From will Thu Aug  4 15:00:20 1994
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 15:00:20 EDT
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Subject: Rhodes Chroma Polaris
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Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris.  My
local music store has one for $300.  It seems reasonable for the features.

Here's what I gather about the machine:

Pros
----
6-voice 12 oscillator
reasonable midi implementation (especially for the vintage)
sequencer (simple)
can split/layer AND play a third sound via the internal sequencer
sliders for many of the sound controls

Cons
----
poor implementation of velocity sensitivity
no ablity to set oscillator mix levels
membrane switches for some settings and patch selection
not the fattest sound

Anyone else want to add their $0.02.  I didn't find anything about it
in the archived info.  I don't think that it was ever a very popular
machine.

+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Will Weidman                          | My opinions are mine, not my |
| Xerox Corporation; Rochester, NY      | employer's                   |
| will.wbst311@xerox.com                |                              |
+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+

From will Thu Aug  4 16:10:05 1994
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Will,

I'd say go for it, especially if they have the manual.  I have two Polarises
in my set-up.

John McIntyre
Physics - Astronomy Domine Dept
Michigan State University

From will Thu Aug  4 16:20:05 1994
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> Will,
> 
> I'd say go for it, especially if they have the manual.  I have two Polarises
> in my set-up.
> 
> John McIntyre
> Physics - Astronomy Domine Dept
> Michigan State University
> 
I know...I sold you one of them!!

The reason for the query is that I never spent much time programming the
Polaris when I first had it.  My interest in analog synthesis has been
renewed and I was wondering whether or not there might be a better machine
for me to be on the lookout for.  You don't hear folks talk about the polaris
too much.  I don't know why.

I am glad to hear that my old one is still kicking.  If I do buy this one I 
may ask you to make copies of the MIDI and Chroma Interface manuals that I 
had.  

How do you think the Polaris stacks up against similar machines?

Thanks for your input.


+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Will Weidman                          | My opinions are mine, not my |
| Xerox Corporation; Rochester, NY      | employer's                   |
| will.wbst311@xerox.com                |                              |
+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+


From will Thu Aug  4 16:30:20 1994
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> Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris.  My
> local music store has one for $300.  It seems reasonable for the features.

I have had one for years, so I'll throw in a few comments...

> Here's what I gather about the machine:
> 

> Pros
> ----
> 6-voice 12 oscillator
> reasonable midi implementation (especially for the vintage)
> sequencer (simple)
> can split/layer AND play a third sound via the internal sequencer

It's also fully multi-timberal over MIDI.  You can allocate
eight different "instruments" over MIDI by sending a program
change over the base MIDI channel+n, and it will dynamically
allocate the six voices. 


You can turn off voice channels for some *killer* monophonic
leads.

There is a cute bend feature that only bends some voices being
held with a hold pedal or something like that, I never use it.

> sliders for many of the sound controls
> 

> Cons
> ----
> poor implementation of velocity sensitivity

Strange, but true.  I've never heard anyone else complain about
this, though.  There are two different versions of the final
ROMS, and they have different velocity curves.  You can also
adjust each key with the onboard diags, but not set the curve for
the whole keyboard, sadly. 


> no ablity to set oscillator mix levels
> membrane switches for some settings and patch selection
> not the fattest sound

A subjective option, of course.  I find it has a "sound" of it's
own.  Some patches can be quite thick, but mostly I think of it as
more "cutting". 


It's a heavy synth, too, weights more than you might guess from
the looks.

Cheers,

-Nathan

---
Nathan Janette			Voice: 203 432 5065
Systems Manager			Fax: 203 432 3923
Brunger Lab			Internet: nathan@laplace.csb.yale.edu
Yale Univ Dept MB&B/HHMI	"I'm a NeXTstep Man, I'm a NeXTcube Guy"


From will Thu Aug  4 16:40:04 1994
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 16:40:04 EDT
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Will,

>I am glad to hear that my old one is still kicking.  If I do buy this one I 
>may ask you to make copies of the MIDI and Chroma Interface manuals that I 
>had.  

Ah, so it is you I have to thank for my second Polaris.  I had forgotten you
were the source.  Certainly I can make copies of the manuals for you.

>How do you think the Polaris stacks up against similar machines?

Hmm, I really don't know what machines would be considered similar.

John McIntyre
Physics - Astronomy Domine Dept
Michigan State University

From will Thu Aug  4 20:50:16 1994
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>Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris.  My
>local music store has one for $300.  It seems reasonable for the features.

I picked one up for $300US a while back, and I'd have to say that I'm
_very_ happy with it...

