Dave Smith Poly Evolver | The Most Interesting Synth in the Last 30 Years?

[@VickersDoorter]

This is one of the best sounding synths I have owned and I've owned many of the big classics. I was also lucky enough to pick up a 4-voice rack to run 8 voices total. I've even kept this after selling my Synthex, Yamaha CS80 and Korg PS3200.

[@highplains]

Always loved the slop function on my mono evolver. Magnificent & very cinematic synth

[@JobimSynthMusic]

As an owner of a poly for a few years, positioned as central synth and master controller, I say this: to consider its voice count is misleading, because where the evolver shines is by modulation and sequencing of anything from the notes to all the synth parameters and the mix of digital and analogue oscillators. When I noticed that, I actually sold the evolver desktop that was used as a fifth voice expansion. Didn't miss it, the analogue polyphonic pads and chords are best when made by other synths. It's 4 part multitimbral, in fact it has inside four mono evolver boards built together. It has four pairs of separate outputs, one per voice. And an stereo input so you can mix external sources passing through evolvers many processing stages .

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

Looks like it shares a fair bit in common with the Tempest, 6 voices each assignable to a stereo pair with their own arp that’s controlled by pressure sensitive pads which makes it really expressive, no audio input though and only 2 lfo’s ( not sure how many on the PE) 5 Envs too.

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Fantastic synth! It definitely has a growing fan base. Great video!

[@ghavinga]

Lovely homage to the Evolver legacy, thank you Zach. I use a mono Evolver keyboard + desktop combination (two voices) regularly in my tracks and keep on discovering new sounds every time I power them on.. I upgraded the MEK a few months ago (Sequential still has upgrade kits!) and gained a whole new level of enjoyment developing new patches. The Evolvers are a joy to program (quirks and all). For some great music and wonderful Evolver sounds I can wholly recommend "The Musical Synthesizer" KZbin channel.

[@edorc1]

WOW!! Yor enthusiasm, yor love for this instrument and then..HOW YOU PLAY IT!!! Your sounds touching the soul of this synth!! I had a few desktop evolvers years ago, always wanted a PE. Today i found one and will buy it. Also because of your approach to this very special instrument...❤

[@jasperlawson6315]

That era of DSI synths are pretty groundbreaking..... I have the MophoX4 it's an unbelievable beast of an instrument. It has 2 sub oscillators per voice. It can rattle windows with it's bass while maintaining that beautiful prophet style high end...... I'd love to see you do an episode on it.

[@SeverityOne]

And the good thing is, that this is one of the very few Dave Smith/Sequential instruments that comes in a 19" rack format. Although they seem to be pretty rare.

[@embodie_breaks7089]

Thanks for doing this video. I always wondered about the PolyEv. I never got to touch one. People bring it up as an amazing piece of kit that irreplaceable. I could see that. I never knew it had tuned feedback. Seems like a lot of fun!!

[@nateonearth]

I absolutely agree with you on all points. Thank you for this excellent dive into it.

[@FortyThievesSF]

Hey you’ve covered another synth I own! I’ve had this for years and I always learn something new about it every time I use it. My roommate plays guitar, when he records music, some times he’ll come to me and show me a sound from another song he wants to recreate and I always grab this thing. We have made it sound like a warm fat analog, like pizzicato violin, like distorted chaos, like a good sequenced driving bass, it can do so much if you dive into it. It has also been useful in “jump starting” my other vintage synths’ arpeggiator external clock when my normal sequencer wouldn’t. Definitely holding onto this one.

[@unclebuttonz7865]

Definitely had to grab my headphones to listen to this beautiful stereo synth shine. Been diggin' you videos ever since I caught your one on the Kawai SX-240 as I was eyeing one on Goodwill's auction site. Sadly, it escaped my budget, but it turned me to your videos and I've enjoying your love of synths since. I am still new to this whole magical world of melodies and detuned waves. Thanks for showcasing some of the more unique machines out there!

[@sudbenzer6603]

It would be interesting to see/hear a comparison between the mono evolver and a pro 3. I guess you're the right one for this job, zach. :) great video as always, keep on!

[@pizzagogo6151]

I understand why this synth has so many aficionados, one of the best featured synth I ever owned. On paper it’s awesome but I was too influenced by KZbin ☺️ and I couldn’t get rid of it fast enough as me it just doesnt sound good 😞,. It’s not a digital thing ( I love digital synth) but hated the aliasing sound, the analogue also wasn’t great either. There were build quality issue as well.....The concept with modern & waveforms and nicer vocals/filters would be awesome. This is synth I say to anyone “try before you buy”

[@brunobeeper]

Are you real? What do you mean on paper it’s awesome? It’s a such a rich sounding beast! You must be that guy that only play the instrument patches, because on Evolver the patches are so bad… and remember the the trashing aliasing its part of the magic, not the other way.

[@pizzagogo6151]

@@brunobeeper nope, I bought several sets of aftermarket patches figured that was problem...still didn’t like it..

[@johnnyraphaell]

@@pizzagogo6151 ehm please do the sounddesign Sir! Then we talk. Wtf you buy sets? And moan?? Wtf? Evolvers are for grown people not for presets kids! Sorry

[@pizzagogo6151]

@@johnnyraphaell maybe but it's pretty bizarre for someone to claim to be a grown up but they spell and punctuate like a 10 year old kid. So good day to you, Sir!

[@johnnyraphaell]

@@pizzagogo6151 sorry i was harsh but why you dont make your own sounds?

[@dougelick8397]

You've described why I'll *never* get rid of my Mono Evolver PE. The range it has is mental. Nothing else sounds anything like it.

[@ge0rgeharris218]

Very interesting talks that you are giving!!!

[@OscillatorCollective]

EVERYTHING about this synth gets me really emotional. The sound, the design, its lineage, and how i came across mine. It really is the coolest, and most beautiful synth i can think of. The only other synth as interesting as this would be the original PPG or Waldorf Wave.

[@BlackRoseMusic2025]

I enjoy my Poly Evolver and Tempest. I’ve created cool songs with them. Poly Brute is next to join the family! Nice video thanks for sharing!

[@pianomanic71]

Nice coverage on an eclectic classic!

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks for doing this. It’s the most interesting synth of Dave smith together with the Pro 2 of the new Generation IMO.

[@Bananskuden]

Wonderful! I wish I had one. Another misunderstood/overlooked Sequential synth seems to be the Prophet X.

[@fredrikw1447]

I have one, the PE edition, since long ago. And I have always loved it. Going to pair it with my octatrack and make some stuff in the near future. The stereo feature of this synth is the shit!!

[@tomlavelle8340]

Wonderful looking synth! Sounds awesome!!

[@mk1st]

My first synth was a Mono Evolver which I liked so much I eventually bought a Poly. It's actually quite different than just "4 Monos". It does invite exploration but it can be frustrating at times as it's not predictable, especially when using the sequencer, but that's part of the fun! TBH, I was seduced by it's beauty as well.

[@ME-ru4hv]

On my mono evolver I noticed it excelled at synthetic or even realish cello sounds.. thats unique right there Ahh 16:30

[@SynthAddict]

nice coverage with some cool performances - I originally got the Evolver desktop and liked it so much I eventually tracked down a used PEK for pretty cheap since it had the known encoder issues, and I got the PEK pot upgrade boards from Dave Smith for only $400 - changed them myself in about 20 minutes - it suddenly became a "like new" synth :-) I polychained my desktop version to make it 5 voices, like a wacked-out Prophet-5 love this blue monster. :-) definitely never selling it

[@thelofifreq]

So good. Iv owned 4 since 2005.

[@seanchristophersynthesizer6999]

Great video! I would love to see you do the Dave Smith instruments Prophet 12. That is a peculiar instrument that one day I really love, but the next day I think, “meh”. I have bought one three times now, as once I sold it I started missing it. I am now own the final production white SE version, and plan on keeping it for a long time……I think. LOL

[@leonard.c]

the quirkiest and greatest synth of the 2000‘s!!

[@TheVickersDoorter]

I have a PE Edition with a rack expander. Pads and low-end ability are pretty much unbeatable. I like that the panel is a sticker-type as the lettering will not come off, as happens on others when doing masses of tweaking over a period of years.

[@Methanol2000]

Analogue Solutions Impulse Command also has stereo filter =)

[@asoundlab]

Thanks for pointing that out!

[@gijs106]

Zach! Your videos are awesome man! :)

[@BlackMan614]

Of all the hybrid synths, I think this one and the P12 are the best. The filter used just tames those digital oscillators so much better, as opposed to the Summit where the filter gives the oscillators a digital sheen.

[@travisguide4516]

wow this was far beyond interesting

[@crime_wavcorp]

i love these videos

[@tjc601]

Another great video, Zach. How about the Kawai K5000S - pretty strong contender for one of the most interesting post-analogue synths...

