KORG MONOPOLY Analog Synthesizer 1982 | HQ DEMO

[@BillVincent]

Here's a funny story about me and the MonoPoly. In 1983 I was with a touring group that had Korg as a sponsor, and I was the keyboard player. I had the use of a Korg Polysix, Korg MonoPoly, and a CX-3 organ (I miss all three!). We did multiple shows per day in schools and with different kids helping as crew - so before we had to go to get dressed for the show, I would set the MonoPoly up by triggering the lowest key, turning the portamento all the way up, then clicking the Hold button. Effectively anyone who touched a key was going to be met with a huge sweep like a siren going off, and my amp was LOUD. About once a week or so I'd be getting ready in the dressing room and hear it go off - and I'd come to the stage and there would always be one guy standing there, deer in the headlights look, swearing up and down he didn't do anything! We got more laughs out of that every time it happened. I probably traumatized those kids from ever touching another keyboard!

[@AnalogAudio1]

A nice funny story indeed :-)

[@meme-lx6cs]

bill he’s basically saying you’re corny

[@meme-lx6cs]

(i’m being corny too don’t fight)

[@BillVincent]

Me so corny…

[@j3m3r3]

Bought mine for 75.00 at a flea market in the late 80s.Just sold my drum set for money for college, but, well. Couldn’t pass it up. Best purchase I ever did. Unlimited potential this bad boy.

[@joker9494949494]

The album "Unveiling The Secret" by the band "Psyche" is almost entirely Korg Mono/Poly and TR 707. An awesome album, and a great showcase at what can be done with limited equipment.

[@chinossynthesizer705]

@@AnalogAudio1 how about synth wave artist like mega drive

[@TheSixfinger1]

I bought a Polysix when they first came out. Literally, 10 years later, the battery needed replacing so I took it to a music store and left it till it was ready to pick up. After numerous calls I eventually managed to speak to the owner who took my beloved Poly only to be informed that the store had gone into liquidation and all assets had been seized. Never saw it again. Gutted! Amazing synths. Love Korg fatness. Get a nice sequence going, drop the tuning, turn on unison, lower pitch wheel, say goodbye to all pictures and ornaments ha ha. Nice demo!

[@AnalogAudio1]

thanks!

[@darwinsaye]

Lawsuit. I'd be ripping mad...

[@fortheloveofnoise]

If you did not sue then you are a fool.

[@MrWizardry69]

Ahh, brings back memories! I purchased a Korg MonoPoly back around 1988 in NYC. It was that unit unit or a Moog Source personally signed by Jan Hammer. I loaned the MonoPoly to a neighbor/musician right before I moved to LA in '95 and never saw it or him again. Anyway, lots of fun with that synth and what stood out was the cross modulator.

[@fritagogo1]

Mon instrument préféré !... Mon premier synthétiseur analogique ! Un arpège unique ! Des milliers de combinaisons sonores !... A tester si vous en avez sous la main ! ...

[@DoperThanCerealBlog]

no modern synths sound like this bad boy.

[@NyakzOTSD]

DoperThanCereal you are going mad lol

[@VjRoboZ]

Leave her alone, she is a synth enthusiasm

[@MrZiggyMarbley]

time has not stopped for everyone old sport ;-)

[@jamesmeeker6933]

None of the vintage synths either. The M/P is an odd beast. I foolishly sold mine in the early 00's.

[@RAFmortis]

Uh, every modern synth sounds like this

[@d64d64]

The first bit is just the most 80s sound imaginable. I love it.

[@michal23pl]

I just love that minimal sequence from 4:03. Sounds so organic and beautiful.

[@capatrateka]

i totally agree, i've been playing this video for some time now just to listen to that part :D that's the sound that made me want a mono/poly, sounds like a tri atma track :D

[@Enterthevoigt]

soooo f. beautiful !

[@BenoitDarcy]

Marcus Voigt b

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Demos are a blessing to the ears . Well executed . Great sounding underrated instrument. Can you imagine playing this alongside a mfb doninion 1 ?, ooooh sheeeeez !!!!!

[@RIP_Milhouse]

Dude I have both and honestly I get lost for hours and hours and hours with them separately or together. Extremely inspiring machines.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

@@RIP_Milhouse I can only imagine . Perhaps post a vid if you have time.

[@vincetessier4634]

Super sound! Super démo! Thank you Analog Audio!

[@beloyaraistov8007]

Love Monoploy, soundig beautiful, fresh and modern, its very synth-for-arpeggios, yes))

[@KurtFuller]

One of my dreams...

[@BashiV]

thought of like, 8 different beats while listening to this

[@fortheloveofnoise]

10 years later...I hope you made some of um...I often think of beats myself then let um go cause im lazy

[@rdm5190]

Another iconic synthesizer from my youth... a korg remake would be nice

[@chinossynthesizer705]

Any other synth ones you like?