>Pros
>----
>6-voice 12 oscillator

YUP

>reasonable midi implementation (especially for the vintage)

I'd actually say that the midi implementation was/is very good.  
Everything that you can twiddle and tweak from the front panel
(glide, sweep rate, sweep sine/square, envelope & osc. params, etc)
are sent out via midi, and can also be received via midi.

>sequencer (simple)

Well, it may not allow too much editing, but one nice thing is that
it records _everything_.  That is to say, it keeps track of patch
changes, tweaks of all of the sliders and button pushes in addition
to all of the note on/note off data.

>can split/layer AND play a third sound via the internal sequencer

And if you want to muck around with the midi sysex data (or get
inside via the Chroma interface) you can actually get all
8 voices playing different sounds (i.e., 8 logical instruments).

>sliders for many of the sound controls

For almost all, actually (although, in light of the recent "knob or
slider" conversation, some people might put this in the Cons list! ;-> )

>Cons
>----
>poor implementation of velocity sensitivity

I don't know why you said this, but I don't know that I would necessarily
agree.  Both envelope and volume control can be made touch/velocity
sensitive.  I will admit that the synth has to be adjusted correctly
to ensure that the velocity threshholds are not set to high (or low),
but once that is done I have found things to be pretty good.

If things still aren't ok, the Polaris will allow you to adjust
the velocity sensitivity of individual keys.

>no ablity to set oscillator mix levels

YUP

>membrane switches for some settings and patch selection

YUP (although the settings controlled by membrane switches are
usually of the toggle variety of parameters anyway...)

>not the fattest sound

Agreed, but the range of possible sounds is quite impressive.

Other pros & cons?

pro:  the 6 voices are dynamically assigned, even during keyboard
      splits (unlike the 2/4 4/2 split mode of something like a 
      Jupiter 6).

pro:  the on-board memory is easily upgraded (with very easily
      obtainable parts) to hold oodles more sequencer data

pro:  in addition to the 132 programs that it will hold, it can
      also handle 12 sequences.

pro:  you can plug in another Polaris and have a 12 voice polyphony.

pro:  that wacko selective bend feature.

pro:  a owners/service manual that was originally written in
      english (not rolandese).

con (or pro, depending on how you look at it)
      It weighs a ton!  Don't even think about putting a neck strap
      around this one!!!

con:  Depending when you call, Fender denies having any information
      on this beast

...hey, buy it and if you don't like it give it to me for Christmas!



--
-------------------------------  /'''  --------------------------------
David Clarke                     c-00             davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca 
ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca           >  clarkec@sfu.ca  dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca
-------------------------------    -   --------------------------------

From will Fri Aug  5 00:40:15 1994
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 94 00:40:14 EDT
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I've had loads of fun with my Polaris.  It's enjoyable to program, 
mostly.  I've even written a simple ed/lib for it that runs on an ST.


Michael Dunn
dwills@uwindsor.ca



From will Fri Aug  5 08:10:13 1994
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Received: by irish.sid (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA18866; Fri, 5 Aug 94 08:04:58 EDT


Thanks for your input.  A couple of comments:
 
 
> And if you want to muck around with the midi sysex data (or get
> inside via the Chroma interface) you can actually get all
> 8 voices playing different sounds (i.e., 8 logical instruments).
> 
Hmmm, this sounds very interesting (although you mean 6 voices, right?).
Is it still bi-timbral (any 2 of the 6 at one time) or does it become
6-part multitimbral?!

 
> >Cons
> >----
> >poor implementation of velocity sensitivity
> 
> I don't know why you said this, but I don't know that I would necessarily
> agree.  Both envelope and volume control can be made touch/velocity
> sensitive.  I will admit that the synth has to be adjusted correctly
> to ensure that the velocity threshholds are not set to high (or low),
> but once that is done I have found things to be pretty good.
> 
> If things still aren't ok, the Polaris will allow you to adjust
> the velocity sensitivity of individual keys.
>
Well, a while back I used one and it was connected to a Kurz 1000PX.
Playing any pianoish kurz samples was frustrating because of the 
inconsistency of the velocity response from key to key.  Even after
trying to adjust that on a key by key basis didn't produce acceptable 
results.  I would max out one the setting on one key (hit it very hard)
and still not get a response similar to an adjacent key that was in the
middle of the adjustment range.  Very frustrating.
  
 
> pro:  the on-board memory is easily upgraded (with very easily
>       obtainable parts) to hold oodles more sequencer data
>
Wow.  How many events can you get the memory to?
 
