Connecting the POLYMORPH to a Keyboard Combo Amplifier
Some keyboard amplifiers will also have microphone inputs, on jacks or XLRs and these are NOT
suitable for the POLYMORPH as their input impedance is too low (overtaxing the POLYMORPH's
output stage) while their gain range is too high, and they will be overloaded.
Use only the Line inputs, which are sometimes labelled "Keyboard Inputs". If your keyboard
combo is stereo, then connect POLYMORPH's channel 1 to the Left and Channel 2 to the right
input. Switch the amp on last, and start off with the volumes low until you have optimised the
settings such as treble / mid / bass etc. The POLYMORPH will playback some drum patterns if you
press the [START/STOP] button.
If you have to plug into a guitar combo, use a clean channel, high impedance input and start with
the <MASTER VOLUME> knob very low and the amp's input gain should not be turned up too
much.
Trying Out The Setups (Factory Presets)
When first switched on, the POLYMORPH defaults to its "SETUP" operation mode. A setup is the
overall status of all the main controls and adjustable parameters, for the whole POLYMORPH synth
at a given moment, and all this information may be stored in the memory. The global System
Menu however, is not affected by the Setup modes.
In this way, the sound programming of the four parts, the four sequences, all effect settings, and
the tempo adjustments can be recalled instantly from a Setup memory.
Ultimately, each Setup is like a performance patch for the whole synthesizer and determines the
complete function of the four synth engines. The POLYMORPH's four synthesis engines make it
four part multitimbral, and it has 16 voice polyphony and dynamic voice allocation. By turning the
<SOUND> knob, you can scroll through different Setups, which will let you hear some of the
different patches by pressing [START/STOP] to hear some of the preset drum loops / sequences etc.
Now is a good time to play around and listen to these, and hear for yourself the type of effects and
grooves the POLYMORPH is built for. Later on in the manual we will explain how to control the
four synth engines, and how program and save your own sounds and sequences.
Playing of the single sounds from a MIDI keyboard
On its own, the POLYMORPH is a groovey drum machine, but to play melodies or basslines live
you would need to give it MIDI data from a realtime controller such as a master keyboard, another
synth, a digital piano or a MIDI guitar or wind controller etc. Alternatively you can connect it
directly to a MIDI sequencer, either stand alone or computer based, to play back programmed
tracks.
Connect the MIDI output (MIDI OUT) of the master keyboard controller or sequencer to the MIDI
input (MIDI IN) of the POLYMORPH. In this chapter, we will assume you are simply transmitting
on MIDI channel 1, so you would need to verify this on your controller keyboard or sequencer etc.
10
Basics
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