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Proper Tuning of a Formanta Polivoks Synthesizer

If you wonder how to do a proper and “perfect” tuning of a Polivoks synthesizer, the following information may help you.
At [Link] we have seen many analog vintage Synths and at a first glance, it often seems that they just need
proper tuning. But if an analog Synth can’t be tuned properly it will need repair/replacement of old parts that went defect
and/or out of tolerance. Polivoks are a good example for that. Here you will find some hints how to deal with a vintage
Polivoks and what to expect if you buy one…

Important topics to check in case of any tuning problems:

1. The VCOs (PCB Y2&Y3) do not use any locally stabilized reference voltages. It all depends on the overall supply
voltage (+/- 12.5 Vdc). Make sure the power supply works perfectly within specs. (+/- 20mV) and under all operating
and load conditions! Electrolytic power capacitors on each PCB may need to be checked and/or replaced.

2. Critical resistors (scaling) may need replacement (scaling path around

A1/A2 of VCO) and scaling resistors on keyboard CV electronics PCB Y1.

3. Check the VCO temperature stabilisation circuit around A4 (A4 should

heat to around 45°C). May be adjusted with R10 (don’t touch if you can’t
properly measure it, risk of damaging IC A4!)

4. Any IC or other part anywhere in the CV path that may be defect and/or
introducing errors (the “crap stuff” of a repaired Polivoks) >>> here >>>

Once the Synths electronics are fixed, and all the tuning relevant potentiometers and trimmers are in good shape,
internal and external tuning needs to be properly done. Old trimmers can be difficult to adjust and may need
replacement. During an AW-repair, we apply enhancements to allow for easier and more stable internal fine tuning (this
is only about tuning and will not influence the overall sound in any way). However, you will hardly get a Polivoks dead
clean across the whole range.

To get best tuning results, use the symmetric square wave of each VCO with open filter and preferably measure
frequency with a precise lab frequency counter. For later retuning during regular use (front trimming only) you may use:

▪ A musical tuning device with sufficient capturing range like a guitar or chromatic tuner (home or studio)
▪ Another instrument providing precise tuned notes of “A” (440Hz) in various octaves and preferably constantly
sounding to compare and tune by listening and check unison tuning. You may put this external pitch reference into
the Synths ext. input and mix it with the VCO signal to listen to the beating (soundcheck)

Prior to tuning the Polivoks, let it warm up for 15min. During final tuning stage, when only the front panel pots are
adjusted, put the Synth on a flat surface getting the bottom closed to keep away unwanted airflow from internal circuits.
The 6 front accessible tuning pots are hidden behind a small cover (lift of).

Picture1: Front cover of a Polivoks Synth where the tuning potentiometers can be accessed

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The Table below shows the 6 accessible pots with their respective tuning function.

Oct. SW-1 OSC 1 OSC 1 Oct. SW-2 OSC 2 OSC 2

adjustment Scaling Pitch Shift adjustment Scaling Pitch Shift
Oscillator 1 Oscillator 2

After a repair/service, you need to do internal adjustments prior to any final tuning. This will make sure, that the external
tuning pots are covering a reasonable range, and that the duophonic mode will be properly tuned as well.

▪ Check power supply voltages to be stable and within precise limits prior to start any tuning action.
▪ On PCB Y1 (keyboard CV) the trimmer R6 needs to be adjusted to measure less than 1mV between Pin 6 and Pin 9 of
the Y1-PCB connector. This assures proper tuning in duophonic mode.
▪ The octave switches 1&2 should be pre-set to provide a reasonable starting point. Set Oct. Switch 1&2 front pot for a
voltage level measured at the 32” switch tap position (between R52/53 and R71/72) to read a voltage between 5.95
and 6.00 Vdc.
▪ Set the octave switch to 2” for osc.1. Measure the output frequency of the low C-Key. Alternate between low C and
the C’ one octave higher. Adjust pitch with OCS 1 Scaling pot to read approximately twice the frequency than the
lower C. Absolute frequency value does not matter. Repeat same procedure for osc.2 by setting up pitch by OSC 2
Scaling. Only listen to one oscillator at the time. They will not match pitch at this step and they do not need to. Each
pot should stay somewhere in the middle half of the pots range. If this is not the case VCO 1 and/or 2 needs repair.
▪ Now put the following pots into middle position: OSC 1&2 Pitch Shift on the front panel. Make sure VCO modulation
pots and FM modulation is set to minimum (off).
Make sure the general tuning pot of the Synth (left side) and detune pot of OSC 2 is set to exact centre position
(these later pots should ideally provide 0.0 Vdc at their respective wipers). Press low
A-Key, measure the output frequency and adjust with each R50 trimmer on the VCO PCB to read about 440Hz +/- 4Hz
for each oscillator.