Thanks for all of your input.  It seems like the Polaris has some
reasonably powerful features.  Why is is that it's not more popular?

+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Will Weidman                          | My opinions are mine, not my |
| Xerox Corporation; Rochester, NY      | employer's                   |
| will.wbst311@xerox.com                |                              |
+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+  

From will Fri Aug  5 11:00:27 1994
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>Received: by irish.sid (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA18866; Fri, 5 Aug 94 08:04:58 EDT
>
>Thanks for your input.  A couple of comments:
> 
> 
>> And if you want to muck around with the midi sysex data (or get
>> inside via the Chroma interface) you can actually get all
>> 8 voices playing different sounds (i.e., 8 logical instruments).
>> 
>Hmmm, this sounds very interesting (although you mean 6 voices, right?).
>Is it still bi-timbral (any 2 of the 6 at one time) or does it become
>6-part multitimbral?!

Ooops...yep, I mean 6 voices (but I do mean 8 logical instruments).  This
means that you can have 8 instruments defined at any one time (but you
can only play 6 notes at any one time...)  The nice implementation of
Dynamic Voice Allowcation takes care of all of the particulars.

Methinks 6-part multitimbral (6-timtral).

> 
>> >Cons
>> >----
>> >poor implementation of velocity sensitivity
>> 
>> I don't know why you said this, but I don't know that I would necessarily
>> agree.  Both envelope and volume control can be made touch/velocity
>> sensitive.  I will admit that the synth has to be adjusted correctly
>> to ensure that the velocity threshholds are not set to high (or low),
>> but once that is done I have found things to be pretty good.
>> 
>> If things still aren't ok, the Polaris will allow you to adjust
>> the velocity sensitivity of individual keys.
>>
>Well, a while back I used one and it was connected to a Kurz 1000PX.
>Playing any pianoish kurz samples was frustrating because of the 
>inconsistency of the velocity response from key to key.  Even after
>trying to adjust that on a key by key basis didn't produce acceptable 
>results.  I would max out one the setting on one key (hit it very hard)
>and still not get a response similar to an adjacent key that was in the
>middle of the adjustment range.  Very frustrating.

You can get the polaris to reset all of it's settings to a nominal
value (which I find pretty good, anyway), then you can tweak things
if you have to on a key-by-key basis.  If this doesn't lead to
satisfactory results, then the key-contacts may need service (or
you may have to get inside and manually twiddle some sort of
ADC coarse adjustment).

>> pro:  the on-board memory is easily upgraded (with very easily
>>       obtainable parts) to hold oodles more sequencer data
>>
>Wow.  How many events can you get the memory to?
> 

By default, the Polaris came with 16K of memory.  It's quite easy
to upgrade it to 64K (just swap out some memory chips, and toggle
a few jumpers)

That will take the sequencer from something like 650 notes to 
3350 notes (with 132 programs in memory).  The program memory
and sequencer memory is shared, so the fewer programs you have, 
the more sequencer memory you have.

>Thanks for all of your input.  It seems like the Polaris has some
>reasonably powerful features.  Why is is that it's not more popular?

To be honest, I don't know.  I have heard some people complain
that it is "buzzy" as opposed to "fat", but not knowing their
frame of reference, I can't comment on that.  One thing I can say, 
is that if those Polaris users who thought it sounded "buzzy" were
using the headphone out, then they might have been right.  I don't
know why, but Fender/Rhodes indicates that there are two places you
can hook up the return line from the headphones signal - one of which
is the _digital_ ground of the system (so you hear all the processor
buzz on the system).  It's a quick and easy fix to more this line
over to the _analogue_ ground of the system.

Regards,

Dave.

P.S.  Polaris' normally are sold with one (or two) pedals, and a
      special cable to connect the polaris to a cassette deck.  These
      should be included in your price.  If the fella wants to charge
      you more, try to talk him down.

      You can certainly survive without these, but life is much easier
      with them.


--
-------------------------------  /'''  --------------------------------
David Clarke                     c-00             davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca 
ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca           >  clarkec@sfu.ca  dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca
-------------------------------    -   --------------------------------

From will Sat Aug  6 15:01:05 1994
Date: Sat, 6 Aug 94 15:01:05 EDT
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Inreplyto: <" 4-Aug-94 14:27:58 EDT".*.Will_Weidman.Wbst311@Xerox.com> from "Will_Weidman.Wbst311@xerox.com" at Aug 4, 94 11:27:58 am
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> Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris.  My
> local music store has one for $300.  It seems reasonable for the features.

