Farfisa Polychrome Polyphonic Keyboard (1978)

Rare combo polyphonic machine produced in Italy by Farfisa.

This analog synthesizer distinguishes itself for the eerie choir section, recentely reconsidered by synth collectors.

KEYBOARD 61 keys with primitive velocity sensibility, 2 optional metal legs. Main panel features 20 levers, 36 push buttons, 3 switches + a rudimentary pitchbender

Rear panel terminal connectors:
- a 5dins swell pedal input
- main signal out
- separate output for choir section
- audio input for external processing with adjustable gain
- 1 wheel trimmer for master pitch
- 1 wheel trimmer for choir pitch.

VOICE pure combo-string processor philosophy summing or removing different sounds layers.
The machine is based on 4 analog frequency dividers boards groups + a single white noise circuit.
Main instrument sections are:

- Vocal chorus - Ensemble - Percussive - Strings

 

EDIT INTEFACE all parameters for sound edit are under the finger tips organized into various macro sound section.

It is possible also to SPLIT the polychrome and assign 2 sounds to the board.

CHORUS features 3 presets values + 1 special Custom Mode.

Special Double button activates twice octave register layer for a deeper choir effect HEAR Custom mode can be edited changing 5 parameters: volume, attack, sustain, cutoff and resonance.

PERCUSSIVE 6 presets instruments: piano, harpsichord, honkytonk, clavichord, electric guitar and classic guitar.




ENSEMBLE group is composed by 3 sub-groups instruments:

- brass - reed - accordion Ensemble edit parameters are: volume mix, brilliance, attack, sustain and sound emphasis.

 

STRINGS summable registers at octaves heights 16' 8' 4' and 2 parameters:

a simple 2-stages EG AD basic brilliance filter control..

EFFECT a single built-in analog shift phaser with emphasis tremolo and frequency rate.
Phase shifting process is able to modulate 3 sections at the same time: ensemble, percussive and strings but NOT the choir section.

HEAR phaser

 

MAINTENANCE the Polychrome is now an old machine with frequent issues and needs technical care. If you plan to buy one just go for a deep test.

Last model I had needed about 60 capacitors to be replaced... have fun !- click to enlarge pic

Polychrome Schematics would badly help for some repairs, so if you have service manual and would like to share to everyone, please drop us a LINE.

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some commercial samples set kontakt version (NO VST PLUGIN emulation for the moment):

Synth magic

Commercial

GALLERY:

SPECIAL AWARDS: