Poly-800 Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer © 1984 Korg.
The Korg Poly-800 was an affordable 8-voice programmable polyphonic synthesizer designed to bring analog-style sound to the mass market. Developed by Korg, it used digitally controlled oscillators (DCOs) combined with a single shared analog filter, making it technically a paraphonic design despite its polyphonic marketing. It featured a compact interface with parameter entry buttons instead of knobs, a built-in sequencer, and memory storage for patches, making it highly portable and cost-effective.
The Poly-800 provides 8-voice polyphony, but all voices share a single resonant low-pass filter, which is why it is often described as paraphonic in practice.
It uses 2 DCOs per voice (in double mode) or reduced voice allocation in higher-quality layered modes, depending on configuration.
The sound engine is based on digitally controlled oscillators (DCOs) rather than fully free-running analog VCOs, improving tuning stability.
It was one of the first sub-$1000 fully programmable polyphonic synthesizers, making it very influential in early 1980s home studio setups.
The interface replaces traditional knobs with a membrane button + numeric parameter system, which greatly reduced cost but made editing slow.
It includes a 256-step polyphonic sequencer, allowing simple phrase and pattern programming.
It offers 64 patch memories, a significant feature for its price range at the time.
It can be battery powered and even worn with a strap, making it a “keytar-style portable synth” in some configurations.
The Poly-800 II improved the original by adding digital delay, better MIDI SysEx support, and expanded sequencer memory.
The rack version EX-800 is electronically similar but removes the keyboard and improves MIDI integration.
Despite its limitations (single filter, low-resolution controls), it became iconic for its raw, gritty, slightly lo-fi analog character.
It was widely used in early synth-pop, experimental electronic music, and DIY/modded synth culture.
Modern users often modify it by adding real knobs for cutoff/resonance and filter circuit enhancements, due to its minimal original interface.