All user reviews for the Dave Smith Instruments PolyEvolver Keyboard

This Electronic Keyboard has a ton of sound on it that I think are spectacular. It is probably one of my favorite poly keyboards. The bad thing about this keyboard is that the price makes it un buy able. There is no way that the average person on a budget can afford to pay for this piece of gear. This keyboard coast as much as all of my gear at home put together. It is a mix between an analog and digital machine and the possibilities with the Dave Smith Instruments Poly Eveovlver are endless. You can just do so much with this gear. It has a vintage look, but with more of a digital sound and feel to it. Its like an old school new piece of gear. I really wish I could use this machine all the time, the amount of time I get to use it is really slim due to the fact that I don’t own it.


UTILIZATION

The sequencer is something that I am still having problems with. I havent quit figured it out yet, plus when I use it I don’t have a manual so that could be part of the problem. I am jus winging everything and just exploring and figuring it out on my own. Which isn’t a problem, but I have heard the manual is a headache to read through and understand.


SOUNDS

The sounds are great, I haven't heard many other machines that sound as good as this one does. So that could be part of the price problem. I guess you get what you pay for.


OVERALL OPINION

The look of this unit is very futuristic and retro at the same time. I am actually surprised that more people are buying these up. But again , that could be due to the price point with it. The sounds one this keyboard can be used in almost all types of music, its just great.

Overall it is a hybrid analog / digital, with lots of knobs for direct control over the entire chain synthesis + integrated part sequencer.
The PEK is actually the equivalent of four versions of the Evolver rack. 4 channels are available simulatnément. BUT if 4 different notes can be played simultaneously, this is no longer the case for some instruments that require multiple channels alone .. But the system runs well and lights show to each note where we are in the polyphony.
(See the spec of the machine for the rest: OSC, LFO, filters, etc ...)
The sequencer, I come back later.
4 separate stereo audio outputs transmit, each turn, each note played .. I see not well the interest of these outings! A main stereo output allows more simply to have her at any time.
Is a utility for editing but that only works in stand-alone, not as a VSTi, shame!

UTILIZATION

There are 128 preset, divided into four banks. The sounds are mixed. As a DAW, you better have a "patchnamescriptlist ..." to organize it all! I've been getting in cubase do mine
It can therefore transmit MIDI CC message to call an instrument and only one!
To play several different instruments, we must switch to COMBO (which will of course be limited to 4 channels). It then defines four preset and assigned each a MIDI channel (1 to 4).
OK .. except that it is impossible to send a CC to change instruments on the fly in a COMBO! it will change the combo and not preset. A little heavy when you want to test different instruments from the DAW ..
The manual is sufficient. However there is another guide on the net that extensive use of PEK and notament the sequencer.
Precisely, the sequencer ..
It has 16 pot to adjust to wish each step that can be routed to any kind of modulation. We can therefore make a near-infinite time in search of a sequence! .. Once the sequence obtained, it can be used in a combo with other instruments.

SOUNDS

The sounds are varied and very unexpected for some! (Lower the volume before testing ..) Clearly there are sounds that dismantle! most have really fishing. After it's like anything, they must find their place in a mix.
This synth is well suited to experimentation with sounds that I sometimes struggle to integrate into my songs. His sound design possibilities seem oversized when compared to my style of music. More than a C Virus I have already.

OVERALL OPINION

I own the PEK for 3 years and uses it to each of my songs. He therefore at his place near my Orbit and my Proteus Virus C. I would have preferred a simple arpeggiator instead of the step-sequencer, too long to plan for my taste.
Q / P? bah above € 2,000 is enough! I was lucky to have him for just € 1400 through a reseller in the USA. Otherwise ...
And that famous kit to replace the pots, allowing among other correct pblm of knob ... I hope mine hold out to avoid being off-budget! ...
Not to repeat this choice. I orienterai possibly to the Prophet or Moog Phatty.

Synthe 4 oscillators. 2 analog 2 digital. The sounds are really good and it is easy to modulate them to draw things experimental.

UTILIZATION

The sound editing is quite simple.

SOUNDS

The sounds are great.

OVERALL OPINION

This is the only topic that interests me today:

I bought this synthesizer there is barely a month (new course) by mail to a London store seriously. I received it with no problem but he went completely ******* for a week.
One morning when I turned it on, the part Delay is gone completely mad: it continues to send information like I would select the non-stop, making the synth unusable.
Since today the sounds begin to sizzle.

I contacted the store and of course it is still guaranteed, but I must send them at my expense (approx 230 euros). and after them the returns in the United States ...

Next time I would buy in a shop in France willing to pay a little more .. or rather the next time I would take anything other than Dave Smith.

5 octaves, 4 channels polyphony, the sound is adequate for large trs.

UTILIZATION

It is hybrid configuration differs from a traditional analog.
The edition of the sounds is comfortable.
Manual in English, is unfortunate.

SOUNDS

Dpend with this kind of music you want to use it.
The sounds can be ralistes (brass hell for example, many low and large granular research opportunities numrique)

The effects are effective but not essential to use Pro.

Expression, trs well, the keyboard is enjoyable with the wheels as the Voyager.

All sounds that can be drawn are effective, just know the program. For example, one can draw sounds track six of Propht 5, T8, VS, with a super EHJV but with something more sign of Smith.

