Korg MonoPoly Tutorial and Demo

This is a tutorial and short demo of the Korg MonoPoly which is a vintage analog synth from the 80s. This synth features 4 oscillators which you can control independently and play as either unison or paraphonically. Where it really starts to shine is when you make every oscillator different.
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[@goodnoyz]

This is the best synth youtube video I've ever seen. I'm in love with the MonoPoly anyway, but this guy demos it exceedingly well. His playing is brilliant too.

[@AlexBallMusic]

One I've always wanted to play with. Thanks for the walkthrough, very enjoyable.

[@andyjackson3891]

I repaired the PSU and calibrated one recently. Once it was back together, I literally lost HOURS playing it. It's still to go back to it's owner, but I'm very, very tempted to buy it!! :)

[@lesterfalcon1350]

Such a clear and thorough and breakdown of the features. I have the clone and I have come back several times to clear up any confusion I may be having. Thanks

[@chrisvanco4694]

To me, one the best "affordable" synth ever made, i love my M/P, since years, never get bored with this one. Thanks, just one remark, it's not Hz/Volt like many other Korgs, but Volt/octave, in the Moog, Roland, ... way Cheers

[@montxsuz]

This is an inspiring re-tutorial, I will need to watch it a couple of times. I just recently rediscovered my old MP. I bought the original in April 1983 and it is still mint, my first. Recently I have been playing around with the Korg SQ1 sequencer (based on the old SQ10). I managed to connect my Mono/Poly, my original WaveStation A/D, and my MS-20m to a pair of SQ1s, along with some new gear (like a Korg Volca Sample 2) - and got some nice sounds going. Pretty soon I will have to by my MP a 40th birthday cake to celebrate. Thank you.

[@Val_Cla]

The pad sounds were amazing ! Thanks for covering this beautiful synth 🙂

[@strangersun7721]

You are a geyser of great KZbin videos lately. Thanks for this. I bought the iOS emulation years ago and never gave it a chance.

[@hammarstenmusic]

I'm a proud owner of a Mono/Poly since many years and I really enjoyed your video👌

[@strangersun7721]

Wow. I learned something about the paraphonic nature of this synth at 9:37. Can't wait to play around with it! Thanks!

[@splintercastrecordings74]

Great video. Not sure how well known this is but it's also worth noting that there is a secret high speed mode on LFO1 if you set its waveform selector halfway between the wave shapes (works best half way between ramp up and down). This will allow you to do filter FM stuff as well.

[@tonewreck1]

What !!!???? really, I got to try this and report.

[@paulfisko]

@@tonewreck1 Yes, really! I didn't know either : D. This actually increases the sonic possibilities, especially combined with a ModyPoly-mod!

[@shahedsaffari365]

Abseloute legend! And I was just about to chuck this thing out the window...now it’s started to sing. Thank you

[@BSpazTs]

Best explanation of a synthesizer I've ever heard.

[@urwholefamilydied]

I had the Polysix...loved it and always thought it was superior cause you could store patches and well... 6 voices. I now know I was very very wrong. What a great synth!

[@lloydhaskel2956]

I learned everything about synthesis from the mono/poly....my first synth....we used to leave it on all night sequencing it with a TR-606 and a MC202. I still have all three

[@bladerunnersynthwave]

I'm with you. Mono/Poly was my first synth and how I learnt about synthesis.

[@yaveeya2992]

Great video... Thank you for spreading the love of this vintage gem.

[@Sam-sdh]

The Tycho synth! Such a rad synth cheers for this demo!

[@nebula4720]

Yep. Scott Hansen is the reason I'm here.

[@mezzafinook]

tycho is literally gay

[@SethJohn]

Just paired my M/P with a Polysix. My favorite synths.

[@syntheseyez3577]

They belong together

[@jackspring7709]

I bought one of these for £95 back in 1989 when all the analog synths were being dumped in favour of digital: and they were all going at rock bottom prices and even then I though people were crazy for dumping them altogether and digital synths seemed quite limited to me. I still have the Korg and it's worth a lot more now - as are all those other analogs that were ditched back then. It's excellent at synthesising thunder and wind sounds by the way.