I've had a bit of experience with that board, and I like it very much.
Cool sounds, nifty features (esp. for a board of that age).  $300's a
steal.  Wish I had one myself, actually.




From will Mon Aug  8 14:10:13 1994
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gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu jotteth....
>
>> Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris.  My
>> local music store has one for $300.  It seems reasonable for the features.
>
>I've had a bit of experience with that board, and I like it very much.
>Cool sounds, nifty features (esp. for a board of that age).  $300's a
>steal.  Wish I had one myself, actually.

YAAAAH!!! Caveat Emptor!!!

Use EXTREME caution when buying a used Polaris. The membrane switches
on the front panel and the multipin connectors wiring the panel to the
guts of the machine are of limited MTBF, and WILL grow old and fail
eventually. I owned one and loved it (and sold it for other reasons
than reliability ones) ,but you must be careful when buying! Test each
and every button for positive, reliable action. If that's okay and it
passes the other usual tests, then $300 is a very nice price for a
very nice synth. The multipin cables can be kludged, I think
(AGCampbell mentioned this in EM sometime inthe last n years), but the
panels themselves are not replaceable, I don't think.

-- 
mike metlay * atomic city * box 81175 pgh pa 15217-0675 * atomic@netcom.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Obviously had a wonderful time. You can tell by the way I hobble." (ziggy)

From will Mon Aug  8 14:40:19 1994
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 94 14:40:18 EDT
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To: gt5616a@prism.gatech:edu:Xerox
Inreplyto: <199408061850.OAA21978@acmez.gatech.edu> from "gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu" at Aug 6, 94 02:50:06 pm
Subject: Re: Rhodes Chroma Polaris
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gt5616a@prism.gatech.edu jotteth....
>
>> Anyone want to provide comments/experiences with the Chroma Polaris.  My
>> local music store has one for $300.  It seems reasonable for the features.
>
>I've had a bit of experience with that board, and I like it very much.
>Cool sounds, nifty features (esp. for a board of that age).  $300's a
>steal.  Wish I had one myself, actually.

YAAAAH!!! Caveat Emptor!!!

Use EXTREME caution when buying a used Polaris. The membrane switches
on the front panel and the multipin connectors wiring the panel to the
guts of the machine are of limited MTBF, and WILL grow old and fail
eventually. I owned one and loved it (and sold it for other reasons
than reliability ones) ,but you must be careful when buying! Test each
and every button for positive, reliable action. If that's okay and it
passes the other usual tests, then $300 is a very nice price for a
very nice synth. The multipin cables can be kludged, I think
(AGCampbell mentioned this in EM sometime inthe last n years), but the
panels themselves are not replaceable, I don't think.

-- 
mike metlay * atomic city * box 81175 pgh pa 15217-0675 * atomic@netcom.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Obviously had a wonderful time. You can tell by the way I hobble." (ziggy)

From ac151@freenet.carleton.ca Thu Sep  1 13:01:16 1994
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 07:43:07 -0400
From: David Clarke <ac151@freenet.carleton.ca>
To: map@cs.washington.edu
Subject: Re: JX3P, chroma polaris

>if you were looking for another synth to pad out your setup, to provide 
>some nice whooshy, slowly-changing interesting textures and so on, would 
>you go for a jx3p ($250 incl programmer, stand, soft case), or a chroma 
>polaris ($250)? i know the 3p at $250 is decent.. not a jaw-dropping 
>bargain, but good. i dont know much about the polaris. someone want to 
>summarize a bit? (romeo?)  all comments on the sound, useability, midi 
>functionality, etc of these two welcomed. :)

I can't comment on the jx3p, but I can give you an ear-full on the polaris...

-  6 voice, 8 instrument machine.  The voices are dynamically allocated
   even across keyboard splits (unlike the jupiter 6, in 4/2 or 2/4
   split mode).

-  132 programs, 12 sequences

-  the on-board sequencer is a single track jobby with very limited
   editing capabilities.  The great thing about it is that it
   records _everything_ you do on the polaris (i.e., it remembers button
   pushes and slider twiddles) and can play them back again.

-  if not already done, the memory of the polaris can easily be
   upgraded to something like 9000 notes (easily upgraded = 
   insertion of readily available memory chips and dongle of
   a jumper or two).

-  midi is nice - all slider information is sent out as
   continuous controller data (i.e., you can externally
   fiddle things like resonance and cutoff via midi).

-  the polaris comes with sync in and sync out - both presented
   on 1/4" jacks (anyone know how to connect these to din sync?).
   It can sync to just about anything...and it can be set up
   so that almost any sync device can drive it's metronome.