OVERALL OPINION

I use depui 5 days.

It is expensive but worth it because this synth is well thought out and trs trs RALIS well.

But I sold because it is really too modern for my style of music. Nanmoins, over time, if I do not sell, I keep it because it really has a lot of personality and even apart from the fact it will never be the synthesis of all!

I must admit that on this one was the D Smith trs trs fort.

Well you just have to go to the site mesi. (Link distributor)
I said it's still a synthetic pre-wired, but with huge potential modulation (both sources as destinations), making it a semi modular.
sequencers are remarkable (4, with a programing EASSy)
otherwise, the notice can be downloaded from the website of Dave Smith.

UTILIZATION

Easy to use
Edit very easy, however, to see the value of the potentiometer, you have to turn slightly, it is not clear, for the price, I loved that by pressing the displayed value.
the manual is clear but in English, however, requires knowing what the synthesis. (The functions of various modules, modulation, mastering, end all you need to know lorqu'on uses a modular) disont it's not for beginners.
Small detail that its importance, after some hours of research, one in sore eyes, I Aimms knob an adjustment of brightness diodes.

SOUNDS

J'office Electroacoustic Music in the concrete thinking. and so then it's very good. We are experimenting and experimenting and we have not finished experimenting.
It should be noted that for those who make parts octophonic, 4 stereo outputs are very useful. it allows for direct sound octo. the foot.
The realism I sigh, it's not what you ask a synth from my point of view.
Besides, I've never understood those who want to imitate vraix instrument!
but good.
The effects are too small to be effective (hack, saturation) the delay are great, there are three with feedback, though.
I did not price the time to address the issue of external signal processing.
I made a few successful attempts, when I have time I struggled.
if not, I think with a good command, you just go to dream of Silverberg in his new "circuit Marcauley".

OVERALL OPINION

Well, you'll find that I am a bit emflammé, in fact I used it three days in a music studio, to create sounds that I use for parts for a planetarium. But it was good that I made at some point.

It globally, it has a very good ergonomics, it just create beautiful sonororité mutiphonique, I have a JP8080, ca have nothing to do, in sound. Otherwise, I rather use analog (System100 roland Kobol) and tone (of course it depends on what you are doing) goes well with the Evolve.
I do not know which means "his / D" (meaning unnecessary debate and interest), but this certain, the fate of the Evolver.
value for money is OK, Memme if I can not afford to purchase it.
Indeed, when the UTIs, we have a standalone machine that works, period.
I usually have machines like that in his hands.

See the link for the manufacturer to the exact configuration.
We appreciate the separate outputs for all 4 channels, especially since they are stereo, as odd oscillators are wired to Left and even on the right.
4 channels polyphony, expandable via the "Polychain" to link several (eg racks and 3 polyevolver PEK)


UTILIZATION

Any editing is very simple, and can therefore take advantage of the great complexity of the machine. The menus are clear, the legends are clear, the manual is too simple, but quite a few small details escape him. Just to experiment, and it will be understood easily. The manual is NOT enough, and rightly so, we would need is an encyclopedia.
For those who want to deepen, there is somewhere a manual on the net a, sort of scrawl depth of PEK. Ness about the existence not deprive it, it gives very good ideas.


SOUNDS

Expression: Not bad at all.
The noise generator (digital I think) is disgusting. Difficult to do something with peak loads without ringing "Commodore 64". Tolerable in small doses.
The HPF is truly minimal, it does not color the sound much, it is flat and not very interesting. It is used all the same, with the third envelope, for example ...
Distortion is the average, although it incorporates an effective noise gate, and Hack (sort of degrade bit) accentuates frequencies 'metal' that is hard to capitalize. We would have preferred engineering focuses a little more about these terrible encoders with a nut on the side of the hood. Detail we would also welcome with female output jacks, very average, the design leaves little cable types not to be spit out by the internal spring. It's bad that side.
Everything else is delusional, the possibilities are endless, the little "squeak" strangled by the high pass to low-unison through the water capsized Rolandienne sci-fi. May be missing some very serious, but it's not embarrassing. There is also incredible opportunities modulation, LFOs p.exe of them (for beautiful accelerations) envelope with a third period (excellent) sequencer very well built and full of surprises, opportunities for craft with chorus three delays implemented, and envelopes that can be really long attack and release, and then synchronized analog oscillators, disagreements, and oscillators to digital wavetable, cycling through the sequencer used in FM and ring modulation .
Very, very good.
A synth of research when you've found, is stored, we assign modifiers (mod wheel and / or pedals), and we play live, even if it is bad enough for my taste. It is high end but, it saves a little aesthetic level. The blue LEDs are not my cup of tea, it screwed up his eyes, and that makes "toys are us." Maybe in thirty years we love it.


OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year, and I am far from having been around.
I have or have had in his hands several synths, sound modules, racks, analog, digital, old cuckoo clocks and small modern machines. It sounds "modern" or rather "recent". It was still not a 100 or a Yamaha CS-80. It's not good for much less, it's just something else.
I paid less than 1500 € secondhand from a guy who wanted it more. At that price, it's worth it. I'd be a little less enthusiastic if I had to buy new, especially to those # & @ ¤ * encoders.
Yes, I would do this choice.