[@audiolego]

Ugghhhh had the MonoEvolver and oh em geee, the knobs were skipping all over. So they told me to use the detox it they mailed to me.. open up the synth and apply it. Oh gosh. A new board was 350.00

[@asoundlab]

Yes. The non PE editions were problematic and needed the knobs replaced! Forgot about that…

[@RayyMusik]

@@asoundlab What‘s a PE edition? My Prophet X also has encoder issues, btw.

[@asoundlab]

@@RayyMusik had traditional pots instead of encoders

[@BXLrules]

I've send my mono evolver circuit boards to DS and they replaced all the encoders for 50$ plus shipping. It's a keeper.

[@audiolego]

@@BXLrules the analog sequencer rocks right? Modulate notes modulate cutoff. It sings

[@1vootman]

I think it's just an okey synth. There was this general buzz to the character of the sound that drove me nuts. I bought a Prophet 5 after I sold it and never looked back.

[@s.gharavi1614]

It's supposed to be kinda cold and distorted

[@ge0rgeharris218]

Dave Smith was a magical pwrson!!person!!!

[@compfox]

Can it compete with the Waldorf Quantum? Or will that be the Synth of the following 30 jears?

[@VincentPresley]

It's totally different in sound and sound design. I have both. I'd take the Quantum over the PEK any day but the PEK is definitely a very interesting, oddball and probably my favorite from Dave Smith.

[@paxwallacejazz]

I attended an interesting lecture by a composition professor in College where he talked about the problem with electronic music he called it pornophonic music. It's the geewiz nature of synths. Where all architecture takes a back seat to the instrument and it's nature and sonic possibilities .

[@skipper6528]

Could you elaborate please? I sort of understand what you said but not fully I'm very interested Cheers

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

What you said is confusing me, sounds like an interesting discussion to have though. Why is architecture in the back seat and why is that pornophonic? Are you saying, or that professor saying that the features and architecture become more important than the instrument being played?

[@Dan47839]

I always wanted to play on of these but never got the chance. Maybe eventually I can buy a used one.

[@marcusholder495]

Please do a video on the roland jupiter 80

[@ZemanTheMighty]

Can you do a series or video about oddball 70s synths? The synths 'before synth manufacturers found their footing' such as the maxikorg 800dv or the single oscillator mono synth on lowrie organs

[@asoundlab]

Yes!

[@ZemanTheMighty]

@@asoundlab I am a maxikorg owner myself so I have a soft spot for them. You're better off with a moog but I'd never admit it 😂. Another interesting trend at the time was the weird string and organ hybrid synths like the delta or to some extent the cs80 that used organ components.

[@audiolego]

And the Soviet Synth

[@VincentPresley]

@@audiolego There are a lot of Soviet synths. I've had three but paired down to just the Polivoks.

[@audiolego]

@@VincentPresley I never knew that. I only heard of Polyvox. I think Behringer wants to clone it

[@jumpingman8160]

IMHO (as polys go): - Waldorf Quantum - Waldorf Wave - Novation Summit - Novation Supernova 2 - Arturia Polybrute - Polyend Medusa - Access Virus

[@RikMaxSpeed]

Agree. I'd add the KORG WaveState to your list, maybe Alesis Fusion, or the KORG Z1, or the PPG. The DSI PE is hardly alone in what it does.

[@jumpingman8160]

@@RikMaxSpeed yeah the guy didn't do his research.

[@s.gharavi1614]

I've had most of those, and I tried the rest, and they're great. But I only kept the Polyevolver. It's not that it's better, it's that it's completely unique... Including in its specific sound. The only one close to it, in it's own way, is the Virus. And of course, these kind of nitche synths have drawbacks and limitations in order to be what it is, but that just makes it better. 😊

[@davidcanadianperson-il6zn]

Honestly my favorite synth ever. It's really a shame that so many people seem to absolutely despise it. What's more, some of those people are in this very comment section, too. Heck, there's even a video on the original desktop unit that pops up FAR too often when searching for Evolver vids that literally calls the thing "The False Prophet" in the title, and I absolutely hate that video, never watching it! God, the nerve of some people! Anyway, there's alot of patches from this synth I really like. Really the only big gripe I have with it is the fact that it's really expensive. Like, $6000 dollars is just ridiculous! But yeah, I've never owned a hardware synth, but this is definitely my first target.

[@amonster8mymother]

Can it do 08 sounds?

[@ge0rgeharris218]

Whose to say that he wasn't working on the poly evolved when he was working for Yamaha and Korg!!! Just think he designed the korg wavestation an today that legacy evolved into the Korg Wavestate!!! Amazing!!!

[@jawoody9745]

Try the UDO 6, next.

[@budfoon]

Traded mine away, but i kept my MEK. The PEK had just too much under the hood for me. But the MEK remains manageable and awesome.

