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video upload by Bruce Sklar
"This is a short video of my 1984 Rhodes Chroma. I am the original owner.
This shows me creating a scratch patch using the CC+ Split 39 function , which shows the instrument functioning as it should"
Is it fully functional , has the CC+ and midi interface , and a new power supply installed by the best Chroma tech on the east coast.
It is cosmetically beautiful. The black metal top shows a few scratches from having a Rhodes Chroma Polaris on it years ago, hence the 'excellent' vs ' mint ' condition
It has a new flight case to original specs, all original manuals , all needed pedals , although those are not original"
"Fantastic Rhodes Chroma Polaris. This Chroma has a new membrane, has been fully serviced including battery, full factory reset/spec, Factory load. Super rich, midi heavy Poly analog. Great integration, expressive w/ pedal and assignments.
The panel was installed a year ago and in that time something did press the surface (see last pic) - no functional issues, but wanted to note the visual since it is a new membrane."
"Serviced a few years ago and given a new membrane which is known to go bad on these. For this listing, we had it serviced and given new batteries. With that, all the factory patches were erased and about 50% of them were located and installed. Banks G-K only play an initialized saw patch. All other factory banks are loaded, and all features and functions work very nicely!"
"Playing around with my Chroma Polaris and OXI ONE sequencer today. Using 2 channels on the Polaris - although, amazingly for a 1984 synthesizer, this synth is 6 part multitimbral. You can run 6 different sounds on different MIDI channels and automate all the parameters on each channel. I think most other synths of that era pretty much only did note-on/note-off!"
"@devinbelangermusic made a great video together with @VultureCulture comparing Devin's modern analogs with Alex's Vintage gear. Devin was so kind to share the midi - so I could make my version. Check out their video!"
Do Vintage Synths Actually Sound BETTER?! (with Vulture Culture)
Vintage Synthesizer list:
Yamaha CS-70m
Kog Polysix
Fender Chroma Polaris
Formanta Polivoks
Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo
Kawai
Korg MS 20
Modern Synths:
UDO Super Gemini
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
Oberheim OB-X8
Moog Matriarch
Hologram Microcosm
Meris MercuryX
Polyend Play+
🎹 Get my custom analog synth patches: https://shop.milesawayofficial.com/
🎵 Stream my original music: https://beacons.ai/milesaway
0:00 - intro
0:31 - rules of the competition
0:55 - vintage synths choices explained
6:25 - vintage synths final song
8:39 - modern synths explanation
12:08 - modern synths final song
14:21 - what we learned from this experiment
19:37 - who won? tell us in the comments!
20:10 - ???
"The Akai AX-80 was released in 1984. It's an eight-voice programmable analog synthesizer with a full 61-note keyboard and a series of techno-looking LCD bar-graph displays running across the top of the keyboard. Two analog oscillators per voice plus a sub oscillator provide the basis of its punchy analog sounds that can be described as similar to a Chroma Polaris or Roland Juno 106."
"It’s in phenomenal physical shape for its age. The membrane buttons had been previously replaced so they work like a charm. Comes with power cable and will be packaged very securely.
The only strange workaround is that the Assignable Control Fader doesn’t work. Instead, the Volume Envelope Release Fader controls both the selected Assignable Control parameter and the Volume Release at the same time. So when you move the Release fader, it affects both. Weird, but I usually set the Assignable to something that doesn’t affect the sound so it never bothers me. It’s probably a simple fix in the right hands. This synth just sounds too good to care! Everything else works well and I haven’t had any issues creating with it. One day I will regret letting this one go."
"Fender Chroma Polaris six voice synthesizer restored and repaired by Synth Tailor Electronics in Columbus, Ohio. If you have a broken Chroma Polaris or any vintage synthesizer, drum machine, outboard gear, or rare obscure gear that needs repaired/restored, please reach out on our website contact form or email.
The Fender Chroma Polaris is an interesting synth, made by CBS Fender after they took over ARP instruments. It was marketed as a smaller hybrid version of the Rhodes Chroma, and featured more slide potentiometers with the same style membrane buttons as the Rhodes Chroma. The synth has a remarkably pleasant sound and features dual oscillators, dual envelope generators, a smooth analog filter, and generous modulation routings.
The membrane buttons are less than reliable, and along with its rather heavy weight, probably kept the Polaris from gaining wide spread popularity.