[@tonewreck1]

same here

[@j3m3r3]

I got mine for 75.00 usd. About the same year. I still have it ,worth quite a bit now. Tried to sell in early 90s for money for college and no one was interested. Which I’m so glad I never sold it. So many hours of fun with this, endless possibilities.

[@ethinethin]

I always thought this was just a small Polysix... it's so much more, wow!

[@jerewind]

Yes Korg team people, please reissue this beauty ( in rack version why not ) for all of us. This amazing synth can twang like a guitar … thank you so much for this useful video! .

[@badwolf489]

20:56 Wow that FM sound!!

[@forgivemeforihavesynthed]

Thank you so Much i found this synth at a thrift store and have never fully understood it until now - Brilliant walkthrough !

[@youcantno3963]

Mine has a simple MIDI kit fitted, makes a huge difference. Anyway I would never sell mine now. Great vid, taught me some stuff i never realised I could do with the machine 👍🏼

[@antfactor]

FANTASTIC DEMO!!! You show every(?) cool thing this synth may do... 🙂 Cheers.

[@acidbat4441]

def the most in depth tutorial on the M/P

[@JeffPalmer83]

Great video! I never really understood what set the Mono/Poly apart prior to this video. Thanks!

[@Jkeane1337]

My dream synth

[@epolder]

Amazing video! This video covers exactly all the love I have for my Mono/Poly!!!

[@spooky_zoo]

Great overview. Love the Mono/Poly sound. Dreaming of a Korg reissue. :)

[@SPAZZOID100]

Behringer

[@spooky_zoo]

Spazzoid Studio haha, yeah, tempted for sure!

[@tofwonder9993]

Very really interesting. Thank you for that good lesson. The MonoPoly is really apart. This is my actual favorite synth. So many great and incredible sounds I have created thanks to it.

[@MrMuench]

Killer walkthrough, really enjoyed and the little melodys were awesome, Thanks!

[@PatrickThePanOfficial]

This has been VERY helpful + I love your music sensitivity. Thanks!

[@MassRapidTransport]

synth architecture is super well explained, thanks !!! very inspirational...

[@nanjjypoo1]

Wow thanks for teaching me got a match as well!

[@potatovegeta9385]

Apparently my dad’s roommate had one of these back in the 80’s/90’s that he got to use. I’m kinda jealous tbh.

[@lqr824]

23:25 no, it does NOT use the Korg Hz/V convention. It uses the industry standard 1V/oct. You can interface it to modular gear, Minimoogs etc., but NOT MS-10 etc.

[@RobertMRyder]

Hello, Korg. Reissue this, please.

[@sejtaridiss]

Hit Behringer up. They may make your dream come true faster, I suppose :)

[@naturecollision]

ulli: hold my beer

[@strangersun7721]

Pray to Behringer. Maybe they would copy one with some modern features.

[@midwestisbest1]

Moog Matriarch is a modern equivalent.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

@@midwestisbest1 Exactly what I thought

[@simonbecker748]

Xmod, sync and pwm ahhh it's perfect

[@macronencer]

This is one of those instruments that passed me by somehow. I had no idea it was this good! What a marvellous machine :)

[@R---66---R]

KORG loves us so much!

[@christdolphin69]

those sounds at the end man! jesus

[@angelivanmunoz1158]

Great video! Excellent explaining

[@gkeaoyrge]

Wish Korg would re-issue this like they have with the MS-20. A full size, module and a mini version.

[@Fahnder99]

16:50 "Effects " Section with SYNC & XMOD

[@synriser6742]

That is still such a great synth. Great review!

[@cfov]

I wish I had never sold mine back in 1980s. The best synth I have ever owned and I have owned a lot!

[@jimmyfigueras4476]

Outstanding explanation!

[@BR-gi1qi]

please review more synths! really outstanding.

[@timbuk1126]

I never understood why Vince Clarke hated the Mono/Poly. BTW this is the synth that Harry Manfredini used for Friday the 13th 2.