Well, that’s the preparation steps to get the internal settings right. There are of course more internal trimmers to be set
correctly, don’t touch them! We will not explain those trimmers, as they have no relation to the correct tuning of the
Synth. The above process will just make sure that once the Polivoks housing gets closed again, the tuning pots on the
front panel provide a reasonable range for proper fine tuning and the duophonic mode will be in perfect tune as well.

The next steps to finalise the Synths tuning is according to our process, but quite similar to the original description that
can be found on the Russian info page for the Polivoks.

[Link]

These steps can be done at any time you may experience a slight detuning due to excessive rocking the keys and moving
the Synth around from one stage to the next.

Analogwizard Remark:
With any Polivoks we get for repair or service, we offer the owner our special mods to improve the Synths general tune
pot and the OSC 2 detune pot. This mod will provide a smooth centre area with continuously stretched centre range to
allow for perfectly controllable tuning during normal operation.
AW can provide a whole range of other valuable mods that will be available in a separate list.

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Standard user accessible tuning of a Polivoks

Important:
Leave the Polivoks general tuning pot on the left side and the detuning pot of osc.2 in the centre position during the
whole tuning process. Don’t even touch these two pots until you finished the whole tuning procedure. If anything
happens to one of these pots accidentally you may need to restart for a perfect result. Also make sure, that all the VCO
modulation pots for LFO and FM are set to minimum (off). Use VCO symmetrical square wave with open filter.

Allow the Polivoks to adjust to normal room temperature (in case you stored it in a cold fridge or burned it in the dead
valley at high noon) and switch the synths power on 15min. prior to start tuning.

Trim 1 Trim 2 Trim 3 Trim 4 Trim 5 Trim 6

Oct. SW-1 OSC 1 OSC 1 Oct. SW-2 OSC 2 OSC 2
adjustment Scaling Pitch Shift adjustment Scaling Pitch Shift
Oscillator 1 Oscillator 2

a) Set the Synths octave switch for OSC 1 to the 2” position (highest octave range)
b) press lowest keyboard note "A" and tune the synth in unison with your reference (440Hz) by adjusting Trim 2
(OSC 1 Scaling)
c) press key “A” two octaves higher and tune the synth in unison with your reference (1760Hz) by adjusting Trim 3
(OSC 1 Pitch Shift)
d) Repeat steps b and c until higher and lower “A” are in perfect tune
e) check highest note A (3520 Hz) for correct tune. This cannot be adjusted separately (the Polivoks does not provide a
separate high-end tuning possibility) but in general should be fine.
If the deviation in the highest octave range gets too big, the Polivoks needs repair.
f) Change octave range switch of OSC 1 to 32” position (lowest octave)
g) Press highest keyboard note “A” and tune the synth in unison with your reference (220Hz) by adjusting
Trim 1 (Oct. SW-1 adjustment)
h) Repeat steps a to g for oscillator 2 by adjusting Trim 4, 5, 6 respectively. This can be done in comparison with already
tuned oscillator 1 (mix both oscillators at same octave settings together). By doing so, you can hear the unison
beating and adjust for minimised beating frequency.
i) Put the Synth in duophonic mode. It should stay in perfect tune (test octave intervals). If that is not the case, internal
adjustment will be needed (see above)

Analogwizard Final Remarks:

▪ If any tuning pot runs into its range limits the synth needs internal adjustment or repair.
▪ If the tuning does not stay stable during the tuning process, the synth needs professional repair.
▪ If VCO modulation by LFO adds a certain detune to the VCO, then your Polivoks has a specific problem with
unsymmetrical LFO waveforms or internal DC-offsets. AW can fix this.
▪ @AW we modify Polivoks for midi. The midi interface must be tuned and adjusted internally after the Synth has
been tuned perfectly on its own.
▪ Please understand that AW will only support AW customers for any questions that may arise. All other people
may use the above information solely on their own risk.

Disclaimer: AW will not take any responsibility for any actions and/or damage created by non-analogwizard people using the above information to mess
around with a Polivoks. This document or its content may be shared for free by giving reference to [Link]. Any professional business using
this document or content requires AW’s permission. Formanta & Polivoks are belonging to the respective (Russian) Brand owners. AW may change or
update this document at any time.

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