ive heard a few samples of this and it sounds dark and agressive. im considering buying one but i know nothing about them or what a good price is. i could have googled but id rather ask the professional slutz!
I own a Polivoks and I love it. It's difficult to find one to test it which I would recommend because some like it and some really hate it. I find it quite an aggressive synth. The keys suck imo, but I like the VCOs and the Filter.
I wouldn't pay more than 400-600$ depending on it's condition.
If you prefer the modular route, there's a Polivoks Filter Module from The Harvestman which I would recommend if you're after it's filter sound.
__________________ for sale: roland d20 / yamaha tenori-on / akai mpc2500 / roland jx8p
Interesting. Does most of the Polivoks sound come from the filter? Or do the other bits make significant contributions
I'm considering a Shruthi-1 myself, although more likely with the 4-pole mission filter for that Oberheim SEM-like sound.
... according to the site, that 4-pole Mission filter is more like the Xpander multimode filter, not the SEM filter. They do sound quite different. The Xpander filter is more versatile but it tends to sound much more 'smooth' and 'polished', not as aggressive as the SEM filter. I like the Xpander filters, but if you're looking for a SEM filter it may not be what you want.
I have one - bizarrely enough, bought off the guy everyone says not to buy it off - he did at least at one point, appear to have a legit business restoring and selling synths.
Anyway, it's a great synth. Looks like it sounds - mean and nasty. The MS-20 is tame by comparison.
Its big as well, 4 octave keyboard and deep to boot. That said, unlike some other synths it's not heavy. Despite the Russian markings it's not difficult to learn the controls, surprisingly easy in fact.
It can do really nasty pissed off sounds but there is a lot more than that. Turn the oscillator levels and resonance down and it becomes a different synth, nowhere near as aggressive.
It can do some killer bass. Deep and powerful but with its own character.
It can do FM from one oscillator to the other and this lets you create some interesting string-like timbres.
An interesting thing happens when you use FM and duophonic mode. The oscillator keeps modulating the other one meaning the second note you play modulates the first one. Very weird effect, I'm not aware of any synth other that does this.
The envelopes can re-trigger letting you loop them. Interesting possibilities but I haven't explored this.
The keyboard is a standard Russian one that feels horrible but it's super light so it'll let you do seriously fast soloing.
So, it's not your normal Moog or Roland, quite a different sound. Well worth it if you want something different.
BTW A lot seem to be in pretty dodgy condition with yellow keys and scratchy pots. The one I have is in excellent condition but you might want to check.
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I don't care how it's made. I only care that it sounds good ...but analogue is more fun.
An interesting thing happens when you use FM and duophonic mode. The oscillator keeps modulating the other one meaning the second note you play modulates the first one. Very weird effect, I'm not aware of any synth other that does this.
Interesting tidbit - the Arp Odyssey can do this too. It has a duophonic keyboard, and you can use the S/H mixer to route the audio from osc 1 to the FM input of osc 2 (or to the FM input of the filter). But yeah, it's a pretty rare feature.
... according to the site, that 4-pole Mission filter is more like the Xpander multimode filter, not the SEM filter. They do sound quite different. The Xpander filter is more versatile but it tends to sound much more 'smooth' and 'polished', not as aggressive as the SEM filter. I like the Xpander filters, but if you're looking for a SEM filter it may not be what you want.
has anyone used the Polivoks Station VSTi? i downloaded it yesterday and it sounds great but i was wondering if it sounds anything like the original hardware
the shruthi-1 with polivoks filters sounds fan-fraggin-tastic, love it to pieces
at some point I intend to obtain the harvestmen polivoks VCF so a comparison will be interesting (harvestman also does the VCO)
I would imagine, if not bet even, that The Harvestman's Polivoks VCF is more closer to the angry brooding that is the original Polivoks VCF. For a few reasons, Harvestman worked in conjunction with the original designer of the Polivoks and are even using original Soviet parts, not aftet market. If he Shruthi's version is the same, parts wise, then ooohhh man, it'd be a tough call!!
the shruthi design is 'DIY for the proletariat' so all the parts in the shruthi polivoks filter are easily obtainable from major electronics parts suppliers - I don't believe it is intended as a clone, more of an homage - a modern french interpretation of a russian take on a japanese filter
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