[@urwholefamilydied]

I thought vince owned and liked the mono/poly? No? I know his main synth was the Pro-1 but thought he was into this one as well.

[@lisouspacecakes]

I've been using a mono/poly for almost 15 years now and i didn't realize manfredini used this on Friday the 13th. madness

[@spiderlab2526]

I donated one to my kids' school music room when we left Sydney 25 years ago. What a fool :-( And I've checked. It's gone walkabout :-(

[@Lagspike99]

You will soon be able to buy a new one from Behringer :)

[@JackMellor498]

MGMT’s favourite synthesizer

[@ProfessorSynth]

Great demo, thanks

[@nkozi]

The plugin/app version of this gives it full polyphony and it’s VERY worth it

[@marknhopgood]

Agreed. I have polysix and monopoly bundled with Reason. Great sounds.

[@bcbudrecords]

great demo ... cheers !

[@hartware6155]

While listening to this I really wonder if Behringer will get close to the original. If they do, i will be baffled. Great video!

[@AndyDollerson]

What a freaking lush synth! Is there anything in the modern synth world - as in, for sale now, that comes close in terms of functionality (voice switching for example) and tone? I would love to get my hands on something like this

[@cellfart]

Behringer just announced a copy of that that looks to be really close! Might be something to consider

[@synthmaven]

@@cellfart Doesn't sound the same to me.

[@YourIdeologyIsDelusional]

11:52 I'm actually getting hung up here because I wish I had the music theory to understand how you use major like this. I have trouble writing in major because it always seems to sound so corny and lame, getting this whimsical, classical sort of sound out of it just completely eludes me. Same goes for this synth! I know this synth (or rather its software version) pretty well and it never occurred to me that the way it handles its oscs is actually ideal for a more classical sound. In classical music, the instrumentation will often split and rejoin to play different phrases and chords, and the way the synth handles its voices does a good imitation of that. Up until now I mostly looked at the Mono/Poly as one of the best techno and rave boxes in existence, but it seems it has even more to it than that.

[@YourIdeologyIsDelusional]

20:11 For a second there, I thought you were about to start playing Top Man's theme. :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/apXKpXutYtp0rrs

[@krystophny]

11:52 is the theme of Bach’s Goldberg Variations - don’t worry too much about not being on that level ;-)

[@eddiexx]

does it have sounds you can sample? or are they mostly complexed evolving sounds, and other than that "regular" sounds you can find in any synth? cheers (im trying to create a sample library of my own)

[@vangeliskostoxenakis]

i purchased the vst version and is very decent

[@aseomg]

Is the ‘coatseller’ sound going to be a thing in the future? The signature of your sound is becoming prominent by the day.

[@DanyLeeRoth]

I have it in the Sudio.

[@jjaffee]

Super nice video. I’m wondering how close the new Behringer Poly D is to this? So many similar features Is the main difference that the mono/poly can be an FM synth?

[@kazr4853]

I always love your demos. I've mainly watched you on modular, lovely to hear you play Bach. I was just comparing this to the new Behringer version and this sounds so much better, more air and bite. Do you mind me asking how you recorded this?

[@olivierrenoir9282]

The Behringer's seems to be an exact clone

[@tonewreck1]

@@olivierrenoir9282 different components

[@tomkowalski7533]

are you running your Mono/Poly through any outboard FX like a delay or reverb in this video at certain moments? Maybe my ears are deceiving me

[@dillipphunbar7924]

gr8 synth, I'd like to hear what you come up with on a MS2000BR...someone lend him one plz

[@jamalikid]

Beautiful sounds! The closest modern equivalent I can see is the Vermona PERfourMER, since you’ve used both how would you compare the two?

[@chrisvanco4694]

Just have a Mono Lancet, sounds really great, love it, but the Vermona that i have ( 1 bit of the Perfourmer, wich is 4 Mono Lancet, i think) sounds more like Roland SH (101 especially) series to my hears.

