Synth Magic Chroma Polaris for Kontakt 5.8.1 and higher

Published on Nov 1, 2018 Synth Magic

"www.synthmagic.co.uk/polar.html
Pre-order period (only £30 during pre-order rising to £50 after pre-order)Currently, more presets are being designed during the pre-order period and will also be included.
a Kontakt instrument based on the Chroma Polaris Synthesiser. Polar uses a 4.2GB collection of sounds made on a real Polaris and comes with full effects section and a sequencer."

"Based on the Chroma Polaris, Polar is a Kontakt 5.8.1 and higher (full version of Kontakt is required and not the free player)library of sounds created on a Chroma Polaris analogue synth and then sampled.

The Chroma Polaris is a real beauty of a synth capable of creating lush sounds and also hard edged sounds with a strong gritty analogue tone and yet you can definitely hear the ARP synthesisers heritage in its sound.

I absolutely love the Chroma Polaris and wanted to ensure I captured the heart and soul of this beautiful sounding synth, so it has been a bit of a labour of love for me. All of the raw OSC's have been sampled and a large variety of presets and custom sounds have been sampled. All samples are available within the instrument via waveform menus for immediate access(and streamed from hard drive), no messing around loading in different sample sets - Polar is quick and easy to use.

Polar will provide you with the beautiful Polaris strings, synths, analogue keys, a beautiful analogue Polaris piano, leads, synth tones, basses etc. The user interface graphics were designed in a country known for great design : Sweden, by world renowned graphic interface designer - Anders Hedstrom. The effects section has some nice features including the delay and reverb sends can be controlled by your Modwheel - It is great fun to have the arp or the sequencer running and then push your modwheel to bring in reverbs and delays

In making Polar, we sampled a large and wide range of sounds from the Polaris and presented them in a easy to use waveform menu x 2 and we also added multiple filters and MIDI syncable LFO's, an arpeggiator and and a wide range of effects. Also included is a fun and easy to use sequencer which can sequence notes, octave and note length, filter cutoff, resonance, reverb and delay sends. Sequencer has randomise functions, shift left/right, inverse etc it is childs play to come up with groovy sequencers and then transpose them using your keyboard.

Polar comes with over 200 snapshots (and I'm still creating and adding more snapshots during pre-order period) so you can get to use the great sounds of the Chroma Polaris in your productions."

Rhodes Chroma Polaris

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Super nice pics via this auction

"If you are looking at this, wise viewer, you already know what awaits; one of the most incredible polyphonic analog synthesizers ever created since the dawn of man and music. It would, in fact, not be too bold to state that this Rhodes Chroma Polaris completely embodies the timeless, incredibly sought-after sound of the 80s and beyond. From lush pads to stabbing leads, ringing pulse-modulated keys and shimmering textures, the Chroma Polaris was the absolute cutting edge of analog synthesizer technology at the time of its release in 1984. Any musician, with the means at their disposal, would be considered naught but addlebrained fools, to neglect bringing every resource to bear in acquiring this incredible machine with all due haste.

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Fender Chroma Polaris Demos

Fender Chroma Polaris, PT. 1

Published on Apr 11, 2016 chris962x

"Chroma Polaris Synthesizer. No effects were used, recorded directly into my Mackie Mixer, Focusrite interface, and from there into Logic Pro X on my Mac. Sometimes it's difficult to tell that I'm sometimes playing the Prophet 600 gligli on the stand above the CP for comparison, though I usually mention it in the video. The comparisons are confined to the first 4 min of the video, and 21:40 to the end of the video. In the second part the P600 is doing a brassy resonance sweep, and then a more plucky sawtooth sound. Sometimes during the comparison periods you will see my left hand is on the CP, and my right jumps between CP and P600, you can usually see my fingers on the far right to give away which I'm playing at a given moment. Sorry this was tightly shot like this, I was trying to make the controls as easy to see as possible."