[@480Reggae]

What a Synth !! Great Sound 1982.

[@Suzukisenpai]

1981

[@lumacatgames7057]

Actually, pretty much everything you did with this is awesome, I got a shit ton of entertainment from listening. Thank you

[@bytex666]

You can't really judge a synth's sound from a heavily compressed youtube video either. It needs to be heard in front of big, crystal clear speakers being fed the raw synth signal.

[@JohnnyMacaw]

I may not be able to afford it but I’m having fun with the DAW released of this virtual instrument

[@papafritamartinez2308]

al fin alguien que usa la modulacion! eso queria ver

[@Pacer416]

One of the last great classic analog mono's that doesn't cost a fortune. In fact, most of the time it is under $1999. Although they all have slightly different feature sets, the Mono/Poly is, IMHO, as good as a MiniMoog and/or Odyssey in every way - and better in some ways. It would be damn close to an SH5 if not for the SH5's killer multi-mode filter. Not that the filter on the Mono/Poly is any slouch. It has an amazingly, musical SSM Filter.

[@AnalogAudio1]

It's a great synth, no doubt! But I hope I don't dissapoint you when I say, that the MP can't keep up with the Minimoog, ARP Odyssey or SCI Pro One, which sound more "classy". Their analog sound have even more "quality", the Korg was more a budget synth. Saying that, I love my Mono/Poly.

[@ShahriarTaherkhani]

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT demonstration ! You are so cool ! Thanks so much, AnalogAudio1 You guys are truly # 1

[@AnalogAudio1]

thanks :-) that's nice to hear

[@mattsynth]

@AnalogAudio1 I agree Korg filters are very different sounding then a Moog ladder filter. They both sound great but different. Thanks for the demo I enjoyed it.

[@nicholasrichardson102]

technically, in this case. they are Emu filters (ssm)

[@GNeuman]

Don't remember anyone particularly famous who used this back in the day which is surprising as it's quite a unique synth...

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Vince Clark.....

[@KristerNielsen]

This is kinda my holy grail. make it happen Behringer. :P

[@samtully6949]

and look at that, they are making it happen :o

[@Sjobeck7]

This Synth RULEZ!!! Good Golly I want one so freakin bad now!!!

[@HenricWallmark]

Did you get one?

[@TheOllieBoi]

Love all the wacky cross-mod sounds!

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Thank you! :)

[@Tiefengrund]

Absolutly great sound and very nice demo

[@ish233]

Had my eye on this for a little, may have to pick one up eventually

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Cant beleive i missed out on one which was under a £900 fully working a few years ago. I was so set on an sh 02 and still have neither .

[@lumacatgames7057]

Day-um that intro track is sweet

[@simonbecker748]

Gnarly bass, fucking powerful

[@5192mark]

The Korg minilogue xd can keep up with this.

[@AnalogAudio1]

the MonoPoly is different in every respect

[@simonbecker748]

@@AnalogAudio1 please elaborate

[@AnalogAudio1]

@@simonbecker748 what do you want to hear? ;-) two completely different beasts from different eras, different basic sound, voice architecture, looks, electronic components, hardware, size, everything... they have nothing in common.

[@simonbecker748]

@@AnalogAudio1 yeah I just don't know what to expect from the minilogue xD somehow. It's a complete mystery to me, i would to hear a comparison to classic synths

[@maccagrabme]

My ears are telling me that modern analogues are getting as good if not better than these oldies. A few yrs ago I would have been blown away with this demo but not now.

[@TheOptimod]

Well go and watch something else then instead of hating.

[@donmeister4347]

youtube is a terrible way to judge how good a synth sounds. have you played this in real life?

[@andreave721]

***** i don't agree with maccgrabme but is this hating?

[@TheOptimod]

Andrea Vé Well it isn't exactly loving. If you don't like trad analogue synths why bother seeking them out on youtube to make negative comments.......

[@lownrgy]

***** it's just an opinion, not hating but trying to be honest.. the thing is, guy don't have a clue. it is partly sad, but no everyone can acquire arsenal of vintages. personally i feel there is some vintages which can be replaced easily by modern gear or even software (don't have a clue about monopoly, never owned one) and there is those ones whose 'soul' is impossible to re-create by modern standards of engineering and especially - a lack of discrete parts. you just can't compare based on someone else playing and what you are hearing. real difference (if it's there for you) reveals when yourself play with an instrument, if it gives goosebumps you know it is for you.

[@toddthomas4761]

sounds HUGE!

[@noisearkitekt]

Superb !

[@tomasmorey1269]

This is taking back to JM Jarre, M Oldfield, H Hankock, G Moroder, Dino&Sossio, jajaja. Very nice documentation. I will take some for my maschine studio. I think I can get some nice samples from it. I will let you know. Best from Mallorca.