[@samuelmartin8326]

Hey man. Love the vid. Can anyone tell me why my monopoly doesn't cycle through the voices like in this video? It does when arpeggiating but when the frequency of mg2 set to zero is set to 0 and the arp still on, I get only vco 1 repeating and it doesn't cycle through the voices.

[@ghostfrom1950]

sooo... How many keys can I hold at once until I run out of "voices" on a 4 voice "paraphonic"??

[@KCJazzKeys]

18:58 (Chick Corea has entrered the chat)

[@jaakkojokela-bergstrom8018]

nice Corea quote :)

[@condense3000]

Since shortly I own a monopoly and I think its a fantastic instrument, however I can not make it do what you are doing on 12:53... Everytime I hit the same (or another) key it is just playing VCO1 so not cycling through to the next one. When I turn up the arp speed it is indeed cycling through all the osc's like it should, but that trick you are showing is not working. I am having the tubbutec mod installed, i dont know if that could be the cause...

[@jml19221]

The IOS app is very close to the real thing. Sounds are not bad either. I wish I had the real thing tho.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Behringer incoming!!!

[@robertsyrett1992]

I think a tutorial of the iMono/Poly app would maybe have been more useful to me, but the song was nice.

[@davidramio]

Behringer Mono/Poly? Thoughts?

[@SPAZZOID100]

gridsleep Behringer

[@kennyplay5982]

How much do they sell for?

[@nickens591]

behringer did it !

[@LarsHost]

I have this one in digital. And.. I thought it was like a shitty older version of Polysix or something... Man I have mistaken. Those features are great, I love such unusual stuff. Those like almost random voices, when you simply play notes one by one. I thought it's gonna be a dull review of some old forgotten synth, with usual words like: oh this is an oscillator ah and this is another one, ooh that's a filter, you know what, it filters yeah... Though you didn't say much about fm-features, now I want to discover it myself. Thank you for reintroducing to me this cool gear!

[@goodnoyz]

Hi, I'm trying to improve my keyboard playing and was wondering if anybody could point out what style and scales are being played at 11 mins 20 seconds. What do I need to be looking at in order to replicate some of this playing? Any advice appreciated. Thanks

[@Pulse2AM]

Most of his playing is classical music, I think he's a Bach fan as I remember from another video.

[@goodnoyz]

@@Pulse2AM He's a pleasure to watch

[@dulusmusica]

Hey, may i ask what delay/reverb are you running it through, or is the output stereo?

[@onceuponasynth]

Delay is ValhallaDelay, reverb is ValhallaRoom and yes they're stereo. But the synth output is mono.

[@furlong5439]

Valhalla is devine.

[@ntino666]

13:20 doesnt seem to be possible on the behringer clone

[@lesterfalcon1350]

Just updated the firmware and it seems this is fixed. I was worried there for a sec as this i definitely a feature I'm attracted to a prefer to program my arps and have different timings, swing and patterns than just U,D,U/D. New synth and my heart sank when it wasn't happening.

[@Ninjjadog]

Good instructions for use. Pitty I can't afford one 🤣🤣

[@jorhay1]

So what does this do that a Virus doesn’t? (Aside from it’s analog)

[@benjaminmuscat2176]

Is sounds quite different…

[@LouisSerieusement]

The triangles are noisy/ broken or I'm I missearing ? Awesome sounding synth, great design...env are so snappy as well ! Thank you I love your tutorials

[@j.fetzer5814]

I think he has a tiny bit of noise in the mix as well for texture. Cheers!

[@Emiel1983Schoonoord]

Very cool synth, but for that kind of money I'd rather have the Moog Matriarch..

[@Emiel1983Schoonoord]

gridsleep Your comment is kind of boring..

[@syntheseyez3577]

Haha u funny

[@midwestisbest1]

@gridsleep yeah, having exactly all the capabilities highlighted in this video plus more is boring.

[@SPAZZOID100]

gridsleep ????

[@synthmaven]

No way the Behringer one sounds like this ! I also have the real one so I know but this video should remove all doubt. Go watch a Behringer MP video and tell me it sounds like this !