Fender Chroma Polaris, Part Two

Published on Apr 11, 2016

"Chroma Polaris Synthesizer. It is a little difficult to tell but I'm comparing it to the P600 gligli above it during 8:30-9:30. Otherwise it's all CP. No effects were used, recorded directly into my Mackie Mixer, Focusrite interface, and from there into Logic Pro X on my Mac."

chroma polaris: goodies and cool monosynth!

Published on Apr 15, 2016

"This clip shows why the Chroma Polaris is such an amazing monosynth!Best part of the video starts at 18:35. But first it looks at the oscillator phasing pseudo-effect you can get, then it goes to selective pitch bend. Sorry it's so talky, but wanted to explain the bipolar sliders and how the functions work. 2nd half of the clips is on why it's an amazing monosynth (both alone and especially when put through an external 12db filter!), and the last 5 min is just playing."

Fender Chroma Polaris Rev 9 with expanded Sequencer Memory SN 300689

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via this auction

Pics of the inside below.

According to the listing:

"Rare Chroma Polaris multi-timbral analog synth in near mint condition. Rev 9 firmware with maxed out sequencer memory ( 4 X factory)

The Polaris is a highly under rated synth. It has a vintage analog sound along with the flexible MIDI implementation of a modern synth. This synth was ahead of its time obscured by the digital craze at the time.

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Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris Synthesizer

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Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris Analog Synthesizer SN 300253 with Upgrades

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via this auction

"This listing is for a Chroma Polaris with the following upgrades:
• Old interface panels replaced with new panels provided by Paul DeRocco
• Quad output op-amp upgraded: LM348 -> TL084
• Backup batteries replaced

As you may well know these beasts are susceptible to a flaw in the plastic used in the original interface panels: over the years the plastic aged and became brittle causing the flex circuits to crack leading to intermittent or failed function of the touch membranes. I have completely replaced the touch membranes on this synth with new replacements provided by one of the original Polaris engineers Paul DeRocco. These replacements are better than new utilizing newer plastics that have a longer working life. This is also a permanent fix, not a temporary hack or work-around.

The interface panels protect this Polaris from many of the age-related issues associated with the Chroma Polaris series. The output opamp upgrade replaces the muddy LM348 with a crisper TL084, giving the Polaris better high-frequency response. Some people claim this chip makes the Polaris sound closer to the Oberheim OB-Xa (Link)."

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ARP CHROMA POLARIS Video by musivox

Uploaded on Nov 25, 2011 musivox·25 videos

Playlist:
ARP CHROMA POLARIS ...THEME "BIRDS" ...FROM "BRAINAURA-MUSIC"
ARP CHROMA POLARIS "ARE BOMBASTICS SOUNDTRAK" FROM: BRAINAURA MUSIC cut
"BRAINAURA-MUSIC" ARP CHROMA POLARIS & VOCODER & JOMOX-X-BASE 09 "Friends help each other "
ARP RHODES CHROMA "VARIOUS - IMPRESSIONS" FROM "BRAINAURA-MUSIC"

Simmons SDS8 Hybrid kit and Fender Chroma Polaris tune

YouTube via sounddoctorin
"This is the beginning of an original tune recorded with a Behringer large diaphram mic on the Paiste 802 Hi-hats and ride and the Sabian HHX Evolution Crash featured at the beginning of this number. Later in the song a Kawai SX-210 kicks in for a lead sound but otherwise it's all Chroma Polaris and drums. It's amazing how big that machine sounds all by itself in this tune as it goes on. It was actually an adlib thing I did when I first got my Hard Disk recording setup working. It's a short tune that would make a good show intro or something. The Fender Chroma Polaris for those who don't know is the last ARP project and has the "Chroma" port which is a DB25 connector designed for use with an apple II interface which was the sole interface on the Rhodes Chroma built in 1981 and thereabouts; their first project under Fender ownership after ARP collapsed and was bought for I think 50 grand. One of the great synthesizers of all time with 16 voices stackable to 8 voice dual oscillator. The Polaris is 6 voice dual oscillator only. But some great control features. You'll see a vid on it soon enough Lord willing :-)"

Chroma Polaris Color Themes and Ad Scans

Via the excellent Rhodes Chroma site. You can find the color themes here and the Ad scans here. Note this image has the "Halloween" orange color theme.