[@evanbetter]

hm, tastes are different, but to call this the most interesting synth of the last 30 years I humbly ask myself where you have spent them… sounds like not one of the best analogue synths. but, hey, if you like it and it gives you goosebumps, that‘s what counts at the end of the day. enjoy!

[@marcusholder495]

Please do a video on the roland jupiter 80!!!!!!!! Also thanks for the cool video!!!!!!

[@djdigital3806]

I own a Krog Wavestation 🌊 EX. David made that too.🤗

[@cnfuzz]

Had the desktop mono , sounded quite good but a really bad matrix programming and an editor that wasn't supplied with the unit ,what was Dave Smith thinking ,looks like this Poly version is at least programmable from the frontpanel

[@briann5001]

The most interesting synth in the last 30 years yes, after the PX by Dave

[@Pacer416]

I have one. It’s A very interesting Synth on paper, but I always felt it had one problem. To my ears, it never sounded good. Very thin, nasally, slightly distorted (not in a good way)…sadly, it’s never inspired me.

[@TheVickersDoorter]

No way is it thin. It has serious low-end if you know how to set up a sound from scratch. Any distortion is simply from overloading the VCA stage, just back off the oscillators to increase the headroom - simples.

[@cardboardmusic]

I had one on permanent loan, which I eventually gave back. The problem was that there were two series of Polyevolver and the the first model had a bug in the pots which when turning didn't always go to the corresponding numbers. It was a well known bug which they corrected (I believe) in version II. However, since it wasn't mine, I couldn't ask them to repair it 'for me'. I thought it was a good synth (except for that very annoying bug), but the most interesting bit was the digital wavetable oscillators, that was very forward looking - odd he didn't continue in that direction.

[@atarkus8]

It's definitely not thin, because you can add the digital oscillators as sub-oscillators to the analog ones. 4 oscillators per voice is more than most synths out there. You also have to watch the levels, because it's easy to get it to distort (I tend to leave the oscillators at 50% in fact). You can also reduce the stereo staging, or make it mono for that matter, and it will behave more like a prophet 5 if that's your thing. It doesn't have as much bottom end as say a minimoog, but when you use it in a mix that doesn't matter.

[@kierenmoore3236]

I really didn’t ‘get’ this synth, at all, until I heard these patches … It sounds like an Alien (Interstellar-)Traveling Carnival. Sounds Colorful, alright. 🤡🎶💙

[@nonsuch]

Midi up a Poly Evolver and a Fizmo. I've done it and lost my mind.

[@amonster8mymother]

Is it analog or virtual analog?

[@s.gharavi1614]

Both! 2 analog osc and 2 digital osc. It's complex and deep tho.

[@GNeuman]

What or who is behind the red curtain?

[@asoundlab]

A door :)

[@BXLrules]

Dave Smith with a loaded gun :D

[@1Samuel1524]

22:50

[@paxwallacejazz]

The poor synthesizer. I remember when they 1st hit the public Imagination. It was a sonic shock. The expectation was for some kind of paradigm shift. Well no one listening to Windy Carlos or Tangerine Dream or Tail Spinning by Weather Report much less Peirre Boulez would have thought that that paradigm shift would be that of a high tech dark age. Suddenly only fringe players like Hiatus Kayote or Jacob Collier or Tigran Hamasiyan or Snarky Puppy and hard core jazzers any longer seem to include any understanding of Harmony melody and architecture . Whereas once upon a time it could be found everywhere from Beatles to Earth Wind and Fire to Yes to Joni Mitchell to Crosby Stills and Nash to Hendrix. But all the technology did was allow for a gradual erasure of aesthetic criteria especially in pop music. The fact that you no longer have to be good enough to perform live in a band has kinda broken something somewhere. But synths never coulda lived up to their own hype. They are at best in the final analysis just another expansion of the tonal pallet available to musicians. The problem is that almost anyone is now called a musician.

[@ooosss]

wow

[@skriptico]

loved that "poor synthesizer" i always think that about me and mine :)) "povero synth, in che mani indegne sei capitato" :P

[@richardtaylor2893]

@@js-wl3wi, um, HER name is Wendy Carlos.

[@OrlandoDCaros]

I dunno. Sounds thin and very digital to me. Not my taste..would prefer newer synths like ASM Hydrasynth to get this type of sound. Only my opinion, no hate 😀

[@swanofnutella4734]

What did this cost retail when it was new? (The gas is real.)