   It allows you to set what clock controls what (i.e., midi
   clock controls sync and metronome, sync controls metronome,
   etc.)  Although I haven't tried it, it would seem that you
   could probably set the polaris up just as a MIDI-SYNC
   converter, with the internal metronome still running at
   whatever rate you want.

-  some poeple have commented that it sounds a little "buzzy" -
   I'd have to agree, but not buzzy in a bad way :->  Some of the
   buzz that people hear might be the result of the fact that
   the default connection for the signal return for the headphone
   is to the digital ground (i.e., you can hear all the digital
   noise).  Of course, a quick fix for this is to hook up the
   return to the analog ground.

-  I paid $300 US for mine (including the two pedals and the
   tape interface cable) and I'd do it again tomorrow!
   As a matter of fact, if I could get another for around $250
   I probably would buy it - you can hook the two keyboards
   together to get a 12 voice, 16 instrument machine.

-  This puppy is mono - no fake stereo or chorus.

-  The weighted keys are nice, but if you're used to tight,
   spling-loaded actions then playing will probably take some
   getting used to.

-  some people have noted that the velocity sensitivity seems
   "spongy."  Mine is ok and I think that those other keyboards
   may not have been set up correctly.  The polaris allows
   you to universally adjust the sensitivity, and then fine tune
   it on a key-by-key basis, if required.

...anything in particular you want to know about the polaris?  (if you
haven't already guessed, I really like mine...)

 

--
-------------------------------  /'''  --------------------------------
David Clarke                     c-00             davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca 
ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca           >  clarkec@sfu.ca  dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca
-------------------------------    -   --------------------------------

From ac151@freenet.carleton.ca Thu Sep  1 23:56:30 1994
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 18:50:46 -0400
From: David Clarke <ac151@freenet.carleton.ca>
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, feed@maroon.tc.umn.edu
Subject: Re: Stupid Chroma Polaris Tricks

{stuff deleted}

>>>  All the sliders and voice editing switches
>>>(possibly even the program switches) are mapped to MIDI CC's (continuous
>>>controllers).  
>>
>>Yup, all the switches are accessible via sysex (both to check their
>>status and/or to set them) - actually, _every_ action on the control
>>panel can be sent via midi (or received via midi)...
>
>Now, which of these is true?  Are the controls hooked to MIDI continuous 
>controllers (good) or sysex (not as good)?

BOTH!

Here's the scoop:

MIDI
----

The following is a list of the continuous controllers that are
sent/received by the Polaris:

cc#   Name
0     Performance Volume
1     Modulation Lever
2     Volume
3     Glide
4     sweep rate
5     rate pedal depth
6     sweep sine/square
7     vibrato pedal depth
8     mod lever range
9     vibrato pedal depth
10    pitch bend range
11    pitch pedal depth
12    env fixed/touch
13    env attack
14    env decay
15    env sustain
16    env sustain decay
17    env release
18    vol env fixed/touch
19    vol env attach
20    vol env decay
21    vol env release
22    osc 1 transpose
23    osc 2 transpose
24    osc 1 vibrato
25    osc 2 vibrato
26    osc 2 env depth
27    detune
28    ring mod (on/off)
29    sync (on/off)
30    osc 1 saws/pulse
31    osc 2 saws/pulse
64    sustain footswitch
96    osc 1 pulse width
97    osc 2 pulse width
98    osc 1 sweep pulse width mod/env pulse width mod
99    osc 2   "     "     "      "       "    "    "
100   osc 1 pulse width mod
101   osc 2   "     "    "
102   noise (on/off)
103   filter cutoff
104   filter resonance
105   filter sweep depth
106   filter env depth
107   filter keyboard track
108   cutoff pedal depth
109   volume pedal depth
110   pedal initial
111   slider assignment
112   link mode
113   link program number
114   keyboard split
115   keyboard range

....well, that should just about cover all the performance related
twiddle-things on the Polaris.

I mentioned sysex because with it you can do everything the cc's can do, but
you can also do things like determine the present value/position of a
slider or a button or toggle _any_ of the other controls (like, start
the sequencer, perform an auto-tune, read the contents of the program
memory, perform diagnostics on the beast, etc.)  





--
-------------------------------  /'''  --------------------------------
David Clarke                     c-00             davec@rflab.ee.ubc.ca 
ac151@Freenet.carleton.ca           >  clarkec@sfu.ca  dacl@mtsa.ubc.ca
-------------------------------    -   --------------------------------
