KIJIMI – RSF Polykobol II Clone Made In Japan

The CS-80 Clone DECKARD’S DREAM has been on everyone’s lips for some time. Now there’s a new synthesizer in the portfolio of the Japanese manufacturer Black Corporation: KIJIMI. It’s a clone of the legendary RSF Polykobol II synthesizer. KIJIMI will be presented at the SuperBooth 2018 for the first time. And we hope the whole story isn’t a late April Fool’s joke …

Black-Corporation-KIJIMI-01

However, the name seems a little strange. Instead of “kijimi” we’d read “K | J | M |”. Like “Kobol | Japan | Module |” or something similar. The announcement of the Polykobol II replica immediately caused a stir. Olivier Grall – synthesizer collector, RSF expert and owner of two Polykobol II – is in doubt wheather such an unique vintage instrument can actually be offered as a “clone” (or as a replica, who cares). The original Polykobol II is characterized by many very special components and circuits.

Black-Corporation-KIJIMI-02

Nevertheless: 8 analog voices with CEM3340 VCOs and SSM2240 VCFs, plus two LFOs with lots of modulation destinations – that doesn’t sound too bad. Even though we can’t expect a Polykobol II in rack format, the concept of this new analog synthesizer could be exciting. All the more so, as – as with Deckard’s Dream – an additional expander with CV inputs is to be expected. And then there’s the polyphonic aftertouch feature. Something the original RSF does not offer.

Black-Corporation-KIJIMI-03

So, all in all, KIJIMI could turn out to be an interesting, good sounding and elaborate analog rack synthesizer.

More information shall be available after SuperBooth 2018.
We are curious …

Filed under 2018, General

“Es genügt, einen Ton schön zu spielen” sagte der Komponist Arvo Pärt im Jahre 2005. Diese Aussage ist ebenso einfach wie ich auch exzellent: Es braucht kein Meer an Tönen, denn entscheidend ist der Klang. Dass so mancher Vintage-Synthesizer der 70er und 80er Jahre teils unerreicht hochwertige Klänge liefert, steht außer Frage. Doch tatsächlich leben wir “heute” in einer nahezu perfekten Zeit. Einerseits hat man – mehr oder weniger – noch Zugriff auf die Vintage Analogen, andererseits wird auch bei Neugeräten die wichtige Komponente des hochwertigen Klanges wieder zunehmend berücksichtigt. Doepfer, Cwejman, Synthesizers.com, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Studio Electronics, COTK, John Bowen und andere Hersteller bauen hervorragende Synthesizer, die den “Klassikern” in nichts nachstehen. All diesen (alten wie neuen) “großartigen” Instrumenten ist Great Synthesizers gewidmet. _________________________________________________________ In 2005 composer Arvo Pärt said: “Playing one tone really well is enough”. In other words, it is sufficient to play one tone 'beautifully'. I agree with that. All musical efforts are focused on the sound itself. Although I studied classical music (piano and drums), it’s the electronic sound that inspires me. Synthesizers are the epitome of new sounds and exciting tonal spheres. Today, many companies produce high-quality - excellent! - synthesizers: Doepfer, Cwejman, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Synthesizers.com, COTK, Studio Electronics, John Bowen and others. It's their products I'm really interested in ... apart from Vintage Synthesizers, which I have been collecting for 20 years. Subsequent to our former websites Bluesynths and Blogasys, Peter Mahr and I have now created GreatSynthesizers. We hope you like it.

2 Comments

  1. different VCO, different filter, probably different envelope (no idea which envelope chip is used here yet) so indeed, why call it a clone if not for ease of sales like it’s been done for ages in the world of plug-ins?

    Like the Deckard’s Dream, it’s just a rough copy of the features and looks, not of the sound engine…

  2. Theo Bloderer

    … I guess you’re right …

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