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Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer

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$1,508.44 Price Tier: High-end

5.0 (37)

10 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Korg Mono/Poly

5 community setups

50 wishlisted

119 saved

Page last updated Jul 02, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 2, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (11)

$1,508.44 42 available Used

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Average Price: $1,508

High-end/Boutique

$500

$1501+

Price Tier

In the Synthesizers category, Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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The Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer stands out as a distinctive and potent analog marvel in the realm of music creation. Its heart is powered by four oscillators that can smoothly transition between a lush 4-voice polyphony to a dense, monophonic mode, resulting in a sound that is as versatile as it is robust. Its unique 'X-Mod' functionality enables cross modulation of VCO's, opening up new sonic landscapes for the intrepid musician. Topped off with an arpeggiator, a noise generator, and a resonant 12/dB filter, this synthesizer is capable of delivering everything from massive MiniMoog-esque monophonic lines to simple polyphony, making it an invaluable ally on your musical journey.

Key Features:

Four oscillators configurable for 4-voice polyphony or monophonic mode
Unique 'X-Mod' section for cross modulation of VCO's
Integrated arpeggiator and noise generator
Resonant 12/dB filter
Capable of producing a wide range of sounds, from monophonic lines to simple polyphony

Product specs

Brand	Korg
Model	Mono/Poly
Finish	Blue
Year	1980s
Categories	Analog Synths, Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital	Analog
Key Size	Full Size
Keyboard Action	Synth Action
Number of Keys	44 Keys
Polyphony	4 Voices

FAQs

Is the Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer polyphonic or monophonic?: The Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer is a 4-voice polyphonic synthesizer, allowing for the playing of up to four notes simultaneously.
What is the key action type of the Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer?: The Korg Mono/Poly features a synth action keyboard, providing a smooth and responsive playing experience ideal for fast passages and expressive playing.
How many keys does the Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer have?: The Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer has 44 full-size keys, offering a compact yet versatile range for performance and composition.
What type of synthesis does the Korg Mono/Poly use?: The Korg Mono/Poly utilizes analog synthesis, which is known for its warm and rich sound characteristics, making it highly sought after for vintage and classic synth tones.
Can the Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer be used for live performances?: Yes, the Korg Mono/Poly is well-suited for live performances due to its robust build, intuitive interface, and dynamic sound capabilities, making it a favorite among performers seeking classic analog tones.

Videos

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AnalogAudio1

KORG MONOPOLY Analog Synth DEMO | Mono Poly

AnalogAudio1

Korg Mono/Poly Vintage Analog Synthesizer (1981) MonoPoly demo

RetroSound

KORG MONOPOLY Analog Synthesizer 1982 | HQ DEMO

AnalogAudio1

Korg MonoPoly Tutorial and Demo

once upon a synth

Korg Mono/Poly | Four Play

Alex Ball

Creating and Explaining Synth Sounds on the Korg MonoPoly 🎹🎛✨

MR TUNA Music

Vintage Synth Heaven: Live Demo of the Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer

Vulture Culture

Reviews

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PROS

Exceptional sub-bass capabilities through self-oscillation
Unique arpeggiator with extensive OSC tuning and syncing options
Versatile with switchable monosynth to 4-voice polyphony
Offers textured, vintage sound quality
Distinctive character and soul unlike digital emulations
Dynamic assignable mod wheel enhances performance
Four oscillators provide unparalleled sound richness
Can produce big, matchless sounds especially in unison mode
Filter quality on par with renowned synths like Minimoog
Hidden waveform feature introduces a 5th audible oscillator

CONS

Long warm-up time compared to other vintage analog synths
Some perceive its sound as less superior to modern remakes

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Korg Mono/Poly Synthesizer.

Features and functionality

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The Mono/Poly's paraphonic mode allows different oscillators to be assigned to each key, creating unique sounds when chords are layered over base notes.
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MonoPoly's single trigger and multi-trigger modes offer distinct playing experiences, with the former triggering only the first key's envelope and the latter retriggering for all keys pressed.
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The synth's oscillator gating, though typical for string machines, adds depth by allowing individual oscillator control, enhancing the paraphonic playing experience.
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The Mono/Poly features four oscillator modules with sync and cross-modulation functions, enabling complex and unique tone effects that owners frequently incorporate into their music.
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The Mono/Poly's filter, based on the SSM2044 chip, is praised for its lush, retro sound, making it ideal for outrun and cyberpunk music styles.
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User experience

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The lack of presets encourages continuous sound exploration, guiding users to create new and interesting sounds every session.
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Use cases and applications

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Users report achieving sounds reminiscent of Deadmau5 and MGMT, indicating its capability to produce modern electronic music tones.
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Owners often integrate the Mono/Poly into songs for its beautiful, distinctive sound, highlighting its enduring appeal despite being over 36 years old.
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Owners find the Mono/Poly's classic synth architecture intuitive, often using it as a reference point when exploring other synthesizers.
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Comparisons

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Enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the Behringer release of the Mono/Poly, suggesting a strong interest in its potential modernized version while maintaining the original's character.
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Users note Behringer's Mono/Poly sounds cleaner with less background noise and higher volume compared to the original Korg, despite minor tonal differences.
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Setup and maintenance

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Behringer's version requires manual calibration of filters, oscillators, and envelopes via rear panel screws to match the original Korg sound.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 10 Reviews and 37 Ratings

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method_one

269

about 11 years ago

Mono/Poly: A new old favorite

The oldest synth in my collection, and the newest addition to my studio. There's something about the Mono/Poly that makes it more than it's spec sheet — it just has so much soul and character, the kind of weird idiosyncrasies that draw you in and reward you for exploring. It's the kind of synth that you point to when explaining the difference between real analog synthesis and the digital emulation found in a plug-in. Beyond really loaded words like "character", what makes the M/P special? Well, you have four oscillators to play with, as well as a killer filter and some really interesting modulation possibilities. You can switch it from a monosynth to a 4-voice poly, which adds more options. But what really makes the M/P special is the arpeggiator. You can have it run as a traditional arpeggiator in Unison mode, but the fun really starts when you play with the arpeggiator in Poly mode. It will then use each of the four oscillators as a step in the pattern, and you can tweak each oscillator to use different waveforms, octave spread, volume and tuning. So you end up with an arpeggiated pattern that has a unique sense of motion. It's absolutely unlike most gear out there, and it's amazing.

swissfrank

about 4 years ago

Far more power than the other classic monosynths.

Far more power than the other classic monosynths. I typically like the Minimoog a bit more for bass, and the Mono/Poly for everything else.

I play the Minimoog and Mono/Poly via a Kenton Pro4, which I have map velocity to a filter CV, making both synths velocity-sensitive as well.

Roles:

Guitarist Audio Engineer

Genres:

Pop Funk / Soul Reggae

monotonne_band

105

almost 4 years ago

Excellent

The sound is textured and vintage. The bass is probably its strongest point.

Roles:

Music Producer Audio Engineer

Genres:

Electronic Pop Hip Hop

figureof8

almost 10 years ago

First Synth

First synth I owned, was a bit wonky but this gave it a bit of character,great for swooping fx and detuned leads sold it for 500 quid a few years ago, wish i held on to it.