[@alphanumeric1529]

The Poly-D.... I wish it had all of these unique modes that make the M/P so special. They can mostly do a M/P now, just need to switch out the chips and get to "Retro-Designing" aka Cloning, these magical modes of the M/P! Let's go Behringer!

[@arkasonus7678]

Behringer did it ! 😉

[@alphanumeric1529]

@@arkasonus7678 Wait, how so?

[@arkasonus7678]

@@alphanumeric1529 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3uZeJdulNaee68

[@alphanumeric1529]

@@arkasonus7678 I looked into it yesterday, you kind of ruined my day, man! I was so swollen with desire. But, I'm not sure the Berhi sounds like the Korg. I didn't even get a chance to really even listen, but from what I heard, it kind of sounded like a generic synth with some of the strange capabilities of the mono/poly. What I always loved about the mono/poly is how raw it sounds. It sounds like a muscle car without a muffler. Just throaty and rude. Other synths, like Obi's can do this or that, but the mono/poly did its own sound, vvVVVrrRRooOOMMMMM! I don't know if the Behringer has it. I don't think it does at this moment after hearing their demo video yesterday. Maybe after further listening. Maybe after they actually make more than one of these and people start to share the sound online I'll know better. I have limited resources, but I did just get some scratch for my birthday a little while ago, and so I was going to pick up an Arturia Drumbrute. I'm really light on drums, and heavy on synths. But hearing that mono/poly release... How could I buy an Arturia when I could get my hands on a monster truck with chainsaws for wheels? But listening to Behri's demo, that crazy, slightly unhinged sound wasn't there. It was just generic waveforms. I bet they just took the Poly D guts and put them together in the shape of the Mono/Poly, so we largely end up with the same generic sound. I'm not anti-behringer, though almost everything I've ever bought from them has failed at an early stage of use, even devices with no moving parts, not even an on/off switch. And I'm way into most of their retro-re-releases. I will get the MS-1. And may pick up a Neutron, and I'll most likely get the Deep Mind, my vintage poly is accumulating too many issues I can't afford to fix. So, I'm way pro-Behringer's synths. But I just don't hear what makes the Mono/Poly the Mono/Poly. :( I was so psyched yesterday when I read your post though. Damn, I was psyched! But I was sad, because I knew I'd have to wait a year or more to actually receive the MonoPoly. And then I was sad that the MonoPoly didn't have THE sound. Sadness abounds! Well, at least Arturia is going to get a few hundo from me again, after I bought the minibrute when it was first announced at Namm. Had to wait 5 months for that synth... and then I was really underwhelmed by the sound, and sold it to a couple that just finished the weed harvest (before all this legality) and had a fold of hundos that was sickening (they were driving home, southwards, after the harvest, and they stopped to pick up a bunch of my gear ((much that I regret selling, though not the minibrute)), I met them in a parking lot, and they smelled of weed so heavily it is hard to convey in words - I think you could have smoked just their t-shirts and been high for weeks, oh the memories. They had gone into a Starbucks there to get a drink and use the bathroom. There was a police officer in uniform sitting in the cafe outside the Starbucks. I asked them if they were coming back from harvest, and they were like, how did you know... I was like, dude, you guys smell like a Cheech and Chong movie, it is ridiculous. They looked at each other and gave me a couple grand and took off. Probably had a couple hundred pounds of weed in the trunk! Haha, crazy times.) Hope I'm wrong about the MonoPoly, and that Behri actually used different chips than the PolyD and the MS1!

[@arkasonus7678]

@@alphanumeric1529 after its release, I think we will find some comparisons between the original and the Behringer's one. Behringer knows it, so I don't think it's their interest to fool people. 😉

[@klinkske]

I have it. Barely use it. Listening to this video is not gonna change it. It doesn t have a lot of sweet spots

[@SPAZZOID100]

Incorrect

[@klinkske]

@@SPAZZOID100 taste i guess :)

[@mackmccord3743]

Would you sell it to me?

[@benjaminmuscat2176]

It really needs chorus, delay and reverb

[@talito777]

pura miera mucho ruido