Update: some notes via Robb Witt on the Chroma list:
"Regarding the color schemes on all panels manufactured before the original Woburn team departed Fender….

While it’s generally true that there are probably 3 or 4 major “families” of color schemes, it’s absolutely true that the number and variety of panels that could potentially exist out there is a bit larger. As the guy who made all of them, with the exception of the Blue production Polaris panels, and some later blue/green versions for the Chromas that were possibly made in Hoopeston, I can state with authority that we were constantly “tweaking” both the colors themselves as well as the color layouts. We’d mix up a batch of “earth toned” ink and print up a half dozen panels… and then the next week do a different run to see if Shykun liked it more. I also dimly recall doing a couple of “special runs” for people at the shop (Mark Smith I think, and maybe Mike Shea) That was the benefit of having a full blown production shop at the dev facility. In general I think the story is something like this:

1 - The original layout was done (I think) by Warren Ames, who also designed the switch panel underlays. The colors on these were probably derived from the colors Arp was using on the Quadra, at least that’s the only blue/green color combination we used at Arp that I can think of. We probably made a minor adjustment or two to the panel labels before we went into pre-production. I’m pretty sure I manufactured the original display prototype that we used at Arp (all the original publicity photos), and am positive that I manufactured all the “first 50” panels, as well as those used for demos, in-house, spares, production, and the like. This is the layout that should, I think, be considered the standard “production” layout and color scheme. I am relatively sure that all panels using this scheme were manufactured at the Cummings Park R&D facility in Woburn that we set up when we exited Arp. The only reason I say “relatively” is that I heard a rumor years ago that after I left Fender (about the same time Phil, Bob Hartford, and a number of others left) the guys in Hoopeston decided to outsource making the panels for production. That may or may not have happened, I can’t say.

2- so-called “Halloween” units. (BTW, the first time I ever heard this term used was here. We never called them that at Fender, regardless of what Phil D. apparently reported). As has been noted elsewhere, we started fooling around with the Chroma color scheme while we were designing the Polaris in response to a request by John Shykun. After more or less settling on a color scheme for the Polaris, we decided we’d similarly “retrofit” the Chroma. So as Mark Smith has commented, the idea was to switch the Chroma production over to the new scheme when we released the Polaris. (I was gone by the time that finally happened, so can’t tell the story on how/why those plans were changed, as they obviously were). Once we decided to do that we tried to “fix” a couple of other problems that folks had reported with the original layout. So that’s the reason the position of the numbers in the parameter boxes was changed (moved up), and the descriptors changed from black on a colored ground to white on a black ground. (We’d been told, and duplicated via experiment, that under certain combinations of stagelighting the original labels more or less “vanished”. That obviously made programming on the fly even harder that it normally was, and it was easy enough to fix…). With the new layout in hand, as well as a new switch layout underneath (again courtesy of Warren Ames), any number of variously colored “non-standard” panels were fabricated. My fairly faulty memory says that Mark Smith and I both had Chroma’s with this color scheme, and I’m pretty sure I would have given any of the in-house tech’s who asked (Mike Shea for example) a set. Then of course there were our in-house demo units (Chroma and Expander), as well as Herbie Hancock’s units. We may also have sent some panels out to particularly “friendly” customers or shops. I’m not sure. I guess my point is that there could be a 3 or 4 more of these lurking around out there, as well as any number of replacement panels. (As for my old unit, which had no serial number… I’d love to know if it ever surfaced. I sold it in ’91 to someone in Colorado I think. A much regretted action.)

