if you were looking for another synth to pad out your setup, to provide >some nice whooshy, slowly-changing interesting textures and so on, would >you go for a jx3p ($250 incl programmer, stand, soft case), or a chroma >polaris ($250)? i know the 3p at $250 is decent.. not a jaw-dropping >bargain, but good. i dont know much about the polaris. someone want to >summarize a bit? (romeo?) all comments on the sound, useability, midi >functionality, etc of these two welcomed. :) I can't comment on the jx3p, but I can give you an ear-full on the polaris... - 6 voice, 8 instrument machine. The voices are dynamically allocated even across keyboard splits (unlike the jupiter 6, in 4/2 or 2/4 split mode). - 132 programs, 12 sequences - the on-board sequencer is a single track jobby with very limited editing capabilities. The great thing about it is that it records _everything_ you do on the polaris (i.e., it remembers button pushes and slider twiddles) and can play them back again. - if not already done, the memory of the polaris can easily be upgraded to something like 9000 notes (easily upgraded = insertion of readily available memory chips and dongle of a jumper or two). - midi is nice - all slider information is sent out as continuous controller data (i.e., you can externally fiddle things like resonance and cutoff via midi). - the polaris comes with sync in and sync out - both presented on 1/4" jacks (anyone know how to connect these to din sync?). It can sync to just about anything...and it can be set up so that almost any sync device can drive it's metronome. It allows you to set what clock controls what (i.e., midi clock controls sync and metronome, sync controls metronome, etc.) Although I haven't tried it, it would seem that you could probably set the polaris up just as a MIDI-SYNC converter, with the internal metronome still running at whatever rate you want. - some poeple have commented that it sounds a little "buzzy" - I'd have to agree, but not buzzy in a bad way :-> Some of the buzz that people hear might be the result of the fact that the default connection for the signal return for the headphone is to the digital ground (i.e., you can hear all the digital noise). Of course, a quick fix for this is to hook up the return to the analog ground. - I paid $300 US for mine (including the two pedals and the tape interface cable) and I'd do it again tomorrow! As a matter of fact, if I could get another for around $250 I probably would buy it - you can hook the two keyboards together to get a 12 voice, 16 instrument machine. - This puppy is mono - no fake stereo or chorus. - The weighted keys are nice, but if you're used to tight, spling-loaded actions then playing will probably take some getting used to. - some people have noted that the velocity sensitivity seems "spongy." Mine is ok and I think that those other keyboards may not have been set up correctly. The polaris allows you to universally adjust the sensitivity, and then fine tune it on a key-by-key basis, if required. ...anything in particular you want to know about the polaris? (if you haven't already guessed, I really like mine...) -- ------------------------------- /''' -------------------------------- David Clarke c-00 davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca > clarkec@sfu.ca dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca ------------------------------- - -------------------------------- From ac151@freenet.carleton.ca Thu Sep 1 23:56:30 1994 Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 18:50:46 -0400 From: David Clarke To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, feed@maroon.tc.umn.edu Subject: Re: Stupid Chroma Polaris Tricks {stuff deleted} >>> All the sliders and voice editing switches >>>(possibly even the program switches) are mapped to MIDI CC's (continuous >>>controllers). >> >>Yup, all the switches are accessible via sysex (both to check their >>status and/or to set them) - actually, _every_ action on the control >>panel can be sent via midi (or received via midi)... > >Now, which of these is true? Are the controls hooked to MIDI continuous >controllers (good) or sysex (not as good)? BOTH! Here's the scoop: MIDI ---- The following is a list of the continuous controllers that are sent/received by the Polaris: cc# Name 0 Performance Volume 1 Modulation Lever 2 Volume 3 Glide 4 sweep rate 5 rate pedal depth 6 sweep sine/square 7 vibrato pedal depth 8 mod lever range 9 vibrato pedal depth 10 pitch bend range 11 pitch pedal depth 12 env fixed/touch 13 env attack 14 env decay 15 env sustain 16 env sustain decay 17 env release 18 vol env fixed/touch 19 vol env attach 20 vol env decay 21 vol env release 22 osc 1 transpose 23 osc 2 transpose 24 osc 1 vibrato 25 osc 2 vibrato 26 osc 2 env depth 27 detune 28 ring mod (on/off) 29 sync (on/off) 30 osc 1 saws/pulse 31 osc 2 saws/pulse 64 sustain footswitch 96 osc 1 pulse width 97 osc 2 pulse width 98 osc 1 sweep pulse width mod/env pulse width mod 99 osc 2 " " " " " " " 100 osc 1 pulse width mod 101 osc 2 " " " 102 noise (on/off) 103 filter cutoff 104 filter resonance 105 filter sweep depth 106 filter env depth 107 filter keyboard track 108 cutoff pedal depth 109 volume pedal depth 110 pedal initial 111 slider assignment 112 link mode 113 link program number 114 keyboard split 115 keyboard range ....well, that should just about cover all the performance related twiddle-things on the Polaris. I mentioned sysex because with it you can do everything the cc's can do, but you can also do things like determine the present value/position of a slider or a button or toggle _any_ of the other controls (like, start the sequencer, perform an auto-tune, read the contents of the program memory, perform diagnostics on the beast, etc.) -- ------------------------------- /''' -------------------------------- David Clarke c-00 davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca > clarkec@sfu.ca dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca ------------------------------- - --------------------------------