[@gunsandsynths]

please reissue korg!

[@discotechwreck]

great demo!

[@justwaving]

Wow, great demo!!!

[@bis5260]

Great Stuff!

[@easyryder7291]

God damn that sound on 4:04 - how did you achieve something like that?

[@Amelloc]

Já tive um Mono/Poly... vendi e comprei um Alesis ION. Esperava mais potencia de som do Mono/Poly...talvez por ter um Minimoog também...mas soam bem diferentes.

[@jamessanger]

nice !!>.. you showed me things I have not done with mine yet !

[@coldwar1977]

4:04 Klaus Schulze lässt grüssen :-)

[@garyturner5204]

YES! Klaus Schulze!

[@juliadelcarmencontrerasper1946]

Great !

[@Accou25]

just thx for posting thisssss )

[@ShahriarTaherkhani]

THANKSSSSSSSS ! Awesomeeeee !

[@ymotechnopopfan]

3:49 nice visual effects. How did you do it?

[@CYBORGH2O]

Wow Incredible still Beautiful in 2020. I must sold out Protools ?

[@brettlarson3504]

Is the output normally noisy? Or is there a ground loop going on? Synth sounds great though!

[@AnalogAudio1]

It was my fault, see video description for details.

[@capatrateka]

hey there... i bought a mono/poly and the haunting liquid sounds from min 4:05 are still a mistery for me... i just can't get to them. any hints?

[@capt.scarlet1099]

put the filter into self oscillation, try turning all the vco's to near zero. the filter alone is like a 5th vco and can be tweeked to almost map the keyboard. then turn up the vco's for the 4 voices.

[@capatrateka]

Capt. Scarlet will try tomorrow, thank you!

[@capatrateka]

+Capt. Scarlet forgot to reply back then, thank you very much! :D

[@capt.scarlet1099]

sounds like self oscillation of the filter. I haven't used the monopoly for a few years(stuck in the loft).You can use the filter almost as a 5th oscillator. Try turning the 4 vco levels to zero, then play with the filter section gain and q, to make a whistling sound (a bit like tomita). Tweaking the filter settings can almost track to the keyboard, then use the step sequencer to step through the 4 vco's and turn up their levels/wave shapes as desired. Sounds as though external echo/reverb has been added...hope that helps.

[@jjjjj2220]

This thing just sounds like 80s Snyth pop

[@mvoproject]

Please make another one video with MP-4/Mono-Poly - about 20-30 min.

[@TechTVusa]

I used to have one of those.

[@fantaszimsoundlabstudio2341]

really what happened to it?.that's a very nice Synthesizer. 🤔

[@TechTVusa]

@@fantaszimsoundlabstudio2341 I sold it back in 1993 to help pay for a Yamaha electric piano. I liked the Yamaha piano with semi weighted keys but I sold that in 1996 to get what I have know for doing computer based music. I love sound modules : ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4q9fpSgg82Ypq8

[@mvoproject]

Excellent demo. Thanks. But the KORG MP-4 Mono/Poly was released in 1981, same with the P-6 Polysix.

[@AnalogAudio1]

thanks! They were introduced in 1981, but you could actually buy them in 1982.

[@lumacatgames7057]

Does the KORG Legacy Collection Mono/Poly feature these same sounds and the ability to tinker with them...? Thinking about purchasing one.

[@zechariahfrink3707]

Are you using added one digital delay with the sound at 4:32 and onward? the same arpeggiator is also on the Polysix which you can play chords on right?

[@AnalogAudio1]

+Zechariah Frink yes!

[@seanywarsong]

Curious if you've had a chance to mess with the behringer clone, (if you can you should try to emulate this video) but even if you haven't, what are your impressions? This is one of my fav synth vids btw

[@AnalogAudio1]

I never tried it... I never had interest in the Behringer version. The Deepmind is the only one synth from Behringer that I really like.

[@seanywarsong]

@@AnalogAudio1 not even out of curiousity? Im very interested in your opinion because you know the og so well. If you watch any demos or comparison videos, please lmk!

[@CleverDjembe]

btw, amazing demo!

[@PWMaarten]

@AnalogAudio1 The only thing is that I don't like the filter that much. It's not bad sounding but not that good either. Good demo, shows of the diversity of the M/P.

[@djmymanchannel8411]

i like the sequence from 4:12

[@urwholefamilydied]

4:04 how are you getting that sound? (I mean... I know it's TONS of different setting, but what's the gist of it if you don't mind me asking?). Wouldn't mind trying that out on my mono/poly. Still learning.

[@AnalogAudio1]

Don't tell me you tried it with the B-synth... :-D

[@urwholefamilydied]

@@AnalogAudio1 that aint out yet. Not that I know of at least.

[@AnalogAudio1]

@@urwholefamilydied I don't remember the settings, it's 10 years ago...