As far as the gold-toned set goes; Mark Smith might recall that I made a special “gold and black” switch panel for the 82 key “Grand” version of the Arp electric piano that we had. (The case had a top that opened to a sort of faux Steinway look. Boy I’d love to know where that ended up!). I don’t have a specific memory of doing the gold Chroma panels that Mark had, but it’s obviously something we would have easily done in our spare time. This group should not be astonished if another one-off color scheme crawls out of the woodwork at some point either.

Anyway, that’s what I know ‘bout that!

robb witt"

Fender Chroma Polaris SN 300311

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via this auction

"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."

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CHROMA POLARIS vs AKAI AX60: Live Sound Demo and Comparison!

video upload by Vulture Culture

"Tonight we're checking out two "cold"-sounding vintage synths from the 1980's LIVE! We're comparing the Fender Chroma Polaris, a 6 voice VCO analog synth and the Akai AX60 and 6 voice VCO analog synth! We'll start with the oscillators, check out the filters, the LFO's, arpeggiators, sequencers and all the other features of these two synths.

A big reason these synthesizers sound so similar is they both use Curtis Electromusic Specialties aka CEM chips. These "synths-on-a-chip" components were used as far back as the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and Oberheim OB-Xa. They're known, especially the later chips, for sounding "cold" as far as analog synths go.

Specifically the Akai AX60 uses 6 CEM3394 chips, which contain a VCO, VCF and VCA on one chip. The Chroma Polaris uses 6 CEM3374 Dual VCO chips and 6 CEM3372 Filter, Mix and VCA chips, which is the same chipset used by the legendary Oberheim Matrix 12.

The biggest difference in terms of sound is the Polaris has two VCO's per voice but the AX60 only has one - BUT the AX60 has a trick up its sleeve. It has PWM on ALL waveforms, which lets you fake a detuned sound, as well as sounding beautiful in it's own right.

I'm really excited to see which of these two synthesizers reign supreme tonight! Scum one, scum all and scum as you are!"

Fender Chroma Polaris

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Video in the listing previously posted here.

"The synth came from a smoke free studio, it has a couple of knicks in the wood end cheeks and on one of the end cheeks is what appears to be duct tape adhesive residue. It was like this when I bought it, other than that, it's fully functional.

The Chroma Polaris was the second synthesizer made by Fender/Rhodes after they took over ARP, following their classic . 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."

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Fender Chroma Polaris Analog Poly Synthesizer SN 302665

via this auction

"The Chroma Polaris was the second synthesizer made by Fender/Rhodes after they took over ARP, following their classic Rhodes Chroma. It has a very ARP-like sound. Sounds can be layered up to 6 voices. It also has a simple real-time sequencer and 132 memory patches."

Most confusing related brand/synth names:

Fender - brand
Rhodes - brand & keyboard
Chroma - synth
Chroma Polaris - synth

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Chroma Polaris Synthesizer

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Note the auction states the Polaris was the last synth from ARP.  The ARP Rhodes Chroma was actually the last.  The Polaris was the second synth from Fender/Rhodes after they took over ARP.  The Chroma was originally released by ARP and then Fender/Rhodes.

"The Chroma Polaris has a full analog signal path for all 6 voices with each:
· 2 VCOs that offer sine/saw and square/pulse where both waveforms can be modulated by ENV/LFO.
· VCF 4 pole Low Pass filter with resonance
· VCA
· 2 Envelopes
· 1 LFO with square and triangle
· keyboard is velocity sensitive and can work on both envelope
· 8 times multi-timbral (even the synthesizer is only 6 voices)
· Split, layers, multi-mode"

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Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris SN 302332

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via this auction

"This Chroma Polaris is 100% functional and in A- cosmetic condition.

It has been professionally tested and serviced, and quite a beautiful-sounding analog instrument, unlike anything made today. Also, it is MIDI ready for studio/DAW integration and plays nicely with modern setups despite its status as a modern classic.

The Chroma Polaris was the 2nd synthesizer made by CBS/Fender/Rhodes after they took over ARP, following their classic Rhodes Chroma. It has a very ARP-like sound.

It has some interesting tricks up its sleeve: like 2 envelopes, including a 5 stage ADSDR filter envelope, aftertouch support (via external controller), and true multitimbral capability, with sounds that can be layered up to 6 voices. It also has a simple real-time sequencer and 132 memory patches."

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Fender Chroma Polaris II Vintage Analog Synth SN 500248

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via this auction

video in the listing previously posted here.

"Rare vintage analog synthesizer Fender Chroma Polaris II serviced and in excelent working order.

The Chroma Polaris is an ARP-designed, 6 voice microprocessor-based sibling of the famous ARP Chroma with the raw and powerful analog sound of the magnificient Curtis CEM3372 4 pole, 24 dB/oct. low-pass filter chip, used in iconic synthesizers such as Oberheim's Matrix 12 and Xpander, and the Sequential Prophet 600 & Prophet T8.

It boasts 2 DCO (CEM3374) per voice, plus a suboscillator and noise circuit, osc sync and ring modulation, 2 envelope generators (filter and VCA), LFO, a basic velocity sensitive 61-key keyboard that can be layered or splitted, 132-memory programs, full MIDI implementation (all sliders can be automated via MIDI, up to 3 layered programs in different channels, storage/retrieval of patches via simple Sysex) and a basic sequence recorder.

Model 2123B was a rarer still series with 100% the same exact specs but produced for the Japanese market.

This unit has been thoroughly serviced and future-proofed for use, specially all the usual issues that this synth suffers at some point:

New high-quality panel membrane replacement by Paul DeRocco
Velocity-sensitive keyboard serviced and calibrated
Firmware EPROM updated to V9 (latest)
Power supply set for 220V-240V (reversible to 110V-115V)
Unit tested and calibrated"

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Fender / Rhodes CHROMA POLARIS - Ambient Chillout Music 【SYNTH DEMO】

Published on Feb 22, 2016 synth4ever

"Fender / Rhodes Chroma Polaris analog synth demo. Playing ambient chillout music on vintage Chroma Polaris analog synthesizer. Effects: MXR stereo chorus & Eventide Timefactor delay pedal."

Fender Chroma Polaris II w/ Original Box, Manual, Cassette Tape, & Food Pedals

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Additional Retro Gear Shop Listings

For sale is a rare Fender Chroma Polaris II analog synthesizer. This one arrived to us brand new in box, NEVER OPENED! We were the first to ever open it, cutting off the tape from the foam to take out the synthesizer. The original box was in rough shape so we disposed of it since it was not safe to ship in (included in the photos just for reference but not included in the sale). Includes pictured original manual, cassette and pedals. The synth received servicing as needed including new batteries and cleaning. It's fully functional and a truly incredibly find - the graphics are pristine, you can even feel the texture of the printed graphics when running your fingers across them. It's as close to mint as you are likely to find and perhaps the nicest Chroma Polaris II left in the world. It does show some very minor wear from aging while sitting inside the original box. From original owner, left in home environment in box untouched. Don't pass up on this museum quality example!

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Fender Rhodes CHROMA POLARIS + Eventide SPACE & MODFactor - Ambient Music 【SYNTH DEMO】

Published on May 29, 2016 synth4ever

"Fender Rhodes CHROMA POLARIS analog synth demo w/ Eventide SPACE reverb & MODFactor 'Undulator' effect.

Ambient chillout music on CHROMA POLARIS analog synthesizer by Fender / Rhodes. Effects: MXR stereo chorus, Eventide SPACE & MODFactor pedals.

Video footage © respective authors."

Chroma Polaris | Into Darkness, an ambient demo

video upload by MIDERA

"Popping noises in the background, like the drums in the deep... Something is wrong. My Chroma Polaris is sick. It will be going away for repairs soon.

Chroma Polaris
Eventide Blackhole VST"