Elta Music Polivoks-8

Elta Music Polivoks-8 is an eight-voice polyphonic, dual-VCF, bi-timbral analog synthesizer available in both desktop and 4U rack-mount formats. Its architecture is derived directly from the circuits of the Soviet Formanta Polivoks and scales them into a full-featured modern polysynth. Each of the eight voices carries a complete independent signal path: two oscillators, a dedicated sub-oscillator, two VCFs, three envelope generators, and three VCAs — sixteen analog filters in total across the instrument.

Two filters per voice: Polivoks and ladder in one signal chain

VCF 1 is the original Polivoks-type filter designed by Vladimir Kuzmin, built around genuine Soviet K140UD12 op-amp ICs. It delivers 12 dB/oct low-pass and 6 dB/oct band-pass responses, controllable input saturation, and true analog FM modulation of the filter cutoff for deep timbral shaping. VCF 2 is an improved ladder-style filter with a 24 dB/oct low-pass characteristic and resonance drop compensation, maintaining consistent output level regardless of the Q setting. The two filters are freely routable in serial, parallel, or any blend between the two. In serial mode the Polivoks filter always precedes the ladder, allowing it to function as a controllable analog saturator followed by the ladder for cleanup — a conceptually similar approach to filter chains in instruments like the MS-20. Each voice additionally features three VCAs: a master and a stereo pair for pan modulation, enabling spatial movement directly within the voice without external autopanners.

Modulation and performance: joystick, per-voice LFOs and user-captured waveforms

Eight per-voice LFOs cover a wide selection of waveforms, with the ability to record joystick movements and save them as custom LFO shapes per patch — an uncommon feature in analog polyphonic synthesis. A single global analog LFO with a modulated triangle waveform provides a shared modulation source across all voices simultaneously. Joystick movements can be recorded and replayed as modulation sources or converted to custom LFO waveforms, useful for both sound design and live performance. Each timbre has its own arpeggiator and fully programmable step sequencer; in bi-timbral mode, two independent rhythmic or melodic lines run simultaneously. Preset storage covers 1024 slots split into eight banks of 128, with 256 factory patches and 768 user locations.

KEY FEATURES

• 8-voice polyphony, bi-timbral, available as desktop and 4U rack-mount
• 2 x fully analog VCO + dedicated sub-oscillator per voice (FM, Sync, Ring Mod, PWM)
• Analog white and pink noise generator per voice
• VCF 1: Polivoks-type filter (K140UD12 ICs, 12 dB LP / 6 dB BP, input saturation, analog FM)
• VCF 2: improved ladder, 24 dB LP with resonance drop compensation
• Filter routing: serial, parallel, or any blend
• 3 x EG + 3 x VCA (master + stereo pair for pan modulation) per voice
• 1 x global analog LFO + 8 x per-voice LFOs with user-captured waveform support
• Analog joystick with movement recording for use as modulation source or LFO waveform
• Arpeggiator and step sequencer per timbre
• 1024 preset slots (256 factory + 768 user)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Voices: 8 x full analog signal path, bi-timbral
• Oscillators: 2 x analog VCO + sub-oscillator per voice
• Filters: 16 x analog VCF total (2 per voice: Polivoks K140UD12 + ladder)
• Amplifiers: 3 x VCA per voice (master + stereo pair)
• Envelopes: 3 x EG per voice
• LFOs: 1 x global analog + 8 x per-voice with user-captured waveforms
• MIDI: 5-pin DIN I/O/T + high-speed USB MIDI I/O
• Audio Out: stereo main (jack), stereo headphone
• Audio In: mono external input for signal processing through the filter
• Memory: 1024 presets in 8 banks of 128
• Format: desktop + 4U rack-mount
• Estimated price: approx. €2000 (official release date TBA at time of writing)