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Polysix

Synth (Analogue / Subtractive) Plugin by Korg
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$99.99
Polysix
Polysix by Korg is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin for macOS and Windows. It functions as an Audio Units Plugin, a VST 3 Plugin and an AAX Plugin.
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2.4.3.0
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2.4.2.0
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Brought to the market in 1981, the analog synthesizer Polysix is one of KORG's most famous synthesizers. At that time, popular synthesizers had a polyphony of five voices. This Polysix. with six polyphonic voices (one more voice), was named directly after the determination and pride of the engineers. Sound memory, built-in effects such as chorus, phaser, and ensemble are commonplace functionalities these days, but at the time, they were considered advanced specifications, and by combining them to deliver its unique fat sound the Polysix quickly became a worldwide bestseller.

While the Polysix V2 in this KORG Collection has been based on the software-emulated Polysix from 2004, it has been refined for modern production environments. In addition to the often-requested high-resolution and scalable interface, we have added two new multi-effects. All of the analog sounds and behaviors are realistically reproduced by CMT, KORG's proprietary electronic Circuit Modeling Technology, and you can now get these beautiful sounds, unique to the Polysix, as a state-of-the-art software plug-in:

  • Faithful modeling of the Polysix circuitry.
  • Proudly digitized using KORG's Component Modeling Technology (CMT).
  • High-resolution interface for Retina and 4K.
  • Two newly added multi-effects.
  • 300 new presets.
  • A free upgrade for owners of the previous KORG Collection Polysix.
  • A free demo version is also available.

Latest User Reviews

Average user rating of 4.00 from 3 reviews
Polysix

Reviewed By Hierophlex [all]
August 27th, 2017
Version reviewed: 1.2.2 on Windows

Deceptively simple on the outside, this synth can really send you to 'analogue' heaven! The polyphonic Unison feature coupled with the gorgeous Ensemble- effect can create some super lush string/ pad sounds! And some lovely bass too... This won't be your first option for some far out SFX or wild modulations due to it's single oscillator, envelope and limited LFO (sine wave only...) But what it does best- silky strings, lush pads and fat analogue bass- it does with such warmth! One of my favorite soft-synths for sure.

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Polysix

Reviewed By Sendy [all]
November 2nd, 2011
Version reviewed: Latest on Windows

After buying the Mono/Poly, I was determined I wouldn't need this apparent simpleton. On paper, it's hardly even a cut down version of the Mono/Poly, with it's single oscillator, basic modulation and simple FX.

The thing is, this just has to be one of the smoothest, silkiest single oscillator synth I've ever heard. There's only one filter, but it's a filter you can never tire of. Sweeping it is like running your hand over smoothest silk. It sounds lovely over the full spectrum, and particularly in the low registers it just glows, which makes it ideal for those dark rich basses.

In fact, the colour of the interface is perfectly matched to the spirit of this synth, deep, dark, rich. It also helps that I'm a sucker for indigo/purple. If you're looking for harsh or saturated tones, you could try feeding the Polysix to a distortion effect, but it's not a strong point as it stands.

And I don't know how they do it, but the Korg synths all seem to have unison options which just sparkle and fill out the spectrum without the typical mud which is so commonplace in VST unison land.

From a pure sound design point of view, this synth doesn't do much, but every move it makes is pure gold. I just love it! The combination of sharp, simple, single Osc sounds and the organic and warm nature of the sound quality makes it a valuable asset.
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Polysix

Reviewed By adydub [all]
May 6th, 2005
Version reviewed: 1.1 on Windows

The PolySix is perhaps the most overlooked synth in the Korg Legacy Collection. Although it has a relatively limited feature set compared to some VA plug-ins, it is still capable of producing some very useful results.

The PolySix is, of course, a virtual analogue recreation of Korg's hardware synth of the same name. Having never played with the original, I'm reviewing the plug-in on its own terms.

The first, and most important, thing to consider is how it sounds. To me words like rich, organic, warm and fat would give a good indication what you can expect, but within the context of classic analogue sounds. Within the legacy collection it make a fine contrast to the MS20 which speacilises in harder, grittier sounds.

You won't be getting any realistic cellos from the PolySix. And you won't be able to prgramme up any complex multilayered evolving pads (not without some crafty use of the legacy cell anyway). But this isn't what this instrument is about. Baic straightforward analogue synth noises is exactly what the PolySix IS about.

For such a warm synth, it's perhaps surprising that it only has a single oscillator, with three 'standard' analogue waveforms; saw, pulse, and PWM.

A lot of the warmth comes from the really nice filter (low pass only, fixed slope), together with the onboard chorus/ensemble FX, which are also very good. Being a VA, it is also straightforward to dial in some unison for extra fatness.

There's not a huge amount to programming this synth. Apart from your usual controls for the oscillator/filter/fx, there's a single ADSR envelope, one LFO and basic arppegiator controls.

While not offering the flexibilty of something like z3ta, the small number of controls makes it very quick and easy to programme and tweak. No getting lost in subpages and menus here.

For bread and butter analogue synth noises, the PolySix has much to offer. Sometimes less is more when it comes to getting sounds together quickly.

Put it in the legacy cell with another PolySix or an MS20, and well, sometimes more is more!

The closest competetitor is probably NI's Pro-53. Although the Pro-53 is more flexible, I actually much prefer the sound of the PolySix.

I have other synths for 'pushing the sonic envelope'. But for bread and butter VA sounds, I return to the PolySix time after time.
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Comments & Discussion for Korg Polysix

Discussion
Discussion: Active
Ellsounds
Ellsounds
18 July 2019 at 12:17am

I have a "hardware" Polysix (got it in 1984) and recently bought the VST version. I love both but noticed something that works differently (other than the extra polyphony features and other updates).

On my "real" Polysix the EG Mode switch can be put in organ/gate mode so you have a simple envelope for the VCA while the VCF can be doing something like an attack sweep.

However, on the VST the organ/gate mode seems to affect both the VCA and VCF, the VCF is not acting independently.

Anyone else notice this and is there a setting I'm missing that makes this feature act the same as on the hardware Polysix?

Thanks.

michal.ochedowski
michal.ochedowski
2 November 2021 at 9:50am

I would like to clarify one thing about Polysix review from Hierophlex. This synth uses triangle wave, not sine wave as modulation source.

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