Polymoog

Polymoog and Polymoog Keyboard
Polymoog Synthesizer 203a
Manufacturer	Moog Music
Dates	1975–80 (Polymoog) 1978–80 (Polymoog Keyboard)
Price	$5295 (Polymoog Synthesizer) $3995 (Polymoog Keyboard)
Technical specifications
Polyphony	71 (Maximum range of keyboard)
Timbrality	Monotimbral
Oscillator	2 VCOs
LFO	3
Synthesis type	Analog Subtractive
Filter	Low-pass filter, high-pass filter
Attenuator	1
Storage memory	8 presets (Polymoog) 14 presets (Polymoog Keyboard)
Effects	3-band EQ
Input/output
Keyboard	71 keys, velocity, split
External control	CV/gate

The Polymoog is a polyphonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organs and string synthesizers of the time.

The name Polymoog can refer either to the original Polymoog Synthesizer (model 203a) released in 1975, or the largely preset Polymoog Keyboard (model 280a) released in 1978.

The Polymoog has a 71-note weighted Pratt & Reed touch-sensitive keyboard divided into three sections with a volume slider for each. It also has a three-band resonant graphic equalizer section, which can be changed to a low/bandpass/high-pass filter. The Moog-designed 24 dB filter section allows modulation modulated from its own envelopes, low frequency oscillation and sample and hold circuit. Ranks and waveforms of all notes are also adjustable combining waveforms, octaves, tunings, and their own independent LFO rates and amounts. The user can adjust the instrument's sounds, and it offers named "strings", "piano", "organ", "harpsichord", "funk", "clav", "vibes", and "brass". Presets were factory created as physical circuit cards and may be modified for live performance using Var(iation) buttons, triggering a red dot next to the preset number in the display.

The design of the Polymoog is a hybrid of the electronic organ and the synthesizer using divide-down technology, much like other string synthesizers of the time. Unlike later 1970s polyphonic synthesizers, such as the Yamaha CS-80 and Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, the Polymoog cannot create each voice from individual oscillators and filters, or store sounds programmed by the user. Although criticized for its limited programmability, high purchase price of $5295 and reliability issues, the Polymoog Synthesizer was popular with musicians of the period, and its unlimited polyphony was considered revolutionary upon its initial release.