[@therealc0rax]

does Zach still work here cause I can't imagine a world where he doesn't haha

[@RayyMusik]

So the ‘children‘ of this cool looking synth are the P12 (oscillators) and the PX (analog stereo filter), right?

[@asoundlab]

Sort of - the oscillators on the p12 are only partially related to the PE - it lacks the 2 analog osc. Yes, on the PX - I didn’t realize that they used stereo filters in it till you mentioned this right now but it looks like it’s a similar implementation!

[@bagman1113]

@@asoundlab po

[@BXLrules]

Tempest has 2 dcos and 2 digital oscillators. only more delay lanes on the evolver.

[@fabianw2k]

I’ve seen I hate models is using this. Gotta be a reason why hahah

[@amonster8mymother]

Ok so two stereo vcrs and two stereo DCOs???

[@wadesconstruction7013]

Jesus, get pass 4 miuntes to start delving into the synth

[@dodgingrain3695]

Its an ok synth. I had a triple stack of the rack units and it was ok I think there were definitely better synths at the time. It wasn't able to compete with the digital synths and the analog side was only ok. There are synths I miss from that time period but the evolvers are not one of them. Like others have said on paper it looks great, but it just doesn't have the sound to back it up unless the owner likes noisy trashy sounds. To me it was a trashier wavestation or prophet vs. both of which are similar in that they are interesting from an engineering and tech standpoint but they just don't sound that great and have not aged that well. The overlay on it looks a bit cheap as well like it was a cost cutting thing and it was easier just to do a giant sticker.

[@morphicresonancechannel604]

yes it could be the most interesting synth ever always that you can afford it lol

[@donniedarko2439]

U forgot ANDROMEDA a6!! Masterpiece also 😉

[@anonymusum]

Unfortunately it´s only 4-voice polyphony and that´s at least 1 voice too little to be a flexible polyphonic synth. What a shame.

[@s.gharavi1614]

I've never had an issue with the 4 voices

[@anonymusum]

@@s.gharavi1614 That means you never play a chord that has more than 4 voices. Even a simple major chord plus 7 and 9 isn´t possible.

[@s.gharavi1614]

@@anonymusum I understand the technical issue, but I play 6 and 7 note cords all the time and I don't notice it cutting out. Plus it's when you max out the board that things get interesting imo.

[@jawoody9745]

it's just too easy, and overpriced. I would rather explore each as an individual module and blast the hell out of it! You will hear this in upcoming film and commercial soundtracks ad nauseum.

[@peterkarczewski8200]

its great but its way overpriced on the second hand market

[@splitradix]

The Most Interesting Synth in the Last 30 Years? The Yamaha FS1R.

[@KiR_3d]

Oh, man... you love to tell tall tales! :))) Don't get me wrong... But you'd better start your _every_ video with some banal phrase like "this interesting poly synth has just FOUR voices but..." So you don't prepare a listener to a "no-no" part with a long story intro without the good sound/music examples or some big pros of the subject. Otherwise it leaves some frustration. Thanks for the video anyway.

[@squishmusic]

Only 4-voices. Ok. Bye. Not BUY :D

[@EuroDJ]

Horrible sound .... the best synths leaves in 70s-80s

[@sudbenzer6603]

k boomer

[@marsoblivi0n945]

I can tell who doesn’t actually play synths. Evolver was an alien beast sent for industrial destruction. Can also sound very creamy in the right hands.

[@johnbeer2854]

You're a better talker than improviser that's for sure, that demo section made it sound truly awful.

[@sudbenzer6603]

def not!

[@johnbeer2854]

@@sudbenzer6603 Def not what ?

[@Trottelheimer]

No.

[@michaels8088]

might still get one......

[@RikMaxSpeed]

Honestly, who are you kidding? A 4-voice synth with 8-bit wave tables through analogue filters is hardly the most interesting thing in the last 30 years. It's just a throwback to 80s technology. Try physical modelling for one, or granular, or modern FM extended beyond sine waves, or a Waldorf Quantum if you want all of those together with analogue filters and resonators.

[@asoundlab]

I hear you! The additional things that make it unique are the split analog/digital osc (2 of each), stereo filter that can be modulated independently and the 4x16 sequencer that allows for complex rhythmic effects as well as wavetable sequencing etc. Haven’t seen this combo in any other synths and it was forward thinking in its use of hybrid tech.

[@sisonkemanentsa5153]

Independent Stereo filter, 16*4 sequencer and 4 individual stereo output per voice. You don't get that anywhere. It's lush and creamy

[@s.gharavi1614]

What the Waldorf Quantum doesn't have is the distortion and noise. Obviously that isn't something everyone wants.