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Korg / Synthesizers

Polysix

1981–1982

The Korg Polysix is a six-voice analog polyphonic synthesizer that offered remarkable value when released in 1981. At a time when polyphonic analog synthesizers typically cost thousands of dollars, the Polysix delivered genuine analog polyphony at a price point accessible to working musicians, helping democratize access to professional synthesis capabilities.

Overview

The Korg Polysix, released in 1981, offered six-voice analog polyphony with a knob-per-function interface at an affordable price. This programmable synthesizer featured full programmability, a built-in chorus effect, and an arpeggiator—capabilities previously available only in more expensive instruments like the Prophet-5.

The instrument provided six voltage-controlled oscillators, a resonant low-pass filter, and comprehensive modulation. The 61-key keyboard and 32 patch memories supported professional use. The Polysix's warm, rich sound made it popular for pads, strings, and basses.

Korg manufactured the Polysix until 1984, establishing the company as a serious synthesizer manufacturer. The instrument's combination of affordability, programmability, and sound quality influenced subsequent Korg designs and the broader synthesizer market.

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