Hello, everyone!

I might be able to buy either a Korg Polysix or an Oberheim Matrix 1000 (with the Stereoping controller) soon and I need to decide which one of the two I want. Polysix costs about $1330 and Matrix 1000 costs about $1550

I had my eyes on Matrix 1000 for some time now. The main problem of the unit - the lack of onboard controls - is more or less dealt with thanks to the bundled controller, also I know it can be edited with computer. I'll need to buy a keyboard though. I don't need an expensive one but it's still an additional cost. Overall, I like that it's in racked format, it's more portable that way

But Korg Polysix is kinda exciting too... From what I understand, $1330 is a pretty reasonable price for it and they're more or less guaranteed to keep going up in price in case I ever want to sell it. I've heard that they have common problems with batteries but from what I understand, this particular synth has no problems in this regard. It also has MIDI. The synth's size is a bit of a problem for me but whatever, I can deal with it, I suppose

So which of the two would you recommend? I mainly need a synth for creating ambient pads. I understand they're not really similar but they're the most interesting ones to me. The other synths that grabbed my attention were Korg Poly-61 ($510!) and Roland Juno 106 ($1280). As you might have guessed by now, I'm currently looking for reasonably-priced analog polysynths with a good sound, also preferably in racked format. I'd happily but an Oberheim Matrix 6R but there are none currently for sale... So yeah, my choice is mainly between Polysix and Matrix 1000 but please let me know if there are other better alternatives

Save yourself some money and buy a Korg DW8000 + decent reverb box (Strymon/Temptress/Eventide)


.. is my recommendation.

Is DW8000 really that good? What do you like about it?

for ambient and score:

Looks stunning but it's way too expensive for me. Also I don't have space for beasts like that But thanks for the recommendation

this might rule out a few then...

Polybrute 97.2 x 37.8 x 11 cm
Polysix 98 x 37 x 13 cm
Juno 106 99x32x12cm
Korg DW 8000. 100 x 34 x 10 cm

but you also could wait for the Prophet 16 and UBXA desktops

That's actually really useful info, thanks! I thought PolyBrute was noticeably larger than the other ones. I guess I was wrong. Still, its price is a much bigger problem than its size for me

I would go for the Matrix 1000. I like that it is in racked format, it's more portable that way. The main problem of the unit - the lack of onboard controls - is more or less dealt with thanks to the bundled controller, also I know it can be edited with computer.

__________________

Jonathan Black.

My Setup: DAW: Ableton Live, Remove Vocals: UnMixIt, Audio-to-MIDI: Digital-Ear

Is that how much Matrix 1000s go for these days? Blimey

In the US, used Summits go for just a hair more than that Matrix 1000+controller, FWIW. Or there's the Novation Peak for a good chunk less.

Actually, there's a Summit listed near me for $50 less in a local Facebook synth group.

I had both about 17-20 years ago. I don't think they're worth the money and hassle these days.

Why only vintage?

None of them and those prices are really crazy, the vintage stuff doesn't worth anymore... or only if you find a good deal obviously

Issues mainly concern

Polysix: battery, keybed contacts
Matrix: psu (vibrations --->super buzzing case), cpu overload with editors (don't know with last firmware)

I have both and from the heart I suggest you the Korg Prologue (great synth at awesome price, grab one before goes out of stock) or Prophet rev2 16 (desktop?)

Having owned Matrix1000 and still owning DW8000 (I have no opinion on polysix as I have never used one), here are some thoughts. In my opinion, Matrix1000 is not very lush sounding but more of that in-your-face kind of thing. I might change my opinion if I had a chance to work with it again, but that was the impression I got years ago. The oscs are bright and brassy in a good way, and the filter is also kind of general sounding, not a especially very warm or smooth one. A bit like some of the the modern DSI stuff (like Mopho and alike), it has it's own thing going on and I would not call the core sound lush. The strength to me was that it was easily audible in a rock band mix.

DW8000 has digital oscs and smooth filter, and overall it is a very simple synth. I have made an ambient album with DW only and used it also in a rock band context, so it definitely does not suck, but it is a very limited machine. At least my unit is noisy, there is an audible noise floor you have to deal with in a modern production.

An analog poly for ambient pads in a 1500 range... There are plethora of options these days, but I would vote for either Korg Prologue 16 or Roland JD-Xa. Both of those host a really vast variety of analog and digital oscillators (Prologue even has the DW oscillators available if so desired), lush analog filters and audio path capable of saturation, and tons of effects that sound good. Both of them have their own quirks, but I would consider those way more flexible than M1000 or DW8000, and still capable of doing similar sounds if so needed. Novation Peak might be a contender, if modules are ok. I would be interested to try out Take5.

But of course, it is it's own thing to work with old machines, so there is also a value in working with M1000, DW8000 or Polysix that the modern synths can't touch.

I have both DW-8000 and Polysix. But I would recomend a Behringer DeepMind 12 or 12D (i have the 12D). Sound lush and almost too many parameters to tweak. But you don't have too.