[@TheLunarSurface]

❤️

[@JimAtwood]

I'm in the market for one of these bad boys. I'm curious if this is worth $1200. Is that too much?? I know they've been higher. Thanks. - Jim

[@TheArchiveOfWonder]

That would be a bargain these days. Right now there is one on Ebay for 2500.

[@nathanielavenmarg4504]

These are worth picking up at any price if you can find them.

[@D10078]

I'd swear one arp effect is in the MASS EFFECT series part 2. Or, even more like from 1:20-2:30 well parts of it anyway.

[@AlphaToEpsilon]

is this comperable to a dave smotih prophet 8? or Obr 5?

[@MinimalWave1982]

this sounds pretty much as the minilogue to my ears

[@bradleyhove4177]

MinimalWave1982 that's what I thought too, when I read the specs of the Minilogue, I was like "it's a tiny MonoPoly"

[@DudeNormaundie]

The first thing I thought when I heard the Minilogue (this sounds like the Mono/Poly). Just what I've been waiting for.

[@AnalogAudio1]

sounds clearly different

[@bradleyhove4177]

I mean yeah it sound really different but the specs sorta remind me of the MonoPoly, and the general arrangement and layout of the synth

[@briandonald]

I have one of these.

[@skyprop]

Back When Korg Kicked ASS!!!! Does it have Pre-sets?

[@skyprop]

+skyprop looks like a lot of "Knob-turning" to do on stage.... from sound to sound.....Would be great for studio work!!!!

[@skyprop]

+skyprop Or is the poly-six better in that respect?

[@HenricWallmark]

skyprop this doesn't have presets

[@geoffsmith8172]

Any idea how to make the VST of this as fat as the sounds in the beginning? :O

[@Seekthetruth3000]

NIce!

[@Sandelec-gm2cl]

The old components in analog synth..not are perfect like today. I have an analog synth...but maybe It seem play like a JUNO....It play warmt but not FAT.

[@butterpie9882]

whats the intro before the video thats a mad sound

[@AnalogAudio1]

+Theo Bolding all sound is from Korg Mono/Poly, including the intro

[@butterpie9882]

+AnalogAudio1 Cheers man fell in love with that sound :)

[@TransistorBased]

That totally reminded me of one of the MS2000 patches.

[@envueltoenplastico]

Could you sync this with a Polysix I wonder?

[@AnalogAudio1]

You can sync it to a Korg drum machine (KR-55 for example), that makes more sense.

[@CleverDjembe]

MP sound is comparable to Minimoog in quality. Don't put MP down!

[@ish233]

wow, so expensive though

[@JohnnyMacaw]

Just get the Virtual instrument version from Korg. It’s for Logic Pro or ableton.

[@ish233]

@@JohnnyMacaw I think this was around the time I was interested in it, the comment was 8 years ago, surprised me a bit, it's probably cheaper now from all the newer analog synth competition, unless vintage price still remains somewhat high? I'm good on the monopoly, my interests in synths changed a lot and I have more deciding factors to my specific likes. I think it's a good synth, but not really my style. Ha, yeah, the virtual plugin one could do, my virtual interests may be more residing in designating some, I'll give it a trial. Annoying to mouse those knobs, I guess unless keyboard control change or maybe that's already set up for options.

[@ADRIANKEYMUSIC]

I have the VST this model. It sounds good.

[@AnalogAudio1]

The real one sounds even better :-D

[@ADRIANKEYMUSIC]

Yes!!!!

[@69supafly]

there also is a rack ext. for Reason

[@PC0067]

👍

[@ultraxmusic]

which is better, monopoly or polysix?

[@EvilDragon666]

Mono/Poly of course, it has 3 oscillators more and more modulation :)

[@xtocy96]

How much polyphony does it have?

[@alexhauptmann298]

+RAZZOR5S 4-voice!

[@xtocy96]

Ok, thanks Alex Hauptmann

[@almazmusic]

It's paraphonic, not a poly.

[@samuellonde8140]

That bass doe

[@salpuma9145]

This is what Trans Am uses i believe

[@AnalogAudio1]

a car plays synthesizer?

[@salpuma9145]

+AnalogAudio1 Lol..no no....The band Trans Am....three weirdos from Baltimore. Some of those mean sounding tones are a dead match with some of their tunes. I leave little comments speculating which artists used what judging by the tones. Love the demos my friend. I'll watch them all eventually.

[@xh4r744]

I bought it when it first came out 700 dollars sold it for shit money fuck me.Now ve a vintage mini moot model D 1974.I prefer this.

[@CW2SCOGG]

always thought this synth was wayyyyyy over rated in comparison to a moog or ob. Save fro a minor few, the Japanese analogs always sounded thin to my ears

[@syntheseyez3577]

Overrated to who? The hell u talking about. Not a lot of people even know about this synth