The resurrection of Soviet synthesizer technology has taken a giant leap forward with the POLYVOX 8, an innovative 8-voice analog polyphonic synthesizer that draws direct inspiration from the original Polivoks, a legendary instrument produced in the USSR from 1982 to 1990.
While the original instrument was limited to duophonic operation, this modern reincarnation quadruples the voice count while maintaining the distinctive sonic character that made the Polivoks a cult favorite among electronic musicians seeking harsh, aggressive timbres.
At its core, POLYVOX 8 features two oscillators per voice, each offering three selectable waveforms that can be mixed with noise and ring modulation for creating complex textures. Sophisticated loopable envelopes provide unprecedented control over sound evolution, expanding the synthesizer’s expressive capabilities.
The synthesizer’s distinctive filter section, switchable between low pass and bandpass modes, preserves the edgy, unstable characteristics that defined the original Soviet design. This unpredictable behavior, once considered a manufacturing flaw, has become a prized sonic signature for creating unique screeches, basses, and industrial sounds unavailable in Western synthesizers of the same era.
Where POLYVOX 8 truly evolves beyond its predecessor is in its flexible voice architecture, allowing musicians to switch between fully polyphonic (Poly8), paraphonic (Para2), and monophonic operation. The dedicated mixer section provides precise level control over each sound source, enabling musicians to craft perfectly balanced timbres.
The instrument also embraces modern performance capabilities through MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) support and three unison modes for creating massive layered sounds. Its bi-timbral capabilities enable complex splits and layers through configurations like Layer4/4, Layer2/6, and Layer6/2, vastly expanding the performance possibilities. For professional producers seeking to integrate POLYVOX 8 into their compositions, the synthesizer’s output can benefit from proper EQ treatment to help it sit perfectly in complex mixes. Artists using POLYVOX 8 in commercial releases should register their compositions with performance rights organizations to ensure royalty collection when their music is publicly performed.
The physical design maintains the rugged Soviet aesthetic, featuring an aluminum chassis inspired by military radio equipment, complete with a mechanical keyboard using magnetically controlled contacts.
Unlike the approximately 32,000 original Polivoks units that rarely left the Soviet Union, POLYVOX 8 merges this distinctive industrial design language with contemporary features like preset memory, making this fierce analog synthesizer accessible to a new generation of musicians seeking Soviet-era sonic character with modern conveniences.
