Poly-800 family: name the EX-800 #39

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opened 2026-10-12 21:15:49 +00:00 by bcox · 2 comments

bcox commented

2026-10-12 21:15:49 +00:00

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Ben asked on 2026-10-12 which instruments of the families already here were missed, and for an issue a family. Everything below is from recollection, with no manual read; issue #20's list was wrong in several places for the same reason, so read the manuals first and correct this. Each is to be an extension of the existing instrument, as the Jupiters and the JX family are, never a "model" switch.

EX-800: the Poly-800's rack. Recalled as the same instrument, so nothing to build, only to say so wherever the Poly-800 and Poly-800 II are named, once its manual has been checked for anything it does differently. Its ROM's tables stay off limits (rule 3).

Ben asked on 2026-10-12 which instruments of the families already here were missed, and for an issue a family. **Everything below is from recollection, with no manual read**; issue #20's list was wrong in several places for the same reason, so read the manuals first and correct this. Each is to be an extension of the existing instrument, as the Jupiters and the JX family are, never a "model" switch. - **EX-800**: the Poly-800's rack. Recalled as the same instrument, so nothing to build, only to say so wherever the Poly-800 and Poly-800 II are named, once its manual has been checked for anything it does differently. Its ROM's tables stay off limits (rule 3).

bcox commented

2026-10-12 23:13:15 +00:00

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Gone through on 2026-10-12, by Claude with Ben away; commit 058e139 on the branch family-extensions, not pushed. Not closed.

What was read. Korg's owner's manual for the EX-800, from Korg's own site, in part and as pictures: its features, its chapter on MIDI, its specifications and its MIDI implementation. The pages on each parameter were looked over and not read against the Poly-800's. The specifications and MIDI implementation in its service manual were read again. No ROM or firmware image was looked for or read; the ROM's tables stay off limits.

Against the recollection. It holds. The EX-800 calls itself "an add-on synthemodule without an integrated keyboard", and its specification is the Poly-800's voice item for item: eight voices whole and four double, the two DCOs, noise, the one filter with single or multiple trigger, the chorus, three six-stage envelopes and the modulation generator.

What was done. Nothing was built, not even a parameter: the EX-800 is mini800d as it stands. It is named in CLAUDE.md, README.md, instruments/README.md and docs/references.md.

What differs, written down as not done. It hears keys 36 to 96 and moves any other to the nearest note of the same name (here every key sounds); volume on controller 7; program changes; active sensing; a polyphonic sequencer of 256 notes and a chord memory; a dump of its memory on request; a tape interface. Its chart gives controllers 1 and 2 as DCO and VCF modulation, which are the two mini-800 already hears. It does not hear velocity.

For Ben (under "Open decisions" in CLAUDE.md): that nothing was added; that keys are not folded into its five octaves; that controller 7 is still left out, for every instrument; and that its numbered parameters were not compared with the Poly-800's one by one.

Gone through on 2026-10-12, by Claude with Ben away; commit `058e139` on the branch `family-extensions`, not pushed. Not closed. **What was read.** Korg's owner's manual for the EX-800, from Korg's own site, in part and as pictures: its features, its chapter on MIDI, its specifications and its MIDI implementation. The pages on each parameter were looked over and not read against the Poly-800's. The specifications and MIDI implementation in its service manual were read again. No ROM or firmware image was looked for or read; the ROM's tables stay off limits. **Against the recollection.** It holds. The EX-800 calls itself "an add-on synthemodule without an integrated keyboard", and its specification is the Poly-800's voice item for item: eight voices whole and four double, the two DCOs, noise, the one filter with single or multiple trigger, the chorus, three six-stage envelopes and the modulation generator. **What was done.** Nothing was built, not even a parameter: the EX-800 is `mini800d` as it stands. It is named in CLAUDE.md, README.md, instruments/README.md and docs/references.md. **What differs, written down as not done.** It hears keys 36 to 96 and moves any other to the nearest note of the same name (here every key sounds); volume on controller 7; program changes; active sensing; a polyphonic sequencer of 256 notes and a chord memory; a dump of its memory on request; a tape interface. Its chart gives controllers 1 and 2 as DCO and VCF modulation, which are the two mini-800 already hears. It does not hear velocity. **For Ben** (under "Open decisions" in CLAUDE.md): that nothing was added; that keys are not folded into its five octaves; that controller 7 is still left out, for every instrument; and that its numbered parameters were not compared with the Poly-800's one by one.