It features Curtis Electromusic Specialties chips (CEM3372, CEM3374) which is found on other vintage synthesizers from that era including: Akai AX80/VX600, Oberheim Xpander/Matrix 12, Sequential Prophet 600/Prophet T8, and Simmons Drums."
"The Chroma Polaris was the predecessor to the classic Rhodes Chroma. Even with its heritage, the Chroma series of keyboards has seemed to resist the inflation that vintage analog synths often have. This synth gives massive sounds with the added benefit of having midi I/O. A hi-fi synth with 6 voices of analog polyphony. Creamy sounds, very lush with tons of character. Total sleeper! Wow.
Service notes:
-Replaced membrain switch panels
-Removed all faders and disassembled and cleaned, reinstalled
-Replaced supply caps on panel boards
-Resoldered other panel board components and connectors
-Replaced filter caps and all power supply caps
-Cleaned keys and key assembly
-Cleaned all power supply connectors
-Resoldered panel board LEDs
-Cleaned bender faders, straightened shafts of panel board faders"
"00% working and currently has the original preset bank loaded. The membrane switches are all working. Over the years the unit has had a few repairs, including one of the pot muxes and replacement of all of the VCO tuning caps (Believe me, you want this done on any Polaris you find) The headphone out circuit on these is a rather poor design, which causes a good deal of hum. I have disabled this, as I want the cleanest sound I can get from the Hi Z output jack. (The Hi impedance output is the one that sounds the best) All of the keys are working perfectly. One key has a slight wiggle, which is very minor and doesn't affect playing."
No matter which part of the Swedish producer's broad catalogue you dip into—from The Knife to Oni Ayhun—you can always make out that knack for resplendent melodies, achieved using vintage analogue synthesisers such as the Oberheim Xpander and the Chroma Polaris.
"Envelopes play an essential role in Olof Dreijer's expressive, synth-heavy sound.
Dreijer demonstrates how he uses envelopes—a cycle of attack, decay, sustain and release—to emulate acoustic instruments. 'I like it when music has a mix of soft envelopes and slow attacks, and then very fast, more percussive things,' he says."
"This is an all analog poly synth. Usually compared to the Juno 106 and Chroma Polaris but is actually a lot more powerful. This thing not only has 3 egs but actually has FOUR lfos. Insane for a poly synth from the 80s. Comes with the original road case, custom wood end cheeks I paid $150 for, and a replacement battery and removable battery holder I just ordered."
"I had no interest in recording anything tonight, but I feel like any time I sit down with the DSI Prophet 08, I enjoy it, so I recorded this. Sorry about the crackling. I don't know what it is about the P08, but it seems to distort more easily than other synths. Maybe I just have the levels all wrong.
I had been comparing the P08 to the P10, side by side, and I still have to say to myself 'WTF - I like the P08 more.' In almost every sound I create, the P08 feels more melodic. I don't get it. There's something almost 'boring' in the P10. Or maybe it can just go too wild at the 'same settings'? I don't know what it is, I am sure the P08 is more tame so in a way it more easily makes things sound pleasant. I can usually get them super close (which speaks highly to the P08 I think).
Also - I call it the 'better one' because I absolutely hated the REV2, after owning it once and borrowing it from a friend to compare to the P08. I concluded that the P08 was better then. And it's still one of the best synths I have. I like it more than the P10, PE, P12 (easily), Jupiter 6... Not sure about the Chroma Polaris, which itself is wild, but in a more "Bladerunner" sort of way.
On a personal note - I'm one week into being bald. It's weird. Most people don't say a word and I wonder 'Does that mean they think it looks terrible or does nobody care?' One person did stop me to say they thought I looked good, but I felt like maybe they said that just to be kind, knowing I must feel pretty bad otherwise. Truthfully, it's hard to get used to. I think 'great, I'm just another bald dude...' and think a bit less of myself, but part of me loves the idea of not having to think about my hair after I have a hat on or bike somewhere.
And finally, today I got my final gift from my mom. It was new indoor slippers. She bought me a pair about 10 years ago and I wore them beyond the point that they had holes in the soles. I asked her for a new pair for christmas, but she didn't make it to then, and so I bought myself a pair. I'm wearing them now. It will be sad to throw the old pair out, but I should lay them to rest. They've served me well.
"2 Voltage-controlled Oscillators per voice is expensive, especially in the vintage market! The two cheapest analog polysynths you can get from the 80's with 2 VCO's are the Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 and the rare Fender Chroma Polaris. In this livestream we'll compare the two and see which reigns supreme."
"It is registered on the Chroma Website 0660
