Elta Music POLYVOX 8 is an upcoming MPE analog polyphonic Synthesizer inspired by the Polivoks synths of the past.
The Polivoks synthesizers were produced in the former Soviet Union between 1982 and 1990. A distinctive characteristic of the synths was their brutal, instantly recognizable analog sound. Vladimir Kuzmin, the developer, is still active and is currently working with Behringer on clones.
Elta Music is currently developing an entirely new Polivoks-inspired multi-timbral polyphonic Synthesizer called the POLYVOX 8. They shared today the first information.
Elta Music POLYVOX 8
POLYVOX 8 is a new analog polyphonic Synthesizer based on the circuits of the Polivoks synths from the past. Arseny Tokarev and his team have so far brought to market, among other things, mono synths and filter units inspired by or based on these circuits.
The Elta Music POLYOX 8 would be the developer’s first classic polyphonic synth. According to the developer, it will have eight analog voices with two oscillators, each with a waveform and an octave switch. Plus, there is FM and modulation.
In a dedicated mixer section, you can find level controls for the oscillators, a sub-oscillator, multimode noise, a ringmod, and an external input. The latter can probably be sent through the filter.
Then it has a multimode analog filter with classic cutoff and resonance controls, along with various routing modes. Modulation is also onboard. There is an ADSR envelope section and a multi-wave LFO.
It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but I’m guessing from the diagram that there are three envelopes and possibly more LFOs. Alongside this is also an amp section and amplitude modulation.
It is unknown whether the synth will have effects. The developer would have drawn algorithms from various effects and SOLAR synths.
POLYVOX will feature different play modes —polyphonic, paraphonic, and monophonic —and can be turned into a bi-timbral synth with three possible layer configurations: 4/4, 2/6, or 6/2.
Elta Music POLYVOX 8 also features a display for managing and saving patches. Above the display, you have dedicated patch, load, and save buttons. Below the display, you can also see record and erase buttons, suggesting an onboard sequencer.
Other features of the POLYVOX 8 will be MPE support, stereo spread, and unison.
First Impression
This could be a very promising polysynth with a unique sound, given how distinctive the vintage Polivoks sound is. I’m curious to see the final product and how much it will be.
Elta Music POLYVOX 8 is still in development—availability and price TBA.
More information here: Elta Music
YES
Yeah, no… I’ll just wait for the Polivoks filter board for the M.
Hey MYC, I searched Google but I didn’t find any info on a Polivoks filter board for the (I’m assuming Waldorf) M. Can you elaborate? I love to know about this.
Thanks for the reply. So in that case I wonder which M he is talking about?
Yeah, waldorf M. Read the Gearspace page. It’s already being prototyped…
“There are three boards: two exist only as concepts in my head for now, and one has already been prototyped and is ready for production. The latter is a Polivoks VCF board.”
“The Waldorf M has only one expansion slot. In the 16-voice version, that slot is already occupied with the standard 2144 VCF expansion board, so purchasing another expansion doesn’t make sense in that case. The new expansion boards are primarily targeted at the 8-voice M, where the expansion slot is still free.”
It’s hidden in the massive Gearspace thread.
“Originally Posted by VladiS (developer): The polivoks expansion has been approved from Waldorf. I will produce them. However I can’t give any timings here.”
It’s either the 16 voice expansion or the VCF board. Not both (there’s only one slot inside the M). Depending on availability, it will either be using the original K140UD12 opamps., or a discrete build of the filter with modern components.
‘M’ its all James Bond to me – what do you say M? Interesting, 8 voice – limited, will it sound any different to other synths we will wait and see. Effects i’d say a must. Price has to be competitive.
No hard sync, one LFO, one EG, red text i cant see, no thanks.
there are multiple envelopes (enevelope select button) and LFOs (on the left top, on the right bottom) read the UI carefully 😉
Is it official that Vladimir Kuzmin is still working with Behringer ? By not getting anything for years, I thought that nothing more would happen.