Having vintage has its perks, but also they need to be serviced when pots gets noisy, key contacts, tact switches for buttons.

I know for instance Behringer is a hot topic but there is alot of new stuff that makes the job these days. A golden age for synthesizers.

I would look at Arturia, Korg and Behringer for new stuff. Maybe Novation Summit (digital OSC)

My 2 cents.

Matrix 1000 all the way here.
Have many synths but it’s one of my favorites.
Would never get rid of it.

Agreed. Rev2 is essentially the same synth-on-a-chip as the M 1000, but with a much faster CPU, more flexible modulation routings, effects, more voices, bi-timbral more front panel controls and warranty (if you buy new).

Prologue can do all your single-VCO Polysix style sounds but you also get the second VCO and all the digital stuff. Even the Nymphes is probably more capable than the Polysix. Another option is DeepMind.

Polysix. Mine sits above an OBXa next to a Jupiter 8 and totally has its own sound in that company and I love it. It has the tubutech midi upgrade which allows all sorts of extras like unison over 3 notes which sounds great and it’s in a new case. If it’s not played for a while it has the odd silent key which just returns if you play it repeatedly a few times, but other than that it feels like a modern synth and I’m not worried about it’s reliability. It’s just a great sounding thing that I personally love in a way that things like the Matrixbrute just don’t grab me. It’s all absolutely personal taste and totally subjective, but that’s just me. Can’t believe Matrix 1000s are going for that price though!

I love the PolySix, but an ambient pad machine it is not.
Matrix 1000 would be significantly better but honestly, vintage analog is not the direction I'd go for ambient pads, as pretty much any modern digital synth would be better suited for such duties (while being significantly cheaper and more reliable).

That said, with a long enough reverb you can turn a whoopee cushion into an ambient pad...

I know, right? I wish I were into this kind of stuff at least 5 years ago, they didn't cost nearly as much back then. A lot of people want retro analog polysynths, I'm just one of 'em...

That's a good option, actually. I love most of Novation's current synths. I don't see any used Summits for sale where I live but there are a couple of used Peaks. They cost more or less just as much as this Matrix 1000 + controller bundle though

The Korg Polysix is a stringer in disguise. The drifty oscillators, the filter, the analog chorus/ensemble/phaser, the pwm ect..
The other synth mentioned are cool (matrix 1000), even great (DW8000), but nothing touch the Polysix. I would choose it over a Prophet 5, not as overall synth, but for pads and for a dark, drifty vibe. Its the Korg's Jupiter4 IMO. If that can help, i have a Deckard Dream and I use both equally for pads.
One excel at blade runner pads (not only, but you got my point) the other excels at Carpenter, dark, haunting pads.

http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/syn...keyclean2.html

did you consider the "new" MonoPoly? It's only 65cm wide.
Soundwise it's somewhat between the softer Matrix1000 and the modern, brighter Novations.

Why not vintage? I've never owned a vintage synth before, I'm curious to know first-hand what all this fuss is about... I know the prices are crazy but oh well, I guess my curiosity costs money as well. Yes, I've heard of these problems with Polysix and Matrix. They're pretty significant problems, I realize it. But if the synths are really great, maybe it's worth the risk? Or maybe not

Korg Prologue is also a great option, thanks. I can get a used 16 version for roughly $1500 or a used 8 version for $1300. Haven't really looked into this synth but I will now! I absolutely love how DSI synths look but a lot of people say they sound quite, uh, harsh and sharp. For that reason I probably don't want to own one

Well, I do have DeepMind 12 and don't like it very much... The main thing that I find disappointing is that it's very quiet and boring without any added internal effects. I don't think it's a bad synth per se, for its price it's really impressive but I guess I would like something with a bit more character of its own? I'm actually looking for a synth to replace it

Thanks for your reply though. I realize that servicing old synths can often become a nightmare and suck out all of the joy. Hopefully if I do get one, it will be in good condition...

I think this is the key question. If you want vintage, then vintage it is, and no Prologue will ever cure that. Having that as a criterion, I would choose the Polysix .

Never heard of Nymphes before! And it's quite inexpensive... Very interesting

Can't say I considered it... Is 4 voices really enough for pads? I've heard many great things about the original Mono/Poly but, of course, it's too expensive for me. How does the Behringer version stand compared to the original? Also, as I mentioned here before, I'm a bit disappointed by DeepMind 12 so I'm reluctant to get another Behringer synth unless there's a good reason for it. And maybe there is!

Well, it these synths cost under $1000, it'd be a no-brainer, I'd get one of the two. Or if they were cheap enough, I'd get both of them, lol. But since they're not, I want to be careful... And if these vintage synths really are overpriced to the point where it's not worth investing in them, I can get something more modern and with more functions/up-to-date technologies. I'm open to all options! I totally get your logic though and maybe you're right

My opinion is that they are already overpriced if you compare what they offer spec-wise or sonically.

However, I believe that as investments on vintage gear, they will continue to grow on value, so in that sense they are not overpriced.